Xanax is a prescription medication with a high risk of abuse. It is meant to be ingested orally as prescribed by a doctor for the treatment of mental illness, including anxiety symptoms. Yet, the drug can be misused recreationally. Although it may seem harmless, abusing the substance, such as by snorting Xanax, is dangerous and even life-threatening. Here is everything you need to know about the dangers of Xanax abuse.
What Is Xanax?
Xanax is a prescription benzodiazepine, which is a type of medication prescribed for anxiety and panic disorders. Xanax is the brand name for the drug, although its generic name is alprazolam. When prescribed by a medical practitioner for mental health, Xanax is legal. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves it for anxiety and panic disorders. It’s also prescribed for depression, insomnia, and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). However, the Controlled Substances Act recognizes its high risk of being abused, categorizing it as a Schedule IV controlled substance. Notably, alprazolam is the most used psychotropic medication in the United States, but with its legitimate prescriptions comes many cases of misuse.
Xanax comes in pill form, although these can be crushed into powder and snorted. The meds can be shaped as bars, which can be broken into segments or single pills. Markedly, they come in different colors and shapes, which correspond to dosage and manufacturer. Colors include:
- Purple Xanax
- Orange Xanax
- Blue Xanax bars
- Yellow Xanax bars
- Pink Xanax
- Green Xanax bars
- White Xanax bars
People who purchase alprazolam illicitly may end up with synthetic Xanax. It imitates the “high” with chemicals rather than the real formula.
The Dangers of Snorting Xanax
Misusing Xanax has many dangerous side effects on the body and mind. You put yourself at risk of the following symptoms, both short- and long-term:
- Light-headedness
- Slurred speech
- Dizziness
- Poor balance
- Headaches
- Exhaustion
- Trouble concentrating
- Memory loss
- Hallucinations
- Weight changes
- Jaundice
- Seizures
As mentioned, Xanax can be misused by crushing and snorting the pills or bars. Because it creates a faster and stronger high, snorting Xanax is a popular recreational use. Yet, it also increases the danger of addiction and overdose. The symptoms occur much faster when you snort Xanax than when you ingest it. For example, the high can begin within two minutes rather than an hour. As such, individuals may take more when the high wears off and end up flooding their bodies with large amounts.
Snorting benzos also brings unique risks, like:
- Brain cell damage
- Nose bleeding
- Loss of smell
- Nasal tissue damage
Benzodiazepines like alprazolam are highly addictive. They have a relaxing and calming effect on the brain and body, which is why they’re sometimes called “downers.” Overdose and even death are possible. Most fatal or near-fatal cases are caused when people mix Xanax with another substance. For example, weed and Xanax are a dangerous mix.
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Speak With Our Admissions TeamWhat Are the Signs and Symptoms of Xanax Abuse?
Many people use Xanax to self-medicate their symptoms of anxiety or depression. Because alprazolam is prescribed to treat anxiety disorders and depressive disorders with symptoms of anxiety, this may not sound like a problem. However, Xanax is commonly used illicitly. Individuals may source Xanax outside of a prescription, like buying it on the internet, or misuse their prescription by taking the wrong dosage. Some people resort to buying it outside of the U.S. without a prescription. Further, many people use Xanax apart from its intended purposes by using it as a recreational drug.
Interestingly, when someone abuses Xanax, they can worsen their anxiety symptoms or start experiencing symptoms they weren’t before. This is because of the powerful process of dependence that occurs in your brain. As your brain adapts to having Xanax in your system, it begins to function better with the substance than without. It craves the feelings of relaxation and stress release the drug once brought. If you abuse Xanax, before long, you’ll find yourself always needing more.
Some signs and symptoms that someone is abusing Xanax are:
- Always talking about taking more of the drug
- Sneaking around
- Lying about their activity
- Financial difficulty due to buying the drug
- Symptoms of Xanax dependence
- Irritability
- Loss of interest in regular hobbies and routines
Further, addiction affects more than just the individual. Families, partners, friends, co-workers, and anyone in the person’s circle are likely to be hurt by the pain addiction causes.
What is Xanax Withdrawal Like?
Xanax is a powerful psychotropic that alters the way your brain responds to your surroundings. As such, it is unsafe to try to stop taking Xanax all of a sudden. This is the case regardless of whether you’ve used the substance as prescribed or misused it. Withdrawal symptoms may include:
- Cravings
- Trouble thinking about anything but Xanax
- Mood swings
- Sluggishness
- Trouble sleeping
- Memory problems
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
Clearly, trying to detox alone puts you at risk of these withdrawal symptoms. The only way to safely and effectively overcome addiction to benzodiazepines like Xanax is through medical detox. Fortunately, the process is simple and safe. Detox lasts between four and eight days. Our medical team will monitor you 24/7 to ensure you’re comfortable and detoxing without harm. To help minimize withdrawal symptoms, they can administer comfort medications. Above all, you will be cared for to make the process as painless as possible. After detox, you will be ready to complete the inner work to ensure you never return to substance abuse.
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Check Your CoverageXanax Addiction Treatment Programs
It may feel like your substance abuse is impossible to overcome, but that’s not true. Although snoring Xanax recreationally can quickly become an addiction, there’s hope of a successful rehabilitation. Asking for help from a treatment center is the first step toward recovery.
At Aliya, we prioritize caring for our clients as individuals first. No matter what you struggle with, you will be treated like a valuable person with unique needs and goals. We are aligned with you on the same mission: to give you tools that bring healing so you can experience lifetime sobriety. We offer levels of care that represent growth throughout the rehab process. Starting with detoxification, clients move between inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, and aftercare. Our dual diagnosis and holistic therapy approach for drug addiction and alcohol addiction can help someone who also struggles with mental health issues.
You likely have a million more questions about Xanax misuse. That’s what we’re here for! Please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our intake team will schedule an intake assessment to learn more about you and recommend the best method of treatment. Don’t wait! We’re ready to help you.
