Halcion, also known by the generic name triazolam, is a powerful sleep medication that should be used only on a very short-term basis. For instance, according to the National Institutes of Health, it is generally not prescribed for more than seven to 10 days. However, this precaution does not prevent some individuals from becoming addicted due to misuse of the drug. This happened to the actor Burt Reynolds when he took the drug excessively for a period of more than four years in the 1980s. According to news reports, the popular actor tried to quit taking the drug without proper medical supervision, eliminating the use of the drug all at once and nearly died. Halcion is a dangerous drug of abuse and any misuse of this drug should be taken very seriously.
How to Recognize Addiction to Halcion and Other Drugs
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction is a complicated disease. While no two cases of addiction will appear exactly the same, there are certain behaviors and characteristics that are common among those who are afflicted. The Mayo Clinic has listed several behaviors that can indicate a problem exists that might help you determine whether you or someone you live with may have an addiction to Halcion.
Regular drug abuse, either on a daily basis or several times per day, may indicate that an individual is suffering from addiction. Even if the person does not have the ability or availability to abuse the drug daily, the urge to abuse daily can be a symptom of addiction.
Taking steps to obtain the drug, including illegal activities, may also indicate an addiction. For example, have you or your loved one tried to obtain a prescription for Halcion from more than one doctor while filling the prescription at more than one pharmacy? This practice, known as doctor shopping, is illegal in varying degrees in 49 out of 50 US states. On the other hand, if you are receiving your prescription drug through legal channels by visiting only one doctor, if you misrepresent your needs for the drug to your physician, you are also breaking many doctor shopping laws around the country. These laws are set up to help monitor the use and abuse of controlled substances and reduce the chances of addiction. Therefore, it is important to be completely honest and forthcoming with your doctor so you can get the help you need to treat a possible addiction. Another behavior that might indicate a drug addiction is spending money on Halcion when you can’t really afford it.
Are you borrowing from the mortgage or utility bill fund to pay for your prescription drugs and doctor bills? Are you behaving in a way that is counter to your personal code of ethics, such as stealing, in order to obtain more drugs? If you find this is the case, or you discover that you are spending an inordinate amount of time and energy to obtain and abuse drugs, you may want to obtain an evaluation for a possible addiction issue.
Drug addiction can overtake many aspects of your life and cause you to make decisions that you would otherwise loathe. You may choose to abuse drugs rather than spend important, quality time with your family, such as attending graduations, weddings, and other once-in-lifetime events. You may find yourself abusing drugs rather than going to work or school, or rather than participating in activities that once meant a great deal to you. If this type of behavior describes your behavior concerning Halcion, it is important to seek the advice of a medical professional as quickly as possible.
Getting the Help You Need to Recover From Halcion Addiction
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, some of the most successful programs for addiction treatment are residential treatment options. Inpatient hospital settings claimed the highest percentage of completion success at 70 percent, while detox facilities are second highest with 67 percent. Finally, rounding out the top three are short-term residential treatment programs with a nearly 60 percent completion rate. It is important to remember that detox, according to the experts, is not a treatment program but merely one aspect of treatment. It can be said that hospital and residential treatment centers are the best facilities to obtain treatment if one is focused on completion of the program in order to enhance the chances for long-term success.
Treatment programs, in general, may consist of a variety of therapy options. Each program should be specifically designed for each participant, taking into considering the circumstances of his or her life, personal and family history, and goals for the future. Some of the treatment options that are available in a residential treatment program might include:
- Individual therapy that focuses on the specific needs of the individual
- Cognitive behavioral therapy that helps individuals learn new ways to think about the world around them as they change their belief structures and consequent behaviors
- Family therapy that helps the individual see how their behaviors have affected other people within their family unit
- Family therapy that helps the family members address their own issues as they relate to the recovering member of the family
- Group therapy that focuses on a group of individuals who can share their life experiences, challenges, and rewards to encourage and influence others who face the same kinds of mental health issues, including addiction
- Support groups that can establish social bonds and fellowship to encourage sobriety after treatment has ended
- Alternative therapies, including yoga, massage and acupuncture that can help individuals develop healthy ways to induce relaxation and peace to deal with daily life, chronic pain or other issues
- Alternative therapies, such as art or music, that can provide alternative means of communication when verbal articulation may prove too difficult
What Happens After Treatment?
For many individuals who face treatment for Halcion addiction or addiction to any substance, the concept of leaving treatment may be more frightening than actually going to treatment in the first place. Certainly, making the decision to get help is difficult, but while you are in treatment, you are surrounded by caring, compassionate and highly trained professionals. You may feel as though this wall of protection is the only thing keeping you from using again. What happens when you leave the protection of the treatment facility to face what may seem like a truly scary place?
The first aspect of life after treatment that you should embrace is the fact that treatment doesn’t end simply because you leave the residential treatment program. Rather, your treatment plan is adjusted to account for the new, or old, influences that you will face each and every day. Some individuals choose to live in transitional housing, such a sober living house, before they return to living entirely on their own. Others are able to return to their original living arrangement because it provides a safe and nurturing environment. Others may have to eliminate many negative influences and friends from their lives altogether in order to make a clean break and a new start in sobriety. These are determinations that you can make while you are still shrouded in the safe, comfortable environment of residential treatment with the help of experienced caregivers who have the knowledge to help you succeed.
If you’d like to get started on a path to wellness and balance, contact us here at Axis. We are here 24/7 to take your call and to help you take that first step away from Halcion addiction.
