Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment Center

Ativan Addiction 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 abuse:

  • 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 abuse are getting worse, and the consequences of that abuse are getting more severe.

Effective World-Class Treatment for Ativan Addiction at Alta Mira


Addiction to Ativan can be tenacious, but that doesn’t mean treatment is ineffective or unlikely to succeed.

You should never attempt to stop using Ativan without some type of professional supervision. Your doctor can recommend a safe plan, but if you are already experiencing addiction you may need more specialized care. Your recovery journey at Alta Mira begins with safe, supervised detox.

Making Private Detox Safer

For most drugs of abuse, 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.

Individualized Treatment

Effective treatment for Ativan Addiction takes into account each individual’s unique needs, limitations, and strengths. At Alta Mira, you will go through a thorough evaluation to determine the foundation for a specialized treatment plan. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment here. Every resident benefits from therapies and other approaches that best meet their needs.

Luxury Ativan addiction treatment at Alta Mira includes a variety of strategies. You’ll receive individual behavioral therapy, group therapy and support, and have the option to bring in your family for sessions. Experienced therapists will help you dig deeper to address all the issues in your life that have contributed to addiction: past traumas, relationship challenges, grief and loss, spirituality, and more.

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.

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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 abused or used with 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

Heavy use of Ativan often leads to overdose, which is identifiable by symptoms consistent with above-normal dosages (extreme drowsiness, confusion, dizziness, etc.). If these symptoms get progressively worse rather than better, it means an overdose has occurred and emergency assistance should be requested immediately, before it is too late.

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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 4-day family programs
  • Introduction to therapy groups

Following 30 days of stabilization, clients move on to the next phase of their recovery process at Alta Mira, which we call our Transformational Program. Key elements of our complete 90-day transformational Ativan rehab program include:

  • Three individual intensive psychotherapy sessions per week
  • Weekly meetings with a medical doctor
  • Participation in advanced workshops to support introspection, foundational change toward recovery, and relapse prevention
  • Expanded neuropsychological assessment and continued weekly psychiatrist meetings inform tailored treatment adjustments and a refined individualized clinical approach
  • Practice and integration of recovery principles and self-regulation skills and continued family work to support improved individual outcomes
  • Intensive Workshops

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.

Better Ativan Addiction Treatment Outcomes

Our 90-day program provides the structure, support, and time to learn a new way of living to give clients the best possible outcome. Studies show that individuals should participate in drug treatment for at least 90 days to see the best results. However, the best indicator of success is not the duration of the program, but the mutual cooperation between the recovering addict and the treatment center, as they plan for continuing care after finishing the program.

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

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.