The Harsh Reality of Ambien Abuse: What are the Options for Recovery?

The Detox Center Coronavirus Policy Update

As we closely monitor the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, we are taking every precaution to ensure our top priority remains the health, safety, and well-being of our clients and staff. This guides each and every decision we make.

We have and will continue to follow the guidelines of our local health departments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC} the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Broward and Palm Beach County Health Departments. As a result, we stay current on this evolving situation, we want to assure you that we are taking the appropriate and precautionary measures, such as:

• Ensuring proper and rigorous cleaning and sanitation of common surfaces

• Requiring hourly sanitization of all staff and clients

• Provision of additional sanitizing products to our clients and staff

• Ongoing staff training to enhance cleaning and disinfecting procedures to maintain a healthy environment

• All employees are required to remain home in the event:

o They display any signs or symptoms of being ill. Employees who report to work ill will be sent home in accordance with these health guidelines.
oIf the employee has traveled outside of the state of Florida by any means or if an employee has traveled via cruise or airplane to any destination, that employee must report to management and Human Resources and self-isolate at that time.

Regarding current and admitted patient's change of schedule, the following has been implemented:

• Some programs and therapies have been temporarily postponed due to COVID-19

• Grocery shopping will be completed by the facility staff

• Clients are urged to keep a safe distance from other persons

• Hourly mandatory hand washing breaks are in effect

• Clients have been instructed to report to medical staff any symptoms

• Additional Health screenings will be conducted at that time of admission

• Clients will not be admitted to the facility if any of the following symptoms are present:

o Fever above 100 degrees
o Consistent Dry Coughing
o Shortness of Breath
o Severer body aches, that surpass PAWS range and/or
o Sore Throat

If a client does contract coronavirus, they will be isolated and quarantined on location. The client will only be handled by designated staff with the proper PPE. The local Department of Health (or equivalent agency) will be informed so that they may come out and provide further guidance on how to best handle the individual. All suspected cases are reported to the Department of Health (or local agency) who will be handling it accordingly. A deep cleaning will occur at the identified location.

Additional information regarding the virus can be found on the Broward Health Department's website or the Centers for Disease Control website.

We will continue to work together to ensure the safety of our patients and team members and adhere to any new regulatory changes as they come.

Ambien is a sedative commonly prescribed to treat insomnia. Most addictions to Ambien form because of a diagnosis of insomnia. The person gets prescribed Ambien, but the longer they take the sleeping pill, the less effective it becomes. Only making insomnia worse, so they take more potent doses and become incapable of sleeping without the drug. Taking too much Ambien is extremely dangerous and can even be fatal. According to online sources, Ambien-related emergency room visits increased over 200 percent between 2005 and 2010. If you are abusing Ambien, reach out to an addiction recovery center. A residential treatment center may be beneficial in helping you get back to a sober life.

Side Effects, Withdrawal Symptoms, and Signs of Overdose

Taking Ambien without the care of a doctor can be very dangerous. Ambien abuse can have effects on both your mental and physical wellbeing. Some of the side effects of Ambien include the following:

Rapid heartbeat
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Impaired vision
Change in breathing
Muscle cramps
Allergic reactions
Memory loss
Poor concentration
Depression and anxiety
Insomnia
Nightmares
Sedation
Confusion
Dizziness
Aggression

Symptoms of Ambien withdrawal may include the following:

Anxiety
Insomnia
Agitation
Dizziness
Headaches
Tremors
Nausea and vomiting
Muscle cramps
Panic attacks

Signs of overdose may include the following:

Slowed breathing
Slowed heartbeat
Severe drowsiness
Loss of consciousness
Coma
Death

If you are suffering from an addiction to Ambien, it is possible to recover. There are many resource centers available to help get you on the road to recovery.

Treatment Programs for Ambien Abuse

The first step when treating addiction is an addiction assessment and then cleansing the substance from the body. For Ambien, this is best done through medically supervised detox to avoid any complications during withdrawal. After detox, treatment at an inpatient rehab center continues the recovery process. At the center, the 24-hour medical staff will help provide you with relapse prevention skills, life skills, and coping mechanisms. Other options include intensive outpatient programs, cognitive behavioral therapy, 12 step programs, sober living homes, family therapy, and support groups. If you or a loved one is battling an addiction to Ambien, talk to a behavioral health professional and see your next steps toward sober living.