Xanax Addiction

As with many other prescription drugs, Xanax addiction is a very real hazard for anyone who takes the drug longer than recommended or in higher doses than prescribed. “Xanie-popping” is an additional hazard for the young, trendy crowd seeking to get high at raves or other events where the party favors are illegal drugs. Xanax, a mild tranquilizer, has become a hit at raves for its ability to boost the intense high craved by abusers when it is used in conjunction with alcohol or other drugs. Many of these thrill-seekers end up with a serious Xanax addiction. Many of them end up in the morgue.

Most often used to combat anxiety disorders, Xanax acts upon the central nervous system and produces a euphoric effect. Users crave its calming, “floaty” feeling that insulates them from the unpleasantness of work or family stress. Xanax abuse may mean a habit of 20 to 30 pills a day. Users build up greater and greater tolerance, leading to increasing dependency and, eventually, a severe addiction.

Breaking a Xanax habit is not a matter of waking up and saying, “Today I’m going to quit.” Sudden stoppage of the drug can be lethal. A high buildup of the drug in the system can induce convulsions and seizures if it is withdrawn suddenly. People who try to quit gradually seldom succeed. Xanax addiction causes extreme anxiety, panic attacks, heart palpitations, and shakiness during withdrawal—the very things it was prescribed to prevent. These are so unpleasant that people often flee straight back to the drug to calm down.

The best way to beat a Xanax addiction is with professional help through a drug detox center or rehabilitation facility, preferably one that offers inpatient care. Controlled withdrawal and management of the withdrawal symptoms is key to a successful recovery. Without this transformative first step to remove all traces of Xanax toxins from the body, the physical craving and dependency will still be there, and no amount of counseling to deal with the emotional dependency will do any good.

Xanax detoxification is just the first step in treatment. Xanax addiction is even more than usually difficult to treat, because of the intense emotional dependency it creates. Addicts actually experience emotional bereavement and grief when it is removed. Their insulation blanket against the world has been removed, and they must now cope with the real world as it is, not as the drug made it. This requires professional counseling and behavior therapy to help addicts understand their own dependency and how to meet life without the help of drugs.

A Xanax addiction can be beaten, but it is unlikely anyone can do it alone. Find a detox center that offers a well-rounded program for dealing with both the physical component and the emotional problems that accompany the addiction. Long-term emotional support, a safe environment removed from distractions, and a staff trained and experienced in dealing with Xanax abuse are absolute prerequisites. However, treatment for Xanax addiction starts with one question: “Do I have a problem?” An honest answer may save your life.