Valium and Addiction: What to Know

Before taking Valium or any other prescription drug, it’s important to review its benefits and potential risks, including addiction. When you know the answers to questions such as what side effects does it cause and is Valium addictive, you’ll be able to make the informed decision that’s best for you.

What is Valium?

Valium is the brand name of a prescription medication that contains diazepam, which is a benzodiazepine, or benzo.

It is commonly prescribed to treat anxiety-related mental health concerns such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and agoraphobia. It is also frequently used to treat muscle spasms, seizures, and certain severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

Originally developed in the late 1950s, Valium first earned approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1963. From 1968-1982 it was the top-selling prescription drug in the U.S., with more than two billion tablets purchased in 1978 alone.

Is Valium Addictive?

The widespread use of Valium in the 1970s was due in part to the belief that it was a safe, non-addictive medication. Unfortunately, this belief proved to be untrue.

Is Valium addictive? Yes, it is.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has classified diazepam and several other benzos as Schedule IV controlled substances. The Schedule IV designation means that, in the opinion of the U.S. government, Valium poses “limited risk of physical or psychological dependence.”

The risk of Valium addiction is highest among people who abuse it, either in an attempt to self-medicate or as a recreational substance.

Valium abuse can also put people at elevated risk of several other problematic outcomes, including overdose and death.

From 1999-2022, the annual number of overdose deaths in the U.S. that involved Valium or other benzos increased from 1,135 to 10,964, with a peak of 12,499 benzo-involved overdose deaths in 2021.

The majority of these deaths involved people who had been using both benzos and opioids. As we will discuss in the next section, using Valium in an especially hazardous manner, such as by combining it with opioids or other drugs, can be a sign of addiction.

What Do the Symptoms of Valium Addiction Look Like?

As defined in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the criteria for Valium addiction include:

Taking Valium in larger amounts or for a longer period of time than intended
Having a persistent desire, or making several unsuccessful efforts, to limit or end your Valium use
Spending a substantial amount of time acquiring and using Valium, as well as recovering from its effects
Experiencing powerful cravings for Valium
Failing to fulfill your obligations at home, in school, or at work as a result of your Valium use
Continuing to use Valium even after having social or relationship problems due to prior use
Continuing to use Valium even after incurring physical or psychological damage due to prior use
Ending or reducing your participation in important leisure or work-related activities because of your Valium use
Using Valium in situations where it is clearly hazardous to do so
Becoming tolerant of Valium, which means you have to use more of the drug to experience the effects that you’re seeking
Developing withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop using Valium, or when you’re prevented from using the drug

According to the DSM-5, a person must exhibit at least two of these symptoms during a 12-month period to be accurately diagnosed with Valium addiction.

Warning Signs of Addiction to Valium

Many people who become addicted to Valium or other opioids try to hide evidence of their disorder. If you suspect that someone you know has become dependent on this drug, here are a few warning signs to watch for:

They try to buy, borrow, or steal Valium that wasn’t prescribed to them.
They undergo rapid changes in mood, attitude, and energy.
They sometimes appear to be confused or disoriented.
They’ve begun to pull away from friends and family members.
They seem to lack the motivation or inner drive that they used to display.
They’ve started to act in an uncharacteristically reckless or aggressive manner.
They are frequently absent from work or school – and when they’re present, their performance is often substandard
They have unintentionally gained a noticeable amount of weight

Anyone who exhibits these types of signs should consult with their primary physician or a qualified addiction expert. Completing a thorough evaluation and receiving an accurate diagnoses can be important steps on the path to recovery from Valium addiction.

How is Valium Addiction Treated?

Treatment for Valium addiction can occur at several levels of care and involve a variety of therapies and support services. Programming options for Valium addiction include:

Within these programs, a person’s treatment plan may include elements such as:

Individual psychotherapy
Group therapy
Family therapy sessions
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
Holistic therapies
Relapse-prevention education

If a person’s struggles with addiction are related to a history of untreated trauma, they may also benefit from eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and other trauma-focused interventions.

In general, the goals of Valium addiction treatment often include:

Learning about the disease of addiction and the recovery process
Identifying triggers, which are circumstances that could push you back into active Valium abuse
Improving your anger management and conflict resolution skills
Establishing an effective personal support network
Finding healthier and more productive ways to spend the time that you previously spent abusing Valium
Starting to repair relationships that were damaged by your compulsive Valium use
Connecting with peer support groups and other community-based resources

Every person who becomes addicted to Valium is impacted in a unique way and has their own specific needs and goals. This is why it is so important to find a treatment provider that will take the time to develop a customized plan just for you.

Contact Renewal Health Group to Treat Valium Addiction Today

Renewal Health Group offers personalized Valium addiction treatment at three convenient locations in Southern California.

When you choose one of our centers, you can expect to receive evidence-based clinical services and close personal support from a team of highly skilled professionals. With a full continuum of care that includes detox, residential treatment, and multiple outpatient options, we’re ready to provide the focused services that are right for you.

To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.