How Addictive is Klonopin?
Since Klonopin is a common drug prescribed by doctors, many people fail to realize that it is a habit-forming substance that can pose a serious risk for addiction. Even when taken as instructed, it is still possible for some people to develop a dependence because of how potent it is. In recognition of this, the United States Drug Enforcement Agency has Klonopin classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance. Being placed in this category means that the drug is highly addictive but has valuable uses in medical circumstances.
A powerful addiction like the one that Klonopin produces has both a psychological and a physical component to it. The psychological element stems from the conditions that the drug is used to treat, especially anxiety. For a person that struggles to cope with anxiety, it is easy to begin using the drug not just in instances of heightened anxiety, but as a tool to try and manage all stressful situations. By doing this, they end up relying on the drug as an unhealthy coping mechanism while also increasing how much of it that they are taking. The longer this happens, the more the mind and body come to depend on the drug for social situations or other instances, and eventually that user will begin to believe that without it they will not be able to get through life.
As a person struggling with a psychological dependence begins to increase the amount of Klonopin they are taking, they set themselves on the path toward a physical addiction. In that instance, a person’s body has adapted itself to the presence of Klonopin and learns to rely on it to function normally or else they will suffer from uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Although a tolerance takes time to develop and is often uncommon when taken under the supervision of a doctor, it is a clear indication that the individual has become addicted. A tolerance occurs when the body is first adjusting to the drug’s effects and requires more of the substance to achieve the same effects.
Once a dependence of either kind, though especially a physical dependence, has formed, it becomes incredibly difficult for a user to quit using Klonopin. The reason for this lies largely with the withdrawal symptoms and in how the drug alters their mind. Working together, these two developments place the user in a state where they believe they need the drug just to survive. When this happens, using shifts from a conscious decision to a survival mechanism.