Asana Recovery

STUDY SHOWS BENZODIAZEPINE USE DISORDERS ARE RARE AMONG FREQUENT USERS

WHY ARE BENZODIAZEPINES CLASSIFIED AS SCHEDULE-IV SUBSTANCES?

On the surface, drug abuse and addiction are relatively easy to understand, yet, as more studies begin to emerge, new curveballs are forcibly thrown in the direction of scientists. As a recent study conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has revealed, people who take a popular brand of sleeping pill might not be as susceptible to abuse or addiction as medical professionals previously believed. Surprisingly, when people take this drug in excess (typically opening up the door for misuse), a large portion of these subjects do not suffer from a resulting disorder. Let’s take a closer look at this study and see what NIDA uncovered about the sleep drug benzodiazepine.

Meeting Criteria for Benzodiazepine Use Disorder

Benzodiazepines are medical tranquilizers that are typically used to treat short-term anxiety and sleeping problems (insomnia). More commonly known as Xanax or Valium, these drugs are some of the most frequently prescribed sleeping aids in the United States, the use of benzodiazepines is particularly high amongst adult patients. Besides these statistics, however, experts in the field of public health have not fully calculated the ratio of benzodiazepine users to benzodiazepine use disorders. In that light, a recent study might change how scientists view this condition.

A Lower Rate of Abuse

As part of the 2015-2016 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health, researchers have discovered that benzodiazepine use disorders are (for the most part) rare among adults who use the sleeping medication (even if these people are currently taking excessive amounts of the drug). For the study, investigators analyzed 102,000 adult test subjects for an ongoing period, covering medication uses for medical or psychiatric problems.

As a result, the following statistics were produced:

  • 5% of adults in the United States used benzodiazepines (30.5 million people)
  • 1% of adults misused benzodiazepines at least one time
  • 2% of adults were diagnosed with benzodiazepine use disorders
  • Concerning benzodiazepine users, 17.1% abused the drug while less than 2% of these people suffered from benzodiazepine use disorders.

Always remember that mind-altering drugs do not have control over your life. You do. Are you suffering from a substance abuse disorder or addiction? Do you have a friend or family member suffering from one or more of these debilitating illnesses? If you do, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and rehabilitation and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While the road to recovery might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to stay fit, healthy, and safe.

The time for you to take back control of your life is now. If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to overcome your drug addiction and substance abuse troubles today.