Is Valium a Narcotic Drug?
Valium is a popular drug treatment often prescribed for patients suffering from anxiety disorders, sleep disorders and seizure disorders. It is also commonly prescribed for social phobias and to help with alcohol withdrawal management. Despite Valium presenting as a central nervous system depressant that can produce feelings of intense sedation, pain relief and euphoria, it is not considered to be a narcotic drug. Valium is classified as a sedative drug in the benzodiazepine family. Approximately 92 million prescriptions of benzos such as Valium were filled in 2019.
Under the Controlled Substances Act that was enacted in 1970, Valium was classified as a Schedule IV Controlled Substance. Valium is also in the same drug category of benzos as Ativan, Xanax and Klonopin. It is considered to have a lower potential for abuse, but can still carry a risk when misused. Abusing this classification of drug can lead to limited physical or psychological dependence relative to the drug or another substance labeled as a Schedule III Controlled Substance.
The Controlled Substances Act was created to ensure a comprehensive plan to prevent the misuse of legal and illegal substances by mandating that drug manufacturers and distributors label drugs within the five different schedule categories. Today, the majority of drugs, medications and other substances are categorized under the Controlled Substance Act.
What are the Signs you may have an Addiction to Valium?
- Not being able to skip a dose or stop using
- Taking higher doses than prescribed
- Being hyper-focused on obtaining Valium and using Valium
- Continuing to take the drug despite the negative consequences
- Driving while under the influence of Valium
- No longer able to fulfill everyday normal responsibilities
- Withdrawing from society
- Developing withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking the drug
With long-term abuse of Valium, the drug can lead to damage to the brain including the following conditions.
- Brain atrophy – the loss of brain cells and the connection between the cells
- Cerebral ventricular enlargement – a condition in which the brain fluid-filled ventricles are larger than normal
- Reduced cognitive functioning
- Impaired memory function
- Increased risk for dementia
There are many types of sedative depressant drugs. Sedative drugs impact the central nervous system and slow down nerve activity in the brain and body. Some, like Valium are benzos, while others are opioid drugs. Or they are also known as narcotics.
Is Valium a Narcotic?
No. Valium is not considered a narcotic drug despite its ability to heavily sedate and produce feelings of euphoria. The term narcotic comes from the Greek word for stupor and originally referred to a variety of substances that could dull senses and relieve pain. Narcotics cause the brain to secrete GABA neurochemicals in the brain, which helps to induce a calming effect. It binds to the pain receptors in the central nervous system to block pain signals. This allows the narcotics to produce a sense of reduced tension and anxiety. This calming and sedative sensation is often the main contributor to drug misuse and addiction. Users who abuse the drugs develop a high tolerance for the drug and begin using more and in higher doses in order to feel the effects and to feel normal.
What are Narcotics?
Today narcotics are mainly opium, opium derivatives and other semi-synthetic substitutes for opioid drugs. Although the term narcotic is no longer commonly used, many people still refer to all opioid-classified drugs as narcotics. However, the preferred name for this classification of drugs is opioids.
Opioids are typically prescribed to help manage pain, suppress coughing, alleviate diarrhea and for anesthetic purposes. They come in different forms such as tablets, capsules, skin patches, powders and liquids. Common street names for narcotics/opioids include smack, horse, brown sugar, hillbilly heroin, oxy and sippin syrup. They are also often referred to as downers because they depress the central nervous system and produce a sense of calm and can even induce sleep.
In 2019, research reported that an estimated 35 million people globally were suffering from narcotics abuse. Narcotic drugs are highly addictive because they elicit feelings of pleasure and euphoria, making it more appealing to users to continue experiencing that feeling with continued and increased use.
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Common Opioid/Narcotic drugs
- Codeine – Codeine is one of the most commonly used opioid worldwide. It is prescribed to treat chronic pain and is often given to people with cancer, chronic back pain, fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis.
- Oxycodone – Oxycodone is generally prescribed to treat acute or chronic pain.
- Hydrocodone – This semi-synthetic opioid is typically prescribed to treat severe pain.
- Oxymorphone – Oxymorphone is a highly potent opioid used to help with the management of severe pain.
- Morphine – Morphine is a drug commonly found in hospitals and is used to manage pain in those who have severe acute or chronic pain.
- Fentanyl – This synthetic opioid is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine.
- Hydromorphone – This medication is used to help manage moderate to severe acute pain as well as severe chronic pain. It is usually only prescribed when all other treatments have not been successful.
- Tramadol – Tramadol is a medication used to moderate to severe pain. However, it has a high potential for misuse. This medication is usually a last resort treatment while others have not been successful.
- Methadone – Methadone is a synthetic opioid and is often used to help patients in substance use disorder treatment.
- Opium – Opium is a naturally occurring substance derived from the poppy plant. It is a Schedule II Controlled Substance.
- Heroin – Heroin is a semi-synesthetic opioid made from morphine and is considered a Schedule I Controlled Substance.
Effects of Narcotics
- Slowed physical activity
- Constriction of pupils
- Flushing of face and neck
- Constipation
- Nausea and vomiting
- Slowed breathing
- Drowsiness
- Slowed breathing
- Unconsciousness
- Itching
- Low blood pressure
- Delayed gastric emptying
- Muscle rigidity
- Suppression of the immune system
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Sleep disorders such as insomnia
- Psychological dependence
- Development of addiction
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Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
Narcotics is a term referring to a class of depressant substances and is more commonly known as opioids. This includes both legal and illicit opioids such as oxycodone, fentanyl, heroin and morphine. Valium is not considered a narcotic despite producing similar effects of relaxation, sedation and euphoria. It is not considered a high risk for addiction compared to opioids. Valium is a Schedule IV Controlled Substances, while opioids/narcotics are Schedule II Controlled Substances.
Over the past decades, opioids have contributed to a lethal public health crisis with the rise of opioid overdose deaths. Opioid and narcotic abuse can lead to psychological dependence as well as physical dependence, where dangerous withdrawal symptoms can occur when drug use has stopped. Today opioids and narcotics are very easily accessible. You can find them in your own medicine cabinets or get them from friends, families and even from the internet. Once an addiction has taken hold, professional behavioral treatment will provide the best care.
Hotel California by the Sea provides treatment for people in all stages of addiction. The levels of care included in treatment include detox, residential, PHP and IOP. We also utilize evidence-based treatment methods such as CBT, DBT, and EMDR Therapy. Hotel California by the Sea is dedicated to helping our clients reach their goals of sobriety and overcoming their addiction.
References:
https://addictionresource.com/drugs/narcotics
https://elevationbehavioralhealth.com/is-valium-a-narcotic/
https://www.rehabcenter.net/valium/controlled-substance/
https://www.healthline.com/health/examples-of-narcotics
https://www.incb.org/incb/en/narcotic-drugs/index.html
https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Narcotics-2020.pdf