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How to Help a Klonopin Addict

Klonopin (clonazepam) is a sedative hypnotic drug of the benzodiazepine class. While it is effective for short-term treatment of anxiety, insomnia, and seizures, it has a strong potential for addiction and is widely abused. If you find that you or a loved one is struggling with a possible addiction to Klonopin, you can find help.

Drug rehab centers offer you all the support you need to recover from addiction to this drug and live a happy and healthy life. It’s not hard to find Klonopin addiction help. Simply call for free at for more information on types of treatment programs available.


How to Approach an Addicted Loved One

It can be difficult to watch a friend or loved one go through the cycle of addiction. If your loved one is open to receiving help and support, you may want to encourage them to see a physician for an evaluation.

Another helpful resource is the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) approach. CRAFT helps friends and family members move their loved one towards treatment using positive reinforcement. The CRAFT model helps to ensure that relationships stay strong through recovery and beyond.

You can also try an intervention. However, be advised that simply confronting your loved one is not an intervention. A successful intervention takes careful planning, requires that the right people attend (those who can offer nonjudgmental concern), and requires that those conducting the intervention have a well thought-out treatment plan in mind. If you’re looking to employ this option, it’s a good idea to hire a professional interventionist to help you plan and organize the intervention, as well as to help you communicate in the most effective manner in order to get your loved one to agree to treatment. Learn what you need to know when planning an intervention here.

Although it may feel overwhelming now, your loved one can get sober and lead a drug-free life. As you approach your loved one, try to:

  • Communicate that it takes courage to seek help.
  • Avoid blaming or criticizing your loved one.
  • Understand that you cannot fix someone else’s problems, but you can be a part of their support system.
  • Assure your loved one that you will remain supportive of their recovery efforts, even if they need to take several attempts at recovery.

Klonopin Addiction Treatment

When you’re looking into Klonopin addiction treatment programs, it’s important that you choose the program that’s going to give you the greatest chance at success. It is also important to undergo withdrawal in a facility where medical staff are present and can monitor you 24/7. Treatment professionals can help you safely detox from Klonopin and treat any serious symptoms that may arise, such as seizures. Learn more about 3-day, 5-day and 7-day detox programs.

Outpatient treatment programs can be very effective if you have a good social support network, like a supportive family. Outpatient programs offer various levels of intensity, from day programs to evening programs that extend over a period of months. These programs allow individuals to participate in treatment while attending to outside needs. They are a valuable option if you need to continue working and spending time with your family, and if you are able to comply with the drug treatment plan.

young-woman-in-individual-therapy-klonopin-addict

Outpatient programs will consist of a predetermined number of hours of treatment a week, and involve attending group and individual therapy sessions. You will meet with a drug abuse counselor on an individual basis and also participate in group therapy—a great place to find support in abstinence. Group therapy offers individuals the opportunity to:

  • Develop communication skills.
  • Support other group members on their journeys to recovery.
  • Socialize with others without using drugs like Klonopin.
  • Develop structure and discipline in their daily lives.
  • Reinforce healthy ways of interacting with others.

Residential inpatient programs are highly effective if you need medical treatment and around-the-clock care in the initial stages of recovery. They are particularly helpful if your home and community are places where you used and/or bought drugs. Inpatient treatment helps remove you from the environment that might trigger relapse. These programs can also address co-occurring or dual diagnosis behavioral and mental health issues that may have fueled the addiction.

Residential programs are highly structured—providing 24-hour care and a safe, secure place to recover. If you don’t have a strong support system and need a completely substance-free environment in which to recover, you may want to consider this type of care. Residential drug rehab centers provide group therapy and individual therapy sessions, and some facilities may also provide skills training, recreational activities, and adjunct therapy such as yoga, meditation, and art therapy.


Is Klonopin Addictive?

Klonopin, a benzodiazapine, is prescribed by doctors to treat anxiety disorders and certain types of seizures. However, its use is not recommended for extended periods of time because of its potential for dependence. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, Klonopin is addictive if you:

  • Take it for a prolonged period of time.
  • Take it in larger doses.

Klonopin is often abused in combination with other drugs, such as opioids. It is a popular drug for addicts who are prescribed methadone. These users abuse the Klonopin to create or intensify euphoric feelings from the methadone (Inaba and Cohen, 2014).

Part of the addiction potential with Klonopin involves its use in attempts to increase the rewarding effects of other drugs—a sure sign of abuse warranting further screening for addiction.


What Are the Signs of Klonopin Addiction?

If your use of Klonopin is out of control and you cannot quit despite numerous efforts, the signs are there that you may be struggling with addiction. Some of the signs of addiction to Klonopin as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) are similar to those of other drugs:

girl-getting-klonopin-from-dealer-klonopin-addict

  • You take it in larger doses and over longer periods of time.
  • You want to quit and have tried to quit several times unsuccessfully.
  • A great deal of time is spent in getting Klonopin.
  • You have “doctor shopped” (visited multiple doctors) to get the drug.
  • You crave the drug in its absence.
  • You experience rebound anxiety, in which the anxiety for which Klonopin may have been prescribed returns in an intensified manner when you quit.
  • You have become tolerant, needing to take higher and higher doses to get the intended effects.
  • You experience withdrawal, which can include seizures and increased hypertension, when you try to quit. (NOTE: Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be dangerous and requires medical care.)
  • You neglect interpersonal, family, or work obligations and responsibilities to use Klonopin.


How to Find Klonopin Rehab Programs

If you’re battling an addiction to Klonopin, you don’t have to fight alone. American Addiction Centers (AAC) maintains trusted rehab facilities across the country. Our hotlines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Simply call for free at to learn more and get the help you need today.


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