f you are an older adult, it’s more likely to occur if you abuse the drug recreationally.
Drug abuse can sometimes be kept hidden for a short time, but addiction is difficult to keep contained. If you are worried about a friend or family member, here are some signs and symptoms to consider:
If you have been using benzos, and you think you might be developing a substance use disorder, there are a few signs that can point to an emerging addiction. The first sign is typically tolerance, which is when your brain and body start to get used to estazolam. You may notice that your normal dose isn’t as effective as it used to be or that you need more of the drug to achieve the same effects.
As tolerance grows, you may start to become dependent on the drug, and you may start to feel uncomfortable symptoms if you stop or cut back. Dependence is a problem that affects chemical communication pathways in your brain. Your nervous system becomes reliant on estazolam and stops producing some of its own natural chemicals. When you stop using, the consequential imbalance causes unpleasant and even dangerous symptoms.
After a period of dependence, you may start to become addicted. Addiction is characterized by the continued use of a drug despite clear consequences. For instance, if benzo intoxication causes you to get into a car accident, but you still can’t stop using, you may be addicted.
Estazolam addiction is a serious disease that can have lasting consequences. However, addiction is treatable with evidence-based therapies and experienced medical and clinical professionals. Because estazolam can potentially cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms, treatment should begin with medical detoxification.
Detoxification is usually done at the highest level of care in addiction treatment, otherwise known as medically managed intensive inpatient services. At this level, patients are given 24 hours of medical care every day, and you will be treated with medications to manage symptoms and avoid complications.
After detox, clinicians will help you find the next step in your recovery journey. Addiction often requires long-term care and personalized treatment. You may be placed in an inpatient program if you have ongoing medical or psychological concerns, or an intensive outpatient or outpatient program.
In addiction treatment, you will be able to sit down with a therapist and get to the root of your addiction problem while addressing any underlying disorders. Behavioral therapies are often utilized to help prevent relapse and help you learn healthy coping mechanisms.
Estazolam may be a prescription drug that’s commonly prescribed, but that doesn’t mean that it’s harmless.
It can cause addiction, overdose, and deadly withdrawal symptoms. When abused, benzodiazepines can cause intoxication, just like alcohol. You may feel drowsy, lose motor skills, or experience impair judgment. Because of this, abuse can lead to accidents and falls that cause death or injury.
In some cases, users mix benzodiazepines with alcohol, opioids, or other substances that suppress your nervous system for a greater high. However, mixing drugs can compound their effects and lead to a deadly overdose. During a benzo overdose, your breathing can slow down to the point of oxygen deprivation, leading to coma, brain damage, or death.
Unlike other drugs, CNS depressants have the added risk of being dangerous during withdrawal. As the chemicals that excite your nervous system are suppressed as you become dependent on estazolam, they may start to build up.
If you stop suddenly, your nervous system will go into overdrive, causing anxiety, panic, tremors, and insomnia. In some cases, it can cause seizures and delirium tremens, which can be deadly without medical intervention.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America. (n.d.). Facts & Statistics. from https://adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics
ASAM. (n.d.). American Society of Addiction Medicine. from https://www.asam.org/resources/the-asam-criteria/about
CDC. (2018, February 22). Sleep and Sleep Disorders. from https://www.c