Comorbidity and Addiction

 Comorbidity and Benzodiazepines  

Benzodiazepines are taken for a variety of reseasons and are easily able to be misused. Benzodiazepines are taken to reduce activity in the nerves of someone's brain. Benzodiazepines can make someone drowsy. They are used to treat general anxiety disorders, panic attacks, insomnia, alcohol withdrawal, and seizures.  

Examples of Benzodiazepines:  

• Ativan 
• Xanax
• Klonopin
• Librium
• Restoril
• Valium 
• Halcion 
• (Martin, 2019).

Many times individuals use other drugs to increase the high they feel when they are just taking benzodiazepines. "The frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption is a major consideration in patients who need treatment with benzodiazepines" (Linnoila, 1990, para 1). When someone drinks alcohol, it affects their GABA-benzodiazepine-chloride ionophore complex and agonist-like action (Linnoila, 1990). Since alcohol has a more anxiolytic efficacy and many individuals that are anxious take advantage of that. Co-administration should be expected from anxious individuals taking benzodiazepines and who don't totally abstain from alcohol (Linnoila, 1990).

Alcohol and benzodiazepines can work together as long as it is used for withdrawal symptoms. Benzodiazepines are usually prescribed outside of a clinical setting. There is little empirical evidence to show the rational use of benzodiazepines in the common clinical situation where anxiety disorders are comorbid with alcohol use disorders (Mueller, Pagano, Rodriguez, Bruce, Stout, & Keller, 2005). The Harvard Anxiety Research Program since 1989 has monitored the prospective clinical course of individuals with anxiety disorders along with some who have had a history of AUD. The research was found that the use of benzodiazepines was not significantly associated with the presence or absence of a history of AUD for the first year of follow-up (Mueller et al., 2005). The method that was used as a standard parametric analytic method. They looked at the pattern of benzodiazepine use among their participants who were receiving benzodiazepine treatment. They were examined over the course of 12-years.  Each year of follow-up, benzodiazepine usage patterns were examined between individuals who did and who did not have a new episode of AUD (Mueller et al., 2005). Mueller et al. (2005) used proportional hazards regression analysis. Benzodiazepine usage levels were examined as a medium of recovery and recurrence of AUD. It was found that the usage of benzodiazepine remained stable for the course of 12-years, and benzodiazepine use did not distinguish participants who have new AUD from those who did not (Mueller et al., 2005). It was found that participants who had an AUD used more PRN medications in years five to eight (Mueller et al., 2005). Benzodiazepine usage levels did not predict recovery or recurrence in AUD participants. "For participants in the Harvard Anxiety Research Program with comorbid alcohol dependence and anxiety disorders, there was little association between the use of benzodiazepines and the occurrence of a new AUD" (Mueller et al., 2005, para 4). 

Treament of Comorbidity and Benzodiazepine Use

If someone is dealing with addiction and other mental health issues, an inpatient center would be the best option for them. Individuals who take benzodiazepines longer than six months can experience insomnia, muscle spasms, tension, and/or hypersensitivity. Without treatment, these symptoms can turn into full-body seizures (American Addiction Centers, 2020). Inpatient centers allow individuals to get away from their environment where they are tempted to repeat substance abuse behaviors. Inpatient programs can provide monitoring during medical detox. These individuals are professionally trained on how to effectively help their detox go smoothly and safely. Their symptoms can be spotted and addressed before they have the chance to grow and become damaging (American Addiction Centers, 2020). Inpatient programs also have trained, qualified staff to run counseling and coaching sessions (American Addiction Centers, 2020). Individuals will be able to spot their benzo triggers, and when they are all done, they will be able to return to their communities with the skills they learned to stay sober for good (American Addiction Centers, 2020). Other treatment options are group counseling, family counseling, along individual counseling. Especially counseling that has training in substance abuse and addiction. 

Reference

American Addiction Centers. (2020, September 28). Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment. https://americanaddictioncenters.org/benzodiazepine

Linnoila, I., M. (1990). Benzodiazepine and alcohol. National Library of Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1980691/

Martin, S. (2019). Benzodiazepine-Associated risks. National Alliance on Mental Illness. https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Treatment/Mental-Health-Medications/Benzodiazepine-Associated-Risks

Mueller, T., Pagano, M., Rodriguez, B., Bruce, S., Stout, R., & Keller, M. (2005, August 29). Long-term use of benzodiazepines in participants with comorbid anxiety and alcohol use disorders.