Located in the serene hills of San Rafael, Bayside Marin is California’s premier rehabilitation center dedicated to the treatment of benzo addiction. Bayside Marin blends evidence-based treatments with alternative, holistic modalities to comprehensively treat all aspects of our client’s life.
Learn More About Benzo Addiction Treatment
Learn more about benzo addiction treatment at Bayside Marin Treatment Center in California
Benzodiazepines, which are commonly referred to as benzos, are central nervous system depressants that are commonly prescribed to help combat symptoms associated with anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and pain. In the United States, more than 125 million prescriptions are written every year for Ativan, Klonopin, Valium, Xanax, and other medications that contain benzos.
Because they can induce a sedate euphoria that last as long as 24 hours, benzos are subject to widespread abuse. In some cases, what starts as approved medical use morphs into off-label abuse. In other cases, the drugs are abused purely for recreational purposes. Because they are so commonly prescribed, and thus readily available for illicit acquisition, benzos are an enticing target for those who are searching for an illegal high.
Benzos are not as addictive as drugs like heroin or cocaine, but this does not mean that abusing them is a risk-free endeavor. Every year, benzo abuse is a contributor to about 300,000 emergency room visits.
In addition to the legal jeopardy that can result from using prescription medications without a prescription or contrary to doctor’s orders, benzo abuse can also lead to a number of negative physical and cognitive outcomes. Taken alone or in combination with alcohol or other drugs, benzos can cause respiratory distress, panic, paranoia, loss of muscle control, dangerously low blood pressure, and temporary amnesia.
How to Help a Loved One
Helping a loved one get treatment for benzo addiction
It is far from easy to watch a friend or family member descend into substance abuse or addiction. But attempting to help your loved one escape the chains of this destructive behavior can be an intimidating proposition. The following pieces of advice can help you prepare to make a positive difference in your loved one’s life:
- Be calm. When you speak to your loved one about his or her substance abuse, do not be surprised if the response is fraught with denial, indignation, or anger. Admitting you have a problem and need help can be a humbling experience for anyone, and many people channel their shame into anger. When confronted with deception or hostility, respond with compassion.
- Be supportive. This is not the time for judgment or ultimatums. Your loved one is in crisis, and before you can help him or her you need to establish that your motives are based in compassion and understanding.
- Be informed. Learn what you can about benzos, substance abuse, and addiction. There are a number of reputable websites that can give you a solid understanding of the issues your loved one is experiencing.
- Be reliable. Overcoming a substance abuse disorder is a long-term process, and residential treatment is just the first step. When your loved one returns home, his or her continued recovery will depend heavily on having a strong support network. Be an integral and reliable part of that network.
There is a good chance that, no matter how well your loved one responds during residential rehabilitation treatment, he or she will experience setbacks, frustrations, and even relapses on the road to lifelong recovery. Having someone to turn to when times get tough can make the difference between backsliding into full-fledged substance abuse and rededicating oneself to long-term sobriety.
Why Consider Treatment
Why consider treatment for benzo addiction at Bayside Marin Treatment Center in California
In addition to putting a person’s health in jeopardy, benzo addiction can impact relationships, academic progress, job performance, and virtually all other aspects of one’s life. Left untreated, people who are abusing benzos will find themselves pulled into a downward spiral of pain, shame, and hopelessness.
Substance abuse rarely occurs in a vacuum, which means that individuals who are abusing benzos are likely also abusing other substances (in many cases, alcohol) as well as dealing with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, anger management problems, and plummeting self-esteem. Failing to get help for the substance abuse likely means that these other issues will go untreated as well, which exponentially increases the likelihood of continued negative outcomes. Regardless of why a person initially began abusing benzodiazepines, the continued abuse of these drugs will put him or her at significant risk for a host of problems. Addiction treatment for benzos at a trusted rehab center is necessary for long-term recovery.
Types of Treatment
Types of benzo addiction treatment offered at Bayside Marin Treatment Center in California
Bayside Marin Treatment Center provides world-class rehab treatment for adults, aged 18 and above, who are struggling with benzo abuse and addiction, as well as any co-occurring mental health issues. Located in California, Bayside Marin is dedicated to providing life-changing care in an atmosphere of comfort, support, and serenity. Our science-based, research-supported treatment model features both time-tested techniques and emerging modalities, blended into comprehensive plans that are customized to meet the unique needs of each client.
When clients choose to heal at Bayside Marin, they enter into active collaboration with a team of highly skilled professionals who are dedicated to helping them identify, address, and ultimately overcome the issues that have been preventing them from living happier and healthier lives. Not content merely to alleviate symptoms of benzo abuse, the Bayside treatment team focuses developing effective solutions for the underlying issues that have been the root cause of our clients’ distress.
For example, when a client enters Bayside Marin for rehab treatment for benzo addiction, we will develop a holistic course of treatment that incorporates a variety of therapeutic activities that are designed to address both conditions at their fundamental levels. Recognizing that residential treatment is just one step on the path of long-term recovery, our experts ensure that clients have the skills, strategies, and support to continue their recovery after they have returned home.
The following are some of the many treatment opportunities that may be included in a client’s experience at Bayside Marin. This is not intended as a comprehensive list of all services that are available at Bayside; rather, it is designed to reflect the breadth and depth of options that are available to help our clients meet their treatment goals:
Medical detoxification: Clients who have been unable to stop abusing benzodiazepines prior to enrolling in Bayside Marin can complete a safe medical detox on our campus. Medical detoxification services at Bayside Marin’s benzo rehab center begin with a consultation and complete assessment, conducted by either a board-certified medical doctor or nurse practitioner. During detox, clients may be prescribed medication as deemed appropriate to make the process as safe and painless as possible. Round-the-clock supervision and monitoring are provided by experienced professionals throughout the entire detox process.
Individual therapy: Individual therapy is one of the fundamental treatment experiences at Bayside Marin Treatment Center. All clients meet with their therapist for one-on-one sessions two times each week, with additional sessions available as needed. During individual therapy sessions, clients have the opportunity to evaluate their progress, identify any issues or concerns they have about their treatment, and receive guidance on how best to address personal obstacles or complications that are preventing them from meeting their treatment goals.
Couples and family therapy: Couples therapy and family therapy are forms of group therapy that are available to Bayside Marin clients on an as-needed basis. All Bayside clients work closely with a primary therapist, who will determine the need for couples or family sessions and who can schedule these sessions. Because we understand the impact that addiction and other co-occurring conditions can have on families and other close interpersonal relationships, Bayside places a premium on providing services that can help heal this damage.
Family program: In addition to providing family therapy sessions as needed, Bayside has also developed a highly effective family program to help spouses, parents, and others address their own needs and prepare themselves to be sources of ongoing support as their loved one pursues long-term recovery. The Bayside family program is a two-day psychoeducational workshop that is offered twice each month. The family program helps loved ones understand the disease of addiction and recognize how they have been affected by their family member’s disorder, then helps them to develop skills and strategies to address both their personal issues as well as their family member’s struggles. In addition to the education offered during family program weekends, the experience is also an invaluable tool for breaking through the isolation that can often accompany abuse and bonding with others who are having similar struggles within their own families.
Group therapy: Group therapy is another core component of rehab treatment at Bayside Marin. Bayside Marin Treatment Center’s clients participate in several forms of group therapy on a daily basis, which allows them to reap the many benefits of this type of therapy while also learning a great deal about issues and topics that are important to the healing process. Group therapy participants have the opportunity both to receive and provide support, as well as learn from the experiences of others while also sharing insights that they have developed. Group therapy sessions at Bayside Marin will focus on a variety of topics, including self-help techniques, education about the disease of addiction, relapse prevention tips, treatment planning, continuing care planning, and family support.
Experiential therapy: In contrast to traditional individual and group therapy sessions, which usually focus on discussion, experiential therapy is a more active experience. For example, art therapy and therapeutic gardening allow clients to express themselves and address issues via more creative endeavors, while massage therapy, acupuncture, and meditation are designed to promote mindfulness and the mind-body connection. At Bayside Marin, yoga and Qi Gong are available every day, while other forms of experiential rehab therapy are usually offered on a weekly basis.
Continuing Care
Continuing care and levels of treatment for benzo addiction
At Bayside Marin, planning for clients’ lives after they complete residential treatment starts on the day they arrive. Because most of the issues and disorders that our clients are dealing with necessitate long-term or lifelong recovery efforts, it is essential that we develop treatment plans with an eye toward how best to maintain and enhance their residential progress when our clients return home.
Bayside’s rehab clients meet with continuing care coordinators within their first week in treatment, and touch base with them on a regular basis throughout their time with us. By the time they have completed the residential phase of their treatment, all Bayside clients will have comprehensive continuing care plans in place. Depending upon the unique needs of the client, these plans may include referrals to community based resources, appointments with counselors or therapists, participation in local support groups, and other such details. The goal for this intensive planning is to make the transition from residential care to post-residential recovery as seamless and successful as possible.
But the continuing care support provided by Bayside Marin does not end with the development of this plan. For 12 months after their discharge, Bayside clients receive recovery monitoring, life coaching services, and other forms of support to help them build a solid foundation for lifelong recovery. All services during the 12 months of continuing care support are determined and provided on a case-by-case basis, and are customized to reflect the unique strengths and needs of each client.
When clients who have completed treatment feel that they need some additional support in their recovery, our recovery and rehab program allows them to return to our program for day or two. By participating in the therapeutic milieu and connecting with others in the Bayside recovery family, program alumni can get the essential boost that they need to stay strong in their recovery.
Why Choose Bayside Marin
Why choose Bayside Marin for benzo addiction treatment
When clients choose Bayside Marin Benzo Addiction Treatment Center in California, they do not just enter a benzo abuse treatment program – they join a healing community that is dedicated to helping them achieve long-term recovery. Residential clients, program alumni, and family members both benefit from and contribute to this vibrant and dynamic community, which extends far beyond the borders of the Bayside campus and which offers a lifelong source of life-affirming support.