Valium Addiction, Abuse, and Symptoms

How Valium affects the brain

Valium increases the amount of GABA in the brain. GABA stands for gamma-aminobutyric acid, and it’s an amino acid that balances out the effects of glutamate, a chemical used to transmit messages through the nervous system. Increasing the amount of GABA in the brain relieves anxiety, but it also slows down the nervous system, which can produce pleasurable side effects. In some people, the effects of Valium are similar to the effects that occur when someone consumes alcohol. For example, Valium can cause a sense of euphoria and make it difficult to coordinate the movements of the arms and legs.

Behavioral signs of Valium usage and abuse

Once someone develops a dependence on Valium, his or her behavior is likely to change. These behavioral changes occur for several reasons. First, users who feel ashamed about their substance use might start behaving in a secretive manner, so nobody finds out they’re taking Valium. Second, users who abuse Valium and other substances may start to have financial problems as they spend more and more money on the drug. Finally, Valium produces side effects that make it difficult to concentrate and remain productive; thus, some individuals who misuse Valium start having problems at school or in the workplace.

Users who engage in secretive behavior may isolate themselves in their rooms, refuse to tell family members with whom they’re spending time, or leave the house more often to carry out their activities in private. Users who develop financial difficulties may begin paying bills late or not paying them at all, asking friends and family members for loans, or overdrawing bank accounts just to have enough money to buy Valium. In the workplace, behavioral signs of Valium abuse include arriving late, missing work more than usual, failing to meet deadlines, and having difficulty juggling multiple responsibilities.

Adolescents who misuse Valium may start failing classes, seem less interested in school and extracurricular activities, or stop doing their homework. Skipping classes, breaking curfew, stealing money, and ending long-term relationships are also potential signs of Valium abuse.

How Valium affects the body

Once the amount of GABA in the brain increases, activity in the nervous system starts to slow down. One of the major physical effects of Valium is its ability to slow down an individual’s heart rate and breathing rate. After taking Valium, it’s also difficult for some users to coordinate their movements due to the muscle weakness that sometimes develops.

Early physical effects of Valium

Valium starts to work quickly, reaching peak plasma levels in as little as 10 minutes, depending on the route of administration used. Once it takes effect, it can cause a variety of physical symptoms. Although some of these symptoms are pleasant, others can be dangerous.

Severe and long-term physical effects of Valium

Once a user has been taking Valium for a long period of time, low doses of the drug no longer produce the same effects. As a result, the user may take larger doses of Valium or take Valium more frequently, increasing the risk of dependence. Taking Valium in higher doses than prescribed or more often than prescribed increases the risk of severe physical effects.

Respiratory depression is one of the most serious physical effects that can occur as a result of long-term Valium use. In some users, respiratory depression causes irregular breathing that eventually returns to normal. However, it’s possible for respiratory depression to cause an individual to stop breathing entirely. The risk of respiratory depression increases when Valium is combined with alcohol, opioids, or other substances that also slow down the nervous system. These substances enhance the effects of Valium, making it more likely that the user will suffer adverse physical effects.

Valium also has an effect on an individual’s motor skills, slowing response times and making it difficult to carry out tasks requiring a high level of coordination. For individuals who work in high-risk occupations, this can be dangerous, as slower response times and a lack of coordination can make it difficult for an individual to avoid harm if a machine malfunctions or an industrial accident occurs.

Valium usage has increased worldwide, especially among individuals who use opioids

In Northern Ireland, Valium has been implicated in a number of overdose deaths. According to the 2019 World Drug Report, which is published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 136 drug deaths were reported; almost half of these deaths involved at least three substances. Of all the substances identified, diazepam was the most common. This indicates the dangers associated with combining Valium with opioids and other substances.

Valium has also been implicated in many overdose deaths in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, benzodiazepines were involved in 40% to 80% of the methadone-related deaths that occurred in France in 2017. Furthermore, benzodiazepines like Valium were involved in 50% to 80% of heroin-related deaths that occurred in Germany and the United Kingdom during the same year.

Benzodiazepine use is also a concern in Asia and Africa, as evidenced by the fact that 47 tons of diazepam, the generic form of Valium, were manufactured illicitly in 2017. Additionally, 6.3 tons of diazepam were seized by law enforcement officials in 2016. More than half of the diazepam was seized in Africa; large amounts of diazepam were also seized in Asia. China, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, and India are among the main sources of illicit diazepam.

Benzodiazepine use is increasing in the United States

In 2016, approximately 0.2% of the U.S. population age 12 and older were considered current misusers of sedatives like Valium. This represents about 497,000 individuals, indicating the extent of the problem.

A 2018 National Institute on Drug Abuse report indicated that benzodiazepine abuse is highly prevalent in the United States. Nearly half of the individuals surveyed reported that the main reason they use benzodiazepines is to relax. The second most common reason U.S. residents use benzodiazepines is to encourage sleep. The most concerning statistic in this report was that more than 11% of the individuals surveyed stated that they use benzodiazepines like Valium to experience a high. People also use benzodiazepines to control their emotions or increase/decrease the effects of other substances.

Among adolescents, tranquilizer use has decreased among 12th graders but increased among other age groups. According to the Monitoring the Future Study, 6.1% of the 12th graders surveyed in 2019 reported that they had used tranquilizers at some point in their lives. This is a decrease from 6.6% in 2018. Although this data is heartening, the news isn’t all positive. In 2019, lifetime tranquilizer use increased from 3.5% to 4% in 8th graders. Furthermore, past-year use of tranquilizers increased in two of the three groups surveyed.