Ativan is one of those drugs with a high potential for addiction. People quickly develop a tolerance to the drug and eventually move to a full-blown addiction as they try to recreate their initial high. Ativan, which comes from the benzodiazepine family, is highly addictive. The more we learn about Ativan addiction facts and statistics, the better we can help people find addiction treatment.
What Is Ativan?
Ativan is the brand name for the generic drug lorazepam, which is a benzodiazepine. These drugs act as sedatives or tranquilizers. Benzodiazepines like Ativan binds to GABA receptors in the brain, producing a calming effect. However, these prescriptions should be only for short-term use.
Types of Benzos
Benzodiazepines come in various formulations, and they’re widely available for misuse and abuse. Some street names for benzos include:
- Tranks
- Downers
- Goofballs
- Nerve pills
- Moggies
- Zannies
- Bennies
- K-Pins
5 Interesting Facts About Ativan You Should Know
Most people know they should take prescription drugs as instructed, yet it can be challenging to understand the implication of deviating from their prescriptions. Ativan is particularly dangerous since its chemical makeup makes them especially easy to abuse.
1. Sometimes Prescription Length Is a Risk Factor
When it comes to addiction risk factors, the possibilities are endless. Everything from genetics to the environment people live in plays a significant role. However, Ativan prescription length is a crucial factor. Those who use the drug for more than four months are at higher risk of dependency.
Most benzodiazepines stop working after this period of time and can even result in worse anxiety symptoms or panic attacks. Users don’t realize the dangers of not disposing of these opioids and continue to use them without realizing the negative consequences.
2. Ativan Withdrawal Need a Tamper Process
Even when someone thinks they’re making the right decision by quitting their Ativan addiction, they risk suffering adverse consequences. Ativan withdrawal needs a tamper process that slowly brings the medication down until users can stop taking it. Thus, people are highly encouraged to seek addiction treatment at a facility that offers drug rehab with detox programs and partial hospitalization services to ensure they quit Ativan in a safe environment.
3. Often Leads to Cognitive Impairment
People who use benzodiazepines long-term forget things they knew or could easily recall, sometimes even forgetting how to perform tasks they once knew. Researchers noticed the connection between these impairments and found that doses and cognitive deficiencies had a secure link. Study participants, both older and younger, experienced the same impairment. While the results don’t point directly to dementia, we need more research to understand how severe these cognitive side effects can be.
4. Ativan Abuse and Co-Occurring Disorders
Most patients receive Ativan to treat an underlying anxiety disorder. However, when people misuse the medication, it leads to addiction and other adverse effects. The problem is that many people with co-occurring disorders tend to self-medicate and start abusing prescription medications to improve their conditions. When in reality, they’re paving the way for a physical dependency that could evolve into an addiction.
5. Early Death Is a Possibility
Beyond the previous risks of using benzodiazepines, people have to understand that misuse of benzos can potentially kill them. Unfortunately, benzos are linked with the highest number of early deaths.
One study analyzed over 100,000 participants’ medical records and found that benzodiazepines were linked to early deaths among all the medications. The study found that the changes in premature death almost doubled for someone with a benzodiazepine prescription.
Ativan Addiction Statistics
When it comes to addiction statistics, the national numbers are never the full picture. However, for Ativan addiction statistics, it appears that benzodiazepine use is continuously high; here’s what you should know.
- As of 2011, Ativan was the fifth most widely prescribed benzodiazepine, with more than 27 million prescriptions written (and the number has continued to rise).
- Around 75 percent of those who visited emergency rooms for benzodiazepine overdoses had also been abusing opioid painkillers, usually for recreational purposes.
- Close to 20 percent of all emergency room visits for benzodiazepine-related distress result in extended hospitalization or death.
- As of 2011, Ativan was the fifth most widely prescribed benzodiazepine, with more than 27 million prescriptions written.
- Approximately 3 percent of all Ativan hospital visits are due to street users injecting Ativan tablets.
Treatment Options for Ativan Addiction
While Ativan is incredibly addictive, those who are willing to break the addiction cycle can seek treatment. Because cutting cold turkey can be incredibly dangerous, it’s best to start with a partial hospitalization program (PHP) and benzodiazepine detox process to prevent severe withdrawal symptoms such as seizures. It’s paramount that people find an addiction center to treat their benzodiazepine abuse.
Speaking with an addiction treatment specialist as soon as possible is the best way to start seeking help for addiction. At Lighthouse Recovery Institute, our drug addiction recovery programs include.
- Medical Detox: In this clinically supervised detox process at treatment centers, we ensure the patient’s safety and make the withdrawal phase as comfortable as possible by minimizing withdrawal symptoms and using medication-assisted treatment services to guarantee a complete detoxification process.
- Dual Diagnosis Treatment: Since many long-term addicts often struggle with mental health disorders, a dual diagnosis program can get them the help needed to treat both conditions simultaneously.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Most of the time, these sorts of addictions develop due to compulsive behaviors that must be treated at the source. CBT is one of the most popular evidence-based treatments to treat addiction.
- Intensive Outpatient Programs: When patients seek addiction treatment while maintaining daily obligations like work, school, or caregiving, IOPs are a more flexible option that still gives people access to the help they need.
- Long-term Recovery Programs: With long-term recovery assistance, patients can have the ongoing support they need to maintain long-lasting sobriety. Recovery programs are crucial to relapse prevention.
Get Help Today
If you or someone you love is struggling with substance abuse, seek help immediately. Contact Lighthouse Recovery Institute today and speak with our addiction specialists to learn more about our comprehensive and personalized addiction treatment programs.
We believe in treating each patient in a case-by-case scenario because no two addiction stories are alike. Start walking towards your recovery, and we’ll be here supporting you and your family every step of the way. Please don’t wait another day to start addiction treatment, primarily when your life depends on it.
