Overcome Xanax Dependency with Professionally Guided Treatment

Xanax® is experiencing more widespread use, both as a prescription and as a recreational drug. More and more people are finding themselves becoming increasingly dependent on the medication. While Xanax is typically prescribed as a short-term solution, the substance is known to be highly addictive. Dr. Daniel Bober is a board-certified psychiatrist who advocates for raising awareness about mental health disorders and addiction. Practicing in Hollywood, FL, Dr. Bober is passionate about helping patients receive treatment to overcome Xanax addiction.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

A Highly Addictive Medication

Alprazolam, commonly known by the popular brand name Xanax, is a highly addictive benzodiazepine. It is also substantially more toxic than other benzodiazepines. The addictive quality of Xanax is typically attributed to several factors such as¹:

Rapid absorption
High potency
Severe withdrawal symptoms even after short-term use

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5®) categorizes Xanax addiction as a sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic use disorder². Alprazolam is considered an anxiolytic. Sedatives, hypnotics, and anxiolytics are substances which provide a calming or sleep-inducing effect³.

Sedative, Hypnotic, or Anxiolytic Use Disorder

A sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic use disorder is defined by a set of criteria which includes³:

Taking the substance in larger amounts and over a longer period than intended
A persistent desire to use or unsuccessful efforts to reduce or control use
Devoting a large amount of time to obtaining the substance or to recover from its effects
A strong desire to use the substance
Continuous use affecting the ability to fulfill obligations
Recurrent use despite social and interpersonal problems caused by use of the substance
Frequently using the substance in physically hazardous situations
Disinterest or discontinuation of occupational or recreational activities due to substance use

Additionally, a change in tolerance, including the need for a higher dosage or a noticeably reduced effect with the same amount of Xanax, can indicate dependency or addiction. To qualify as a disorder, you must exhibit two or more of these conditions over a 12-month period. The severity of the disorder is determined by the number of symptoms exhibited.

Xanax Abuse Has Become a Serious Issue

Xanax is one of the most frequently prescribed benzodiazepines, a category of drugs often used to treat anxiety disorder and insomnia¹. As such, Xanax has become highly accessible. In 2013, over 48 million prescriptions were provided for alprazolam¹. From 1996-2013, the number of adults who filled a prescription for a benzodiazepine increased by more than 67 percent⁴.

According to a recent study, 8.3 percent of U.S. adults reported filling prescriptions for anxiolytics, sedatives, and hypnotics such as Xanax⁵. The exposure rate of Xanax has led to a growing number of patients suffering from addiction. The 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported that approximately 446,000 Americans aged 12 and over misused sedatives. Of those, 6.2 percent were under the age of 18⁶.

The Dangers of Xanax Dependency

According to the National Institutes of Health, benzodiazepines are associated with higher mortality and adverse drug events. Use of benzodiazepine prescriptions have been proven to increase the risk of⁷:

Depression
Substance abuse
Tobacco use
Osteoporosis
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Alcohol abuse
Sleep apnea
Asthma
Suicide

Additionally, individuals who took higher doses were much more likely to struggle with substance or alcohol abuse.

Xanax Affects Substance and Alcohol Abuse

The risk of substance abuse for high-dose users is more than triple that of low-dose users (2.2 percent compared to 7.5 percent), and the risk of alcohol abuse more than doubles from 1.5 percent to 3.2 percent⁷. An especially concerning trend is that both opioids and benzodiazepines are being more widely used every day.

According to the National Institutes of Health, benzodiazepines are associated with higher mortality and adverse drug events.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, using both opioids and benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, concurrently is particularly dangerous. Both drugs impair cognitive functions, as well as induce sedation and suppress breathing, which can cause overdose fatalities⁴. If you or a loved one is suffering from Xanax addiction, it is imperative that you seek professional treatment to protect your health.

Treating Xanax Abuse

Dr. Bober is a board-certified psychiatrist with over a decade of experience helping patients overcome substance abuse disorders. While an important aspect of recovery is to help you cease using the drug, therapy is also crucial to successful treatment. Once a formal diagnosis has been provided, Dr. Bober can help coordinate care with a trusted therapist.

Trusted Addiction Treatment

Xanax dependency does not have to dictate your life or continue to endanger the health of a loved one. If you need help overcoming a sedative addiction, contact Dr. Bober's office today at (954) 967-6776.