Education is particularly important primarily because most patients don’t know how is Xanax addictive primarily because they regard medications as safe solutions to symptoms they experience. The goal of the therapy is to treat underlying mental health problems, help patients adopt healthy coping mechanisms, and adopt a more positive mindset to replace negative thoughts and behaviors. The most effective approach is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), according to a 2017 review article by Michael Soyka, M.D. On the Treatment of Benzodiazepine Dependence published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

• There are several reasons why Xanax may be more addictive than other benzodiazepines.
• The teenager explains tolerance to Xanax develops quickly, and his personality changed to the point he had no emotions.
• The 16-year-old, who lives with his parents in an affluent suburb of south-west London, says there was a time when using it was rife in his friendship circle.
• Trading Xanax for another benzodiazepine (anxiety-relieving drug) that has a longer half-life can help to manage withdrawal symptoms.
• It’s incredibly helpful for those experiencing seizures and panic attacks, as it quickly acts within the body to help calm and slow it down.
• Substitution may be practiced in conjunction with tapering to manage Xanax addiction.

Now, over a year later, sitting in his kitchen, he describes the benzodiazepine drug as “the devil”. The 16-year-old, who lives with his parents in an affluent suburb of south-west London, says there was a time when using it was rife in his friendship circle. If you recognize some of these signs https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/xanax-addiction-signs-symptoms-and-treatment/ in your loved one and you suspect that they may be abusing Xanax, it’s time to step in and offer help. Physical symptoms are arguably the most telling indicator of a Xanax addict, and that’s because these symptoms usually occur when a person is taking more than the recommended dose of Xanax.

Signs and Symptoms of Xanax Abuse

Scroll further down the page to learn more about drug dependency and why people develop addictions and for more information about Xanax. Some people need to enter recovery programs because of their Xanax use, but this isn’t always the case. There are two primary routes for the development of an addiction to Xanax. The first is that a person decides to try Xanax for recreational purposes and eventually develops an addiction.

Drug dependence can cause withdrawal after Xanax and its effects have worn off. It’s essential that people taking Xanax do not stop all at once or quit “cold turkey.” Doing so can be dangerous and present serious symptoms such as seizures. Severe mental health effects, like psychosis and delirium, can also happen during Xanax withdrawal. If you’re unsure whether you or someone else has a problem, a doctor can diagnose Xanax addiction. The physical and mental dependence from Xanax addiction can take a strong hold on the individual’s life and make it difficult to quit.

How to Know When It’s Time for Treatment

Xanax has a strong addiction potential, which is why the person needs a well-structured treatment. Medical professionals will understand potential interactions between Xanax and drugs used in medication-assisted treatment and suggest safe options. Ultimately, the goal of treatment is to improve your physical and mental well-being and build life skills to overcome addiction and avoid triggers. The National Institute on Drug Abuse outlines substance use recovery services thoroughly, though two main approaches involve medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and therapy. These programs require a bit more time than outpatient programs, but they still allow patients to balance their work, school or home lives with treatment.

As drug use takes increasing priority, it jeopardises personal relationships and severely impacts overall wellbeing. Xanax addiction creeps into every area of your life, leaving you with less time for loved ones and unable to meet responsibilities and work commitments. Any time someone uses Xanax without, or contrary to, a prescription, it is considered to be abuse.

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The effects of each drug can “stack” and increase the chance of overdose. Did you know that every year 115 Americans die of opioid overdose? Research has shown that from 2001–2013, about 17% of people who received an opioid prescription also received a benzodiazepine like Xanax.

You can receive the relief you need to escape the cycle and improve your physical and mental health. A person’s history can play a role in developing a Xanax addiction. Additionally, if you notice they’re mixing Xanax with other substances, like alcohol, this is a sign of misuse and can lead to addiction and other dangerous side effects. Likewise, injecting, snorting or smoking the drug can increase the potency and effect of the medication. One of the concerning factors about using benzodiazepines is that individuals can become dependent in just a few weeks of taking them. Tolerance can develop in a few days, with physical dependence arising in weeks.

Some individuals combine Xanax with other downer drugs like opiates or alcohol in order to increase the pleasurable feelings. This can lead to negative health consequences such as respiratory arrest, coma, and death. Others use Xanax to control unwanted side effects of stimulant abuse. This combination of uppers and downers can lead to cardiovascular complications such as myocardial infarction. Xanax produces its calming effects by suppressing the inhibitory receptors in the brain and central nervous system to decrease the abnormal excitement in the brain that leads to anxiety symptoms.