Benzodiazepine dependence develops gradually, often under the cover of a valid prescription. Understanding the warning signs can help determine when clinical intervention is needed.
If any of these resonated, our clinical team can help determine the right level of care. Never stop benzodiazepines abruptly — medical supervision is essential.
Get a Free AssessmentSame-day admissions available. Most insurance accepted. Completely confidential.
Multiple levels of care designed to support you through every stage of benzodiazepine recovery — from medical stabilization through long-term maintenance.
Our most intensive outpatient level. Full-day programming with clinical assessments, group therapy, individual sessions, holistic activities, and daily lunch. The structured foundation needed during and after benzodiazepine taper.
A structured step-down from PHP. Continued group therapy and individual sessions with more flexibility for work, school, or family. Morning, afternoon, or evening tracks available.
Designed for working adults who can’t attend daytime programming. The same evidence-based IOP curriculum, delivered in the evening. Particularly valuable for professionals whose benzodiazepine use began as workplace stress management.
Step-down support for continued recovery momentum. Less intensive than IOP but maintains therapeutic continuity with weekly groups and individual sessions — critical during the extended benzodiazepine recovery timeline.
Full access to our programming from anywhere. HIPAA-compliant video sessions for groups, individual therapy, and psychiatric consultations. Especially helpful for clients in the extended taper phase.
Medically supervised taper protocols are the cornerstone of safe benzodiazepine discontinuation. Our on-site Nurse Practitioner designs individualized taper schedules — gradual dose reductions that minimize withdrawal severity and seizure risk.
“[Client testimonial about benzodiazepine recovery at Trailhead — the medical team understood that tapering off benzos is a process, not an event. They never rushed me and adjusted my schedule when withdrawal symptoms flared up.]”— [Client Name] • Google Review
“[Client testimonial about the personalized taper approach — I was terrified of the withdrawal. My NP created a taper plan that was slow enough to be manageable. The therapy helped me learn to handle anxiety without reaching for a pill.]”— [Client Name] • Google Review
“[Family member testimonial — we didn’t even realize the prescribed medication had become the problem. Trailhead helped our whole family understand benzodiazepine dependence and gave us tools to support recovery together.]”— [Family Member] • Google Review
1. Medically supervised taper protocols. Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be dangerous — even life-threatening. Our NP designs individualized taper schedules that gradually reduce dosage to minimize withdrawal severity and prevent seizures.
2. Live at home, heal during the day. Our outpatient model means you sleep in your own bed, maintain family connections, and build recovery skills in the real world from day one.
3. Flexible scheduling across three tracks. Morning, afternoon, or evening sessions — switch daily based on your work, family, or personal commitments. Our Evening Professional Track (6–9 PM) is built specifically for working adults.
4. On-site Nurse Practitioner within 24 hours. Every client meets our NP within a day of admission for medication evaluation, health assessment, and taper protocol initiation.
5. Anxiety management without benzodiazepines. DBT skills groups provide the emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and mindfulness foundation that replaces the crutch of medication with genuine coping capacity.
6. Weekly individual therapy with a licensed therapist at every program level. One-on-one sessions address the underlying anxiety, trauma, or panic that led to benzodiazepine dependence in the first place.
7. Client-driven therapy choice. CBT, ACT, 12-Step, SMART Recovery — your modality is based on your preferences and clinical needs, not a rigid curriculum.
8. Rapid admission. Multiple weekly admission opportunities. No months-long waitlists — begin programming within 24 to 48 hours of your first call.
9. A family-style environment where staff know every client by name. Shared lunches build fellowship. This isn’t a factory — it’s a family.
10. Holistic & experiential programming including yoga, meditation, breathwork, equine therapy at Blue Sky Farm, and sober recreational activities — natural anxiety relief that replaces chemical sedation.
11. Dual state licensing in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts ensures broad regional access and insurance acceptance across both states.
We work with most major insurance providers. Verify your coverage in minutes.
| Provider | Network Status |
|---|---|
| Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield | In-Network |
| Point 32 Health (Harvard Pilgrim) | In-Network |
| Point 32 Health (Tufts) | In-Network |
| Tricare | In-Network |
| Uprise Health | In-Network |
| WellSense (NH Medicaid) | In-Network |
Don’t see your provider? We may still be able to help. Call or submit the form below.
Submit the form below and our admissions team will verify your benefits within minutes.
Your information is secure and confidential. We will never share your data.
Once you make it, we handle everything else. Admissions, insurance, scheduling — all of it.
If you are reading this, you are probably worried about someone you love. That worry is a sign of something good — it means you haven’t given up. And we want you to know: you shouldn’t.
Benzodiazepine addiction is a medical condition, not a character flaw. It often starts with a legitimate prescription from a trusted doctor — that makes it uniquely confusing for families. The person you knew before the dependence took hold is still there. But they need professional help to find their way back — and you may need guidance too.
Start by educating yourself. Understand that benzodiazepines change brain chemistry over time, creating physical dependence that willpower alone cannot overcome. Importantly, stopping abruptly can be medically dangerous — even fatal. Never flush someone’s medication or pressure them to quit cold turkey.
Set clear boundaries, and mean them. “I love you, and I will not participate in behaviors that support your dependence.” Have the conversation when they are clearheaded, using “I” statements rather than accusations. Offer specific next steps: “I found a program in Salem that specializes in benzo tapers — can we call together?”
Take care of yourself, too. Consider therapy, support groups, or our monthly family education groups on Zoom. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Trailhead offers individual family therapy sessions and ongoing family support — for all family members ages 18 and up, past and present clients.
Resistance to treatment is common, especially when the substance was originally prescribed by a doctor. It doesn’t mean recovery is impossible — it means a different approach may be needed.
Our family support program is open to all family members ages 18+, past and present clients.
Trailhead Treatment Center is located in Salem, New Hampshire — minutes from the Massachusetts border and easily accessible from communities across southern New Hampshire and northeastern Massachusetts.
103 Stiles Rd, Suites 1 & 2, Salem, NH 03079If you’ve been taking benzodiazepines longer than prescribed, need higher doses to feel the same effect, experience withdrawal symptoms between doses, or can’t stop despite wanting to — treatment is appropriate. Our clinical team can conduct a free assessment over the phone to help determine the right level of care.
No — and this is critically important. Unlike many other substances, abrupt benzodiazepine cessation can cause life-threatening seizures, psychosis, and other severe withdrawal complications. A medically supervised taper is essential for safe discontinuation. Our NP designs individualized taper schedules that gradually reduce dosage over weeks or months.
Taper timelines vary based on the specific benzodiazepine, dosage, duration of use, and individual response. Short-acting benzos (Xanax, Ativan) may be switched to a longer-acting equivalent (like diazepam) for a smoother taper. Most tapers take several weeks to several months. Our NP adjusts the schedule based on your symptoms and progress.
PHP clients attend Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. A typical day includes group therapy (CBT, DBT, or ACT), an individual session with your assigned clinician, psychoeducation, holistic activities like breathwork or yoga, and lunch. You go home each evening — this is outpatient treatment, not residential.
Most major insurance plans cover substance use treatment. We are in-network with Anthem BCBS, Point 32 Health (Harvard Pilgrim and Tufts), Tricare, Uprise Health, and WellSense (NH Medicaid). Use the verification form above or call our admissions team — we can typically verify benefits within minutes.
Most clients begin treatment within 24 to 48 hours of their initial call. We have multiple admission windows each week. If your situation is urgent, same-day admission may be available when clinically appropriate.
Post-acute withdrawal from benzodiazepines can include anxiety, insomnia, cognitive difficulties, and mood swings that persist for weeks or months after the taper is complete. Our extended outpatient support and ongoing therapy help you manage these symptoms with evidence-based strategies rather than returning to medication.
When you’re ready to move from reading to recovering, we’re here.
