What Are Benzos? Uses, Effects, and Potential Risks
Understanding Benzos: Use, Side Effects, and Risks
Healthcare providers prescribe benzodiazepines, known as benzos, to treat anxiety, mood disorders, and sometimes chronic pain. While benzos can be helpful short-term, this medication comes with a serious risk: dependence and addiction.
At Tree House Recovery in Denver, CO, we offer one of the top-rated outpatient programs for benzo addiction. Our Colorado addiction counselors combine proven therapies and holistic care to help you build a healthier, stronger life.
What Are Benzos?
Benzodiazepines provide short-term relief to an overactive nervous system. Healthcare providers prescribe the medication to quickly and chemically calm the nervous system.
Benzos act fast and rapidly reshape how the brain handles stress, sleep, and fear. This rapid rewiring drives the high risk of addiction.
Why Are Benzodiazepines Prescribed?
Benzodiazepines do provide many uses, but their effectiveness comes with severe risks. Still, they often remain a trusted option for short-term relief.
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): Benzos can temporarily calm intrusive worry and physical tension by slowing down brain activity.
- Panic disorder: During a panic attack, benzodiazepines offer fast relief by suppressing acute cognitive responses.
- Insomnia (short-term use only): Often prescribed to help people fall asleep during periods of intense anxiety or stress.
- Seizure disorders: Prescriptions such as Valium and Klonopin can reduce abnormal brain activity and prevent seizures.
- Muscle spasms: Benzodiazepines stabilize the central nervous system and help relax manic muscle contractions.
Individuals can unknowingly abuse benzodiazepines for their fast-acting ability to reduce anxiety, panic, and emotional distress. The drugs offer quick relief or a sedative effect from physical or mental anguish. Over time, the brain slowly adapts to relying on Benzos for daily functions.
As tolerance increases, individuals consume higher doses to achieve the same effect. Recognizing the many forms of Benzodiazepines is essential to getting your loved one the help they need. Benzodiazepines exist in many forms and have a wide range of clinical and street names.
Common Benzo Street Names
- Zannies or Xannies (for Xanax)
- Bars or Z-Bars (refers to the shape of Xanax pills)
- Totem poles (multi-segmented Xanax bars)
- Blues (commonly used for Valium)
- Downers
- Tranks (short for tranquilizers)
Commonly Prescribed Benzodiazepines
- Xanax: Zannies, Bars, Handlebars, Planks
- Valium: V’s, Blue Vs
- Klonopin: K-pins, Pins
- Ativan: A’s, Candy
- Restoril: Reds or Red Devils (due to the pill color)
The Benzo Epidemic In Denver, Colorado
Colorado is experiencing a severe public health crisis. Benzodiazepines are playing a significant role in suicide deaths across the state. These medications are not only dangerous on their own—they become far more lethal when combined with opioids.
3,465
people died by suicide during this period in Colorado.1
1 in 5
of those deaths involved recent benzodiazepine exposure.1
50%
of those with recent benzo exposure had also recently used opioids.1
Signs of a Benzo Addiction
Benzodiazepine addiction often builds subtly. Because healthcare providers prescribe Benzos so often, their misuse can go unnoticed until dependence is deeply rooted. Drug abuse typically begins with tolerance and progresses until daily functioning relies on the drug.
Understanding the signs of a Benzo addiction can save your life or that of a loved one:
Common signs of a benzo addiction include:
- Consuming higher doses than prescribed initially
- Seeking refills consistently
- Trying to receive more Benzos from different medical professionals
- Brain fog or lapses in memory
- Experiencing intense withdrawal symptoms when decreasing or stopping use
- Being secretive and minimizing the amount of Benzos used
If you or someone you know is displaying these signs, there may be a Benzo addiction present.
Dangers of Benzodiazepine Abuse
Benzodiazepines can be effective for treating mood or sleep disorders. The brain can quickly grow dependent on the prescription. The dependence can lead to an addiction that many may not be aware of in the beginning. Although benzos provide short-term relief, they can quickly cause lifelong consequences.
Short-Term Side Effects
- Slow speaking or physical movement
- Slurred speech
- Difficulty recalling memories
- Emotional detachment or feeling disconnected from others
Long-Term Risks
- Prolonged memory issues
- Processing of information is slow
- Consistent fatigue
- Mood swings
- Loss of interest in daily life
Recognizing the subtle signs of a Benzo addiction and seeking professional addiction treatment is necessary for a lasting recovery.
Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment in Denver, Colorado
At Tree House Recovery in Denver, we deliver a holistic approach rooted in the bio-psych-social model. This model aims to treat the body, the mind, and the social systems that shape us.
Our benzo treatment is intensive, personalized, and holistic. We combine outcome-based therapy with fitness, community support, and life skills education to promote lasting change. At Tree House Recovery CO, we design treatment to fit your life.
Whether you’ve just completed detox or are working to protect long-term sobriety, we have a program for you.
Detox
While Tree House Recovery CO does not provide medical detox services directly, we can still help. We often connect our clients with reputable detox centers. Safely withdrawing from benzodiazepines requires professional supervision.
Without it, the risk of severe complications, including seizures and psychological distress, increases significantly. Detoxification involves tapering with licensed medical supervision.2
Tree House Recovery Colorado encourages every client to begin recovery with the clinical support necessary for detox. Those who do not seek to treat benzodiazepine addictions with professional help increase the risk of overdose.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Our intensive outpatient program (IOP) aids clients in continuing their recovery while maintaining daily obligations of family and work. Our IOP encompasses group therapy, individual counseling, fitness training, and life-skills education.
Addiction counselors recommend IOP for individuals stepping down from detox or a higher level of care. This program also supports those who need structure while managing their daily responsibilities. Addiction recovery thrives on consistency and accountability. IOP provides structure without requiring round-the-clock care.
Evening IOP
Our Evening IOP in Denver, Colorado, provides benzo addiction treatment for individuals who need care in the evenings. This program allows clients to continue progressing in their recovery while fulfilling daily responsibilities.
Many individuals delay therapy for substance use disorders because of their career and family life responsibilities. Tree House Recovery’s Evening IOP in Denver provides real recovery on a real schedule.
Peer Support
At Tree House Recovery, every client becomes part of a team. We cultivate an environment of peer-driven support where clients share, challenge, and push each other to grow.
Peer support provides more than motivation—it creates purpose. It reinforces that recovery is not a solitary path but a shared responsibility to oneself and others. Recovery is often not sustainable in isolation. Peer support offers daily accountability, connection, and meaning.
Family Resources
At Tree House Recovery CO, our family therapy program functions to build healthy boundaries and effective communication skills. We offer families the education required to stop enabling behaviors and support their loved one’s recovery.
A Benzo addiction can cause emotional distance, secrecy, and resentment. Family therapy at Tree House Recovery aims to restore trust and repair relationships. Lasting sobriety happens when loved ones recover together.
Benzo Rehab in Colorado: Detox, Treatment, and Recovery Options
Get trusted information on benzo detox and rehab programs in Colorado. Learn what to expect during withdrawal, how tapering works, and what recovery options may be available near you.
Summary: Benzodiazepines is a fast-acting prescription medication that is used to treat sleep and mood disorders. Benzos carry a high risk of dependence and dangerous withdrawal symptoms. If you’re looking for the best benzo addiction treatment in Denver, Colorado, Tree House Recovery has a ground-breaking holistic program waiting for you.
Denver, Colorado Benzo Addiction Treatment
If you’re looking for the best benzodiazepine addiction treatment in Denver, Colorado, Tree House Recovery offers something different. We offer a system that treats everyone, not just the addiction. We provide those managing benzo addiction with the tools to rebuild, and the support to stay free from substance abuse.
Your recovery doesn’t have to wait. Contact our admission team in Denver, Colorado, today to get started.
It's Lifestyle Recovery
There is a Better Way to Overcome Addiction – A Health-Centered Program.
- MIND
- BODY
- SOCIAL
Sources
- Ghosh T, Bol K, Butler M, et al. Epidemiologic assessment of benzodiazepine exposure among suicide deaths in Colorado, 2015–2017. BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):881. doi:10.1186/s12889-020-09250-y. Published June 29, 2020. Accessed July 2, 2025.
- Ashton H. The treatment of benzodiazepine dependence. Addiction. 1994;89(11):1535-1541. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.1994.tb03755.x. Published 1994. Accessed July 2, 2025.