Use this guide to find answers to your questions about Halcion addiction and how to find a rehab that suits your needs.
1. Uses of Halcion
2. Halcion Addiction
3. Symptoms of Halcion Addiction
4. Side Effects of Halcion
5. Addiction and Abuse
6. Halcion Drug Rehab
7. Inpatient Rehab Centers, Outpatient Clinics and Residential Programs
8. Privacy and Confidentiality
9. Treatment Procedure
10. Payment Options
11. Conclusion
Halcion – also referred to as Triazolam- is a short-acting depressant that affects the central nervous system and is generally used as a sedative to treat severe insomnia and patients with sleep deprivation. Halcion is mostly used as a relaxant to treat patients; it possesses pharmaceutical properties similar to the ‘benzodiazepines’ class.
Halcion possesses the pronounced properties of being hypnotic – its primary function is to induce sleep and drowsiness. Other properties include:
- Amnesic – Deficit in memory caused by using sedatives and psychotic drugs.
- Sedative – Central nervous depressants that act with the chemicals in the brain to decelerate brain activity.
- Anticonvulsant – Acting as mood stabilizers and muscle relaxants, they’re used to alleviate spasms and tone muscle.
Uses of Halcion
Halcion medication is used to treat patients who have insomnia. This property is due to a sedative-hypnotic effect caused due to an impact on the brain and central nervous system. The medication is frequently prescribed as an aid for passengers suffering from jet lag or sleep disorders. The success of the drug is due to its fast onset without many side effects or drowsiness post waking up. It’s also coupled with anesthesia before medical procedures to reduce the anxiety level in patients. The treatment periods using the Halcion drug is usually limited to short spans of less than two weeks. Halcion is generally ingested by mouth or as part of food intake, and the dosage depends on medical condition, age, and treatment response rate. However, prior testing for side effects caused by the consumption of the drug varies for every individual. Thereby, testing is recommended before usage.
Halcion Addiction
Halcion, also known as Triazolam, is usually prescribed to treat mental and mood disorders, which include insomnia, anxiety, aggression, suicidal behavior, and schizophrenia. Being a controlled substance with limited treatment periods, it’s often misused due to to the ‘high’ produced similar to alcohol intoxication. Overuse of Halcion due to the ease of availability leads to physical addiction and dependency of the medication. Withdrawal symptoms arise when abusers of Halcion stop taking the drug, which is demonstrated by the helplessness felt by most while quitting. This augments itself as a significant indication of addiction to Halcion.
Symptoms of Halcion Addiction
Significant signs of Halcion addiction can be showcased through:
- Repeated attempts to quit (mostly unsuccessful)
- Time spent in recovering from Halcion side effects
- Cravings of Halcion drug
- Increased use of Halcion drug for better comprehension of effects
Side Effects of Halcion
The reactions caused by the usage of Halcion drug can be expressed as below:
>1% of patients have reactions like dizziness, problems with coordination, and feeling of lightness. This is the most commonly felt side effect 0.5% to 0.9% of patients have reactions like tiredness, confused state of memory, depression, visual disturbances, and feeling of cramps. These symptoms are less familiar to the side effects felt by patients.
<0.5% of patients have side effects like constipation, taste alteration, dryness of mouth, nightmares, lack of sleep, weakness, and indigestion. These side effects are infrequent as side effects for most patients.
Using Halcion can also cause impairment that can go on to the next day. This is extensively researched and has been demonstrated by hangover effects after intake of Halcion.
This is signified by effects like sleepiness, impairment of motor skills, diminished cognitive functions, resulting in a confused state of being. Immediate attention should be paid by consulting the doctor if the dizziness persists. Further, taking Halcion medication might also cause people to feel drowsy during the day. Due to the inherent property of inducing sleep, the after-effects of diminished cognitive functions and motor skill impairment may result from administering the drug in the following day.
People have also sleepwalked, made phone calls, and eaten food to which they have no clue about the next day. Additional intake of alcohol while on Halcion results in increased after-effects. Reports have suggested that severe allergic reactions to this drug have been rare. However, it’s widely advised to consult a general physician immediately if some allergic reaction is seen due to a Halcion intake.
Addiction and Abuse
Both the terms – Abuse and Addiction- are separate and distinct from each other. Abuse generally refers to the misuse of the drug for mostly recreational purposes sometimes in addition to other substances. On the other hand, the physical dependence to a particular drug is characterized by specific withdrawal symptoms experienced by dosage reduction or stoppage of intake. Tolerance to a specific drug arises over a period when the exposure is slowly increased. Addiction is mostly a chronic disease that is highly influenced by factors like environmental conditions and genetics, which affect its development. Addiction is also characterized by showcased behavior like excessive usage, continued use despite the harm caused, control impairment over drug usage, and increased cravings. However, the silver lining points to the temporary nature of addiction – through a controlled approach of reduction of consumption and other disciplinary functions.
Halcion Drug Rehab
Halcion is a drug that induces sleep. Due to the soothing and calming effect produced by Halcion intake, it leads to abuse. These effects are mostly due to the Halcion drug affecting the central nervous system- basically, slowing down cognitive functions and causing a relaxed demeanor. The mood enhancement factor creates a euphoric feeling. This exact tendency causes addiction and abuse of the drug. Aided by the rapid action and potency, Halcion is a popular drug for recreational use. Signs of overdose of Halcion include vision impairment, slurred speech, difficulty in breathing, drowsiness, and impaired body functions.
Often combined with other drugs like alcohol leading to an increased ‘high,’ Halcion drug abuse is one serious addiction threat. Add to it the self-medication techniques followed by abusers of narcotic painkillers or heroin who end up mixing Halcion with opioids and seriously endanger their bodily functions. Halcion addiction treatment is pretty similar to benzodiazepine withdrawal and treatment since they belong to the same class of drugs. Most symptoms are taken through a detox process with a gradual decrease in the dosage and possibly using drug replacement therapy. This process is highly effective due to the gradual removal of drugs from the body while correcting the chemical imbalance created due to substance abuse. The drug replacement therapy also helps in the prevention of withdrawal symptoms during the entire detox process.
Inpatient Rehab Centers, Outpatient Clinics and Residential Programs
Inpatient rehab centers typically offer more structure and intensive support than outpatient clinics. With outpatient clinics, a person may visit a counselor weekly and attend community-based support groups throughout the week. On the contrary, an inpatient treatment facility offers more hands-on support to the victims through daily meetups with a counselor and through a combination of group and individual therapy sessions. Inpatient treatment facilities also facilitate strict medication monitoring in a controlled environment, which makes it difficult for abusers to obtain and utilize drugs without prescription. This is the most primary benefit of inpatient treatment since prescription drugs are widely available outside.
On completion of the inpatient treatment program, the patient can continue to receive support through an outpatient clinic or residential treatment program. A residential rehab facility is recommended for patients who need assistance with psychological or medical conditions and to also support their dependency on a particular drug. Residential rehab programs offer monitoring and daily support concerning the medication provided, but unlike inpatient programs, these programs also accentuate the patients with the freedom to work, go to school, visit relatives and homes of neighbors, and spend time in the community. Tolerance of the drug Halcion can be built up as a result of prolonged usage, and withdrawal symptoms usually characterize the physical dependence.
Privacy and Confidentiality
Privacy is one of the major concerns a person may have before entering a rehabilitation program. This is coupled by fears of public knowledge of an addiction that disrupts a person’s private and professional life. However, strict codes of conduct are followed at these inpatient treatment facilities and rehab centers, coupled with adherence to confidentiality agreements. During the intake process, patients declare emergency contacts, family members, and other treatment professionals who can be informed of personal information when needed. Some treatment facilities also have the option of private rooms, although standard industry practice of sharing rooms with another patient is the most prevalent. This also serves as a blessing in disguise and proves helpful to patients to interact more with each other between counseling sessions and rehab activities.
Rehab centers offer programs of different lengths. A 28 to the 30-day program is sufficient for detox and the initial stages of recovery, but continued outpatient services are necessary and recommended to help the patient recover fully. Some facilities offer a forty-five or two to three-month program, whereas others may need treatment ranging between six months to a full year. The length of the approach depends on the severity of the drug use of the patient and the types of support available to the patient outside the inpatient facility. Physicians and social workers can provide recommendations based on all the factors. Long term rehab programs – that take 120 to 180 days or longer, help in treating chronic addiction cases by providing intensive and structured treatments, coupled with helping the addicted patient sustain from the drug and resume a healthy life.
Treatment Procedure
The first step in the inpatient rehab facility is the intake appointment. This is the step to sign a document signifying consent to the entire treatment procedure. Post-consent, a physical checkup is done to determine the patient’s medical condition. Most facilities have an interview process to determine the extent of damage and customize the proper treatment plan following circumstances showcased. The next step in the process is detox. Treatment plans vary as per the length and severity of the addiction. Once the detox process concludes, the next stage is to provide patients with addiction therapy.
Addiction therapy is essential and comes in various forms. The most beneficial among all is the peer to peer group therapy, where peer support helps one be in terms with his/her addiction and feel less alone. Individual therapy is also offered to help patients understand themselves better, to reciprocate on circumstances leading to the addiction and hence, provide support and strength for patients to stay sober. Once the addiction therapy has started, patients are usually sent into specialized care. This is unique to each patient – due to their individual needs. Concurrent mood disorders for each patient need to be addressed for successful addiction recovery. This is the primary factor for the customized and tailor-made specialized care for each patient. Inpatient rehab centers also provide extended care as part of their aftercare regimen. This can take the form of ongoing group and individual therapy and continued support either by phone or treatment centers.
Payment Options
The price of Halcion rehab treatments varies on the length of stay, the severity of the condition, type of treatment needed, and the treatment facility chosen to enroll. Most treatment centers accept health insurance while many others offer private financing to aid patients to afford the rehab program. The decision of where to receive treatment also depends on the location of the rehab facility. Usually, the best choices are across the country, where enrollment in rehab centers do not affect life in the residing community. On the contrary, a treatment facility nearby will make aftercare more affordable and readily acceptable in an environment patients are familiar with. However, in all these cases, a necessary condition is to get the treatment and detox that is needed.
Conclusion
Halcion drug abuse is an increasing problem. However, with the right facilities in place, addiction is entirely curable. As always, health is wealth. Staying sober and leading a life in sound health should ideal. For more information on the above, you can always conduct a search online.
