How Rehab Centers Treat Xanax Addiction
Xanax belongs to a family of drugs known as benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines do a good job at relieving symptoms of anxiety and stress in general. Drugs in this class also carry a risk of addiction when not taken as prescribed or used for recreational purposes.
Xanax is an addictive benzodiazepine, though it does have accepted and important medical uses.
According to American Family Physician, one to two percent of the U. S. adult population reportedly takes benzodiazepines on a daily basis for a year or more. Under these conditions, the likely of developing a Xanax addiction increases exponentially.
Xanax rehab should be considered in cases a where a person has tried to stop taking the drug and failed multiple times. Without needed treatment help, a Xanax addiction can continue indefinitely and grow worse in severity in the process.
Xanax Addictions
Xanax works as a short-acting drug that slows down the chemical processes in the brain. Xanax most affects the processes that regulate a person’s experience of stress and anxiety.
Typically prescribed on an as-needed basis, a doctor may prescribe Xanax to treat:
- Panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Symptoms of nervous depression
- Feelings of anxiety
- Persistent agitation
Xanax addictions develop over time as brain chemical processes come to rely on the drug’s effects. Much like with any other commonly abused drug, Xanax addictions affect users on both a physical and psychological level. Xanax rehab programs provide addicts with the tools and supports needed to overcome the drug’s effects in their lives.
Xanax Effects
Xanax rehab treatment specifically targets the damage done by long-term Xanax use. Normally, the brain secretes its own neurotransmitter chemicals in response to stressful situations. With ongoing Xanax use, brain processes grow weaker while brain chemical levels become more and more imbalanced.
Typical signs of Xanax addiction include:
- Irritability
- Confusion
- Making uncommon mistakes on a frequent basis
- Running out of pills before the prescription expires
Xanax rehab offers the time and space addicts need to regain control of their lives and recover from the drug’s damaging effects.
Xanax Rehab Treatment
Considering how the brain comes to depend on Xanax effects, someone who leads a stressful life in general can quickly develop a Xanax addiction. Under these conditions, abstaining from drug can greatly affect a person’s confidence level and overall sense of well-being.
Xanax rehab treatment helps addicts develop a range of coping strategies for dealing with drug cravings, some of which include:
- Identifying everyday situations that trigger drug cravings
- Developing alternative coping behaviors for dealing with stress and anxiety
- Developing healthy thought patterns for dealing with everyday life in general
Inpatient vs. Outpatient Programs
While different people experience the effects of Xanax addiction in different ways, the choice between inpatient versus outpatient Xanax rehab mostly depends on the severity of the addiction. Once addicts reach point where they’ve made several attempts to stop using with no success, inpatient rehab help becomes necessary.
On the other hand, if a person is still able to hold down a job and attend to family obligations, outpatient treatment may be all that’s needed. Above all, it’s most important a person receives the level of treatment needed to overcome Xanax addiction for the long-term.
