Abuse Benzodiazepines or Valium
General or Other | Psychiatry | Abuse Benzodiazepines or Valium (Disease)
Description
Benzodiazepines are a type of medication known as minor tranquilizers, as opposed to the major tranquilizers used to treat psychosis. These drugs include familiar names such as: diazepam, lorazepam, clonazepam, and alprazolam.
Benzodiazepines are prescribed by doctors for the following legitimate medical conditions: Anxiety; Insomnia; Alcohol withdrawal; Seizure control; muscle relaxation; inducing amnesia for uncomfortable procedures; given before an anesthetic (such as before surgery).
Causes and Risk factors
Benzodiazepines are commonly abused. This form of drug abuse is partially related to the toxic effects that they produce and also to their widespread availability. They can be chronically abused or, as seen more commonly in hospital emergency departments, intentionally or accidentally taken in overdose. Death and serious illness rarely result from benzodiazepine abuse alone.
Benzodiazepines is also being used as a date rape drug because this drug can markedly impair and even abolish functions that normally allow a person to resist or even want to resist sexual aggression or assault.
Signs and symptoms of acute toxicity or overdose may include the following: drowsiness; confusion; dizziness; blurred vision; weakness; poor judgment and decision making; slurred speech; lack of coordination; difficulty breathing; coma; death from respiratory arrest (ceased breathing). Signs of chronic drug abuse can be very nonspecific and include changes in appearance and behavior that affect relationships and work performance: anxiety, insomnia, anorexia; headaches; weakness.
Diagnosis and Treatment
The firs step in treatment is awareness of the signs and symptoms of abuse help with recognition. The next step is to try to obtain help for the person. ...