How to Help an Ativan Addict
If you struggle with an addiction to a drug like Ativan, it is important to remember that you don’t have to fight your battle alone. Finding a rehab facility that offers Ativan addiction help is not difficult. In fact, it’s as easy as calling a helpline.
How to Approach an Addict
If your loved one is addicted to Ativan and they have reached out for help in seeking treatment, they’ve already taken the first step in their journey toward recovery.
Research shows that drugs actually change the brain. This is why it can be very difficult for someone to quit using drugs. However, with treatment, some of these neurological changes can be reversed and your loved one can successfully lead a drug-free life. It is important that you make the individual feel safe and loved during their recovery process. Ultimately, ongoing expressions of support and concern can help them seek treatment and get sober.
When approaching a loved one about their addiction to Ativan, it is helpful to keep a few things in mind:
- Try to avoid language that is blaming or criticizing.
- Use “I” statements, such as “I noticed” or “I am worried.”
- Try to put yourself in their shoes.
- Try not to start a conversation when your loved one is high.
If you are feeling unsure about how to begin a conversation, you can prepare by consulting with a therapist or doctor. You may also consider taking advantage of resources like Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT). CRAFT teaches those closest to the addicted person how to talk to them about treatment. The skills taught in CRAFT are helpful even if your loved one does not choose to enter treatment or they have already begun their treatment.
You can also offer to help create a list of questions to ask rehab centers that look like they could be a fit. Making a list and weighing different options can help your loved one decide which features are most important to them. Example questions may include:
- Will I sleep in a single bedroom or a shared room?
- Can I bring my pet?
- What is your policy on cell phone use and computer use?
- What is your treatment center’s policy for involving family members or significant others?
- What is your policy toward visiting, phone calls, and family therapy?
- What is the weekly treatment schedule?
- What types of meals are provided? Is there a kitchen where I can prepare my own meals?
Additional questions for either an inpatient or outpatient facility may include:
- How effective is your program at helping patients get sober or reduce their substance intake?
- How effective is your program at helping patients develop a better quality of life?
- How do you measure and collect this data?
- How does your center assess for comorbid or dual diagnosis disorders?
- May I see reviews of your facility or speak with someone who has gone through the program?
- Do you provide aftercare services? If so, what types of services do you offer?
Keep in mind that every person responds to treatment differently. If your loved one has been through treatment before and it was not successful, you can encourage them to try a different approach. It’s never too late to get help.
Addiction Treatment
Detox
As a person develops a higher tolerance to a benzodiazepine like Ativan, their body may become physically dependent on the drug. When dependence takes hold, withdrawal symptoms can emerge when the user stops taking the drug or reduces their dose. People withdrawing from benzodiazepines may experience the following withdrawal symptoms:
- Anxiety.
- Increased heart rate.
- Hypertension (raised blood pressure).
- Insomnia.
The most serious withdrawal symptoms are seizures, which can occur when a person withdraws from the drug abruptly.
Seeking treatment for Ativan detox can help you safely work through the withdrawal symptoms of Ativan use under medical supervision.
Addiction Treatment
Treatment for an Ativan addiction can take place on either an inpatient or outpatient basis. Deciding what type of addiction treatment you want is the first step to your recovery. Both types of treatment have benefits, but some people prefer a more structured atmosphere in which to beat their addictions. It’s important that you choose the type of program that’s right for you.
Outpatient treatment facilities offer different types of programs. Some programs have you visit the facility once per week or less. Daily check-in programs require you to meet with an individual counselor once per day. Day programs require you to stay at the facility for eight hours every day to attend lectures about addiction and go to group therapy sessions.
Outpatient programs are more flexible. Since you don’t live at the rehab center, you have time to work a full-time job and take care of your family responsibilities. If you choose to complete an outpatient treatment program, it’s important that you have a good support system at home. In addition, since you don’t stay at the facility 24 hours per day, your drug abuse counselor might give you random drug tests to make sure that you are following the addiction recovery plan.
Inpatient treatment facilities require you to live at the rehab center 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. The time you spend at the center revolves around your recovery. You’ll attend group and individual therapy sessions, participate in activities that teach you how to function without taking Ativan and attend educational lectures about addiction and recovery.
Is Ativan Addictive?
Ativan is a brand name for the drug lorazepam, a medication that falls into a class of medications called benzodiazepines. It works by slowing down the activity in your brain, putting you in a relaxed state.
Doctors typically prescribe Ativan to help patients who struggle with anxiety disorders, but it’s also used to treat insomnia, epilepsy, and irritable bowel syndrome. According to MedlinePlus—a website designed by the U.S. National Library of Medicine—Ativan can be addictive if you take it for a prolonged period.
Learn more about the effects of Ativan use.
Am I Addicted to Ativan?
Addictions to Ativan don’t happen overnight. Addiction occurs when someone taking a substance takes it for so long that his or her body becomes dependent on the medication. According to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., you shouldn’t take Ativan on a regular basis for more than four months.
Once your body has developed a chemical addiction to this stimulant, your body doesn’t function normally without the medication. Some Ativan abusers experience withdrawal symptoms when they don’t take the pill. Withdrawal symptoms can include:
- Panic attacks, anxiety, tension, or depression.
- Personality changes.
- Insomnia, restlessness, or irritability.
- Confusion, dizziness, hallucinations, and memory loss.
- Sensitivity to light or sound.
- Sweating.
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever.
- Rapid heartbeat and heart palpitations.
- Seizures.
It’s common for users who experience withdrawal symptoms to continue taking Ativan so that they can function normally throughout the day. Some people who abuse prescription medications have intense cravings for the medications when they don’t have them.
How to Find Help for Ativan Misuse or Addiction
If you or a loved one is struggling with Ativan misuse, help is available and recovery is possible. Professional treatment can start anyone battling a substance use problem on the path to a happier and healthier life. American Addiction Centers (AAC) maintains trusted facilities across the country. To learn more about rehab programs and treatment options, please contact a caring admissions navigator with AAC free at .
You can also quickly and easily check your insurance coverage for free by filling out the form below.
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