Insomnia can have frustrating and devastating effects, especially for someone who is in recovery from substance abuse. Unfortunately, even though insomnia can be a symptom of detoxification from substances, taking sleeping pills is not the answer.
While sleeping pills may seem mild in comparison to drugs like heroin, cocaine, or benzodiazepines, they are powerful enough lead to addiction and have potentially fatal side effects. Sleeping pills pose a serious threat because they are often prescribed and often abused. Like many other drugs, sleeping pill takers grow to build a tolerance, which can lead them to use more, developing an unhealthy cycle of dependence and addiction.
People who have never experienced addiction can take sleeping pills safely under the guidance of a doctor. However, for those in recovery, sleeping pills are never an option—just as any substance that can cause dependence should be avoided.
So what can you do to get help sleeping? The tips below are taken in part from Harvard’s Healthy Sleep website and Dr. Shelby Harris’s advice in a New York Times consult.
If you suspect that someone you love is abusing sleeping pills, but aren’t sure what to look for, common symptoms of sleeping pill abuse include memory loss, drowsiness, dizziness, and poor coordination. People abusing sleeping pills may start missing family, work, or social obligations, and they may develop rare sleep disorders like sleep-walking, sleep-eating, sleep-driving, etc.
The longer someone abuses sleeping pills, the more the substance builds up in their body causing negative side effects. These include:
If you are taking sleeping pills and wondering if you’re developing a dependency, look for the following signs:
It’s important to seek help if you or someone you know struggles with addiction. Victory Addiction Recovery Center is there to help. Victory’s holistic approach provides counseling for those in the recovery center. Licensed staff give support to individuals and families of those struggling with addiction and can help you address the deep issues of addiction recovery. If you, or someone you know is abusing substances, contact Victory Addiction Recovery Center and ask about how to get help.