The first step is to identify any misconceptions you might have about addiction. This can make it more and more difficult to stop taking the drug. The way a person behaves while living with an addiction can vary widely. You may notice changes in mood, behavior, appearance, or performance at work or school, but many of these can be attributed to other factors as well. Xanax works in an area of the brain called the hippocampus, according to an article by Arvat et al. published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. The hippocampus plays a role in memory formation, which is why long-term misuse of Xanax can cause memory loss or interfere with the brain’s ability to create new memories.

Checking with a medical expert can reveal any potentially dangerous effects from mixing substances, and this could protect you against severe injury and dependence on Xanax. Those who take large doses of Xanax regularly are more likely to develop a substance use disorder than individuals who take low doses of the drug infrequently. Benzodiazepines rarely cause deadly overdoses when taken alone. But the drugs can cause life-threatening side effects when taken with other depressants, such as alcohol or opioids. To recover from Xanax addiction, people should taper off the prescription drug by taking lower doses over the course of several days or weeks.

Sometimes called “purple footballs,” “bars,” or “Z-bars,” this drug can cause a high that includes feelings of intense relaxation and drowsiness. Long-term use of Xanax causes the user to build up a tolerance that makes the substance less effective at smaller doses. As a result, some users take Xanax more often than prescribed or in larger doses than prescribed to continue experiencing desirable effects, such as reduced anxiety and feelings of euphoria. It teaches clients how to cope with relapse temptations and life stress in a productive and abstinence-friendly manner. Behavioral therapy is an important component of recovery from drug addiction.

Schedule IV medications have a recognized medical use, but the potential for addiction and abuse. In many cases, people addicted to Xanax believe they need it to relieve anxiety. But the anxiety that they experience when they stop taking the drug is actually a symptom of Xanax withdrawal. About 75 percent of deadly benzodiazepine overdoses involve opioids, according to a 2015 study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

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Therefore, a course of Xanax should be as short as possible with treatment response closely monitored by the doctor. Another concern with Xanax addiction is the risk of overdose, which can result in acute benzodiazepine toxicity. Overdose can occur with Xanax alone, but the majority of deaths occur when Xanax is combined with other drugs such as opioids, including heroin. Polydrug use (using multiple drugs) is common among people with benzodiazepine addiction, with 54.2% abusing opioids and 24.7% abusing alcohol. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most common form of therapy for benzodiazepine addiction. CBT addresses the learning processes underlying substance use disorders.

One of the most common and dangerous interactions for Xanax occurs with alcohol. Both substances are central nervous system depressants, slowing down the body’s processes like movement and breathing. Recognizing alcoholics anonymous signs and symptoms can help you know when to seek treatment for yourself or a loved one. Xanax addiction can be serious and affect a person’s mood, behavior and physical characteristics. Individuals who take it recreationally often mix it with alcohol, marijuana or other drugs. Mixing drugs like alcohol and Xanax is dangerous because it’s difficult to know how the drugs will interact with one another.

Physicians and addiction professionals should oversee the tapering process to ensure safety. These centers have medical staff on hand to help you through the detoxification process, as withdrawal from Xanax can elicit dangerous seizures in severe instances. Close medical supervision will be required for these special cases. People successfully recover from Xanax addictions using both inpatient and outpatient treatment programs. However, people with more severe addictions might need the stability of an inpatient treatment center to recover. The detox and withdrawal from Xanax can cause deadly seizures, so professional guidance is vital during this time of treatment.

1. Non-medical users sometimes take Xanax to enhance the feelings of euphoria produced by other substances.
2. “Alcohol and benzos are the most potentially serious withdrawals because you can have seizures,” Dr. Kevin Wandler told Drug Rehab.com.
3. A number of different types of therapy are used in the treatment of substance abuse disorders.
4. Although treatment outcomes are comparable to that of other chronic conditions, recovery is an ongoing process that can take time.

It’s important that you consider all of your options and choose the treatment program that’s right for you. The development of tolerance is a major factor that drives a new substance addiction. You may take so much to overcome your tolerance that you quickly become dependent on the effects of Xanax—using dangerous amounts in the face of negative health and personal consequences. Therefore, treating drug addiction blog and resources usually involves a gradual reduction in the amount of the substance ingested. Tapering the dose instead of suddenly stopping Xanax reduces the risk of serious withdrawal symptoms, makes relapse less likely, and ensures that the individual has plenty of social support.

Alternative Names for Xanax

Panic disorder causes panic attacks, which may be accompanied by a racing heartbeat, chest pain, sweating, and other symptoms. A person might not take the drug daily, but a pattern starts to develop during this stage. People either take the drug at a certain time of the day, a specific day of the week or as a reaction to a negative feeling. Having abused Xanax a few times, some people might attempt to take the drug under different circumstances or at different times.

Withdrawal symptoms can be felt within six hours of the last dose. The majority of people who misuse Xanax are between the ages of 18 and 25. A small percent of those young adults are introduced to the drug in high school. Xanax is more than twice as popular among high school seniors as the next most popular benzo.

Treatment may also address other underlying conditions, such as anxiety or depression. Although an intervention may encourage your loved one to seek treatment, it can also have alcoholism and anger management the opposite effect. Confrontation-style interventions may lead to shame, anger, or social withdrawal. In some cases, a nonthreatening conversation is a better option.

Because you don’t live at the treatment facility, it’s common for drug abuse counselors to give you random drug tests to ensure you’re on the right track. Outpatient programs are better suited to those in the early stages of substance abuse. For example, to reduce the risk of seizures, the Xanax dose is gradually tapered over weeks under medical supervision. Doctors usually start someone on the smallest effective dose to avoid the potential for addiction and withdrawal symptoms. The dose may be increased depending on the response to treatment.

Xanax Addiction Treatment and Recovery

Unlike Valium, the most popular anti-anxiety drug during the 1970s, Xanax was marketed as the first drug to reduce panic attacks. It’s even more dangerous to take Xanax that you buy on the street because it’s impossible to know exactly what you’re buying. A pill labeled Xanax could actually be a stronger benzodiazepine or a totally different drug. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

To learn more about the treatment process, review our guide to Xanax rehabilitation, which provides comprehensive information on the entire process. Although Xanax is classified as a benzodiazepine, it also acts as a tranquilizer, so it is sometimes included in tranquilizer usage statistics. In 2016, approximately two million individuals aged 12 and older misused tranquilizers at some point during the year. According to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 536,000 individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 had misused tranquilizers within the previous month. For example, 400 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo suffered serious side effects after taking counterfeit Xanax in 2015. Taking Xanax in combination with alcohol can cause life-threatening side effects.

It involves working with a therapist to develop a set of healthy coping strategies. Some users stop paying their bills on time or show other signs of financial distress because they are using most of their money to buy Xanax. Another possible behavioral change is an increase in secretive behavior. The individual may start hiding things from friends and family members in an attempt to conceal Xanax misuse. Detox is followed by proven therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or family-based therapies. Therapy can help individuals develop healthy ways to relieve anxiety and reduce a person’s need for anti-anxiety medications.

Detox is a process during which a person stops taking a harmful drug. The severity of the disorder can be classified as “mild” if two to three criteria are met, “moderate” if four to five are met, and “severe” if six or more are met. These classifications may help direct the most appropriate course of treatment.