Over 15 million Xanax prescriptions were written in the US in 2021.
Around 250,000 of those people would go on to develop a Xanax use disorder.
By those numbers, it’s obvious that not everyone who takes Xanax develops a Xanax addiction – but some do. Others develop a Xanax use disorder without ever having a prescription. These people are just as important as anyone else with a substance use disorder, and they’re overlooked too often.
Maybe you’re feeling that now. You feel like you’re alone, and like no one understands. At Wolf Creek, we do understand. Most of our staff is in recovery from substance disorders too, and we have been where you are. We know the pain that led to you misusing Xanax, and the vicious cycle that develops out of dependence and addiction. We know the impact it has on your relationships and your health. We know the feeling of powerlessness, and how rewarding it is to come out on the other side.
What We Treat: Xanax Addiction
If you use Xanax outside of its intended purposes, it can quickly spiral out of control. You build up a tolerance to the medication quickly, and then you need to take more and more to feel the same effects as you did the first time. Three pills a day turns into ten and then twenty. The symptoms that come when you go too long without taking Xanax are awful, and you’re caught in a painful loop of Xanax use and withdrawal symptoms. You start neglecting other areas of your life until it feels like your Xanax use disorder is all that you are.
You can break that loop, but it takes work – and most of all, support.
We’re here to help you achieve lasting recovery. That means addressing every component of your substance use disorder. What led to you misusing Xanax in the first place? What situations make you want to take more Xanax? Together, we’ll answer those questions and more, and you’ll heal from the inside out.
What Is Xanax and What Is it Used For?
Xanax falls under a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines. It was originally developed to treat panic disorder, and is still most frequently prescribed for anxiety disorders today. Xanax is short-acting, meaning people feel the effects quickly, and they wear off quickly, too. Typically, Xanax will start working within an hour. How long the effects last varies depending on each person. Typically, people take it as needed, based on how bad their anxiety is.
How We Treat: Xanax Addiction Rehab at Wolf Creek
In our partial hospitalization program, we’ll provide housing for you during every phase of your treatment with us. You’ll come to our facility for therapy and other activities during the day, then go back to your housing at night.
This means you don’t have to travel far to make it to treatment, and you’ll have more independence than you would in a residential program. We encourage you to stay with us as long as you can, and we offer different lengths of stay based on what each person needs.
That doesn’t even touch on all of our therapy options, and we have a lot. From classic choices like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) to eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for trauma, we’ll build a plan that works for you and your Xanax use disorder.
We also have to mention one more really important thing – the outdoor activities we incorporate into treatment. Our location in Prescott, Arizona is beautiful, and we take advantage of it daily by playing team sports, paddle boarding, canoeing, camping, and more. Recovery is about more than repetitive therapy sessions. It’s about having fun and finding joy in life again. These experiences are a great step toward that.
What Are the Risk Factors for Xanax Addiction?
There’s no equation to determine whether someone will develop a Xanax addiction or not. Studies have shown there’s some genetic factor at play, but what puts people at the most risk for developing a Xanax use disorder is deep emotional pain.
This can come from trauma, undiagnosed mental health conditions, high stress, or something else – but it’s in these instances that people are most likely to use Xanax illicitly.
People prescribed Xanax aren’t inherently likely to get addicted to it, either. Xanax itself doesn’t cause addiction. Pain causes people to turn to substances for relief, and that causes addiction.
Spotting the Signs of a Xanax Use Disorder
Symptoms of Xanax addiction vary from person to person, but here are some of the most common ones:
- Withdrawing from loved ones and hobbies in favor of using Xanax
- Fixating on always having Xanax on hand
- Continuing to take Xanax illicitly despite health and social consequences
- Inability to control the amount and/or frequency of Xanax use
- Taking Xanax to fight off withdrawal symptoms
- Building up a tolerance and needing to increase the dose
The Dangers of Xanax Addiction –Withdrawal and Overdose
Anyone who takes Xanax for a long time can experience withdrawal. That’s because it’s easy for your brain and body to become dependent on it after it’s in your system for a while. Dependence is not the same thing as addiction. Dependence can be managed by carefully weaning off of Xanax alongside your doctor. A Xanax addiction requires more intensive treatment.
Most people who have a Xanax use disorder are also physically dependent on it. Withdrawal symptoms are painful, and when people experience Xanax withdrawal, they’ll often take more Xanax to make it go away. This creates a vicious cycle and also makes overdose more likely.
People who use Xanax outside of its intended purposes often use other substances as well, and that makes overdose more likely too. Mixing benzodiazepines like Xanax with opioid pain relievers, for example, can be incredibly dangerous.
Finding Xanax Addiction Treatment in Arizona With Wolf Creek
If you take Xanax outside of its intended purposes, it can be easy to justify at first. After all, it’s a prescription medication. Maybe you thought a Xanax addiction wasn’t as serious as other substance use disorders, or that it was safer than street drugs.
We’re here to tell you that Xanax use disorder isn’t inferior to any other substance use disorder. It still has a negative impact on your health and your life, and treatment is available for your condition too.
You don’t have to live under the weight of your Xanax addiction anymore. We want to help you overcome it. Get started today.
Wolf Creek Recovery is dedicated to treatment rooted in honesty, integrity, respect, compassion, commitment, and courage. Our values are evident in how we treat every person who walks through our doors. No matter how big or small your Xanax use disorder seems – Wolf Creek wants to help. Give us a call today at 833-732-8202, and start building a life you love.
FAQs
How can I help my loved one with a Xanax addiction?
The best thing you can do is encourage your loved one to seek treatment for their Xanax use disorder.
