The hippocampus plays a role in memory formation, which is why long-term misuse of Xanax can cause memory loss or interfere with the brain’s ability to create new memories. Express that you are concerned about their substance use and avoid blaming them; blame the substance instead. Express to them plainly but without judgment how the drug has impacted their life and yours. The long-term abstinence rates after recovering from Xanax addiction vary significantly. About 80% of older adults achieve abstinence, while about 25% of those with complicated addiction with polydrug use achieve abstinence.

Xanax Misuse Side Effects and Risks

• Individuals battling mental illness may be on Xanax to treat symptoms or simply abusing it in attempts to self-medicate, and this abuse can often cause mental health conditions to worsen.
• It is important to seek medical attention immediately if any of the above symptoms are present.

Signs of overdose usually develop within four hours of a dose, which is the time when the drug concentration is highest in the body. In a 12-month period between 2014 and 2015, more than 5 million people in the U.S. reported they had misused benzodiazepines. Doctors recommend waiting until all benzodiazepines pass out of your system before you drink alcohol.

How Xanax affects the brain

• The first and most crucial step in treating Xanax addiction is detoxification.
• Even prescription users who adhere to a recommended dosing schedule can end up addicted to Xanax though.
• Behavioral therapy is an important component of recovery from drug addiction.
• Investigate the treatment options that are available to your loved one, so that you can connect them to a rehab facility as soon as they are ready to accept help.
• Some users stop paying their bills on time or show other signs of financial distress because they are using most of their money to buy Xanax.
• You may take so much to overcome your tolerance that you quickly become dependent on the effects of Xanax—using dangerous amounts in the face of negative health and personal consequences.

That being said, the evidence speaks for itself, as thousands seek treatment every year for dependencies on this drug. Some are related to your environment and life experiences, such as having friends who use drugs. When you take a drug, certain genetic factors can increase your risk of developing an addiction. Regular drug use changes your brain chemistry, affecting how you experience pleasure. This can make it difficult to simply stop using the drug once you’ve started.

What to expect from treatment

Xanax also allows more dopamine, a natural chemical that transmits messages between nerve cells, to enter the brain. As a result, some users experience a sense of euphoria, increasing the potential for misuse. As of 2016, Xanax was the 19th most prescribed medication in the United States, with over 27 million prescriptions. The use of Xanax for non-medical purposes has increased in recent years. Dependence is a physiological adaptation that occurs due to chronic substance use, which results in withdrawal symptoms after you abruptly stop or cut down your dose. Keep reading to learn more about what marijuana addiction Xanax is, what substance abuse looks like, and the available treatment options for Xanax addiction.

Signs and Symptoms of a Xanax Overdose

• However, several treatment options are available to help you regain control of your life.
• This can lead to a dangerous and potentially fatal combination of substances and further compounds the health risks.
• Those who become addicted to Xanax will not be able to stop taking the drug on their own, even if they want to.
• Symptoms of Xanax withdrawal can be more severe than that of other benzodiazepines.

Benzo addiction, including Xanax, is a growing public health concern. By raising awareness about the long-term effects of Xanax use, you can avoid yourself or someone you love falling prey to addiction. Taking Xanax in combination with alcohol can cause life-threatening side effects. Like Xanax, alcohol enhances the effects of GABA on the central nervous system, which can cause impaired coordination, drowsiness, dizziness, and other physical and psychological effects. When an individual xanax addiction combines Xanax and alcohol, the tranquilizing effects of each substance are intensified.

If you have a loved one who’s struggling with addiction, staging an intervention is often the first necessary step towards sobriety, but it’s important to be strategic and loving in your approach. Even the most well-meaning of interventions can have a negative effect if they aren’t handled correctly. If you’re struggling, or you know someone who is, please call River Oaks at to speak to a caring admissions navigator about your rehab options. Healthcare professionals use criteria from the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to guide their diagnosis. Outpatient treatment may require a stronger sober resolve, because you will be living in the original abuse environment.

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. You need them to stay open to what you are trying to say, and to do this you need to make it clear that you are coming from a place of love and concern, and not disapproval. Like many drugs, the presence of Xanax can be detected with laboratory tests.