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. The drugs can make people pass out or breathe at a dangerously slow rate. Xanax is one of the most addictive benzodiazepines when not properly used.
- 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).
- Quitting Xanax suddenly can be dangerous, as it may lead to severe withdrawal symptoms.
- Caregivers must get medical help right away if a patient is unresponsive.
- Xanax is a high-potency drug, which makes its withdrawal symptoms more intense than symptoms of withdrawal from other types of benzodiazepines such as Valium (diazepam).
- If that happens, you may find it helpful to seek out further resources or find a support group for family members or friends of people living with addiction.
Resources for Help and Support
The first time I popped a Xanax was the first time I felt relief from my anxiety disorder… There was something oddly comforting about Xanax — the way it came in many shapes and colors, like https://ecosoberhouse.com/ peach and blue. They were a pretty little assortment of happiness I could feel just by holding in my hands. Although Xanax put a temporary stop to my agony, it soon introduced a new kind.
Seeking treatment for oneself or others
The effects of each drug can “stack” and increase the chance of overdose. Recognizing Xanax addiction 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. Having abused Xanax a few times, some people might attempt to take the drug under different circumstances or at different times. Yes, Xanax is addictive and is classified as a Schedule IV medication by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Schedule IV medications have a recognized medical use, but the potential for addiction and abuse.
Xanax Addiction: Signs, Effects, and Treatment
Call your healthcare provider, go to the nearest hospital emergency room, or call for emergency medical help (call 911 in the US) right away if you get any of these symptoms. Physical tolerance and addiction are multifactorial processes that involve drug pharmacology, patient factors such as past or current drug use, and social and environmental cues. Graff made the argument that Holmes was self-medicated and abusing drugs and alcohol throughout the day, which prevented the murder from being premeditated. Louisiana’s policymakers have proven their willingness to exploit the criminal legal system to enforce social, moral and racially biased visions of society.
- People who need anti-anxiety medication to control anxiety or panic disorders may be dependent on Xanax and never experience negative consequences.
- Overcoming an addiction to Xanax isn’t easy, but people do it every day.
- If you are taking Xanax as prescribed, check with your doctor before taking another drug or drinking alcohol.
Xanax is a type of sedative that people use to treat conditions such as anxiety and panic disorder. However, this medication is prone to misuse, which can lead to addiction. Detoxification, or detox, is the process of allowing a substance to leave the body while treating and mitigating any withdrawal symptoms.
More on Drugs & Medications
Over time, addiction and mental and physical dependence can develop. Doctors usually start patients who have never taken benzodiazepines on low doses of Xanax, such as 0.25 milligrams or 0.5 milligrams. Everyone who takes the drug regularly will develop tolerance, meaning they’ll require higher doses to feel the same therapeutic effect.
Online Therapy Can Help
- This phenomenon is known as a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder.
- If your loved one does not agree to getting help the first time you speak to them, try again at a later time.
- Abuse may lead to limited physical or psychological dependence.
For example, when we eat a sugary snack, a small amount of dopamine is released and we may get the urge to have another. Xanax and other substances encourage addiction through this mechanism. 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, about 12.5% of adults in the U.S have used benzodiazepines, whether legally or not. About 2.1% of adults abused benzodiazepines during that same period. xanax addiction affects the lives of millions of people each year.
