Ativan Addiction Treatment and Rehab

Ativan (lorazepam) is a prescription benzodiazepine used to manage anxiety and seizure disorders. It is also an addictive, controlled substance. Quitting Ativan is particularly dangerous and shouldn’t be done without professional care. At Alta Mira, residents benefit from safe, medically supervised detox, evidence-based treatment, and a holistic approach that promotes lasting, positive lifestyle changes.

What Is Ativan Addiction?

Ativan is the brand name for the drug lorazepam, one of a class of anti-anxiety sedatives called benzodiazepines. Ativan is designed for short- and intermediate-term use, meaning it is seldom prescribed for more than four months at a time. In addition to its use in treatment for anxiety disorders, Ativan may also be prescribed for insomnia, alcohol withdrawal, bipolar disorder, and to counteract stomach problems caused by chemotherapy.

Like other types of benzodiazepines, Ativan is highly effective against the symptoms of anxiety. It induces a state of calm and relaxation by slowing hyperactive neural activity, replacing anxious mental states with far more pleasant feelings. Unfortunately, Ativan is also addictive, and if it is taken in larger doses than intended or for longer than recommended a dependency can easily develop.

Whether it’s overused as a sedative or misused for recreational purposes, Ativan addiction is a difficult condition to overcome, and virtually impossible to defeat without the assistance of trained and experienced addiction treatment professionals.

Ativan Addiction Facts and Statistics

Ativan addiction is unlikely to develop if users stick to their prescriptions. But prolonged or heavy use of the drug can quickly lead to dependence.

The numbers reveal more about the rising risk of Ativan and benzodiazepine misuse:

In a 2018 study by the American Psychiatric Association, more than one in eight U.S. adults used benzodiazepines in the past year.
75 percent of those who visited emergency rooms for benzodiazepine overdoses had also been abusing opioid painkillers, usually for recreational purposes.
20 percent of all emergency room visits for benzodiazepine-related distress result in extended hospitalization or death.
All indicators suggest levels of benzodiazepine addiction are getting worse, and the consequences of that addiction are getting more severe.

Making Private Detox Safer

For many drugs, detox triggers uncomfortable, painful withdrawal symptoms. The risks of going through withdrawal include relapse in response to these symptoms. For Ativan and other benzodiazepines, however, there are even more dangerous risks. Ativan withdrawal causes anxiety, insomnia, high blood pressure, and increased heart rate. It may also trigger seizures.

To safely detox, you need 24-hour supervision with medical care. Not only will this protect you if more serious side effects arise, but the right care helps you go through this difficult process more comfortably. With symptoms under control, you’ll be ready to begin your personalized treatment plan.

Relapse Prevention

The best treatment for addiction to Ativan is ongoing. Relapse is a very real possibility, no matter how hard you work while a resident at Alta Mira. To minimize the risk of relapse and to ensure long-term wellness, we offer continuing care that doesn’t stop when you walk out the residence doors.

Our care team will coordinate your continuing treatment or therapy sessions and help develop a plan for your future. You can also participate in free support group meetings, regular check-ins, and quarterly renewals through our amazing alumni group. Consider substance use disorder to be a chronic illness, and it’s easier to understand how important these ongoing sessions are to long-term recovery.

Hope is Just a Phone Call Away

Signs and Symptoms of Ativan Addiction

Ativan addiction symptoms can result from long-term use of a drug that was not designed for extended consumption, or from heavy use of the drug by those who’ve developed a tolerance for its effects.

Signs of Ativan addiction for chronic, long-term users include:

Increases in anxiety levels
Headaches
Tremors
Insomnia
Memory problems
Physical weakness
Symptoms of anorexia

Meanwhile, heavy use of Ativan magnifies the normal effects of the drug, and when someone is taking large quantities of Ativan they may suffer from:

Extreme drowsiness
Inhibited decision-making
Mental confusion
Blurred vision
Dizziness
Poor coordination
Difficulty speaking clearly
Respiratory troubles

As Ativan addiction unfolds, sufferers will experience sudden and frightening mood swings, and they may become secretive and withdrawn. They may disappear for extended periods of time without any explanation of where they’ve been or what they’ve been doing. If asked about their behavior or signs of ill health, they will blame it on stress, overwork, the flu, or dozens of other excuses that have no connection to reality.

This type of denial aids and abets Ativan addiction, and only when addicts are willing to admit they have a problem will they have a chance of getting better.

Causes and Risk Factors of Ativan Addiction

Anyone taking Ativan for any reason could be vulnerable to drug dependency. Whether used with or without a prescription, Ativan can trigger physical dependence in as little as two weeks of daily use. Nevertheless, there are some risk factors that increase the likelihood of an Ativan addiction developing. They include:

Genetics

Drug dependency tends to run in families, at least partially based on shared genetic factors that make some people more vulnerable to drug addiction.

Severe anxiety disorders or insomnia

When these conditions are persistent and debilitating, people with prescriptions for Ativan are much more likely to exceed recommended dosages.

Recreational use

People who use Ativan recreationally, especially in combination with opioid painkillers, are at far greater risk of developing an addiction than those who use the drug for legitimate medical conditions.

Using the drug for longer than four months

Beyond this point, Ativan tends to stop working and may even cause increased anxiety. Users who don’t realize the danger will likely end up taking excessive quantities of the drug, in search of relief that is no longer coming.

Ativan Overdose

When you confront your loved one about their cocaine abuse, you should be straightforward and honest about what you’ve seen and what you perceive. Nevertheless, you should stay calm, patient, and supportive, even as you push them to accept the truth and agree to seek help.

Your conversations with your loved one should focus on how their cocaine abuse has damaged their relationships, made it difficult for them to keep up on the job or at school, caused them financial hardship, or contributed to physical ailments that could become life-threatening in the future.

If your loved one remains reluctant to believe what is obvious to you, an intervention might be necessary. At Alta Mira, we can help you find an intervention expert in your area, or answer all your questions about how an intervention works and what treatment will entail. Once treatment begins, you’ll be invited to participate in our multilevel family program, which will make you an active partner in your loved one’s recovery.

Alta Mira has helped a significant number of men and women come out on top in their struggles with cocaine addiction. If your loved one agrees to enter our residential treatment facility, their issues will be dealt with proactively, comprehensively, and empathically. They won’t be judged, but instead praised for their courage in accepting reality and making the decision to change.

Begin Your Recovery Journey Today

Ativan Addiction Withdrawal and Detox

Gradual tapering of dosage is the only safe way to end a physical dependence on Ativan, regardless of the depth or longevity of the addiction. This will minimize the severity of Ativan withdrawal symptoms, which if left unchecked may include:

Uncontrolled nervousness and anxiety
Distorted perceptions of reality
Depression
Panic attacks
Heavy sweating
Insomnia
Dizziness
Short-term memory loss
Delirium and hallucinations
Coma

Ativan withdrawal symptoms will usually appear within a few hours of the most recent dosage, and any attempts to stop using Ativan completely with no gradual reduction of quantities consumed may provoke a dangerous medical emergency.

Medical detox is the best hope for a safe and sustainable recovery from the withdrawal symptoms of Ativan addiction. With round-the-clock supervision and monitoring of all physical and psychological side effects associated with Ativan withdrawal, detox can take place at the proper pace, smoothing the transition to therapy and other treatment interventions once physical dependency is under control.

How Our Luxury Ativan Treatment Center Transforms Lives

During your stay at Alta Mira, you’ll have an individualized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. This will include comprehensive services for any co-occurring conditions that might be complicating or supporting your Ativan addiction.

Our Transformational Opiate Addiction Treatment Program

Your first 30 days of treatment at Alta Mira is referred to as your Detox, Stabilization, Assessment period, which begins with private, medically supervised detox. During this time, our detox specialists will keep you safe and secure, monitored 24/7, as you rest in the privacy of your own room.

You can also expect:

Weekly meetings with a psychiatrist
Weekly meetings with a medical doctor
Neuropsychological testing and advanced psychological testing
Orientation to our recovery fundamentals and self-regulation skills development
In-depth family engagement and the option for loved ones to attend multiple 3-day family programs
Introduction to therapy groups

The Courage to Change

Lasting change takes time. It can take six weeks to change a simple habit. Changing behavior following Ativan addiction can be very challenging. Learning how to develop clean and sober behaviors, effectively deal with triggers and stressors, take medication as prescribed, and make healthy lifestyle changes to support long-term recovery can take time.

Working Together

We understand that in order for treatment to be successful, we must listen closely and truly understand your needs, aspirations, personal history, and treatment goals. All members of our care team align closely with you so that you feel safe, respected, and ready to do your work. With this approach, Alta Mira co-creates a profound healing experience with you so you can achieve your recovery goals and reclaim your life.

Reclaim Your Life at Our Private Ativan Addiction Treatment Center Today

We believe individuals are best able to focus on their recovery when immersed in a secure, serene, healing setting. That’s why we provide comfortable surroundings while maintaining the most advanced and sophisticated Ativan rehab program in Northern California. Clients can expect compassionate care from our best-in-class Ativan addiction specialists.

Seeking a helping hand to guide you through these difficult times is not an easy decision. Our caring and experienced team at Alta Mira can help guide you through the next steps toward achieving lasting recovery.

Don’t let Ativan control your life. To begin your life-changing transformation, contact us today.

Ativan Addiction FAQs

How is Ativan Addiction Diagnosed?

Ativan addiction is officially categorized as a sedative, hypnotic, and anxiolytic (SHA) use disorder. When diagnosing Ativan addiction, clinicians look for distinctive symptoms associated with drug dependency, which they will attempt to uncover while interviewing the patient seeking treatment.

These telltale signs of Ativan addiction include:

Longer than planned consumption
Inability to quit using Ativan without assistance
Use or acquisition of Ativan becomes a time-consuming preoccupation
Powerful cravings
Neglect of home, family, or work obligations related to Ativan use
Persistent interpersonal problems traceable to the addiction
Reduced interest in important social, occupational, or recreational activities
Physically hazardous behavior while under the influence of Ativan
Use of Ativan continuing despite its role in worsening other health problems
Growing tolerance for Ativan (and a need to take more to obtain the desired effects)
Ativan withdrawal symptoms that accompany any attempt to stop using it

If two symptoms are present a mild SHA disorder will be diagnosed, while six symptoms will lead to a diagnosis of severe SHA disorder, which is a dangerous condition that requires swift intervention and treatment.

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Alta Mira is a Safe Place to Get Your Life on Track

When I came to Alta Mira, I was broken, people described me as fragile and silent. At the end of treatment I have found my self-confidence and my voice, in a way I never could have imagined for myself. I truly believe this place is magical, I could never have done this alone

—Charlotte

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