Ativan is a highly potent drug with intrinsic benzodiazepine effects; these include sedation and muscle relaxation. It is used for a plethora of conditions, including anxiety and insomnia. It’s also commonly used in mental health facilities for the purposes of sedating aggressive residents.
Due to the wide use of the drug, it is something that people see regularly on the streets. Obtaining it from a street dealer is not particularly difficult, but, believe it or not, most Ativan addictions do not originate from actively going out and seeking the drug. It is estimated that about a third of patients in hospitals who are treated with Ativan go on to become addicted to the substance.
Side Effects
The side effects of Ativan are relatively mild when compared to some of the other drugs available through street dealers. Blurred vision and feeling tired is quite common. In situations that are more serious, takers can even begin to hallucinate or feel a permanent sense of hyperactivity. Some individuals who are chronically addicted to the drug have even been known to attempt suicide.
Ativan Addiction Treatment
This drug is sometimes used within addiction treatment facilities to help cure people who are addicted to other specific drugs. Most high quality facilities prefer to avoid using such substances due to the risk of further addiction; they prefer to use other techniques and safer substances to accomplish the same aim.
Treating an addiction to Ativan is not easy due to the withdrawal symptoms being so strong. Most patients who leave their addictions behind find it almost impossible to forget about their cravings completely unless they stop taking it gradually. Within rehab facilities, professionals look at the best ways to treat individual patients. Some respond better to gradual reductions in doses until they can stop taking it. Others can go cold turkey and receive conventional residential rehabilitation treatment.
