Posted by Alan on November 28, 2001, at 9:23:21
In reply to Re: Am I copping out by asking for a Benzo? » Krazy Kat , posted by jazzdog on November 27, 2001, at 22:36:50
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> I know that people on this thread are very pro-benzo, but I feel I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you what any accredited rehab, such as Hazeldon or Betty Ford, as well as AA, has to say about alcoholism and benzos. Basically, benzos are considered alcohol in pill form - they access the same receptors in the brain and can substitute for one another. That's why a benzo will kill a hangover. An alcoholic can substitute benzos for booze, but sooner or later a cross-addiction will kick in - the person will either become addicted to benzos or revert to alcohol or - and this is very possible - end up addicted to both. As a recovering alcoholic-addict, I can tell you that this is what happened to me. As someone who has worked with alcoholic-addicts for several years, I can tell you that I have seen this cross-addiction occur dozens of times. I do not know a single reputable addiction counsellor who would say otherwise.
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> - JaneSo the patient ends up self medicating (with BZD's) the self medication (original alcoholism). I don't see how that makes the two inextricably interlinked. To say that the two drugs access the same receptors in the brain is only part of the picture. Alcohol is a bazooka compared to a laser beam like BZD's (which work on the GABA receptor sites exclusively).
I understand the need to be careful when using BZD's after someone has sobered up such as careful management and supervision but the generalised idea that BZD's are "alcohol in pill form" is misleading to say the least.
When someone "reverts" permanently to BZD's and can slowly taper to a dosage in a reasonably theraputic range with effective results, that's simply being medicated properly. There is a difference between "addictive" and "medically dependent" as I'm sure that you're aware?
This distinction seems to be lost in your above explanation. Unless you would like to further clarify.
Alan
poster:Alan
thread:85243
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011123/msgs/85387.html