Valium is the brand name for the prescription drug diazepam. Nowadays, Valium is known as a common prescription anxiety medication, but in the past it was seen as more of a lifestyle drug. Valium was introduced in 1963 by a Swiss drug company called Roche Labs, and it was one of the first brand name prescription drugs on the market. Women received prescriptions for Valium two times more than the men, so the drug was deemed “mother’s little helper.”
More prescriptions were written for Valium than any other drug between 1969 and 1982, and it was the first billion dollar medicine. It was identified as a feel good medicine that helped women deal with the pressures of motherhood and being a housewife. It relieved psychic tension, so, while today’s mothers commonly say they need a drink at the end of a stressful day, women in the 60’s and 70’s treated Valium like an over-the-counter, everyday stress reliever. Initially, people believed that Valium had no potential for addiction or lethal overdose. However, within ten years of it being on the market, the drug accounted for an estimated 81% of the tranquilizers in the US, and it emerged as a drug of choice for abuse.
By 1975, evidence began to suggest that Valium was more dangerous than originally thought. Several reports of dependency, withdrawal and life-threatening complications emerged, as well as a claim that the drug may cause rapid growth of cancer cells. The Justice Department then decided to declare Valium as a Schedule IV controlled substance, meaning that the drug had potential for both abuse and dependence. Schedule IV drugs are closely monitored by pharmacists, and they are illegal to take without a prescription. The actions of the justice department led to a decrease in Valium prescriptions. Unfortunately, legal measures are not the most influential force, and it was not until the death of several high-profile individuals that Valium was viewed as dangerous. The death of Elvis Presley was attributed to Valium, which led to a huge wakeup call for the general public.
Not only can Valium abuse lead to physical dependency and psychological addiction, but the drug can also cause unconsciousness, coma, respiratory depression, overdose, overdose-fatality, the development of personality disorders and depression, violent and aggressive behavior, amnesia, anterograde amnesia and more. In other words, Valium abuse is no joke. The Food and Drug Administration believe that over 60 million people are prescribed to Valium every year, and 2.6 million people use the drug for nonmedical purposes. The Drug Abuse Warning Network reports close to 230,000 emergency room visits related to Valium-related overdose in 2009. Valium dependency, overdose and addiction are dangerous.
People are not always aware of the harmful consequences from taking a drug like Valium, and many people mistakenly believe that they are stronger than the addictive power of a drug. No one wants to fall victim to drug abuse or addiction, but it happens time and time again. If you or someone you know needs help recovering from Valium abuse or addiction, then call our toll-free helpline now. Our admissions coordinators are available 24 hours a day to answer your questions, to address your concerns and to connect you with the recovery services that are right for your unique needs. You do not have to hit rock-bottom before reaching out for help; prevent any further harm, and call our staff now.
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