The Issues of Recreational Use of Klonopin

Have you ever wished that you could feel calm forget the stresses of life for just a few hours? We’ve all experienced the desire to escape the pressures of a hectic world. Some of us use healthy coping mechanisms. Others turn to recreational drug use. Doctors prescribe clonazepam, a sedative-hypnotic drug sold under the brand name Klonopin, to alleviate the pain of muscle spasms, control panic attacks and prevent seizures.

Used recreationally for its long-acting, tranquilizing effects, Clonazepam belongs to a family of drugs called benzodiazepines. These drugs affect the brain chemicals that promote sleep and make you feel peaceful and calm. Klonopin is available as an oral tablet, a disintegrating tablet, an oral solution or an injectable solution. Unlike faster-acting benzodiazepines like Ativan or Xanax, Klonopin can take 60 minutes or more to take effect. Its sedative qualities can last for several hours.

Because Klonopin is a prescription drug, many underestimate the issues of recreational use. Individuals often perceive prescription drugs as less dangerous than street drugs like heroin. However misusing clonazepam can cause serious complications including extreme sedation, loss of consciousness, dependence, addiction and fatal overdose. When you take this drug in large doses or use it in high-risk ways to get a high, you’re putting your health and your future in jeopardy.

Klonopin in the Home

Doctors frequently prescribe benzodiazepines like Klonopin, Ativan (lorazepam), Valium (diazepam), and Xanax (alprazolam). According to the American Psychiatric Association, “Between 1996 and 2013, the number of adults filling a benzodiazepine prescription increased 67 percent, from 8.1 million to 13.5 million. Among those filling benzodiazepine prescriptions, the median cumulative quantity filled over the year increased by 140 percent, from 86.8 mg to 208.0 mg.”^[1]

More people are taking more Klonopin. More people are also using it recreationally.

You don’t need a prescription to get access to Klonopin. Recreational users often get clonazepam from a friend or family member. A survey of undergraduate college students published in Addictive Behaviors found the majority of respondents obtained prescription drugs from peer sources including friends or acquaintances.^[2] Family members were another common source. Sharing Klonopin even on a casual basis can cause legal problems, as diverting prescription drugs is against the law. It can have serious consequences for a loved one. And Klonopin use comes with potentially dangerous side effects and drug interactions.

Clonazepam on the Black Market

The Internet has made it easy to obtain clonazepam without a prescription. Clonazepam is also sold through underground sources at clubs, parties or raves.

Clonazepam has long-lasting sedative properties. Recreational users often take Klonopin with other drugs including narcotic painkillers, other prescription tranquilizers or hallucinogens. The National Alliance on Mental Illness warns, “Avoid drinking alcohol and using illegal drugs while you are taking clonazepam. They may decrease the benefits (e.g., worsen your condition) and increase the adverse effects (e.g., sedation) of the medication. Alcohol increases the risk of accidental overdose with medications like clonazepam.”^[3] Klonopin and other drugs complicate mental health symptoms. Combining depressants slows central nervous system activity. If it slows too much, you risk unconsciousness, coma and death.

Safely Quit Klonopin

Klonopin and other benzodiazepines are recommended for short-term use only because of the risks of tolerance, dependence, and addiction. Recreational users put their health and life at risk when they take this drug for too long, in large quantities, or without a prescription. Users may also use the drug in unsafe ways. The drug can be snorted or injected, but this is not how it is meant to be used.

When the drug is misused, individuals may experience withdrawal symptoms when they attempt to quit or go too long without the drug. This can encourage a return to unsafe drug use. To safely stop using clonazepam, find medically supervised detox services. Drug rehab programs offer professional support and a safe environment for detox and recovery.

Find Help to End Klonopin Use

People abuse Klonopin for many reasons. They want to make life less stressful, fall asleep more easily, relieve unmanaged pain, or experience a euphoric escape. No matter your reasons for using this drug, rehab programs offer healthier, safer solutions for finding peace and joy in life.

Black Bear Lodge is a comprehensive rehab facility nestled in the wooded foothills of northern Georgia. We offer a retreat from the stress and tension of everyday life. Our lodge is a refuge where you can focus exclusively on your recovery. If you are considering finding help for yourself or a loved one, call our admissions coordinators at 706-914-2327 and learn more today. Freedom from addiction is within your reach.

Sources

^[1] “National Data on Benzodiazepine Use, Overdose Deaths Highlight Groups at Risk.” American Psychiatric Association. 18 Mar 2016. Web. 29 May 2017.

^[2] “Sources of Prescription Drugs for Illicit Use.” Addictive Behaviors. 19 Dec 2006. Web. 29 May 2017.

^[3] “Clonazepam (Klonopin).” National Alliance on Mental Illness. Oct 2016. Web. 29 May 2017.