Treating addiction to CNS depressants

Treating addiction to
CNS depressants

Patients addicted to barbiturates
and benzodiazepines should
not attempt to stop taking
them on their own. Withdrawal
symptoms from these drugs can
be problematic, and—in the case
of certain CNS depressants—
potentially life-threatening.
Research on treating barbiturate
and benzodiazepine addiction
is sparse; however, addicted
patients should undergo medically
supervised detoxification because
the dosage they take should be
gradually tapered. Inpatient
or outpatient counseling can
help individuals through this
process. Cognitive-behavioral
therapy, which focuses on
modifying the patient’s thinking,
expectations, and behaviors while
increasing skills for coping with
various life stressors, also has
been used successfully to help
individuals adapt to discontinuing
benzodiazepines.
Often barbiturate and
benzodiazepine abuse occurs in
conjunction with the abuse of
other drugs, such as alcohol or
cocaine. In such cases of polydrug
abuse, the treatment approach
should address the multiple
addictions.