TABLE OF CONTENTS
This guide was written to provide an overview of the Librium rehabilitation process as well as to offer helpful resources for persons recovering from Librium addiction.
The Librium rehabilitation process usually begins with an orientation to the treatment facility. This orientation gives the individual a chance to get to know staff members and learn what services are available to help with Librium addiction. Staff also gather information about the individual’s health history, making it easier to develop a customized treatment plan. After the orientation, the individual goes through a medically managed initial detoxification period. During the initial detox, Librium is eliminated from the body.
Once the initial detoxification period is over, the individual participates in therapy and has the opportunity to build a strong support network. The right combination of therapy and social support can help users stay sober and avoid relapse.
For more information, read our guide to the rehab process.
Librium is a Schedule IV controlled substance, which means it has a low potential for addiction; however, a low potential for addiction doesn’t mean that it’s impossible for a user to become dependent on the drug. In a 2017 report issued by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the nonmedical use of Librium and other benzodiazepines is referred to as a potential “growing threat to public health.”
It’s difficult to recover from Librium addiction because of the way the substance affects the brain. Librium enhances the effects of a substance called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), making the user feel calmer and more relaxed. Individuals with high levels of stress may come to rely on Librium for its ability to reduce anxiety, increasing the risk of dependence or addiction. Librium also activates the reward center of the brain, causing some individuals to start craving Librium even if they don’t want to keep using it.
| Librium… |
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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates in 2015:
Demographics of Individuals Seeking Treatment for Librium Addiction
According to a 2017 SAMHSA report that charts admissions to and discharges from publicly-funded substance use treatment facilities, men are considerably more likely to seek treatment for tranquilizer abuse, which includes Librium. The gender breakdown of treatment admissions for tranquilizers was 54.1% male and 45.9% female. While tranquilizer addiction occurs in all age groups, the most common age group admitted to a treatment facility for tranquilizer use was individuals aged 25 to 34, with 34 being the average age of all individuals from all age groups who are seeking rehabilitation.
| Age at the Time of Treatment Admission | Percentage of Benzodiazepine Treatment Admissions |
| 12-17 | 3.6% |
| 18-24 | 19.1% |
| 25 – 34 | 38.1% |
| 35 – 44 | 19.9% |
| 45-54 | 12.5% |
| 55-64 | 6% |
| 65+ | 0.8% |
The first step in Librium rehabilitation is the initial detoxification process. During this process, Librium is eliminated from the user’s body. This substance has a half-life of 24 to 48 hours, which means about half of the Librium is eliminated within this time frame. The initial detoxification period typically takes three to four days, but it can take longer in chronic users.
When withdrawal symptoms persist for more than two weeks after an individual stops taking Librium, they’re known as post-acute withdrawal symptoms. In some users, post-acute withdrawal symptoms may last for several months or even a year. The exact timeline varies depending on the individual’s history of Librium use, any co-occurring disorders, and the individual’s medical history.
| Body | Mind | |
| Short-Term Symptoms | Sleep disturbances Hand tremors Sweating Nausea Dry heaving Heart palpitations Muscle pain |
Increased anxiety Panic attacks Difficulty concentrating Irritability |
| Long-Term Symptoms | Changes in visual perception Muscle stiffness Headaches Weight loss Seizures |
Sleep disturbances Psychotic reactions |
Sources: Petursson
Because Librium slows down vital functions, discontinuing it may result in an increased heart rate and faster breathing rate. For some users, these withdrawal symptoms are merely bothersome; for others, they can be life-threatening. For example, a significant increase in heart rate may lead to a heart attack in someone who has heart disease.
Librium affects the central nervous system; therefore, when an individual stops taking the drug, the nervous system speeds up, increasing the risk for seizures and other neurological problems.
Many individuals use Librium to reduce anxiety and cope with the stress of everyday life. When they stop taking Librium, psychological symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and irritability, may get much worse. In severe cases, a user may develop psychosis, a condition that causes the individual to break from reality. Although psychosis caused by benzodiazepine withdrawal is usually reversible, it can cause lasting effects.
Withdrawal from Librium and other benzodiazepines has been linked to the development of delirium tremens, a withdrawal syndrome that causes shaking and hallucinations. Although delirium tremens is rare, it can be life-threatening.
During the initial detoxification process, several medications may be used to help control withdrawal symptoms, making the user more comfortable and less likely to relapse before Librium can be completely eliminated from the body. Librium may be substituted with a different benzodiazepine to help the individual avoid some of the most severe withdrawal symptoms. Pregabalin and other medications used to prevent seizures can be used to help individuals who need to withdraw from Librium. Although beta-blockers and antidepressants have been used to help with Librium withdrawal, they have no significant benefit, according to a study published in the journal Australian Prescriber.
For more information about withdrawal, read our guide on Librium addiction.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has not approved any medications specifically for the treatment of Librium addiction. Therefore, treatment professionals rely on behavioral therapies to help users learn how to avoid addiction triggers and cope with stressful circumstances without turning to Librium.
Within either an inpatient or outpatient setting, treatments, such as detoxification services, behavioral therapies, and medication-assisted treatments are offered for varying lengths of time.
Inpatient treatment involves living full-time (including overnight) at a treatment facility for a set period of time. Outpatient treatment involves scheduled appointments at a facility in which you are free to come and go. Within each category, there are several distinctions.
| Setting | Type of Treatment | Description | Duration | Time Commitment |
| Inpatient | Short-Term Residential | Intensive treatment, sometimes in a hospital setting. Therapies offered are extensive. Medication-assisted treatment is available to those who qualify. | 14-30 days |
Hours Per Day: 24 |
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Days Per Week: 7 |
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| Long-Term Residential | Intensive treatment in a non-hospital setting, most often a therapeutic community with other patients. Therapies offered are extensive. Medication-assisted treatment is available to those who qualify. | 3-12 months |
Hours Per Day: 24 |
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Days Per Week: 7 |
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| Partial Hospitalization | Intensive treatment in a hospital setting. Patients do not stay overnight. Considered inpatient due to the hospital setting. Extensive services are provided and require a near full-time commitment every week. Medication-assisted treatment is available to those who qualify. | 14-30 days |
Hours Per Day: 6-8 |
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Days Per Week: 5 |
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| Outpatient | Intensive Day Treatment | Extensive services of an inpatient program but patients return home each day following treatment. After completion, patients often transition to less intensive counseling. Therapies offered are extensive. Medication-assisted treatment is available to those who qualify. | 3-4 months |
Hours Per Day: 2-4 |
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Days Per Week: 3 |
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| Counseling | Both individual counseling and group counseling focus on short-term behavioral goals to develop coping strategies. Therapies offered are moderate. Medication-assisted treatment is not available. | As long as desired |
Hours Per Day: 1-2 |
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Days Per Week: 1-3 |
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| Support Groups | Self-help groups center on maintaining abstinence after another form of treatment. Typically meet one day a week for 1-2 hours. | As long as desired |
Hours Per Day: 1-2 |
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Days Per Week: 1 |
Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Behavioral therapy for substance addiction seeks to identify and manage addictive behaviors that lead to use and prevent relapse. Behavioral therapy is based on the concept that all behavior is learned, and, thus, unhealthy behavior can be changed through learning coping skills and increasing awareness of negative thoughts and beliefs that contribute to substance abuse.
| Type of Therapy | Definition |
| Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Further reading: |
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) aims to help Librium users replace negative thoughts and behaviors with healthy ones, reducing the risk of relapse.
Several CBT techniques are used to treat Librium addiction and other substance use disorders. One of these techniques, known as a motivational interviewing, helps individuals explore why they’re ambivalent about stopping their Librium use. This technique aims to help individuals change their behavior, making it more likely that a user will comply with other treatment approaches. |
| Contingency Management Interventions/Motivational Incentives
Further reading: |
Contingency management helps counteract the effects of Librium on the reward center of the brain. With this approach, the individual is rewarded each time he or she engages in a behavior that contributes to abstinence from this substance. For example, a user who avoids using Librium may be rewarded with a cash prize.
In some cases, the value of the reward increases as the user’s abstinence behavior improves. For example, if the cash prize for going one week without Librium is $20, the prize for abstaining for six months might be something like $100 or $200. |
When searching for a Librium rehabilitation facility, it’s helpful to choose one that offers a multistep detoxification process, which can make withdrawal safer for the user. It’s also beneficial to look for a facility that offers medical detoxification management, as medical professionals may be able to prescribe supportive medications to reduce the severity of any withdrawal symptoms.
Rehabilitation centers offering behavioral therapies may give an individual the best chance of recovering from a Librium addiction. Cognitive behavioral therapy and contingency management are especially helpful, as they help users adjust their behavior and improve their coping skills.
Our directory of rehab programs includes a comprehensive list of available treatment centers and programs as provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In the directory, you will find tools to filter the programs by setting, price, and location.