When Your Son or Daughter is Mixing Benzodiazepines and Alcohol: The Heightened Risks of Co-Abuse

Combining two substances that act in the same way is always a risk. And since benzodiazepines and alcohol both act on GABA receptors, taking one potentiates the effects of the other. This is dangerous for many reasons. One is that it increases harmful effects such as drowsiness, memory loss, and lack of inhibition, which can severely disrupt your child’s life. The decisions that your son or daughter makes and the things they say are likely without the foresight and thought that they would have if they weren’t struggling with abuse.

Another danger is the impact that this combination has on tolerance. Tolerance to alcohol and benzodiazepines develops quickly when taken alone. But when taken together, it develops even faster. You need more and more to achieve the same effects, which creates a cycle of drug use that can easily lead to addiction. As doses increase, so do the chances of losing consciousness, as combining these chemicals can slow your nervous system to a crawl. In extreme cases, this can be life-threatening.

One of the hardest parts of overcoming addiction to these substances is getting past the pain of withdrawal. Removing either drug from the body too fast shocks the system and sends many people back to using. This is why cold turkey doesn’t work, and also why professional programs are so crucial for a healthy recovery. With a medically supervised detox, your adult child will work with professionals that will guide them through a treatment plan based on their unique individual needs and well-being.

Realistically, recovering from addiction to benzodiazepines and alcohol is a long process that often takes months or years. But the earliest moments are very important, as they set the foundation for long-term recovery. It’s the time when your child needs to focus on the roots of their abuse and resolve them to prevent relapse and foster personal growth. It takes the right professional support, flexible therapies, and strong personal support networks, which are all available in professional treatment programs.

Some common treatment modalities include:

• Peer support groups that reduce isolation and pave the way for establishing bonds that last outside of treatment. By connecting with others experiencing similar struggles, your child will give the recovery process more meaning and feel less isolated during the toughest moments.
• Traditional therapies are great for digging deep into the triggers of substance abuse and developing proper coping skills. It can be hard for your child to see a future when they’re in the midst of substance abuse. But when they have a chance to focus inward in a comfortable setting, they will start to see the connections between their actions, emotions, and drug use.
• Holistic therapies can be used to augment the more standard therapies. Mindfulness meditation can be used to manage the anxiety that often shows its face during alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal. And acupuncture, known for its pain-reducing effects, can ease the migraines, muscular pain, and sleep disturbances that can hinder recovery.

What works for one person might not for another, so individual treatment will evolve and adapt as treatment progresses. But ultimately, your son or daughter will have the resources and tools to take control of their addiction and move toward the future.