Like other benzodiazepines, Klonopin can be highly addictive. What starts as a prescription to reduce anxiety, stress, and helping those with difficulty relaxing can evolve to a full-blown addiction. Understanding Klonopin addiction facts and statistics can give people a better idea of this prescription drug and hopefully prevent addiction.
What is Klonopin?
Klonopin, the brand name for clonazepam, is a long-acting benzodiazepine. The drug slows down brain activity to help people feel relaxed, they work by calming the central nervous system. Klonopin is a standard treatment for people with epilepsy, anxiety, and also to treat withdrawal symptoms from alcohol and other drugs. Overall it helps with mental health and other forms of mental illness.
Sometimes, Klonopin is prescribed for insomnia treatment, but only for a short period of time. Klonopin is a blue tablet for oral use or a quick-dissolve tablet placed on the tongue. Other names for this drug include k-pins, benzos, or downers.
5 Interesting Klonopin Addiction Facts You Should Know
The more we learn about Klonopin addiction facts, the more we can help those struggling with addiction. When we look at these facts, we get a better insight into the disease of addiction and how those suffering don’t often have a choice. It also shows the reality of how prescription medications can still be dangerous when people don’t follow instructions.
1. Most Klonopin Addicts Struggle with Co-Occurring Addictions
Because Klonopin is long-lasting benzo, people often turn to other substances to increase their high. The majority of those who abuse Klonopin also struggle with an alcohol-abuse disorder or addiction. Other substances commonly blend include cocaine, which can fight some of the Klonopin’s effects and help people stay awake. However, since cocaine wears off faster than Klonopin, people use higher and more frequent doses to maintain their high.
2. Klonopin is Popular Among Teenagers
First of all, Klonopin is relatively cheap, not to mention readily available in most schools and homes. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that roughly 7.4% of high school seniors have used it at one point in their lives. While this percentage might seem low to some, alarmingly, this rate is seven times the rate of heroin use and about four times the methamphetamine rate.
3. Klonopin is the Longest Acting Benzodiazepine
Benzodiazepines come in short and long-acting formulations. Most people think the long-acting presentations are safer, but people can still fall addicted to these substances trying to increase their doses.
For example, Xanax is a short-acting benzodiazepine whose length of action is anywhere between 6 to 10 hours. On the contrary, Klonopin is long-acting benzo whose duration of action is around 18 to 50 hours. However, when it wears off, most people experience withdrawal symptoms of insomnia and anxiety, making quitting even more challenging.
4. It Is Very Easy to Become Klonopin Addicted
Benzos can increase dopamine levels almost instantly, which is what makes them so addictive. Researchers believe benzodiazepines can be as addictive as opioids and cannabinoids. Benzos like Klonopin can build up in the body, which gives people a high they don’t wish to give up.
Eventually, this feel-good satisfaction turns into prescription abuse and then addiction. The transition from one to the other can happen just after six months of use, although some people, those who are more susceptible, can become dependent sooner. At least 44% of benzo users will become dependent on the substance.
5. Risk of Cognitive Impairment is High
Addiction comes with many health issues, but benzodiazepines can cause cognitive impairment issues in the long run. Some researchers believe there is a connection between cognitive decline and benzo users, on young and older adults. The cognitive deterioration causes people to forget everyday tasks they used to perform daily and become more forgetful.
Klonopin Addiction Statistics
While we don’t hear about a Klonopin-specific epidemic, we know there’s an opioid and benzo catastrophe. When we look at the Klonopin addiction statistics is clear there’s a significant problem in our society surrounding substance abuse and that providing education and access to addiction treatment centers is paramount.
- More than 75,000 people were admitted to the emergency room in 2011 due to complications caused by Klonopin.
- Approximately 60,000 admissions to treatment centers in 2008 were for Klonopin addiction.
- Close to 15% of Americans have a bottle of benzodiazepine in their medicine cabinet today.
- In 2011, Klonopin was the second-most diverted benzodiazepine.
- Almost 5 million people in the US over age 12 used Klonopin.
- The average age of a first-time experience with illicit use of prescription tranquilizers (such as Klonopin) was 25.4 years old.
Klonopin Addiction Treatment
Addiction to Klonopin is highly prevalent, but those ready to break the addiction cycle can find hope in treatment. Side effects of Klonopin addiction are hazardous to those using them and those around them.
When people experience Klonopin withdrawal symptoms, they go back to taking it even more to control their symptoms. It’s paramount to speak with an addiction treatment specialist to determine the best way to start seeking help for bath salt addiction. At Lighthouse Recovery Institute, our alcohol addiction recovery programs include:
Benzo Medical Detox: A clinically supervised detox process held in addiction treatment centers ensures the patient’s safety and makes the withdrawal phase as comfortable as possible.
Intensive Outpatient Programs: After detox and maybe a partial hospitalization program, patients can choose an intensive outpatient program (IOP) that gives them the flexibility to attend school, work, or care for family members while still attending addiction treatment.
Long-term Recovery Programs: It’s easy to relapse after treatment; almost sixty percent of people relapse. Long-term recovery assistance, patients can have the ongoing support they need to maintain long-lasting sobriety, especially when people with alcohol addiction tend to struggle with related problems all their lives.
Group Therapy: As part of our drug addiction treatment program, patients often find group therapy helpful. So our team integrates Narcotics Anonymous (AA) meetings and other group therapy settings to assist in the recovery phase.
Get Help Today
If you or someone you love is struggling with drug addiction, seek help immediately. Call Lighthouse Recovery Institute today and speak with our addiction center specialists to learn more about our comprehensive and personalized addiction treatment programs.
Our philosophy revolves around treating each patient on a case-by-case scenario because we know 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–your life depends on it.
