Barbiturate Addiction: Causes and Treatment

In the United States, millions of individuals abuse barbiturates. This abuse leads to barbiturate addiction and barbiturate use disorder.

A substance use disorder affected 19.7 million American people (aged 12 and older) in 2017, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).

Barbiturate use disorder contributes to a large number of deaths, primarily due to overdose. Barbiturates are a class of sedative-hypnotic medicines that can be used for anesthesia.

Moreover, they are also used to treat conditions such as newborn withdrawal syndrome, insomnia, preoperative anxiety, and seizure disorders.

Individuals going through barbiturate use disorder need rehab treatment to overcome this addiction. There are many rehab centers and treatment facilities that offer treatment for barbiturate addiction.

The rehab procedure is simple and helps you in overcoming the addiction. You can also contact us for any help regarding treatment.

Get Help with Barbiturate Addiction

Barbiturates have an increased potential for abuse, resulting in dependence on the substance. A person with a higher tolerance may frequently seek out a higher dosage to get the desired results, which could lead to dependence and addiction. The excessive use of barbiturates causes the disorder.

Within 8 to 15 hours of quitting the drug, frequent barbiturate users may develop significant withdrawal symptoms.

The treatment for barbiturate addiction involves the following treatment options:

Seek help from The Recovery Team today for barbiturate addiction by contacting us at (800) 817-1247.

Symptoms of Barbiturate Addiction

Some drug users abuse these substances to experience the enjoyable, alcohol-like euphoric effects of barbiturates. The consumer experiences these effects as being content, at ease, communicative, and less inhibited.

Barbiturates can be administered intravenously, taken as pills and ingested, or crushed and snorted.

Barbiturate abuse is exceedingly risky and can result in serious short- and long-term medical and psychological side effects, physical dependence, and unintentional death. Some common signs of barbiturate addiction include:

  • Reduced inhibition
  • Slurred speech
  • Impaired judgment
  • Emotional fluctuations
  • Increased talkativeness
  • Sedation
  • Confusion
  • Lack of coordination
  • Respiratory issues
  • Hallucinations
  • Delusions
  • Inability to urinate
  • Dizziness
  • Increased heart rate

When to Seek Treatment…

Treatment is crucial to overcome barbiturate addiction. Long-term dependence on barbiturates causes physical and mental health issues. These issues can further cause serious complications.

You should seek immediate treatment if you experience signs such as slurred speech, increased heart rate, or respiratory issues.

One should seek medical advice right away if they see any indications of barbiturate addiction or overdose. The specialists advise the appropriate course of action for treating substance use disorder.

Treatment for drug overdose is the first step in the recovery process. Your healthcare professional will offer a variety of therapy alternatives to you. Patients who suffer from chronic pain also require primary care.

If A Loved One Needs Help…

Find a doctor or physician if your loved one needs assistance with opioid treatment. They will suggest a few authorities in the area of addiction medication.

If you want to assist a friend or loved one in overcoming addiction, the NIDA offers the following advice: Assure your friend or loved one that addiction can be successfully managed, but be aware that it may take several treatment sessions before the best plan of action is discovered.

If your friend or loved one won’t ask for help, it’s best to refrain from staging an aggressive “intervention.” These interactions could become violent or result in other unforeseen effects. Try to convince the person to visit a doctor.

Causes of Barbiturate Addiction

Barbiturates are a central nervous symptom (CNS) depressant medications. The actions of other nerves outside the central nervous system and the firing of neurons in the central nervous system are suppressed (or depressed) by these chemicals.

This is made possible by the medication’s affinity to boost the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS.

These medications were initially given to treat problems with anxiety disorders, alcohol withdrawal, seizure control, sleep, and to treat stiffness or muscle spasm problems.

Long-acting and short-acting barbiturates both are dangerous. Some of the common causes of barbiturate addiction are listed below:

Family History

It would seem that those who have family members who are addicted are more prone to develop an addiction themselves.

Shared genetic features are only one factor in this higher risk. Environment, lifestyle, and other shared non-genetic factors among family members contribute to this risk.

According to the research, genetics play an important role in determining whether there is a family history of the disorder.

They will compare the DNA sequences of the affected and unaffected family members and search for chromosomal regions that are more common in those with the illness. The list of genes to test will subsequently be trimmed using this knowledge.

Addictive Potential

Barbiturates are legal prescription medications, but because of their high potential for addiction, they can also lead to addiction and dependence. These drugs are available illegally and with a prescription from a doctor, among other options.

Barbiturate addicts are fortunate to have access to a wide range of treatment centers; nonetheless, you should always pick a center that offers extra therapy options.

Abuse of barbiturates may result in pneumonia and breathing issues in the short term. Additionally, prolonged use might impair reaction time and induce memory loss. Barbiturate abuse can lead to a lethal overdose.

Risk Factors for Barbiturate Addiction

Barbiturates are highly addictive substances, and a person can easily become dependent on them. These substances can have an adverse effect on the overall health of an individual.

An individual may become addicted to these drugs for a variety of reasons, including the risk factors of drug availability and peer pressure. Other significant factors that must be considered include tolerance and physical reliance.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid is a brain chemical produced in greater quantities when barbiturates are used.

This molecule tempers the body’s “fight or flight” reaction, which lessens stress and anxiety. When these chemical alterations in the brain become more fixed, physical dependency results.

Drug addiction is more likely to occur in those with mental illnesses. This is because using drugs frequently numbs unpleasant emotions, which might make a person’s issues worse.

Drug Availability

There is a high risk of barbiturate addiction if the drug is available. Since barbiturates are widely available in the market, individuals choose barbiturates over harder-to-obtain drugs.

Social Pressure

Peer pressure is another factor that can lead to drug addiction in teenagers, especially in challenging familial situations. In this case, there might not be enough parental oversight or a supportive environment.

Lack of Support

One of the risk factors which leads to an increase in barbiturate addiction is lack of support. When there is a lack of support from friends and family, then it leads to abusing drugs. Family dynamics serve as a boost to increase challenges for drug addiction.

If you have any reason to believe that a member of your family is abusing barbiturates, it’s critical to seek medical attention. The abrupt cessation of drug use can cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms, including seizures.

Effects of Barbiturate Addiction

Just like alcohol, barbiturates are highly addictive substances. Those who abuse them are often unaware that they have this propensity. Because barbiturates mix well with alcohol, benzodiazepines, and other substances, it is simple to overdose on them.

When you continue abusing barbiturates, it affects different areas of your life. Your career, loved ones, or health could all be lost. It makes your life very difficult. If anyone does barbiturate abuse, they can face life-threatening conditions.

Some of the common effects of barbiturate addiction are listed below:

Effects on Safety

In the middle of the 20th century, barbiturates were used primarily for anxiety and insomnia. But, today, barbiturates are commonly used as a recreational drug. There are negative effects on the safety of an individual because of barbiturate addiction.

Barbiturate addiction can cause extreme mood changes. Their addiction can lead to life-threatening withdrawal symptoms.

Effects on Relationships

Barbiturate addiction might have an impact on your family dynamics. People struggling with addiction may be ashamed of their addiction and try to hide it. This leads to lies and secrecy, which can destroy a relationship.

Additionally, it may influence how you feel and how well you can concentrate. You can have irritability and difficulty paying attention.

Those who care about you the most might catch the vibe of your risky behavior.

Although you can’t always tell when someone might become addicted, it’s important to be aware of the signs. Excessive babbling, a loss of inhibition, and poor judgment are indications of a barbiturate addiction.

Knowing the symptoms of a barbiturate addiction will make it easier for you to treat a loved one or yourself.

Effects on Employment

In the past, barbiturates were used as drugs for anxiety, sleep disorders, and insomnia. This may have an effect on your career and can have a negative effect on your job. The withdrawal symptoms for barbiturates may usually start within 16 hours after its last use.

The withdrawal symptoms are extremely painful. This affects your work, and you may face termination from the company. However, it is important to get help to avoid relapse.

Effects on Health

Barbiturate abusers’ health may suffer irreparable damage due to their addiction. These sedatives have major side effects that might range from heart failure to severe muscle spasms.

Chronic sleep disorders and liver and renal damage may result from long-term usage of these medicines. Moreover, an overdose may be lethal.

Barbiturate detoxification is removing the drug from the body through medical means. The procedure, which normally takes five to seven days, can aid an addict in quitting the drug.

The person can better control cravings and get over withdrawal symptoms by removing drug remnants from their body.

Treatment for Barbiturate Addiction

It is imperative to get the right medical care in the form of addiction treatment. If you or anyone from your family are facing addiction, get help from a rehab center.

The continuous use of the drug makes you dependent on it for a prolonged period. The development of a barbiturate dependence can cause various medical emergencies.

The rehab centers offer treatment for barbiturates addiction. They have a proper treatment plan through which you can overcome barbiturate dependence.

You are under the care of a trained rehab center and doctors. Medical professionals help you in recovering from various medical conditions. The treatment options are:

Medical Detox

Medical detox usually marks the start of SUD treatment. Drugs and other addictive substances are removed from your body during the detoxification process.

Patients going through detox may experience withdrawal symptoms. Several drugs can help in easing withdrawal symptoms. At a rehab facility, the detox is done under medical supervision.

Medication is given to a patient undergoing medically supervised barbiturate withdrawal to minimize the severity of withdrawal symptoms that appear when they stop taking sedative-hypnotic drugs.

The primary objective of supervised withdrawal is to successfully and securely transition the patient to substance use disorder medication.

Residential Rehab

The initial phase of treatment for substance use disorders typically involves medication-assisted therapy (MAT) or a medically supervised detox. Each person will then begin a personalized addiction treatment program.

When deciding whether inpatient or outpatient rehab is the best course of action, consider the advantages of both treatment options. For severe barbiturates addiction, inpatient or residential rehab is advised by doctors.

The behavioral therapies used in residential rehab help patients fight against addiction. Following inpatient therapy, outpatient rehab is used to recover and regain sobriety.

Individual & Group Therapy

High doses of barbiturates cause addiction. If you want to experience increased therapeutic effects after medical detox during rehab, then therapies help you in recovery.

The following are a few of the therapeutic modalities we use in substance misuse treatment programs:

Behavioral therapy can profoundly affect a person’s life, whether they attend individual or group sessions.

With therapists and mental health experts who have actual experience living with addiction, people can discuss their issues in sessions.

Patients can also discuss their struggles and success with other persons in recovery during group therapy.