There’s a massive addiction crisis in the United States, and one of the primary reasons is addictive prescription medications. While opioids are a leading cause of overdose and can lead to the use of heroin, other medications are dangerous as well. Xanax is a medication people use to manage symptoms of anxiety, but it can lead to fatal consequences. If you have a loved one who is taking this medication, it’s important that you know the answer to, “How addictive is Xanax?”
How Addictive is Xanax for Anxiety Patients?
Addiction is an extremely cunning disease, and it makes people believe that they don’t have a problem. This is a situation that becomes even worse when the addiction is to medications that are given by a doctor. It’s easy to justify and rationalize use when a doctor s providing the medication for symptoms of anxiety. The problem is, many people don’t ask, “How addictive is Xanax?”, and many doctors don’t disclose this information very often either.
Some of the symptoms doctors prescribe Xanax for include the following:
- Racing thoughts
- Constant worry
- Irrational fears
- Increased heart rate
- Anxiety in social situations
The problem with Xanax is that not only does it alleviate symptoms of anxiety, but it also releases pleasure chemicals in the brain. While someone may have started taking the medication to decrease anxiety, that can change over time. Due to the way Xanax affects the brain, the person may begin using the medication to get a feeling rather than alleviate anxiety. This is typically how a Xanax addiction develops, and one of the primary signs is when a person becomes physically dependent.
How Addictive is Xanax for Young People?
More and more studies show that young people are experimenting with prescription medications more than ever before. Xanax is one of the primary substances that young people turn to because it’s so easily accessible. Even with alcohol drug education provided by schools, many young people still experiment with the drug to get high. Young people are far more susceptible to the disease of addiction due to the way the brain develops. Young people don’t have a fully developed prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for helping make logical decisions when it comes to assessing potential risks.
Getting Help for an Addiction to Xanax
Steps to Recovery is a drug and alcohol treatment center in Levittown, PA. We want you to know the answer to, “How addictive is Xanax?” so you can get the help for someone you love. Addiction is a progressive illness, so it’s much easier to treat when the person gets help as soon as possible. We understand that some people who have an addiction to this medication struggle with anxiety, but we can help. We offer dual diagnosis treatment as well as the following programs:
How addictive is Xanax? Don’t wait to find out. For the help you need, call Steps to Recovery today at 267.719.8528.
