Benzodiazepine addiction is a serious medical condition affecting people across the U.S. This class of drugs, often prescribed for anxiety or insomnia, can become difficult to stop using, even when they cause harm.
Taking the first step in stopping benzo abuse can be daunting, but help is available.
With the right treatment and support, breaking free from benzos is possible. Explore how our treatment options at Summit at Harmony Oaks can support your recovery and help you move toward a healthier, addiction-free future.
What to Know About Benzodiazepine Addiction
Benzodiazepines, or benzos, are prescription drugs used to treat anxiety, panic disorders, insomnia, and muscle spasms. They work by calming your brain and central nervous system (CNS) through a neurotransmitter called GABA.
When used as prescribed, benzos can provide short-term relief for mental health conditions. Common benzodiazepines linked to addiction include:
- Diazepam (Valium)
- Alprazolam (Xanax)
- Lorazepam (Ativan)
- clonazepam (Klonopin)
- Oxazepam
- Temazepam
- Chlordiazepoxide
But taking benzos for too long or in higher doses can cause dependence, leading to benzodiazepine addiction. You may find yourself needing more of the drug to get the same effect.
If you try to stop suddenly, you might experience withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, cravings, or drowsiness, making it hard to quit on your own. This is where addiction treatment and tapering plans become important.
Benzodiazepine addiction can affect your relationships, job, and mental health. But the right treatment at Summit at Harmony Oaks can help you regain control and start on your path to recovery.


Common Causes of Benzo Addiction
Benzo addiction actually can begin from your first dose. The drug triggers a calming effect by enhancing GABA, a neurotransmitter that slows brain activity. This relief can feel necessary, especially if you’re struggling with anxiety or insomnia.
But with repeated use, your brain starts to rely on benzos to manage stress or discomfort. Over time, your natural ability to regulate emotions weakens as your brain adjusts to the drug’s presence.
As your brain adapts, it reduces its response to GABA, requiring higher doses to achieve the same relief. This process, called tolerance, sets the stage for physical dependence.
When you try to stop, your brain struggles to balance itself without drug use, leading to withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, and cravings. These symptoms drive continued use, creating a cycle of addiction.
Benzos don’t just calm the mind — they change how your brain works, making it harder to stop without professional treatment and careful tapering.
Who Is at Risk of Benzodiazepine Addiction?
Anyone from any walk of life can develop a benzo addiction. But these demographic factors are all risk factors that increase the likelihood:
- Gender: Women are twice as likely to use benzodiazepines as men, often due to higher anxiety rates and stronger cravings, increasing the risk of misuse.
- Age: Young adults (18-35) misuse benzodiazepines at the highest rates, while older adults (65+) engage in long-term prescribed use, mostly for insomnia and anxiety.
- Race: Multiracial adults report the highest misuse rate of tranquilizers/sedatives at 4%, then white adults (3.2%), American Indian/Alaska Native (2.2%), Black/African American (1.5%), and Asian adults (0.9%).
- Socioeconomics: People with lower incomes are more likely to misuse benzodiazepines, often due to stress, trauma, and limited access to mental health care.
Signs & Symptoms of Benzo Addiction
Benzo addiction can show up in different ways, affecting your behavior, body, and emotions.
Common signs of a benzo addiction include:
- Behavioral symptoms: Taking larger doses or using for longer than intended, doctor shopping to get extra prescriptions, avoiding responsibilities at work, school, or home.
- Physical symptoms: Muscle weakness, frequent headaches, dizziness, double vision, or changes in sleep and eating habits.
- Cognitive symptoms: Memory impairment, slowed thinking, confusion, or delayed reaction times.
- Psychosocial symptoms: Mood swings, irritability, increased anxiety, depression, or hostility.
Most Insurance Accepted
As a member of the Harmony Health Group family of treatment programs, we are able to work with many private insurance plans.
Verify InsuranceWhat Is Considered Benzodiazepine Abuse?
Benzodiazepine abuse happens when the drug is used in ways outside of the prescribing instructions.
Common forms of abuse include:
- Taking higher doses or using the drug longer than prescribed.
- Using someone else’s prescription for recreational purposes or to manage stress or anxiety disorders.
- Mixing benzos with other substances, such as alcohol or opioids, to enhance effects.
- Visiting multiple clinicians (doctor shopping) to obtain extra prescriptions.
- Forging prescriptions or lying about symptoms to access the drug.
These behaviors can quickly lead to dependence and increase the risk of addiction. That’s why spotting misuse early is key to preventing long-term harm.
Effects of Benzodiazepine Addiction
Abuse of benzodiazepines can disrupt both personal and professional life. Many people struggle to keep a job or manage their finances, leading to instability. Relationships often break down due to conflict or increased isolation.
Addiction also raises the risk of legal trouble. Behaviors like doctor shopping or forging prescriptions can result in serious legal consequences, including arrest or incarceration.
Mental health tends to decline with prolonged addiction. Depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts become more common, with some individuals turning to self-harm. Withdrawal symptoms further fuel drug-seeking behaviors, making recovery harder.
Physical health also suffers over time, increasing the risk of overdose. Addressing addiction early offers the best chance to regain control and rebuild your life.
Benzo Addiction Treatment Options at Summit at Harmony Oaks

At Summit at Harmony Oaks, we offer a range of treatment programs designed to help you overcome your benzodiazepine addiction. Our services include detoxification programs, residential treatment, outpatient care, and mental health support for co-occurring conditions.
Benzodiazepine detox can be challenging, as withdrawal symptoms may include severe anxiety, seizures, or other life-threatening complications.
Our detox programs provide 24/7 medical supervision and personalized care to safely help you through withdrawal from substance abuse.
We also use medication-assisted treatment (MAT), monitored by expert health professionals, to ease symptoms and reduce cravings when needed.
Our residential programs offer a structured environment where you can focus fully on recovery. You can participate in individual and group therapy, build coping skills, and access holistic services like meditation and yoga.
Living in a residential setting allows you to step away from daily stressors while developing the tools needed for long-term success.
Unlike inpatient treatment, outpatient care provides flexibility by allowing you to receive treatment while living at home. You’ll attend therapy sessions to address cravings, manage triggers, and develop healthy coping strategies.
This option is ideal if you need to balance recovery with work, school, or family responsibilities and have a supportive home environment.
Mental health care plays a key role in recovery from benzodiazepine dependence. At Summit at Harmony Oaks, we offer support for a variety of mental health conditions, including:
- ADHD
- Anxiety
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- OCD
- Personality disorder
- PTSD
- Schizophrenia
- Suicide prevention
Find Benzo Addiction Treatment at Summit at Harmony Oaks
Contact UsStarting recovery from benzodiazepine addiction can be tough, but you don’t have to do it alone. At Summit at Harmony Oaks, we provide a safe, supportive environment where you can rebuild your life with care tailored to your needs.
We partner with in-network insurance providers to make treatment more accessible, so you can focus on healing without worrying about cost. Whether you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, our team is ready to help you every step of the way.
A new chapter begins with a single step. Reach out to us today, and let us help you move toward the healthier, brighter future you deserve.
Benzodiazepine Addiction FAQs
Benzodiazepine addiction occurs when you can’t control your use, rely on the drug to function, and experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop or reduce your dose.
Addiction develops from prolonged use and/or high doses, as the brain becomes dependent on the drug’s calming effects, leading to tolerance, cravings, and withdrawal.
Stopping benzo addiction often requires medical detox, a gradual tapering plan, therapy, and ongoing support to manage withdrawal symptoms and prevent relapse.
Yes, severe addiction can lead to life-threatening withdrawal symptoms like seizures, respiratory depression, and overdose without proper interventions and medical care.
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