Benzodiazepine addiction treatment helps people address prescription medication use that has become difficult to control or harmful to everyday life. Benzodiazepines are legitimate medications with important medical uses, but they can also cause physical dependence, withdrawal, misuse, and addiction. Problems may develop after medications are taken differently than prescribed, used without a prescription, combined with other substances, or continued after they are no longer medically necessary. Rainbow Hill Recovery provides structured outpatient care in Los Angeles for adults who need support addressing substance use, mental health symptoms, trauma, and the patterns contributing to continued benzodiazepine use.
Benzodiazepines are central nervous system depressants that reduce activity within the brain and nervous system. Medical professionals may prescribe them for conditions such as anxiety disorders, panic disorder, insomnia, muscle spasms, or seizures. Common medications in this category include alprazolam, commonly known as Xanax; clonazepam, known as Klonopin; diazepam, known as Valium; and lorazepam, known as Ativan. These medications may be useful when prescribed appropriately and monitored carefully, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires all benzodiazepines to carry its most prominent warning about abuse, misuse, addiction, dependence, and withdrawal.
Benzodiazepines can produce relaxation, sedation, reduced anxiety, impaired coordination, and slowed reaction time. Their effects can begin quickly, which is one reason they may be prescribed during acute anxiety or panic symptoms. The same rapid relief can also reinforce repeated use because a person may begin to believe that they cannot sleep, relax, work, travel, or manage emotional discomfort without the medication. Over time, using a pill whenever distress appears can become a deeply established behavioral pattern, even when the medication was originally taken exactly as directed.
Benzodiazepine addiction is a form of substance use disorder involving compulsive or uncontrolled medication use despite harmful consequences. A person may continue using benzodiazepines even after experiencing memory problems, relationship conflict, missed responsibilities, financial strain, impaired driving, or worsening mental health. Addiction is not determined only by the dosage or the number of days someone takes a medication. Clinicians evaluate how the medication is being used, whether control has been lost, and how use is affecting health, safety, relationships, work, and daily functioning.
Benzodiazepine misuse remains a significant public health concern. The 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimated that approximately 3.36 million people aged 12 or older misused prescription benzodiazepines during the previous year. That figure represented about 1.2% of the U.S. population in that age group, while approximately 3.25 million adults reported past-year misuse. These statistics include misuse rather than every case of physical dependence, illustrating why a careful clinical assessment is needed to understand each person’s pattern and treatment needs.
There is no single cause of benzodiazepine addiction. Risk can be influenced by genetics, family history, mental health, trauma, chronic stress, medication duration, dosage, access to prescriptions, and the use of alcohol, opioids, or other drugs. Some people begin with an appropriate prescription but gradually take more because the original dose no longer produces the same relief. Others use medication obtained from friends, family members, online sources, or the illegal drug market without knowing the exact dosage or ingredients.
Untreated or poorly controlled anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, and trauma symptoms may contribute to repeated use. A person may begin relying on benzodiazepines to prevent uncomfortable feelings rather than using them for a limited medical purpose. The medication can become associated with sleep, social confidence, travel, work performance, emotional numbness, or relief from intrusive memories. When benzodiazepines become the primary response to distress, reducing use may feel frightening because the person has not yet developed other ways to manage those experiences.
Environmental and behavioral factors can also contribute to misuse. Easy access to medication, spending time with people who misuse prescriptions, high-pressure working conditions, relationship conflict, grief, and social isolation may strengthen the pattern. Some people take benzodiazepines with alcohol or opioids to intensify sedation, while others use stimulants to counteract drowsiness and then take more benzodiazepines to come down. Treatment must therefore examine the complete cycle of substance use rather than treating benzodiazepines as an isolated issue.
Benzodiazepine addiction can develop gradually, and its early signs may be mistaken for stress, exhaustion, depression, or ordinary medication use. Someone may continue meeting certain responsibilities while privately worrying about running out, hiding their dosage, or visiting multiple prescribers. Family members may notice changes in coordination, memory, mood, motivation, or alertness before the individual recognizes the pattern. A diagnosis should always be made through a qualified assessment rather than based on one symptom or another person’s suspicion.
Common warning signs may include:
Not everyone with benzodiazepine use disorder displays the same symptoms. One person may appear heavily sedated, while another may seem functional but experience severe anxiety whenever a dose is late. Additional signs can include slurred speech, poor coordination, unusual drowsiness, confusion, slowed thinking, secrecy, social withdrawal, and repeated falls or accidents. The most concerning pattern is continued or escalating use despite clear evidence that the medication is harming the person’s health, safety, relationships, or ability to function.
Tolerance occurs when repeated exposure causes the body to respond less strongly to the same dosage. A person may begin taking an additional pill, using the medication earlier in the day, or combining it with other substances to recreate the original effect. Tolerance does not automatically prove that someone has an addiction, but it can increase the risk of dependence and unsafe dosage changes. Taking more medication without guidance from the prescribing professional may also increase impairment, falls, accidents, and overdose risk.
Escalation may be particularly difficult to recognize when it happens slowly. Someone who once used medication only during an occasional panic attack may begin taking it before every stressful event and eventually every day. A person using benzodiazepines for sleep may start taking the medication earlier, increasing the dosage, or adding alcohol when sleep remains difficult. Treatment helps identify these patterns and determine what medical, behavioral, and psychological support is needed.
Combining benzodiazepines with opioids, alcohol, sleep medications, or other central nervous system depressants can be especially dangerous. These substances can compound sedation and suppress vital functions, increasing the risk of extreme drowsiness, impaired breathing, coma, and death. The FDA specifically warns that misuse can result in overdose or death, particularly when benzodiazepines are combined with opioids, alcohol, or illegal drugs. People should tell their medical providers about every prescription, over-the-counter medication, and substance they use so potential interactions can be evaluated.
National overdose figures show why polysubstance use must be addressed during treatment. In 2023, 10,870 U.S. overdose deaths involved benzodiazepines, and nearly 70% of those deaths also involved synthetic opioids other than methadone. CDC discharge data also identified 251,940 benzodiazepine-involved nonfatal overdose emergency department visits during 2024 among participating jurisdictions, although those data are not nationally representative. These numbers do not mean benzodiazepines caused every death or hospital visit by themselves, but they demonstrate the substantial danger associated with overlapping substance exposure.
Benzodiazepines should not be stopped abruptly after regular use without medical guidance. Possible withdrawal symptoms include severe anxiety, agitation, insomnia, sweating, tremors, nausea, muscle pain, sensitivity to light or sound, confusion, unusual perceptions, hallucinations, and seizures. The FDA warns that abruptly stopping benzodiazepines or reducing the dosage too quickly can cause life-threatening withdrawal reactions. Some patients have also reported symptoms continuing for weeks or months, making individualized medical monitoring especially important.
The American Society of Addiction Medicine advises that patients who have taken benzodiazepines regularly for longer than a month generally should not discontinue them suddenly. Instead, clinicians may develop a gradual, individualized taper that is adjusted according to the medication, dosage, duration of use, medical history, and response to dose reductions. Current guidance describes starting reductions of approximately 5% to 10% in some cases, although the exact plan must be determined by the treating medical professional. A taper may need to be slowed, paused, or changed when withdrawal symptoms become difficult to manage.
Because Rainbow Hill Recovery provides outpatient mental health and substance use treatment, anyone at risk for acute benzodiazepine withdrawal should first receive an appropriate medical evaluation. A physician or other qualified prescriber must determine whether medically supervised withdrawal management or another level of care is necessary. Outpatient behavioral treatment may become appropriate after the person is medically stable and able to participate safely. Seizures, hallucinations, severe confusion, loss of consciousness, trouble breathing, or suspected overdose require immediate emergency assistance.
Ongoing benzodiazepine use can affect memory, attention, judgment, balance, coordination, and reaction time. These effects may contribute to motor vehicle crashes, workplace errors, falls, missed commitments, and difficulty remembering conversations or decisions. ASAM identifies oversedation, cognitive effects, falls, medication interactions, and motor vehicle accidents among the potential risks clinicians should consider when reviewing continued benzodiazepine use. The level of impairment can vary depending on the medication, dosage, age, health conditions, and whether other sedating substances are involved.
Benzodiazepine use can also affect emotional functioning and relationships. Someone may become increasingly isolated, irritable, emotionally numb, or dependent on medication to manage ordinary stress. Family members may lose trust because of secrecy, changing behavior, financial problems, or repeated promises to reduce use. Treatment helps clients examine these consequences while developing healthier ways to manage anxiety, sleep disruption, emotional pain, and interpersonal conflict.
Treatment begins with an assessment of medication use, prescriptions, withdrawal history, mental health, physical health, other substance use, living environment, and previous attempts to reduce or stop. The assessment helps determine whether the person needs medical stabilization before outpatient care and identifies the level of behavioral support that may be appropriate. Treatment planning should also examine why the medication became important and what situations trigger continued use. Addressing only the pills without addressing anxiety, trauma, insomnia, relationships, or other contributing factors may leave major relapse risks unresolved.
Therapy can help clients recognize thoughts, emotions, environments, and routines associated with benzodiazepine use. Dialectical Behavior Therapy may support emotional regulation, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and healthier communication during recovery. EMDR and trauma-informed care may be considered when unresolved experiences contribute to emotional avoidance or recurring urges to use. Rainbow Hill Recovery also uses individual therapy, group therapy, experiential approaches, integrative practices, case management, psychiatry services, addiction education, and relapse-prevention work according to each client’s treatment plan.
Rainbow Hill Recovery offers multiple levels of adult outpatient care in Los Angeles. The Partial Hospitalization Program provides the highest level of outpatient structure, including group and individual therapy, addiction education, relapse-prevention strategies, psychiatric support, and case management as needed. The Intensive Outpatient Program offers regular structured programming while allowing clients to live at home or in an appropriate supportive environment. The Outpatient Program provides more flexible ongoing services for clients who need less intensive support or are transitioning from a higher level of care.
Program placement depends on clinical needs, medical stability, substance use severity, mental health symptoms, home support, safety, and daily functioning. Some clients may need several hours of programming on multiple days each week, while others may be ready for a more flexible schedule. Virtual IOP may also offer a way to participate in structured mental health and substance use services remotely when telehealth is clinically appropriate. The treatment team works with each client to determine which available level of care best matches their current circumstances.
Rainbow Hill Recovery provides adult outpatient care for people who need support addressing benzodiazepine misuse alongside mental health symptoms, trauma, relationships, and other substance use. Clients have access to several outpatient levels of care, individual and group therapy, psychiatric support, case management, relapse-prevention education, and personalized continuing-care planning. Treatment focuses on understanding why benzodiazepine use developed while helping clients build practical skills for managing cravings, distress, and high-risk situations. This individualized approach allows care to reflect the person’s clinical needs, strengths, responsibilities, and recovery goals.
Someone does not need to wait for an overdose, job loss, damaged relationship, or another major crisis before seeking help. An assessment can clarify whether the primary concern is physical dependence, addiction, a co-occurring mental health condition, or a combination of factors. Rainbow Hill Recovery combines structured outpatient programming with trauma-informed therapy, psychiatric support, practical recovery education, and aftercare resources in one coordinated treatment setting. Call (310) 341-4887 to speak with the Los Angeles team about benzodiazepine addiction treatment and the next appropriate step.
Joie Gyondla serves as Rainbow Hill Recovery’s Clinical Support Coordinator, bringing compassion, empathy, and a genuine commitment to supporting every client who walks through our doors. With a background in recovery support, Joie understands the importance of creating a welcoming, organized, and affirming environment where individuals feel seen, valued, and supported throughout their treatment journey.
Working closely with both clients and the clinical team, Joie helps ensure that each person’s experience is as seamless as possible, providing encouragement, guidance, and practical support every step of the way. Her calm presence and dedication to helping others foster a sense of safety and connection that allows clients to focus on what matters most: their recovery.
Joie believes that healing begins with compassion and that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a lasting difference. She is proud to be part of the Rainbow Hill Recovery team, helping create a community where every individual is empowered to build a healthier, more authentic future.
Co-Founder of the LGBTQ+ Association for Addiction and Mental Health Professionals Clinical Outreach Specialist for Rainbow Hill Recovery LGBTQ Sensitivity Training Consultant
Steven Buffin-Stewart is the Case Manager at Rainbow Hill Recovery, with over five years of experience in substance use and mental health treatment. A CADC ll professional in recovery themselves, Steven combines clinical knowledge with lived experience to provide compassionate, coordinated care and foster inclusive, affirming spaces where clients feel supported, empowered, and hopeful in their healing journey.
Steven Buffin-Stewart is the Program and Case Manager at Rainbow Hill Recovery, with over five years of experience in substance use and mental health treatment. A CADC ll professional in recovery themselves, Steven combines clinical knowledge with lived experience to provide compassionate, coordinated care and foster inclusive, affirming spaces where clients feel supported, empowered, and hopeful in their healing journey.
Janae Borrego serves as Rainbow Hill Recovery’s Cross-Cultural Relations Officer and Outpatient Therapist, where she combines her clinical expertise with a deep commitment to fostering an inclusive, culturally responsive environment for every client. Her ability to understand, appreciate, and navigate diverse cultural perspectives has made her an invaluable leader as Rainbow Hill continues to grow and evolve.
In her role, Janae works to strengthen cultural understanding throughout the organization, ensuring that clients, families, and staff feel respected, heard, and represented. She provides ongoing guidance on cultural sensitivity and inclusive practices while helping shape programs that honor the unique identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences of those we serve.
As an Outpatient Therapist, Janae is dedicated to helping clients navigate recovery, mental health, and life’s challenges with compassion, authenticity, and evidence-based care. She believes that meaningful healing begins when individuals feel safe to show up as their authentic selves and receive support that acknowledges the whole person.
Janae is passionate about creating spaces where diversity is celebrated, connection is strengthened, and every individual has the opportunity to heal and thrive. Her leadership continues to advance Rainbow Hill Recovery’s mission of providing affirming, trauma-informed care that meets the evolving needs of the communities we serve.
With over a decade of experience in addiction recovery, Andrew is passionate about helping individuals reclaim their lives and find lasting healing. As Co-founder and Director of Rainbow Hill Recovery, he is dedicated to creating a supportive environment that fosters hope, resilience, and transformation.
Joey Bachrach is the Co-Founder and CEO of Rainbow Hill Recovery, an LGBTQ-affirming mental health and substance use treatment center in Los Angeles. Drawing from both professional leadership and lived recovery experience, Joey is dedicated to creating safe, inclusive spaces where individuals are fully seen, affirmed, and supported on their healing journey.