All You Need To Know About An Addiction To Sleeping Pills

 

A person who suffers from insomnia will wholeheartedly agree that an inability to get a good night's rest is one of the most draining and destroying experiences.  This inability to sleep at night is often the cause of requests for prescription sleeping tablets from a GP.  While sleeping tablets do carry a risk of addiction, those who follow the doctor's instructions have a relatively low chance of developing this.  With this being the case you may wonder how people become added to sleeping pills, the different signs of addition, as well as how this can be treated.

Firstly, the majority of people who use sleeping tablets as a sleeping aid do not obtain the prescription with a view of future addiction.  This dependence is often unforeseen and occurs due to the individual developing an immunity and a need to increase the dosage or frequency of administration.  Some will enjoy taking some medications like Ambien or Lunesta to enhance the effects of other substances.  Users have stated that they enjoy the feeling of tranquility that sleeping pills bring.

Abusing sleeping tablets is a highly dangerous and damaging addiction.  The longer a person uses this medication, the greater the chance of larger doses being ingested and the higher the risk of overdose.  One common side-effect of sleeping pill addiction is depression, which contributes to the heightened risk of suicide among users.  It is also seen that coordination is negatively effected which can lead to accidents.  The chemical structure can also cause irreparable damage to your internal organs.  Sleeping pill addiction can also lead to negative societal consequences as an you may break the law or engage in other unethical behaviors to acquire more tablets.

An addiction to sleeping pills may be identified in those who show the following symptoms.  It should be noted that while these symptoms are common among individuals addicted to sleeping pills, a therapist will need only two or three to be present in order to make an accurate diagnosis.

- a loss of interest in previous hobbies
- a decline in personal hygiene
- aggressive and defensive responses when questioned about drug use
- denial of potential sleeping pill addiction
- an inability to function on a daily basis without the sleeping pill
- a denial of being addicted to the sleeping pill

If you feel you are aware of someone who is suffering from an addiction to sleeping tablets, it is in their best interest to seek out professional treatment.  In mild cases, the individual should be able to reduce their dosage and eventually remove themselves from sleeping pill usage; however, those with severe cases of drug addiction will need treatment in a rehabilitation facility.  Irrespective of the severity, all sleeping pill addicts will require support to live a drug-free life.