Table of Contents

The Basics of Librium Rehabilitation

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.

Description of the Four Steps of the Rehab Process

For more information, read our guide to the rehab process.

What Makes Librium Rehabilitation Difficult?

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.

The Unique Struggle of Librium Addicts
Librium…
  • activates the reward center of the brain, producing strong cravings that make it difficult to stop using
  • enhances the effects of GABA, making it easier for users to cope with stressful circumstances
  • slows down an individual’s respiratory rate and heart rate, which are desirable effects for users experiencing high levels of stress
  • may enhance or limit the effects of other substances, making some individuals rely on it to avoid the negative effects associated with other drugs

Librium Rehabilitation Statistics

Librium Treatment Admissions by Gender

54.1% Male
45.9% Female

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates in 2015:

  • 6,050,000 individuals aged 12 and older — 2.3% of the population — reported that they had misused a tranquilizer, such as Librium, within the past year.
  • 1,985,000 individuals aged 12 and older were addicted to tranquilizers, such as Librium and in need of treatment.
  • 14,204 individuals aged 12 and older in need of treatment enrolled in a rehabilitation program for tranquilizer misuse.

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.

Tranquilizer Treatment Admissions Percentages by Age Group, 2017
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%

Librium Detoxification and Withdrawal Process

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.

Withdrawal Symptoms

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

Librium withdrawal may produce serious, even life-threatening side effects

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.

Some users experience seizures when withdrawing from Librium

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.

Librium withdrawal causes some psychological symptoms to get worse

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.

Withdrawing from Librium may cause an individual to develop delirium tremens

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.

Librium Detoxification Medications

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.

Treatment for 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.

Rehabilitation Settings

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.

Librium Treatment Programs
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
Days Per Week:
7
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
Days Per Week:
7
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
Days Per Week:
5
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
Days Per Week:
3
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
Days Per Week:
1-3
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
Days Per Week:
1

Behavioral and Medication-Assisted Therapies

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.

Behavioral Therapies for Librium Addiction
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.

How to Find Help

Finding a Rehabilitation Center for Librium Addiction

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

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.