Research shows that most stable, Oxford House healthy adults will achieve long-term abstinence after completing a taper. Xanax can help people who are in acute distress, but it is not intended for long-term use. The long-term use of benzodiazepines like Xanax can potentially create problems with dependence and withdrawal. Don’t let the devastating side effects of addiction go on for another day. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction and are ready to start the treatment process, call us today at .

• Often, detox and withdrawal need to be done in an inpatient facility under the close supervision of medical professionals, who can help to ensure the person is stable and detoxes safely.
• Younger adolescents, however, appear to be abstaining from many substances of abuse except Xanax.
• Study results show a broad range, between 3 percent and 41 percent, of people who struggle with alcoholism also abuse benzodiazepines, per the American Family Physician.
• Drugs that trigger this kind of relaxation in the brain quickly lead to addiction, as evidenced by how many people struggle with alcohol use disorder (AUD).
• Xanax is one of the most addictive benzodiazepines when not properly used.

Lifestyle Quizzes

This can lead to excessively high dosing, intoxication, and, in some cases, drug-seeking behaviors. Finally, Xanax is very risky because it is often mixed with other drugs. This practice is extremely dangerous since Xanax can increase the intoxication of other substances. Addiction is sometimes called chemical dependency because dependence is a feature of addiction, but it is not the sole defining factor.

• Dependence refers to a physical state in which your body is dependent on the drug.
• Xanax is the brand name for alprazolam, a powerful prescription benzodiazepine used to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), as well as panic attacks and insomnia.
• Overdose can occur with Xanax alone, but the majority of deaths occur when Xanax is combined with other drugs such as opioids, including heroin.
• Detoxification (detox) is a process aimed at helping you safely stop taking Xanax while minimizing and managing your withdrawal symptoms.
• Urine drug screening is complicated by the presence of benzodiazepine metabolites.

Evidence-Based Addiction Treatment to End Xanax Abuse

While it is possible to detox from Xanax alone, it is always advised that detox be overseen by a medical professional to ensure the process is handled comfortably and safely. For example, under a medically assisted treatment program, a doctor may prescribe a less potent benzodiazepine, such as Klonopin, to help with the tapering process and avoid withdrawal symptoms. Medically assisted detox is proven to be the most effective way of combating Xanax addiction and beginning the road to recovery. Some people combine Xanax with alcohol, opioids, or other drugs because the combination enhances the effects of each to a large degree. This is because the body has difficulty metabolizing the two substances simultaneously, allowing more of each substance to remain active in the body for a more extended period. Many people will experience a total blackout on a combination of Xanax and alcohol or other drugs, retaining no memory of what they did =https://ecosoberhouse.com/ while high.

• If you or someone you know uses Xanax, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the short- and long-term effects of alprazolam, the dangers of overdose and drug mixing, and various treatment options.
• High-risk patients or those with unstable medical conditions or a significant seizure history may benefit from admission to an inpatient service for stabilisation or withdrawal.
• Staged dispensing is effective in both withdrawal and maintenance.
• The dosage is based on a patient’s medical condition, age and response to treatment.

Medical Disclaimer

Xanax is an incredibly addictive and popular drug and is only available legally through prescription. This means there are many drug dealers who sell Xanax illegally for a high price. If you choose to enter treatment for your recovery, know that with a quality facility dedicated to a continuum of care, you have several options. Whenever you speak to your loved one about their addiction, try to use “I language” when you speak (I feel, I notice) more than “you language,” which can sound like you are accusing and blaming. You want to be direct and honest with your loved one, but not judgmental.

Instead, addiction is defined as a behavioral condition involving compulsive consumption of drugs or compulsive behaviors that release dopamine, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters. Our state-specific resource guides offer a comprehensive overview of drug and alcohol addiction treatment options available in your area. Xanax should never be combined with other benzodiazepines like Valium, Klonopin or Ativan. The effects of each drug can “stack” and increase the chance of overdose.

Some people also use them to try to ease the comedown from cocaine or other stimulants. Using benzos along with other drugs, especially “downers” like opioids, is particularly risky. A drug test can detect the presence of most benzodiazepines or their metabolites (substances produced when the drugs break down in your body). Therapeutic techniques, such as music and arts therapy, and wellness-focused support groups, are beneficial in combatting the psychological impact of an addiction to Xanax. In addition, the physical part of addiction requires medical detox. With this combined form of treatment, users can take charge of their lives again.

If you observe them having a seizure, collapsing, struggling to breathe, or if they are sleeping and can’t be woken up, immediately call emergency medical services. For example, a common dose of alprazolam (Xanax) is 0.5 to 1.5 milligrams. Users of heroin and other opioids sometimes take them to boost their highs.

What to Know About Farmapram (Xanax) Addiction, Treatment & Withdrawal

Others may try it at a party or nightclub by acquiring it xanax addiction from a friend or acquaintance. Because of Xanax’s abuse potential, it is often sold and used illegally. According to the 2015–2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about12.5% of adults in the U.S have used benzodiazepines, whether legally or not.

Signs of Xanax Abuse or Addiction

It is thought females account for more benzo addictions than males, but this may merely be due to women being more likely to receive a prescription for the drugs. Erowid notes two times as many women are using these drugs as men. Even if a person tries to stop taking Xanax, the fear of withdrawal and rebound can be so strong that the adverse consequences of stopping seem to outweigh the benefits. Xanax addiction is specifically part of a subcategory of substance use disorder known as sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic use disorder. However, even after the symptoms of a Xanax overdose wear off, the consequences to the body may persist, potentially with lasting effects. For example, pulmonary aspiration during a lethargic state can lead to aspiration pneumonia or permanent lung damage.

A frail 70 year old with falls prescribed flunitrazepam as a sedative hypnotic for 20 years requires a different management approach from a 25-year-old intravenous drug user buying street alprazolam. The principles of management of dependence with ‘z-drugs’ such as zolpidem and zopiclone are the same as the management of benzodiazepine dependence. Take our free, 5-minute substance abuse self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with drug addiction. The evaluation consists of 11 yes or no questions that are intended to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of a substance use disorder. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result.