What is a depressant?
The term “downer” is one of the many street names used for depressants, drugs that slow down the brain’s central nervous system and neural activity. Depressants include an array of drugs, including alcohol, marijuana, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, among others.
There is a medical use for depressants and that is to relieve anxiety and muscle spasms, put one to sleep and prevent seizures. For those struggling with mental health issues, depressants, also known as antipsychotics, can help treat their symptoms. For those who need aid in sleeping, the barbiturates form of depressants can help. For those with anxiety issues, benzodiazepine form of depressants can help treat the symptoms.
However, it is easy to get addicted to depressants. In case of depressants prescribed by a doctor, addiction develops if a person takes more than the recommended dose or without a prescription. On the other hand, in case of depressants like alcohol and marijuana, dependence or addiction develops from repeated use.
Depressants: side effects
Despite being available in various types, side effects of depressants are typically the same. Following are some of the common side effects:
Slow brain function
Slowed pulse and breathing
Lowered blood pressure
Poor concentration
Confusion
Fatigue
Dizziness
Slurred speech
Nausea and vomiting
Fever
Sluggishness
Visual disturbances
Dilated pupils
Disorientation, lack of coordination
Depression
Difficulty in urination or other urinary problems
In addition to causing short-term effects, long-term use of depressants can cause one to experience the following severe symptoms and mental health problems:
Depression
Chronic fatigue
Breathing difficulties
Sexual problems
Sleep issues
Anxiety
Panic
Agitation
High body temperature
Delirium
Hallucinations
Convulsions
Weight gain
Diabetes
High-blood sugar
It can be quite dangerous when depressants are consumed in combination with other substances. For example, when one consumes a benzodiazepine like Valium, he/she can suffer from liver disease or mental impairments. And if the person also consumed alcohol at the same time or mixes Valium with alcohol, it could slow down someone’s breathing and heart rate so much that he/she could die.
Depressant addiction: signs and symptoms
When people are addicted to depressants, they are struggling with a disease characterized by the compulsive seeking tendencies of consuming drugs. No matter what the cause of the addiction may be, the first step in treating drug abuse is being able to identify the signs of substance dependence.
Following are some of the signs and symptoms of depressant addiction:
Doctor shopping — obtaining multiple prescriptions from different doctors to obtain more depressants
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not taking depressants
An increased reliance on one or more depressants in order to get through everyday life
Depression
Aggressive behavior
Psychotic episodes
Abuse of other depressants, including alcohol
Permanent mental impairments
Due to the nature of addiction, depressants can take over someone’s life to the point where everything they do revolves around drugs. Since addiction is a disease, it needs a long-term treatment plan that is personalized to the patient’s needs.
Treatment for depressant addiction
A comprehensive treatment for depressant abuse comprises medically supervised detox and therapy. Medically supervised depressant detox treatment is the process in which the patient is prepared to stop or reduce the use of depressants while medical professionals treat the withdrawal symptoms experienced by him/her.
Following are some of the withdrawal symptoms:
Anxiety
Delirium
Disorientation
Gastrointestinal problems
Hallucinations
Insomnia
Convulsions
Loss of appetite
Sweating
Weakness
Tremors
Sensitivity to light, sound, and smells
Death
Though withdrawal from depressants after a long-term usage makes a user experience uncomfortable and often life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, a supervised detox program at any of the certified depressant detox centers can help ease the symptoms and minimize the likelihood of a relapse.
A supervised detoxification treatment is only the first step in the treatment for depressants. The next step in treatment is therapy, which helps in addressing the nature of addiction and giving people the necessary tools for living drug-free. As the risk of relapse increases when there is a co-occurring illness, therapy should also treat the same simultaneously.
Why choose us?
For those seeking treatment for depressant addiction treatment in Texas, we provide all treatment services that one may need to embark on the road to recovery. Our team of medical professionals comprising certified clinicians and psychiatrists helps create a customized plan for each individual patient that helps in treating the addiction along with any co-occurring illnesses.
Patients who need medical detox can find treatment at our El Paso facility. They can join our residential treatment program where they can relax and focus on their recovery while receiving 24/7 medical and non-medical care. In addition to detox services, patients are also offered counseling and therapy services, including individual therapy, group therapy, process groups and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) at our state-of-the-art facility.
After the successful completion of treatment, our patients can choose to undergo continuing care or recovery management programs, including chapter meetings, support groups, educational events, and life skills courses to help them face real-life and high-risk situations without too many hassles. This way, patients can continue to get the support they need as they embrace recovery and stay determined to remain sober and clean through their lives.
For those who are on the lookout for best treatment programs for substance abuse and addiction, Sovereign Health is the right place. To know more about our top-notch addiction treatment programs or to locate our state-of-the-art treatment centers near you, call our 24/7 helpline and speak with our representatives. You can even chat online with our representatives for any further assistance.