Getting help for Benzodiazepine Abuse
Benzodiazepines (benzos), such as Xanax are prescribed for those who struggle with anxiety disorders. Benzos are addictive and put a person at risk of developing an addiction. Benzos provide temporary relief from the symptoms of anxiety. Mental health management and therapy are a long-term solution to those who suffer from mental health problems.
People often self-medicate as an immediate fix to cope with stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues. This includes using other drugs or alcohol to cope, which puts a person at risk of developing an addiction.
Although benzos provide an immediate calming effect, more of the medication is needed to replicate that feeling and puts a person at risk of overdose. The combination of tolerance and dependence makes it hard to quit without medical treatment. Just like alcohol, benzos can cause blackouts. A person does not need to be addicted to experience a blackout.
Young people often engage in risky, spontaneous, and harmful behavior. The risk of harmful behavior is increased when young people use benzos. This can include stealing, accidents, and rape. A blackout is anterograde amnesia, and prevents the brain from forming new memories. When a person has a blackout, the risk of it occurring again increases.
Xanax works quickly and is very effective when taken as prescribed. Taking Xanax without a prescription from a medical professional is illegal and dangerous. Fake Xan bars are tablets that look like Xanax but are actually a deadly combination of Xanax and fentanyl, a cheap synthetic opioid that is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine. Rather than risk an overdose or early death, young people need to get help for any underlying mental health conditions with a professional who can offer treatment.
In an article by BIll Melugin (2018) for FOX5, John Clark, chief security office for Pfizer said, “Almost 100 percent of what’s being sold out there is counterfeit.” He also stated, “They’re putting whatever they want into it, fentanyl, boric acid, whatever ingredients are available they’ll put into it and sell it as Xanax, if the intent is to kill kids then they’re doing a good job of it.”
Mental health disorders, such as anxiety, are common and treatable. If you or someone you know is suffering from a mental health condition and substance use disorder or addiction, get help now. Both conditions must be treated as a dual diagnosis for success in recovery.
Serenity Springs Recovery Center focuses on rejuvenating men’s holistic spirit for success in addiction recovery. Our unique dual-diagnosis treatment program with a 12-step completion model helps men change their lives inside and out. Our mission is to provide tools and support for every client’s seamless transition into a meaningful and fulfilling life in sobriety. For information, call (386) 423-4540
