Millions of people around the globe use Klonopin daily. The drug can be useful for patients who suffer from panic disorders or manic episodes. On top of that, Klonopin has been shown to treat tremors and chronic pain in patients with multiple sclerosis. However, while the medication may be useful in many cases, it’s also extremely addictive.
Using Klonopin too frequently without the supervision of a healthcare professional can lead to dangerous chemical dependence. Not only will this impact the user’s quality of life, but it can have lasting effects on their physical and mental well-being.
That’s why you have to find a proper treatment program for a Klonopin addiction. You need a team of specialized professionals with the expertise to help you get on the wagon without harming yourself or the people around you.
If you’re looking for Klonopin addiction treatment in New Jersey, we can help at the Garden State Treatment Center. This post will walk you through how the drug alters your brain chemistry, why people develop physical addictions, and the treatment options you can pursue.
Table of Contents
What Is Klonopin and How Does It Affect the Brain?
Clonazepam, known by the brand name Klonopin, belongs to the family of drugs known as benzodiazepines. These types of medications act like long-term tranquilizers and can cause a sense of calm in patients.
Because of that, we can use Klonopin to treat all sorts of conditions. In the right doses, the medication can help with:
- Anxiety disorders
- Panic attacks
- Seizures
- Bipolar mania
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Psychosis
- akathisia
With proper doctor supervision, the medication promotes relaxation to help patients manage symptoms of several disorders. However, when a person abuses the drug, they’ll experience wildly different effects.
In higher doses, Klonopin can lead to a sense of euphoria that can last for a few hours. So, people were quick to use the medication recreationally, and it eventually made its way into the illegal drug market.
While the euphoric state can be pleasant for a short period, it can have disastrous effects on the user. Klonopin is highly addictive and can result in chemical dependency in a flash. This will have physical consequences on the user and alter their brain chemistry.
Klonopin and the Brain: How Does It Work?
Just like all benzodiazepines, Klonopin is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. It works by enhancing the effects of a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. It’s a chemical messenger that tells your system to relax and can make you feel drowsy.
That may sound like a lot of medical jargon, but the concept is quite simple. When a person takes Klonopin, they’ll increase GABA production in the brain. This will slow down electrical activity and allow the patient to calm down in a flash.
Depending on the dosage, the overall effects of Klonopin can range from mild relaxation to intense euphoria.
Why Is Klonopin Addictive?
Your body will produce GABA naturally in response to high-stress situations. The chemical is essential for reducing anxiety and helping you regulate your blood pressure.
Typically, your body will work tirelessly to ensure the levels of GABA in your system remain consistent. Unfortunately, Klonopin throws a wrench in this balance.
When you take the drug, it’ll send a signal to your brain to stop natural GABA production. So, if you develop a dependency on Klonopin, your system won’t be able to slow down on its own. That means people may experience difficulty falling asleep or managing panic attacks.
Klonopin Addiction Statistics
According to ClinCalc, around 3 million Americans have a prescription for clonazepam. Of those, a third of the people who used the drug for longer than 4 weeks developed a substance use disorder.
That means about one million people suffer from some form of clonazepam addiction, and that’s without considering illegal drug use.
Klonopin Tolerance and Dosage
When you start using Klonopin, your body will need around an hour to process the drug. After that, you’ll feel intense effects that can last for 18 to 39 hours.
However, with just a few doses, your body will develop a tolerance to Klonopin. That means you’ll need to increase your daily intake to feel the desired effects.
On top of that, the prescription drug is exceptionally addictive. Regardless of the dose, users can develop a Klonopin drug use disorder in a short period.
Finally, in high enough doses, Klonopin can lead to a fatal overdose without proper medical intervention. And sadly, this medication has one of the highest mortality rates when it comes to benzodiazepines.
What Are the Signs of Klonopin Abuse?
Klonopin will affect a user’s system in many ways. Aside from mental health disorders, the person suffering from drug addiction will exhibit various physical symptoms.
Some of the most common short-term side effects are:
- Confusion
- Drowsiness
- Intense Klonopin cravings
- Increased heart rate
- Impaired judgment
- Slurred speech
- Fatigue
- Impaired motor skills
That’s not all! With long-term use, Klonopin can lead to a whole host of other issues. These may include:
- Muscle aches
- Loss of appetite
- Aggressive behavior
- Breathing complications
- Heart damage or failure
What Are the Symptoms of Klonopin Withdrawal?
Even though a Klonopin addiction can be harmful on its own, the real danger rears its head when you stop taking the drug. Quitting the medication cold turkey can lead to severe adverse effects that’ll wreak havoc on a user’s system.
Some of the most notable Klonopin withdrawal symptoms include:
- Increased blood pressure
- Chronic aches
- Nausea
- Temper tantrums
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Loss of appetite
- Extreme mood swings
How Is Klonopin Addiction Treated?
Overcoming any type of benzodiazepine addiction is a lifelong process that requires a lot of hard work and perseverance. You need a specialized team of medical professionals to ensure you get clean safely and stay on the wagon.
Luckily, at Garden State Treatment Center, we can offer you just that. Our facility is ready to take on people who suffer from drug abuse and help them using various treatment plans.
Here’s a quick look at options you can rely on to kick a Klonopin habit:
1. Detoxification
The symptoms of Klonopin withdrawal may be overwhelming and life-threatening. That’s why people who struggle with drug addiction need a proper detoxification program to help them eliminate the drug from their system.
With this Klonopin treatment option, you’ll work with a doctor who can prescribe medication to lessen the effects of withdrawal.
2. Outpatient Programs
While medical detox programs are useful, they can only help you get so far on the road to recovery. Once you eliminate Klonopin from your system, you need to create a plan to ensure you stay clean.
This can be tricky if you go back to your normal routine directly after treatment. Thankfully, an outpatient program can bridge the gap between sobriety and leading a regular life.
This option offers patients a part-time treatment plan that involves around 15 to 20 hours of treatment per week. During this time, you meet addiction specialists who can make coming up with coping mechanisms a walk in the park.
3. Partial Care Programs
A partial care program is a more involved version of outpatient treatment. Instead of 15 to 20 hours, patients spend close to 40 hours a week in a rehab facility.
This will allow them to learn how to curb cravings and focus on resolving any underlying mental health conditions that led to the addiction.
Wrapping Up
If you or a loved one need Klonopin addiction treatment in New Jersey, the Garden State Recovery Center is your best bet. At our facility, we can offer you several recovery options that’ll help you get on the wagon and stay clean.
Some of our most notable services include detoxification, outpatient programs, and partial care programs. Depending on how much time you can spare, your choice of treatment will change.
