Diazepam (trade name Valium) has been on the market since 1963, widely used as a muscle relaxant and to relieve anxiety or insomnia. It is a benzodiazepine, acting as a depressant upon the central nervous system. When taken over time, users build up a tolerance to it, so that its effects can only be achieved by taking more and more of the drug. By some estimates, 50% of patients taking Valium for 6 months or longer, even at prescribed doses, will develop a physical dependence.

Dependency manifests in withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, abdominal cramps, dizziness, insomnia, vomiting, heart palpitations, and a host of other physical symptoms which can occur after only a few days of repeated use. Worse, Valium abuse also can cause emotional dependency, resulting in users craving the drug for its euphoric effects rather than for relief of the original problem.

Valium is one of a number of prescription drugs currently being diverted from medical use in large quantities to satisfy a black market in illicit drug use. Valium abuse is high on the list of concerns for such diverse federal agencies as the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Drug Enforcement Agency. Over 1.7 million people had abused prescription drugs in 2006; state by state, the numbers continue to grow. Valium is listed among the club drugs abused by many high school and college students at rave parties and other venues where young people gather. Easily obtained from parental medicine cabinets or bought on the street, when crushed and injected or sniffed, it produces an intense “hit.” It also, unfortunately, produces mental detachment and motor impairment that can lead to tragedy after the party.

It is often difficult to spot Valium abuse, but when a loved one professes a continuing need for prescriptions it should be a warning signal. Other signs to watch for include:

• Clumsiness
• Sleepiness
• Dry mouth
• Blurred vision
• Shaking / slurred speech
• Memory loss
• Staggering / trembling
• Headache or confusion
• Trouble breathing

If you suspect a Valium addiction, seek treatment immediately. While withdrawal is seldom fatal in cases of Valium abuse, symptoms are unpleasant enough to prevent an abuser from continuing with a resolve to stop taking the drug. The emotional dependency is usually even worse, inflicting cravings upon the user even after the drug has been eliminated from his or her body.

Treatment for Valium abuse and addiction should be undertaken through a qualified drug treatment center. There are over 13,600 drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers in the United States alone. People with a prescription drug problem such as an addiction to Valium can choose between private nonprofit, private for-profit, and, in much smaller numbers, publicly-owned treatment centers. Programs will vary, and not all rehabilitation centers will offer the same types of treatment. Severe Valium addictions may require residential care, which typically is offered by the minority of facilities. Any program for Valium addiction should encompass detoxification, counseling, and behavioral therapy to prevent relapse.