Xanax Bars and Addiction
Many people in America take Xanax bars as a treatment to help with anxiety disorders. Xanax is the brand name for alprazolam, a drug that is also a benzodiazepines. Benzos, when legally taken, are prescribed to treat anxiety disorders. Sometimes they are used for other problems, such as neurological disorders. Some people take Xanax without any problem to help with their anxiety. However, there is a darker side to Xanax bars that few people talk about. They are highly addictive and can cause dangerous withdrawals.
Xanax Bars and Other Drugs
Larger than most pills, Xanax is available as a rectan “bar” that can break into up to four pieces depending on what dosage the user to take. The bars can come in white (most common) yellow light blue or light green. Many companies manufacture alprazolam, so it’s not easy to tell ifgular a drug is from a pharmacy or bought from the street. Some of the smaller dosages of Xanax are round or blue and do not have “bars” at all.
Many people who have an addiction disorder are addicted to more than one drug at a time. Medications like Xanax bars available on the street, in schools, or via sketchy drug dealers online. Medical examiners across the US have reported that more and more opioid users die with both opioids and sedatives like Xanax in their system.
There is also a real and present danger that illicitly-obtained Xanax bars may be tampered with. Many drug dealers have begun to add even more addictive compounds to drugs they sell, which usually means adding fentanyl, an opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than morphine, to drugs. They do this in hopes of making the user more powerfully addicted to the drugs. This practice has caused a lot of death from unsuspecting users who have never taken the powerful drug and have no opioid tolerance.
Symtoms of Xanax Use
People who take Xanax and other benzo are usually in a sedeated state once they have used the drug. Most people take the pill by mouth and let it dissolve under the tongue, but some may swallow the pill. When a person is using Xanax, they may have some of the following symptoms:
- slurred speech, trouble walking or poor coordination
- fatigue or sleepiness that doesn’t go away
- changes in appetite
- dry mouth
- constipation or nausea
- noticeable mood swings
- seizures
- sleepwalking
- memory loss
- emotional “flatness” or numbness
Symptoms of Xanax use are worse at higher doses or when taken alongside other drugs, especially alcohol or opioids. There is a much higher chance of overdose or death when a Xanax user abuses other drugs at the same time they use Xanax. If you or somebody you love is using Xanax in a way that is harmful, please make sure to keep Naloxone, an opioid-antagonist, on hand. It can be used to help reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and is available in most states as a prescription or over-the-counter.
Getting Help for Xanax Addiction
Many people are addicted to Xanax or other benzodiazepines. When you’re addicted, you may experience withdrawal effects that are dangerous or life-threatening, including seizures. It’s not safe for you to detox at home alone if you’ve been using these drugs for some time.
Help is available for anyone who wants it. If you or a loved one wants to stop using any drug, recovery is possible. The first step is reaching out. We can offer you a sensitive, safe, spiritual environment to learn more about your addiction and begin to work on your recovery. Call us for answers about the services we offer and how we can help you reclaim your life. We’re available at 619-363-4767
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Addiction