Prescription drugs called benzodiazepines, or benzos for short, are used for sedation and for treating certain nervous system conditions. Those disorders include seizures, insomnia, muscle spasms, and anxiety.

Benzos are sold under a variety of popular brand names, among them Ativan, Xanax, and Valium. In most cases, doctors prescribe such drugs for a short period of time or for intermittent usage.

Unfortunately, benzodiazepines are commonly abused. In particular, people often take them with alcohol. It’s a practice that’s extremely dangerous as well as addictive.

If you think you might be addicted to benzos, alcohol, or both, it’s vital to seek professional help for detox and recovery. Doing so will give you the best possible chance of overcoming the addiction.

What Are Benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepines, also known as benzos, are central nervous system depressants. These substances slow down brain activity by affecting the way the brain sends messages to the body. Specifically, they enhance the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA, which reduces nerve cell excitability. This action diminishes a person’s sense of arousal and stimulation, producing a calming effect. Many benzos, such as alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), temazepam (Restoril), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), work quickly, with patients often feeling the sedative effects almost immediately.

While prescribed for various conditions, including anxiety and insomnia, benzodiazepines can be easily misused. They are sometimes sold illegally and are often referred to as “downers.” Individuals who obtain these drugs without a prescription may misuse them by snorting or swallowing them to achieve a high.

A significant number of people who misuse benzos do so in combination with other substances, such as cocaine or heroin, seeking to intensify euphoric sensations. Regardless of whether benzos are taken alone or with other substances, there is a risk of overdose.

A benzodiazepine overdose can lead to several dangerous effects, including confusion, fatigue, impaired coordination and reflexes, and respiratory depression (slow and shallow breathing, potentially leading to oxygen deprivation). Overdoses can also result in comas and even death. Drowsiness is also a common side effect, even at therapeutic doses.

The Dangers of Mixing Benzos and Alcohol

Like benzos, alcohol is a depressant that affects the central nervous system. (That’s why drinking alcohol can make people feel relaxed and sleepy.) And taking two depressants at the same time or in close proximity significantly increases the risk of overdose and other health problems.

Indeed, mixing alcohol with benzos compounds all of the effects and risks of drinking alcohol. For example, this combination can severely impair a person’s hand-eye coordination and motor functions, far more than alcohol alone. Consequently, a person is at an increased risk of accidents and serious injuries. The risks of memory problems, amnesia, and vomit aspiration also increase.

Mixing alcohol and benzos also lowers inhibitions, potentially leading to poor decision-making and actions that hurt others or are personally humiliating. The long-term consequences of such actions can include damaged family relationships, broken friendships, and even legal liabilities. This combination also increases the risk of substance use disorder, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse.

When people are home alone and combine benzos and alcohol, they face an even greater danger. They might suffer from respiratory failure, which, without medical help, can quickly worsen into a coma and ultimately lead to death.

Given these dangers, if you have a benzodiazepine prescription, you should avoid alcohol use altogether. Even short-term mixing of these substances can have serious consequences for your well-being. It is crucial to understand the risks associated with this dangerous combination.

Recognizing the Signs of Addiction and Withdrawal

Tragically, alcohol and benzos are both highly addictive substances. And, when people develop a tolerance for them, they need increasingly larger doses to get the highs they crave.

Indeed, one of the main reasons people start taking benzos with alcohol is that alcohol alone no longer gives them the pleasurable sensations they once enjoyed.

Certain symptoms are common whenever people are addicted to benzos, alcohol, or both. They include the following:

• Social isolation
• Blackouts
• Vertigo
• Double vision
• Frequent headaches
• Changes in sleep pattern
• Changes in diet
• Slower reflexes and reaction times
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Hostility or aggression
• Mood swings
• Problems with memory, concentration, or thinking clearly
• Defensiveness and denial, especially when it comes to substance use conversations

If you’re suffering from any of these symptoms — or any combination of them — it’s vital to contact an addiction treatment center immediately.

Treatment Options for Benzodiazepine and Alcohol Addiction

Professional addiction treatments — including treatments for alcohol and benzodiazepine addiction — generally break down into these categories:

1. Medical Detox

Medical detoxification is the process by which medical professionals remove all traces of a substance from a patient’s body. They then monitor that person carefully for a period of days or weeks — or sometimes months.

Of course, when a person has an addiction, the withdrawal side effects can be severe. They often include:

• A faster heart rate
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia
• Night sweats
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Congestion
• Seizures
• Paranoia or hallucinations
• Muscle aches and tremors

Fortunately, treatment experts can provide medications and other therapies to relieve benzos and alcohol withdrawal symptoms. That way, it’s much easier for a patient to adjust to life without those substances.

2. Inpatient Treatment

When patients are struggling with a severe addiction, inpatient treatment is often the most effective course of action. With inpatient care, people stay in their treatment facility for a few weeks, several weeks, or perhaps a few months.

During that time, patients are away from all of the anxieties and triggers of daily life. They can focus solely on getting better through counseling, managed medications, and other treatments.

Patients can also have fun via recreational activities, and they can enjoy a balanced diet and regular exercise sessions.

3. Outpatient Treatment

For a less acute addiction, an outpatient treatment program might be the right approach. This option involves continuing to live at home and continuing to attend school or go to work each day.

Meanwhile, patients routinely visit their treatment facility for checkups, medication, counseling, and other forms of care.

With outpatient treatment, people can take all the lifestyle and coping tactics they learn in their therapy sessions and put them into practice immediately. They can use them at home, at school, at work, and in social situations.

4. Mental Health Support

Mental health support identifies and addresses the root causes of people’s addiction. It also gives them potent strategies for avoiding relapses and for enjoying a substance-free lifestyle. And it helps them to manage any co-occurring disorders.

Such support begins with a thorough mental health examination. It can then proceed to individual counseling, behavioral therapy, group therapy, family therapy, support group meetings (both formal and informal), or some combination thereof.

Typically, mental health support for addiction will continue after people end their inpatient or outpatient treatment. Patients might schedule in-person counseling sessions, telehealth sessions, or both.

Why Choose Allure Detox for Treatment?

If you live in or near West Palm Beach, Allure Detox is an outstanding and trusted option for detox treatment.

Our caring and dedicated team members are experts in treating dual substance addictions. And we offer personalized treatment programs, each of them tailored to individual needs.

Plus, for our patients’ comfort and safety, our medical staff is available 24/7.

In short, the first step toward addiction recovery is to call a professional for help. For sure, this action is simple yet powerful.

If you or a loved one is struggling with benzodiazepine and alcohol addiction, contact Allure Detox today for professional support and compassionate care.

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Published on: 2025-01-28
Updated on: 2025-01-28

Even if you have a relationship that looks good from the outside, it will still have challenges. However, when substance abuse or mental health issues are tossed into the mix, it becomes even harder to keep a relationship moving forward. For example, trust issues will invariably rear its head, especially when your communication breaks down.

Whether you’ve tried to hide your substance abuse problems or you’ve openly used alcohol or drugs in front of your partner, it won’t be long before you begin to lose your partner’s respect too. Even worse, your substance abuse issues can turn into a financial strain, isolation and neglect, along with emotional and physical abuse.

Fortunately, there is still hope for your relationship. It’s vital to realize that rebuilding trust requires time, effort and professional help. Furthermore, it’s extremely helpful to maintain your relationships as you go through the recovery process. After all, a strong relationship provides you with a good influence, emotional support and a sense of belongings.

Understanding the Causes of a Broken Relationship

There are many factors that can break a relationship. Sadly, any of these reasons may completely upend what you had once believed to be an unbreakable bond.

Lack of Communication

Communication is vital for a healthy relationship. When you begin to omit critical details or stop expressing yourself fully, it can lead to misunderstandings and low morale. Signs of poor communication can include:

• Stonewalling
• Avoiding tough conversations
• Interrupting
• A lack of active listening
• Using blaming language
• Making assumptions

For instance, let’s say that one partner steers clear of difficult conversations. This could eventually cause the partner who wants to talk to unconsciously start fights in an attempt to be heard.

Substance Abuse Issues

The most common problem that accompanies substance abuse issues is a lack of trust. Once trust leaves a relationship, it becomes difficult to move forward. After all, without trust, everything else begins to fall apart. It’s likely you’ll face intimacy issues, negative emotions and the escalation of any type of conflict.

You’ll need to spend time learning how your partner feels if you’d like to rebuild trust. Keep in mind that it can take a significant amount of time to go from having a damaged relationship to a healthy one.

Mental Health Challenges

Again, trust is the foundation of every successful relationship, but it’s easily upended by not speaking openly about your mental health challenges. Relationship issues that may arise include:

• Resentment
• Isolation
• Codependency
• Lack of honest communication
• Loss of emotional and physical intimacy

It’s vital that you seek out mental health help if you’ve dealt with any of the following issues for more than two weeks:

• Feeling restless, frustrated or irritable
• Loss of interest in your favorite activities
• Eating more or less than usual
• Having a hard time concentrating
• Being unable to sleep

Acknowledging Both Partners’ Perspectives

Acknowledging your partner’s perspective doesn’t necessarily mean agreeing with it. Instead, it’s the process of empathetic listening, validation, using ‘I’ statements and replying with non-defensive communication. In other words, you must take your ego out of the equation.

Steps to Rebuild Trust and Repair a Damaged Relationship

Rebuilding a damaged relationship takes time and effort from both partners. There are five main steps that can take you from having trust issues to being open with each other once again.

1. Open Communication

Encouraging honest, non-judgmental dialogue is a good way to reopen communication. This requires vulnerability from both partners. It takes two to create a healthy communication dynamic. Learning to share thoughts and feelings without judgment is key. Actively listening and trying to understand your partner’s point of view is also essential. Regularly checking in with each other can help maintain open communication and address any emerging issues.

2. Spending Quality Time Together

If your relationship really matters to you, then it’s vital to spend quality time together. Rather than sitting on the couch together, choose to reconnect through shared activities and simply being present. Looking at your smartphone can impede this process, so be sure to put it where you won’t be tempted.

3. Seeking Professional Help

There are many benefits to seeking couples therapy such as:

• Developing a deeper understanding
• Developing improved conflict resolution skills
• Rebuilding trust
• Improved intimacy
• Reduced stress and tension
• Learning enhanced communication skills

If you’ve got a substance abuse issue, it’s also wise to seek out addiction counseling. Working with a counselor provides new strategies for recovery and direct support for your addiction needs. Furthermore, a counselor can reduce your risk of relapsing.

4. Accountability and Forgiveness

Accountability means taking responsibility for your actions, especially when you’ve made a mistake. Have an honest conversation with your partner, addressing the problem directly and committing to change.

Forgiveness, both giving and receiving, is crucial. It also offers an opportunity for self-compassion. Reflect on what went wrong in the relationship and allow time for healing and rebuilding trust. Remember, trust takes time to build, and regaining it is a process. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, relationships don’t work out. If fundamental needs remain unmet, and the relationship becomes unhealthy, it might be necessary to walk away.

5. Prioritizing Mental Health

Prioritizing your mental health is essential throughout this process. Focusing on your well-being is vital, whether the relationship continues or ends. Learning to manage your emotional health is a key step in becoming the best version of yourself. Small things, like journaling, can make a big difference in self-reflection and processing emotions. Regularly check in with yourself. If you need time alone, communicate this clearly instead of withdrawing. Sometimes, putting yourself in first place is necessary for healing, whether that means working on the relationship or letting go and moving on after a break up.

The Role of Professional Help in Relationship Healing

Allure Detox offers flexible rehab programs, along with a comprehensive line of specialized therapies. For instance, couples therapy and mental health therapy have an important role in the overall rehab process.

Relapse prevention is just one of our addiction treatment programs. By working individually with a counselor, you’ll have a safe space to develop a greater understanding of your warning signs. Together, you’ll work on enhancing your resilience and developing healthy coping skills to help you recover.

Allure Detox offers three primary counseling sessions: Individual therapy, couples therapy and family support programs.

• Individual Therapy – A one-on-one session with a recovery and mental health expert. You’ll gain a nonjudgmental space where you can speak freely.
• Couples Therapy – Allows you to explore your relationship dynamics in a safe space and set achievable goals to accomplish positive changes.
• Family Therapy – Takes on the needs of each member of your family. Learn how to resolve conflicts, solve problems and communicate effectively.

When to Seek Couples Therapy and Mental Health Support

Couples counseling is a proven way to help improve your current relationship. Approximately 37% of couples who live together have gone through couples counseling. A staggering 99% say that undergoing couples counseling helped improve their unhealthy relationship. Although this doesn’t necessarily guarantee the relationship’s longevity, it definitely increases the chances of long-term success.

If you’re battling any of the following issues, it’s a good idea to work with a couples therapist or couples counselor:

• Trust issues
• Frequent arguments
• Emotional and physical detachment
• High stress
• Emotional withdrawal
• Drifting apart

A couples therapist or couples counselor provides a third-party, neutral perspective, helping to identify underlying problems and root causes. They’ll assist you in developing stronger communication skills, teaching empathetic listening to foster connection and understanding your partner’s perspective. They’ll also emphasize the importance of setting boundaries and learning healthy emotional regulation.

Begin Improving Your Relationship Today

Relationships can heal, but it will take lots of time and professional support. In fact, couples therapy can help if you’ve been experiencing:

• Lost trust
• Arguing
• Lack of intimacy
• Facing a stressful change
• Depressed or angry

All of these also represent what can happen in a relationship where one partner has a substance abuse or mental health problem. Although there is no guarantee that you and your partner will be able to make your relationship last, studies have shown that going through couples therapy will improve your ability to communicate.

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction and its impact on your relationships, contact Allure Detox today to begin the healing process.

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Published on: 2025-01-28
Updated on: 2025-01-28

Alcohol can have a major impact on the body, including the health of its urinary tract. Besides damaging the liver over time, alcohol affects the body’s ability to produce white blood cells. This, in turn, reduces the body’s ability to fight off infections, including urinary tract infections.

So, while alcohol doesn’t directly cause a urinary tract infection, it can certainly lower the body’s defense systems and indirectly cause one. This article takes a closer look at what a urinary tract infection is and alcohol’s role in getting one.

What Is a UTI?

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that affects your urinary system, including the kidneys, bladder, urethra, and ureters. Most UTIs are caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria, which enter your urinary system through the urethra and start to multiply. These bacterial infections can affect any part of the urinary system, but most commonly cause cystitis, which affects the lower urinary tract—specifically the bladder and urethra.

The symptoms of a UTI typically include a burning sensation during urination, frequent urges to urinate, and cloudy or strong-smelling urine. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the kidneys, which poses a more serious health risk. A typical course of antibiotics is prescribed to treat UTIs, helping to eliminate the bacteria and reduce the risk of UTIs developing in the future.

Although Escherichia coli is the most common cause, other bacterial infections can also increase the risk of UTIs. It’s important to seek medical attention if you suspect a UTI to prevent complications.

Common Causes of UTIs

Roughly 90% of UTIs are caused by E.coli from the lower intestines. However, people can also pick up bacteria on their fingers and spread it to their urinary system when they go to the bathroom or during sex.

Women are more likely to have a UTI infection than men due to their anatomy. In women, their anus is close to their urethra opening, which makes it more likely for bacteria to reach the urethra. An infection can occur if feces on toilet paper accidentally enters the urethra or if you wipe yourself from back to front after using the toilet.

Common Symptoms of UTIs

There are different types of UTIs, and your symptoms will depend on what part of your urinary system has been affected.

• Bladder: If the infection is in your bladder, you will experience painful and frequent urination, blood in your urine, and lower belly pain or discomfort.
• Urethra: If the infection is in your urethra, you will experience burning when you urinate and discharge.
• Kidneys: If the infection has spread to your kidneys, you will experience back or side pain, high chills, nausea, and vomiting.

Other symptoms include strong-smelling urine, urine that has a cloudy color, and a desire to always urinate.

How Alcohol Can Indirectly Contribute to UTIs

Although there isn’t a direct relation between alcohol and UTIs, alcohol can indirectly contribute to UTIs in various ways.

Dehydration

Alcohol can indirectly cause UTIs by dehydrating the body. When your body is dehydrated, it’s unable to flush out bacteria effectively, leading to a bacteria buildup in your system. To reduce the risk of catching a urinary tract infection, it’s important to stay hydrated while consuming alcohol. If you don’t drink fluids, such as water, while consuming alcohol, try to remember to do so afterward.

Immune System Suppression

Consuming large amounts of alcohol frequently can impair your immune system. How? Alcohol impairs the body’s ability to produce white blood cells, which the body needs to fight off infections. With fewer white blood cells, the body can’t effectively fight off diseases, let alone urinary tract infections. Heavy drinkers will find that with time, their bodies have a weakened immune system and aren’t able to fend off any infection properly.

Practicing Poor Hygiene

Drinking heavily can impair your judgment, resulting in lapses in personal care, such as not wiping yourself well after using the bathroom or neglecting proper hygiene during sex. Poor hygiene may also include forgetting to wash your hands after the bathroom and wiping yourself back to front instead of front to back after using the toilet.

Behavior Changes

Lastly, behavioral changes from drinking too much alcohol can result in delayed urination. By delaying when you urinate, you’re allowing bacteria to build up in your urinary system. Although holding in your pee from time to time shouldn’t be problematic in a healthy adult, doing this constantly can lead to problems.

Another behavioral change is reducing the amount of fluids your body takes in, especially during the times you’re suffering from alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Most people feel rather sick during these times and prefer not to eat or drink anything, including water. As mentioned above, however, a dehydrated body won’t allow your body to flush out the bacteria in its urinary tract system.

Does Alcohol Directly Cause UTIs?

Alcohol doesn’t directly cause UTIs, but it may increase the body’s chances of getting it by contributing to the following risk factors.

• Dehydration: The body can’t effectively flush out bacteria when it doesn’t produce enough urine.
• Poor hygiene: Careless hygiene habits can occur when using the bathroom or during sexual activity.
• Weakened immune system: Consuming large quantities of alcohol weakens the immune system, preventing the body from effectively fighting off infections.

In addition to the above risk factors, alcohol can also worsen your symptoms as your body’s weakened immune system can’t effectively fight infections off. Moreover, alcohol produces concentrated urine, and this concentrated urine can irritate your bladder’s lining. If you have a urinary tract infection in your bladder, this could undoubtedly worsen your pain.

Preventing UTIs While Drinking

There are quite a few ways to prevent UTIs while drinking.

Stay Hydrated

Since alcohol acts as a diuretic, it dehydrates your body, making it crucial to drink plenty of water both while you’re drinking and afterward. Staying hydrated helps flush out toxins and bacteria that can build up in your urinary tract system, reducing the risk of bladder irritation and urinary issues. Increased fluid intake can also help alleviate the burning sensation that sometimes accompanies bladder discomfort due to acidity levels in the body.

In addition to water, it’s a good idea to drink electrolyte-rich beverages, like Gatorade, to replace the potassium and salt that your body loses when consuming alcohol. Maintaining proper hydration is essential for minimizing the negative effects of alcohol on your system.

Practice Good Hygiene

When you’re drunk, it may be difficult to practice good hygiene. However, it’s important to wipe yourself from front to back when using the bathroom (especially for women) and to wash your hands after using the bathroom. You should also wash your hands and clean yourself after sexual activity.

Don’t Hold Your Pee In

If you’re drinking heavily with friends or alone, you may put off going to the bathroom to pee. However, this is a bad idea. The minute you feel the urge to pee, excuse yourself to go to the bathroom. Holding large amounts of urine in your bladder weakens the bladder over time, too.

Stay Away From Irritants

Heavy drinking can irritate your bladder. But if you’re drinking heavily, don’t add additional irritants like spicy foods and caffeine. Try to limit the irritants you put in your body.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment at Allure Detox

Heavy alcohol consumption does significant harm to your body, especially your liver and brain. The impact of alcohol extends beyond physical damage; it can weaken your immune system, dehydrate your body, and impair your judgment, all of which can indirectly lead to conditions like UTIs. While alcohol doesn’t directly cause UTIs, the relationship between alcohol and your overall health plays a significant role in increasing the risks.

If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol abuse, it’s important to seek medical advice and explore treatment options immediately. At Allure Detox, we offer medically supervised detox programs for both inpatient and outpatient care, ensuring you can safely detox under the guidance of experienced professionals. Our goal is to ensure your safety as you begin your addiction recovery journey.

Alcohol dependence is one of the hardest dependencies to overcome, as the effects of alcohol on the body and mind are profound. That’s why our team at Allure Detox creates a personalized treatment plan to guide you every step of the way—from detox to therapy.

Whether you’re dealing with moderate alcohol consumption or excessive alcohol consumption, we’re here to help. If alcohol intake is affecting your life, give us a call to discuss our treatment options and start your journey toward recovery today.

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Published on: 2024-10-22
Updated on: 2025-01-01