Xanax dependence among teenagers is a growing concern in the United States and around the world. It’s becoming easier than ever to obtain for young adults who want to experiment with the drug or have grown too reliant on its “benefits”. High schools and colleges are more rampant with cases of Xanax abuse from a normalized idea of using it. Abuse of this anti-anxiety drug is threatening not only teen and adult mental and physical health, but their careers and futures overall. In the worst cases of Xanax abuse, an addict can even face an overdose that leads to death. According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s 2016 report on drugs and alcohol, nearly seventy percent of adolescents who try an illicit drug before the age of thirteen will develop an addiction within seven years. That’s a scary statistic to think about when you place it in the big picture of teen health in America.
Signs and symptoms of Xanax abuse or benzodiazepine addiction are hard to spot at times. For some people covering up habits of addiction becomes easy while others fall behind as the cope with withdrawal symptoms. Anyone who is abusing Xanax on a regular basis must learn how to taper off the medication instead of stopping cold-turkey. Since the drug is used to treat issues like anxiety or insomnia, an addict’s body needs to learn how to taper off the chemicals its grown accustomed to and take on therapy. Therapies that include natural and healthier non-drug alternatives include meditation, yoga, exercise, art therapy, etc. Let’s dive into the best ways to overcome Xanax abuse before it’s too late.
Signs Of Xanax Abuse
A person addicted to using Xanax will show different signs in their physical and mental health over time. As a fast-acting drug, the majority of the benefits are established within an hour after use, with the total duration of effect being at least 6 hours. A person will show physical signs of mood shifts, low energy levels, a worse off hygiene level, changes in weight, and even signs of low amounts of sleep. They may portray signs of high anxiety, depression, headaches, obsessive thinking about the drug, and frequent isolation from their normal behaviors. In addition to physical and mental symptoms, Xanax abuse also brings long-term psychological consequences, such absences and poor performance at work or school, loss of family relationships and close friend, an increased risk of injury or fatality due to accidents, and a higher rate of abusing more than one substance in general.
As for withdrawal symptoms, Xanax abuse brings worse off sleep, an increased heart rate and blood pressure, excessive sweating, muscle and hand tremors, occasional hallucinations, and even seizures in the worse cases. For someone who may be a student in school or working at one of their first jobs, a teenager can’t risk experiencing constant withdrawal effects because of the huge disturbance it brings. If anyone wants to improve their health, they must seek profession drug addiction treatment immediately for their Xanax abuse.
Seeking Treatment
The most important thing to remember when getting over Xanax abuse is to taper off the drug. Some people may preach about quitting the drug completely, but their pride may cost you your health. It is never recommended for someone who has developed a dependence on Xanax to suddenly stop taking the medication since it leads to even more severe and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Since the worst symptoms include heart tremors and seizures, any rehab professional will put a client on a program that slowly wakes their amount of Xanax consumed. Over a period of a few weeks to a few months, their bodies can grow into being sober from the drug and jump back with the right nutrition plans to stay strong.
Treatment for Xanax abuse can come in many forms like trauma therapy, community support groups, group therapy, and individualized therapy. Choosing which therapy is right depends on what the social style and daily schedule a patient has. Someone who is introverted and busy during the week may want to do private counseling while someone extroverted and likes meeting new people will benefit from a in person rehab group. Any professional treatment center can point you to the right choices if you take the time to explore what you like and don’t like. Be patient with the process and trust in a professional’s recommendations since they have experience in helping people overcome Xanax abuse. Even if you don’t agree with what they’re saying, it’s better to follow their lead than try to independently solve the issue yourself.
Moving Forward
It takes time to overcome addiction when you feel like you’re alone and not sure what to do. Instead of going to a neighbor for advice or aimlessly looking for answers on Google, go to a local expert in drug rehab who can point you in the right direction for getting help. They will listen to your story and help give you support for therapy in a way that your parents, friends, and teachers may not be able to. As a result, it’s important to keep up with therapy and finish it to the end to ensure that your treatment will be effective and long lasting. Relapses can always happen, so it’s important to know from therapy what your triggers are and form a battle proof plan to combat them. A luxury drug rehab could provide a hands-on treatment for patients that need extra help when they overcome addiction. Finding customized support is key for an addict to not rely on a cookie-cutter solution, so make sure you observe what possibilities are out there!