Known for calming the brain and nervous system, Diazepam is a popular member of the benzodiazepine family.
Often available under the brand name Valium, [1] this medication works by increasing the calming chemicals in the brain.
By binding to the brain’s receptors, diazepam calms overactivity and produces a relaxing effect.
This makes it a powerful depressant drug capable of prohibiting muscle spasms and seizures.
Due to its sedative effects, diazepam can be used to treat various conditions, from anxiety and alcohol withdrawal to chronic pain and restless leg syndrome.
It’s also utilised in hospitals before a patient goes under general anaesthesia, especially if they’re prone to stress.
Since it appeared on the market in 1963, diazepam has been associated with abuse and addiction. But at the time of its release, little was known about the dangers of valium use, and doctors exercised less caution when prescribing it.
Because Diazepam is so effective at reducing anxiety and calming the body, people can quickly become reliant on it.
Before they know it, a once harmless prescription drug has become their entire life, and they can’t function properly without it.
When someone is originally prescribed valium, it is usually to provide relief from a condition they suffer from daily, such as muscle spasms, restlessness, and anxiety.
When taken every day, the potential for tolerance, dependence, and addiction increases. [2]
Diazepam’s sedative effects and subsequent “high” often lead patients to take more than they should. Soon enough, their dosage has spiralled out of control, and they cannot face the prospect of going a day without diazepam.
Experts have agreed that taking diazepam for as little as 4 weeks can lead to dependence.
In this short time, the body starts to rely on the chemical effect it has on the brain. For this reason, the drug is rarely prescribed beyond 2 weeks.
It’s important to note that because diazepam is a prescription drug, how it can be abused varies dramatically.
Some people obtain diazepam and other benzodiazepines illegally, taking them recreationally and developing an addiction.
Others are prescribed the drug to treat a condition but slowly take more than they need.
For many sufferers, diazepam addiction begins slowly.
They’ll take it once or twice to aid sleep or wind down after a long, stressful day. Sadly, people who struggle to cope with the daily stresses of life are more likely to abuse benzodiazepines.
In higher doses, valium produces a feeling of euphoria, but tolerance quickly builds to this feeling.
Despite wanting to stop, those addicted find they need diazepam to feel normal, rather than to get high.
What’s more, there’s a misconception that because diazepam is legal, it is safer and less addictive than its street drug counterparts. Because of this, many users accidentally overdose or fall into a destructive cycle of addiction.
To understand diazepam addiction, [3] it’s important to understand the ways that our brains change if we take these drugs consistently.
When someone takes diazepam for a long time, the brain’s neurotransmitters learn only to produce GABA chemicals when it has the aid of this drug.
As a result, once enjoyable activities such as spending time with family or partaking in hobbies fall flat without diazepam.
Over time, those addicted become unable to do anything without the help of valium and attempts to quit result in uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
If you’re worried that you might be addicted to diazepam, it’s important to note that you’re not alone in this struggle.
Here in the UK, benzodiazepine addiction has been a common struggle since its over-prescription in the 1970s.
This public health concern has been noted since the 1990s.
Shockingly, one American study [4] reported that benzodiazepine overdose deaths increased by more than 400% from 1996 to 2013.
In the years since diazepam addiction has remained a consistent threat to the safety of UK residents.
According to government statistics, [5] deaths linked to diazepam rose the highest among all benzodiazepine-type drugs in the last decade, from 186 to 304, which is an increase of 63%.
For those suffering in silence, help is available and it’s crucial to access substance abuse support services.
The decision to seek treatment can start by understanding diazepam abuse and why it occurs.
Due to the stigma of shame surrounding diazepam addiction, many people feel the need to hide their problem.
This leads many people to wonder how they can tell if a friend, colleague or loved one is addicted to diazepam.
There are numerous telltale signs once you know what to look out for.
Someone abusing diazepam may have numerous prescriptions from different doctors scattered around.
They’ll also harbour empty pill bottles, packets or blister strips of diazepam, either in plain sight or by filling the nearest bin.
Due to its sedative effects, someone addicted to diazepam will often seem drowsy and listless. You may notice them sleeping far more than usual, being slow to respond, or even drifting off mid-sentence.
When they’re not high, those addicted to valium will be desperately searching for their next dose to avoid the onset of withdrawal.
These withdrawal symptoms arise when someone stops taking diazepam suddenly.
Essentially, their system goes into shock without the drug it has become reliant on.
Someone suffering from diazepam withdrawal may experience restlessness, dizziness and a racing heart. These symptoms often mean many attempts to stop using are unsuccessful.
Behavioural symptoms of diazepam addiction are fairly easy to identify.
As the drug takes over their life, users spend a great deal of time using, getting hold of, or recovering from the effects of diazepam.
They might spend days at a time in bed, only to emerge and focus their energy on obtaining the drug.
To diagnose patients with Benzodiazepine Use Disorder (BUD) clinicians will refer to the DSM-5, [6] an important diagnostic manual.
Published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), [7] this text provides a list of key symptoms for a range of mental health disorders.
To make sure a diagnosis is correct, the DSM-5 organises each symptom of diazepam addiction into a category. These are:
Because sedatives make the user so drowsy, benzodiazepine abuse can cause significant short-term problems.
Dizziness and confusion can lead to accidents, especially when someone drives under the influence of diazepam.
If someone’s tolerance is high then they might think that they’re safe to operate a vehicle, run errands, or take care of dependents.
However, high doses of diazepam can quickly lead to a life-threatening overdose.
Signs of a benzodiazepine overdose include lips turning blue, difficulty breathing, convulsions and even seizures.
The likelihood of these symptoms doubles if valium is mixed with other depressant drugs, such as opioids and alcohol.
It’s not uncommon for heavy users to have a drink or two after taking diazepam, especially as they start to relax. But as both substances are depressants, the risk of heart failure is amplified.
Using diazepam long-term [8] will have a harrowing impact on someone’s general well-being.
As time goes by, a number of physical and mental issues start to occur, making it difficult for the user to function.
Many people in recovery remember their lack of energy and poor physical health while taking diazepam.
As a depressant, benzodiazepines make users feel disengaged and generally unenthusiastic.
This makes carrying out responsibilities harder, causing people to fall behind on work, school, and self-care.
Alongside being physically unable to perform tasks, those addicted also experience emotional problems.
Despite its ability to relieve anxiety, valium can make people feel numb and emotionless.
Over time, this can impact their relationships with loved ones and lead to social isolation.
Those addicted will also struggle with impaired cognitive function. [9]
In addition to feeling desensitised, they may be unable to process tasks and conversations.
Losing the ability to process what someone is saying leads to feelings of loneliness and depression.
These long-term impacts can make seeking professional help feel impossible. Someone who struggles to get out of bed every morning is unlikely to seek professional advice.
Instead, they are preoccupied with simply existing.
Someone might realise that they are dependent on diazepam for a number of reasons.
Perhaps their mental health has got worse, or they’ve realised how many empty pill bottles are in their room.
More commonly, they think they can stop whenever they like and are met with distressing withdrawal symptoms.
Benzodiazepines are infamously difficult to quit cold turkey.
Chronic use of diazepam can deplete levels of serotonin, dopamine and acetylcholine, all of which are needed for the brain to work optimally.
If someone suddenly deprives their system of diazepam, the withdrawal symptoms will be intense.
From muscular pain and cramping to sweating, tremors and nausea, common withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable and distressing.
In addition to these, long-term users may develop fatal complications without medical attention.
Similarly to alcohol withdrawal syndrome, these include hallucinations, seizures and cardiac arrest.
To overcome this make-or-break stage of recovery, diazepam users must slowly taper their use in a controlled setting.
At an inpatient rehab clinic, professionals design a personalised detox plan and help subjects control withdrawal symptoms.
One of the ways this is achieved is by temporarily administering medication.
Before starting their detox, patients are screened for co-occurring conditions, poly-drug abuse and any other physical factors.
Just some of the medications used for diazepam withdrawal include:
In chronic cases, a slower-acting benzodiazepine may be prescribed, allowing the body to adjust to lower levels of diazepam.
While many sufferers attempt to detox at home and recover without help, this method has seen limited success.
Withdrawal symptoms can become overwhelming, pulling someone back into diazepam’s grasp.
Rehab treatment is often viewed as a last resort, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Medical supervision provides the best chance of beating diazepam addiction, regardless of how long you’ve been using for.
Treatment options for long-term valium use are varied and personalised.
Your recovery journey isn’t expected to look the same as other patients, and any good rehab centre will provide tailored treatment.
Those with a mild addiction to diazepam may be referred for outpatient treatment.
Outpatient rehab centres allow patients to return home after each treatment session, allowing them to live life without too many interruptions.
Usually, outpatients undertake detox on-site at the rehab clinic to ensure the best start to their recovery.
Once they’re free from withdrawal symptoms, they can return home and start counselling.
Consistent sessions of individual therapy and group therapy, alongside medications if needed, will reduce the potential risk of relapse.
The long-term abuse of diazepam comes with unique treatment challenges, and these are better addressed at an inpatient rehab centre.
Unlike outpatient care, inpatients have overnight accommodation at their rehab of choice and will stay as long as they need to recover.
Residential care for diazepam addictions takes an integrated approach.
This means treating co-occurring mental or physical disorders in addition to the detox process. [10]
Inpatients will complete a residential detox to address their physical addiction to valium.
After detox has been completed, patients will undertake therapy sessions while living on-site.
This allows them to establish a healthy routine, build positive habits, and lessen their risk of relapsing.
Because diazepam tablets are so addictive, health professionals have developed an array of therapies to address the psychological dependence.
Sadly, most people addicted to benzodiazepines have a co-occurring mental disorder, whether it’s anxiety, depression or something else.
Diazepam may have been used to treat these disorders in the first place, so therapy methods aim to replace the drug with healthy ways of coping.
The following therapy styles are commonly used by addiction specialists here in the UK:
Watching someone’s health decline due to diazepam can be incredibly frightening to witness.
If your loved one is in denial or unwilling to accept help for their diazepam problem, an intervention can help them move forward.
Perhaps they won’t admit how their dependence has spiralled out of control, or maybe they become defensive and shut down your attempts to reach them.
In such cases, a professional intervention can be life-saving.
Rather than forcing the individual to accept help, as movies often portray, a proper intervention is a calm, structured process.
Many people consider hiring a professional interventionist, who will have a wealth of experience helping addicted individuals accept treatment.
An interventionist prefers encouragement and reason over needless confrontation.
To help each intervention meeting run smoothly, they employ these key tactics:
Whether you’re concerned about your benzodiazepine intake, or you’re worried about a loved one’s diazepam use, our team are here to help.
Getting started on the road to rehabilitation doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Sometimes, making a simple phone call is all it takes to kickstart your recovery.
Here at Rehab 4 Addiction, we specialise in providing personalised referrals for an array of addictions.
We understand that you might be nervous to discuss your diazepam use, and we’ll do everything we can to make you feel comfortable.
During your phone consultation, our team of experts will talk you through your unique addiction treatment options.
Whether you want assistance finding a local rehab clinic or simply want some medical advice, we can help you directly or give you the resources you need
Simply call 0800 140 4690 to contact a member of the team and start your recovery journey today.
[3] https://books.google.co.th/books?id=XislswEACAAJ&dq=valium+addiction&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6639084/
[6] https://www.addictionpolicy.org/post/dsm-5-facts-and-figures
[7] https://www.psychiatry.org/
[8] https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/diazepam/
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7649772/
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
