Although no one can say for sure anything about permanent damage, the brain nevertheless has a built in drive for homeostasis. Just think about it, if your fears were correct, then nobody would ever recover from any psychoactive substance, but as we know, many people have!

So I say, never say never. The brain does have a recovery instinct which has proven to work that recovering alcoholic and addicts can attest to.

The problem is the actual recovery itself....after withdrawal process is over(withdrawal is technically only the time it takes the drug to completely be out of your system), then you must deal with the brain trying to re-establish it's own system of checks and balances again, since for years it was depending on the daily doses of meds to do that. That recovery could be short or long, it varies with everyone; also, relapses can occur long after a drug has not been used.

I think many people can fully recover, but alas, if it takes longer than a month or two many people give up, mainly because the medical community feels once technical withdrawal is over, everything should be just peachy so when it isn't they tend to convince people that it is not a protracted state recovery but rather an old disorder or sometimes even a new one if new symptoms pop up (as they sometimes do) that were not present originally.

I personally went through a long protracted benzodiazepine recovery(never abused) and was told by a doctor that it was impossible that I was still experiencing withdrawal type symptoms at 6 months off, and that I had no doubt some sort of depressive disorder. Well, thank god I knew from many internet informations that simply was not so and rejected the idea I needed to be back on the benzos or an antidepressant.

Presently, I am recovered. It took a long time (benzos are more inclined to take longer than most drugs).

That doctor was completely and totally wrong. I couldn't be happier or healthier right now.

You can get off the drugs if you want. It takes time and patience but I can attest it is well worth it, especially if you are having issues with the drug presently than in the long run it will be worth it.

I think it's individual. If a person is not having any problems on a drug and wishes to continue, so be it. But clearly, problems develop in some and those problems can continue or get worse, so one must weigh that in as well.

You also have youth on your side. Age does effect ability to recover from most things, but at your age you should expect full recovery if you do try to wean slowly, take care to eat well, avoid other substances and exercise. Good luck!