The drug Xanax, which is otherwise known as alprazolam, is a medication used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. Belonging to the category of medications called benzodiazepines, sometimes called “benzos.” While Xanax is highly effective to treat these disorders, it is also often used as a recreational drug. It has become trendy to take it. There are SoundCloud rappers known for praising the drug. But it doesn’t just alleviate panic and anxiousness, it is also dangerous. It is addictive and has a calming effect and enhances the effect of the natural chemical GABA. Below are the dangers of Xanax.
Young People are Taking It
One of the dangers of taking Xanax is that young people are using it recreationally. It is very trendy, but it leads to addiction. It’s always difficult to help someone who is addicted to a substance, but helping a teen can be even harder. Luckily there are ways to help your teen get through substance abuse. Xanax is dangerous because it has become normalized for young people and once someone starts taking it frequently, it can be difficult to stop.
It is Highly Addictive
While Xanax is widely available because it is prescribed for anxiety and panic disorders, it is much more addictive than this implies. Seventy percent of teens who become addicted to Xanax get it from their family’s medication cabinet. Furthermore, tolerance to the drug develops fast. This is one of the reasons why it is so difficult to break the habit. People who are addicted to Xanax can take up to 30 pills a day. The addiction can get so bad that there is no longer any relief from the drug. Instead it becomes needed to make the person feel normal. There are also withdrawals that result. These include increased anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, tremors, and physical symptoms.
The High Lasts a Long Time
A lot of people ask how long does Xanax high last? Initially, it lasts a very long time. A high from Xanax lasts up to six hours after a single dose. Of course, this is before a tolerance is created. The high from Xanax is fast-acting and can last for a long time, but when the person gets addicted the high is shorter. They need more pills to stay high and then eventually more just to feel like they’re okay. When a person first takes Xanax, they usually like how long the high lasts. Then they go chasing the dragon and can’t seem to feel what they initially felt when they first took it.
It Stays in the Body For a Long Time
Even after the high is long gone, Xanax stays in the body. It may take several days for Xanax to leave the body. This means that the Xanax in the body is compacted by the amount that you take next. It stays in the body longer if you take it every day, and longer still if you take a lot of it every day. This makes it so that even when they’re not high anymore, when the Xanax leaves the body it could lead to cravings. The longevity of it makes it dangerous for the body.
Of course Xanax is not the most dangerous drug in the world, but that’s what makes it so risky. It is perceived as harmless, easy-going, and fun. Still the drug leads to addiction, dependence, tragedy, overdose, and even death. Since a tolerance to it can quickly develop, people who use Xanax will have to use more and more to feel the calming, ethereal effects they once experienced. But there is an end to this game. You’ll have to take more and more of it until you are dependent, unable to stop.
The dangers of Xanax need to be spread. People everywhere need to be educated about this drug. Just because it helps people with severe anxiety and panic doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous. The flipside is very risky. It makes people feel so good that they will chase that high. But they never get it as good again. There is a diminishing effect that occurs, making it a slippery slope for many people. If you or someone you love is struggling with a Xanax addiction, reach out for help. You won’t regret making the effort to change your life forever.