Klonopin Treatment and Rehab

In 2011, CCHR International called Klonopin the most dangerous pill in America. Not oxycodone, Adderall or hydrocodone, but a medication which they say doctors are dishing out like candy, leading to drug overdoses, hellish withdrawal and even death. Drug and alcohol addiction is a serious problem in the UK, Europe and the US. The risk of addiction to illicit substances like heroin, cocaine, crystal meth and marijuana are well known. Therefore, it’s easier for people to avoid these drugs. However, with prescription pills like Klonopin, opioids and benzodiazepines (‘benzos’), dependence and addiction are mostly accidental, which makes it even more dangerous.

While developed countries battle the growing problem of opioid addiction, cases of overdose deaths from anticonvulsants and sedative medication have gradually risen in recent years. Prescriptions have tripled and fatal overdoses quadrupled in the last two decades. The major reasons are because people are using benzos’ in a riskier way, believing them to have a lower risk of addiction, as they were prescribed by their doctors.

Doctors need to inform their patients about the potential for addiction when taking benzos, as there are usually safer alternatives. Patients need to be more careful when taking benzos and avoid combining them with opioids or alcohol, as such interactions increase the risk of permanent brain damage, severe withdrawal and death from overdose.

Klonopin Abuse and Addiction Treatment

Klonopin is a medication that’s part of the benzodiazepine family. It is prescribed for agoraphobia, seizure disorders and anxiety disorders. Klonopin (also known as Clonazepam) has become a popular drug of choice among Hollywood stars, Wall Street traders and other successful people trying to cope with the stresses of their job.

Stevie Nicks was one such famous addict in the 1970s. The former lead singer of Fleetwood

Mac regularly talks about the effect Klonopin had on her life from the moment it was prescribed by her doctor and how it ruined her life for eight years.

Some addicts have described it as the worst addiction to have because they tend to feel terrible after the initial ‘high’ has subsided. There’s a sense of extreme anxiety and paralysis – akin to electrifying your tongue or setting your brain on fire.

Klonopin aims to balance chemicals in the central nervous system. It is a habit-forming sedative with a high potential for abuse and addiction. Only take the drug exactly how it’s prescribed by a doctor or you risk building tolerance. The sedative and euphoric ‘high’ produced by Clonazepam makes it attractive to recreational users. When you take the drug more frequently and in larger amounts, you’ll quickly become dependent.

Treatment for Klonopin addiction includes detox, to rid your body of all drug toxins; medication, to ease benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms; rehab, to treat psychological addiction; and aftercare planning, to help you maintain long-term abstinence.

Klonopin Addiction Treatment: What is it?

If you take Klonopin as prescribed by your GP, it can safely manage seizures, panic disorders and anxiety. You abuse Klonopin when you snort, inject, chew or smoke it. It’s also considered abuse if you increase the dosage, take it without a prescription or use Klonopin to get ‘high’. Abusing Klonopin leads to side effects such as blurry vision, dizziness, memory problems, dementia (in older adults), accidents, financial issues, broken relationships and suicidal ideation.

Addiction treatment is the medical and psychotherapy care you receive to treat the physical and psychological symptoms of Klonopin addiction. Some of the changes caused by Klonopin abuse in the brain are permanent or irreversible if you don’t seek treatment in time. Benzodiazepine withdrawal and detox are not the same as cannabis or amphetamine detox. You’ll need to be supervised by a team of medical professionals to ensure acute symptoms like seizures or convulsions are well managed.

Treatment isn’t limited to quitting drugs or ridding your body of Klonopin. It encompasses everything you do to embrace healthy alternatives such as nutrition, coping with stress, triggers, temptation and even handling a relapse. Long-term Klonopin addiction treatment adequately prepares you to live a drug-free life and make positive changes to your behaviour, emotions and thinking patterns.

Treatment for Klonopin Addiction is a Necessity

When benzos entered the drug market in 1959, they were hailed as the safest, least addictive option to barbiturates. Benzodiazepines like Klonopin enhance GABA chemicals in the brain and depress certain functions in the CNS to work as an anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant, anxiolytic and hypnotic medication. These medications are effective, but only for short-term use.

Using Klonopin as a permanent solution to neurological problems increases the risk of tolerance, dependence and addiction. Withdrawal from Klonopin is painful, extremely difficult and potentially fatal. You must detox at a medically-supervised detoxification centre to eliminate health risks associated with benzo withdrawal.

Klonopin addiction treatment is comprehensive, covering both the physical and psychological aspects of addiction. Physicians help to reduce Klonopin doses of to taper you off the drug gradually until it’s totally left your system. Detoxing at home is dangerous, as you or your loved one do not have the medical expertise to prescribe medications or oversee withdrawal.

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Effective Treatment for Klonopin Addiction

Research from the University of Geneva shows that abusing benzos like Klonopin causes physical changes in the body and blocks essential brain function. The body releases an overflow of dopamine and in time, the physical structure of the brain’s neural system also changes. Your brain adjusts to the abundance of dopamine and reinforces the desire to increase the next dose and use more frequently. Holistic treatment for Klonopin addiction considers all risk factors for

addiction, Holistic treatment for Klonopin addiction considers all risk factors for addiction, as well as your medical history, any past issues with drug addiction or mental health issues diagnosed during intake. Klonopin rehab helps to break the cycle of addiction, gradually repairs damage to the brain and restores natural levels of GABA and dopamine.

During intake, you’ll be asked targeted questions and tested to determine the number of drugs in your body. The answers you provide help addiction specialists to create a tailored plan for your treatment and recovery.

Therapy and Specialised Treatment Options

A guiding principle for all addiction treatment is based on the belief that every individual with a substance use disorder has a unique set of symptoms, risk factors and mental issues that require a specialised plan to properly treat all facets of addiction and increase the chances of life-long abstinence for the patient.

Specialised treatment includes a plan to ensure you detox safely. Doctors taper you off by gradually reducing your dosage until Klonopin (and other substances) has left your system. You’ll also be provided medication to ease painful withdrawal symptoms. Medications include:

Anticonvulsant medications: If the patient develops seizures during withdrawal. Carbamazepine and Tegretol are two options that work well. They also assist with general withdrawal from Klonopin.

Prozac and Paxil: Two medications classed as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), useful for easing withdrawal pain.

Melatonin: A hormone that helps patients experiencing insomnia sleep better. It also reverses tolerance and other withdrawal symptoms.

Inpatient and Outpatient Rehab for Klonopin Addiction:

Inpatient rehab:

Most Klonopin addicts have a polydrug use problem and mental health disorder, for which they’re trying to self-medicate using Klonopin. Residential rehab helps to tackle the underlying reason for your addiction, change negative behaviours for positive ones and helps you create (and follow) a recovery plan. For those with mental health issues, inpatient rehab provides a conducive therapeutic environment, free from any distractions that might hinder your recovery.

The length of stay depends on the duration and frequency of drug use, amongst other factors. The best option is to choose a 90-day rehab stay to increase your chances of staying clean and maintaining life-long abstinence from drugs. Short stays (30 days long) are recommended for individuals with mild dependence.

Outpatient rehab:

While outpatient rehab isn’t the first choice an addiction specialist will recommend for treatment, it is effective for disciplined, highly-functional addicts, who can avoid the distractions of the outside world whilst attending therapy. You’ll receive the same therapy sessions, doctor appointments, skills training and other programmes as inpatients. The major difference is that you’ll live at home and will be exposed to triggers and temptations you might not be able to handle.

Finding an Exclusive Klonopin Rehab

For some Klonopin addicts, work commitments might be preventing you from seeking addiction treatment. The primary focus of an exclusive programme is to help you get clean and treat psychological addiction, whilst providing work-related essentials like Wi-Fi, computers, printers, conference room and mobile phone access to allow you to conduct business.

These facilities provide amenities you’ll only find at a five-star hotel or luxury apartment building and include: gourmet chefs, exotic meals, in-house gym, massage therapy, horse riding, team building activities, swimming pool, saunas, gorgeous private rooms and housekeeping services. You’ll receive treatment whilst enjoying the sort of lifestyle you’re used to.

What to Know about Klonopin Clinics

When you enter rehab, you’ll be welcomed by an addiction counsellor who oversees the intake and evaluation process. This stage determines the severity of your Klonopin addiction and looks for signs of co-occurring disorders. If there are no drugs in your system, you’ll head to rehab. Alternatively, you’ll undergo detox to remove any drugs from your system, should they be present.

After detox, you’ll transition to rehab, where a combination of psychotherapy techniques and medication is used to treat psychological addiction. Some of the therapy techniques used in treatment include relapse prevention, dual diagnosis treatment, family therapy, individual therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and life skills classes.

Private Klonopin Rehabs and Confidentiality

Privacy and confidentiality is a serious issue for many people seeking rehab treatment. Discussing your addiction – either with a therapist or group of fellow recovering addicts – can make you feel vulnerable and exposed. You’ll dig up past issues, traumas and situations that might have led to your initial drug use. Therefore, it’s essential the patient feels protected and safe during treatment.

While rehab facilities employ different techniques for treating Klonopin addiction, the one constant is that all have guidelines to protect your confidentiality. This ensures you fully concentrate on treatment without having to worry about your personal details being leaked to non-authorised personnel.

Individual and Group Therapy

Individual Therapy:
Individual therapy involves one-on-one sessions with a trained addiction therapist. It can take place in your therapist’s office, a classroom or outdoors. Sometimes, it’s used during detox to treat psychological withdrawal symptoms such as depression and emotional stress of the detox process. Sessions take place once or twice a week and last 45 to 50 minutes. During the initial stages, your therapist works to set treatment goals; teach you to manage emotions without taking drugs; learn coping mechanisms, and improve communication skills.

Group Therapy:
When implemented alongside medication management and individual therapy, group counselling is an indispensable part of substance abuse treatment. It involves a group of two or more people led by a certified drug counsellor and is used in outpatient recovery programmes, hospital-based programmes and inpatient programmes.

During sessions, members provide support and motivation to each other, share tips for navigating triggers, learn more about their addiction and build a sense of belief, self-worth and optimism, all the while recognising that addiction is a conquerable disease.

Duration of Treatment

Medical Detox: It usually takes 7-10 days to detox from Klonopin, though long-term users might require 14 days.

Inpatient rehab: the duration of inpatient stay is determined by several factors, such as your risk of addiction; history, length and frequency of drug use; a combination of drugs used; medical health; and mental disorders. Long-term rehab is ideal to treat Klonopin addiction properly and prepare you to re-enter society. It lasts between two to six months.

Outpatient rehab: Outpatient programmes range from 10-16 weeks, depending on your addiction needs. These are designed for individuals who can’t take time off work or school to fully commit to treatment.

Detoxing from Klonopin: All you need to know

Withdrawal symptoms occur when you stop taking Klonopin, of which there are three phases:

Phase 1, Early withdrawal: this stage lasts around four days. You might experience rebound effects such as insomnia and anxiety. Symptoms you initially tried to treat with Klonopin return more aggressively.

Phase 2, Acute Withdrawal: this peaks in the second week after your previous dose and lasts up to one month in some patients. This is the stage where most withdrawal symptoms occur, such as hallucinations, irritability, short-term memory loss, stomach pain, headaches and fatigue.

Phase 3, Late Withdrawal: most of the symptoms subside after the second week, but protracted withdrawal continues in some patients, who continue to experience drug cravings and other psychological symptoms, weeks after they stopped using Klonopin.

‘Cold turkey’ detox is dangerous and ill-advised. You’ll be weaned off Klonopin via the tapering process, whereby doctors slowly reduce your dose whilst providing medication to manage emotional and physical side effects. Medical detox lasts 5-10 days until the drug has completely left your system.

Psychological Therapy

Behavioural therapy helps a patient in rehab understand past actions that fueled drug use and teaches you skills and techniques for dealing with triggers, stressful situations and relapse. Techniques include:

Contingency Management (CM): The foundation of CM is motivational incentives, whereby patients are rewarded for good behaviours or reaching positive milestones in their recovery journeys. Addiction targets the reward centre of the brain to reinforce drug use. CM targets those same areas of the brain, replacing the need for continued drug use, with a desire to maintain positive behaviour and abstinence. It can be combined with medication management, CBT and Motivational Interviewing.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): The primary aim of CBT is to increase your awareness, behaviour and resulting consequences of your thoughts and actions. You’ll work with a therapist to identify negative opinions of your environment, the future and yourself. These flawed perceptions are cognitive distortions that you’ll work hard to change for positive feelings, thoughts and behaviours.

Motivational Interviewing: Recovering addicts need the motivation to move forward in their treatment. In the past, a confrontation was used to address a lack of motivation but proved ineffective. Today, Motivational Interviewing helps you move from uncertainty or indecision to finding motivation for accomplishing established goals and making positive decisions. A therapist helps you explore your feelings and find internal motivation to quit drug use and embrace positive change. Key elements include evocation, collaboration and autonomy.

Risks of Treatment

The first risk of Klonopin treatment is experiencing the dangerous side effects of withdrawal. Symptoms you were initially trying to treat (such as severe seizures and convulsions) might reappear. Medical professionals are on standby to provide medication should this happen.

Medications prescribed during detox are applied in the smallest doses to avoid switching one addiction for another. Steve

Nicks was receiving treatment for cocaine addiction when she was prescribed Klonopin and other medication to help reduce cravings. Sadly, she inadvertently switched addictions and battled Klonopin addiction for eight years.

We encourage you not to detox ‘cold turkey’ or detox at home, especially if you have mental health issues (which intensify withdrawal symptoms). The only way to remain safe during detox is to enrol at a Klonopin rehab facility with an in-house medical detox centre.

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Call our admissions line 24 hours a day to get help.

Paying for Klonopin Addiction Treatment

Millions of people around the world need help for Benzodiazepine addiction but don’t attend rehab because they assume they can’t afford treatment. Money shouldn’t stop you from living a fulsome, healthy life. There are several options when paying for rehab. They include:

  • Using your health insurance. All providers cover mental health treatment. Ask your insurance provider if they cover full or partial rehab payment.
  • Asking for financial aid from friends and family.
  • Using your personal finances to pay for treatment.
  • Taking out a home equity loan.
  • Using your credit card.
  • Attending free government-run
  • Asking for a government grant from the National Health Service (NHS).

When and Why to End your Klonopin Treatment

The decision to seek addiction treatment is one of the hardest choices you’ll ever have to make. If you stop halfway, without completing the programme, there’s a high chance you’ll relapse within the first week, fall deeper into addiction, risk overdosing and never return to addiction treatment.

Leaving treatment against medical advice means you’re not prepared to handle stressful situations, deal with triggers in a positive way or live a life that enables abstinence. Sometimes, you’ll feel overwhelmed by the psychological withdrawal symptoms, dread every day of rehab or feel overconfident with the little you’ve learnt from therapy in just a week or two.

If you’re having doubts about rehab, talk with your therapist. They’ll help to work out your fears and motivate you to continue treatment. It’s self-sabotage to leave treatment early, after all the hard work you’ve put in to come this far. Therefore, stay in treatment for the recommended duration. Remember why you’re in rehab, trust that treatment is working and draw support from other recovering addicts who’ve made incredible progress on their journey.

What to Expect from Treatment

Drug rehabilitation centres help addicts get clean from drug abuse and make a full re-entry into society. Drug addiction affects your personal life and relationships with others. To increase your chances of long-term abstinence, it’s important you enter rehab with the mindset of participating in all the programmes available to you.

The first step is detox, during which doctors supervise the process of ridding your body of toxins and harmful chemicals. Klonopin detox usually takes a week or two, depending on the severity of your addiction. After detox, you’ll transition to rehab, where a range of therapy programmes are used to change your attitude and behaviour towards drugs.

You’ll start your day with yoga, mindful meditation and other therapeutic activities to help you relax. After breakfast, you’ll attend doctor’s appointments, individual counselling, group sessions and participate in other alternative therapy models. There’s time in between programmes for interaction with rehab staff, recovering addicts and private time to yourself.

Post-Rehabilitation Support: Live a Drug-free life Again

Treatment doesn’t end with rehab. The skills and techniques you’ve learnt from fellow recovering addicts, doctors and therapists guide all your actions post-rehab. Aftercare planning is the most important part of treatment because it helps you stay on track. Options include:

  • Attending doctor appointments to receive medication.
  • Attending therapy sessions, such as individual therapy with an addiction specialist.
  • Skills education.
  • Group counselling sessions.
  • 12-step programmes like Narcotics anonymous.

The Risk of Relapse for Klonopin Addicts

Every recovering addict lives with the knowledge that abstinence is a hard-fought victory they never take for granted. Relapse happens when there’s been a recurrence of your addiction. As addiction is a lifelong disease, this means the emotional triggers, cravings and stressors can never really be cured.

Certain factors can increase the risk of relapse, such as:

  • Environment: returning to the same environment that initially encouraged drug use.
  • Quitting ‘cold turkey’ removes the substance from your system, but doesn’t prepare you for life-long abstinence from drugs.
  • Maintaining the same social circle of drug-using friends.
  • Allowing yourself to be swallowed up in stressful situations that led to drug use.
  • Intense psychological cravings that occur when you encounter triggers.
  • Presence of mental health issues.

Sober Living Support

Overcoming addiction is a life-long process that doesn’t happen immediately after treatment. Some individuals who want to continue living a drug-free life decide to move into a ‘sober living home’. They gradually re-enter society by living amongst recovering addicts in a drug-free environment. You’ll learn to discard every previous habit that encouraged drug use in favour of spending time practising relapse prevention, going to work and building a network of sober friends.

Everyone at the sober home returns in time for curfew and is subject to random urine tests to keep you on your toes. You’ll complete house chores, keep therapy appointments, attend sober meetings and pay rent.

Peer Counseling

Peer counsellors are former addicts who provide resources such as emotional, practical and social assistance to each other. Peer counsellors are able to connect with recovering addicts in a way drug counsellors and therapists can’t. They provide help and support for drug rehabilitation, skills training, legal assistance, creating a CV, preparing for job interviews, finding a place to live and other practical skills and resources you’ll need to get your life back on track.

During the first meeting, the peer counsellor is introduced to you and sets a schedule for subsequent meetings. This includes phone calls, weekly visits and coaching. Types of peer counsellors include Instrumental, informational and emotional peer support.

Family Therapy

Family therapy is an effective treatment model for both adults and teenagers dealing with substance addiction. It uses therapeutic techniques to channel the family’s resources and strength towards living a life free of drug abuse. Issues discussed in treatment include depression, abuse, parenting skills, unemployment, financial issues and conflict.

Any family member can start a dialogue or ask questions during sessions. It helps members of the family to better understand your addiction; become aware of family dynamics that potentially encouraged drug abuse; learn new communication skills; regain trust; mend broken relationships; share feelings on how the drug habit of a family member affected everyone else; as well as set parental boundaries and learn self-care.

Seek Help

Klonopin is a potent medication, with a high risk of abuse and addiction. According to SAMSHA, from 2005 to 2011, nearly one million hospital visits were related to benzodiazepines such as Klonopin. The Schedule IV substance works by reducing feelings of anxiety and panic in the brain. When you abuse Klonopin, you risk dangerous side effects such as seizures, depression, hallucinations and overdose.

Thankfully, you can make a full recovery when you receive addiction treatment – either as an outpatient or inpatient.


FAQs

What is Klonopin Addiction Treatment?

When you abuse Klonopin, you develop tolerance to the medication. Within a short period, your brain requires increased amounts of Klonopin to feel normal or perform basic functions. Addiction treatment combines drug detox, as well as pharmacological and therapy techniques to treat your addiction.

Are There Any Home Remedies for Getting Clean Safely?

Some herbal remedies work for relieving withdrawal discomfort. For example, green smoothies filled with minerals, phytonutrients and vitamins, green tea, raw juice, lemon juice, Bacopa, Chamomile and passion flower.

Which Recovery Programme is Right for Me?

There are several options to choose from when considering an addiction treatment programme. Choose one that caters to your addiction needs and increases your chances of long-term abstinence. Mild Klonopin dependents (usually those who can’t take time off work), high functioning addicts and individuals who’ve used Klonopin for a short period can attend treatment as outpatients. Individuals with a history of substance abuse, mental health issues and long-term drug users should register as inpatients.

What are the Options if You Don’t Have Insurance?

You can pay for rehab using any personal funds, a bank loan, credit card, government grant or even seek financial help from friends and family.

What are Some Common Klonopin Withdrawal Symptoms?

Common withdrawal symptoms include panic attacks, sweating, insomnia, impaired cognition, increased body temperature, confusion, irritability, headache, abdominal cramps, tremors, nausea and vomiting.

Why Do People Start Taking Klonopin?

Klonopin is prescribed for treating seizures, anxiety, panic disorders and insomnia. It is a habit-forming medication that should only be used as a temporary solution.

How is Klonopin Used and Abused?

When prescribed by your doctor, Klonopin is taken orally, two to three times daily. You abuse Klonopin when you chew, snort, smoke, inject or combine it with other addictive substances to increase the ‘high’ effect. You also abuse Klonopin by changing the dose or increasing the frequency of use, without informing your doctor.

What is the Klonopin ‘high’ like?

The immediate effects you feel after taking Klonopin include an intense feeling of euphoria, a sense of calm, drowsiness and relief from panic and anxiety. To others, a person who is ‘high’ on Klonopin might look confused, uncoordinated, disoriented and forgetful.

What are the Practical Dangers of Klonopin Use?

After the ‘high’ from Klonopin use comes the ‘low’, which includes dangerous side effects like seizures, CNS depression, respiratory depression, the onset of addiction, psychosis and accidental overdose.

How Does Getting Treatment for Klonopin Addiction Aid Recovery?

Treatment provides valuable insight into your addiction. You’ll learn how drug use affects your brain and body; factors that might have enabled drug use; identify likely triggers that will surface after treatment and learn to cope with them.

What are the Options for Klonopin Detox?

Options for detoxification include medically-supervised detox and home detox. Some individuals are able to detox ‘cold turkey’, but this method isn’t advised due to potential medical complications. The safest way to detox is at a medical detox centre, where professionals and addiction experts provide medication and monitor the whole process.

What Happens During Treatment?

During treatment, you’ll undergo detox to rid your body of Klonopin and other harmful toxins. Medical professionals provide withdrawal medications such as anticonvulsants to ease withdrawal symptoms. After detox, you’ll attend a rehab programme, where psychotherapists help you understand your addiction and teach you coping skills for dealing with triggers and temptations that could cause you to relapse.

How Long Does Inpatient Klonopin Rehabilitation Take?

There is no set duration for inpatient care. Treatment takes as long as you need to overcome Klonopin addiction. Short-term rehab stays last 30 days and is recommended for those with mild dependence. A 60 to 90-day rehab stay is ideal to adequately treat addiction. For those with a long-term history of drug abuse, longer rehab stays up to six months might be necessary to prepare you for life-long abstinence.

What are the Risks of Addiction?

There are several groups at high risk of addiction. They include individuals who were exposed to drugs as children or had parents who abused drugs. Other risks of addiction include social factors, polydrug use disorder, mental health issues and brain characteristics that make you susceptible to abusing drugs.

Is It Possible to Avoid Addiction and Rehab?

You can avoid addiction by following doctor’s instructions when you take Klonopin. If you’ve had trouble with substance abuse in the past, inform your doctor. The same applies to people with mental health issues.

Why Is Treatment Necessary?

Treatment is the best chance of reversing any damage caused by addiction. Klonopin addiction changes the physical structure of your brain and affects physical appearance. You could experience legal woes, financial trouble, marital problems and broken relationships. Rehab helps you come to terms with past actions; identify negative behaviours that encouraged drug use, and learn to mend broken relationships with loved ones and family.

What Types of Treatment Are Available?

Options include inpatient/residential treatment and outpatient care.

What If Klonopin Addiction Goes Untreated?

Like other Benzos, Klonopin addiction is hard to overcome. The longer addiction festers, the harder it will be to complete treatment and the more severe your withdrawal symptoms. There’s also a chance some brain damage could be permanent if you don’t seek help for addiction in time.

Does Insurance Cover Klonopin Addiction Rehab?

Addiction is a mental health problem covered by insurance. Speak with your insurance provider to find out if your policy covers full or partial payment for rehab.

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Call our admissions line 24 hours a day to get help.