Xanax Treatment and Rehab
Xanax Info
Xanax dependence is difficult to recover from, due to the drug’s fast-acting nature and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. However, you can find help to defeat your addiction and lead a drug-free life again. Refusing to get treatment can be counterproductive, as you’re bound to face dangerous health complications further down the line.
Choosing to stop on your own is also a risky plan that has the potential to cause harm. Make sure you consult a medical professional before you quit using Xanax.
To help you achieve freedom from Xanax, you can be assigned a comprehensive treatment plan that involves a medical detox programme and rehabilitation. You’ll also receive ongoing support to help maintain lasting abstinence.
If you want to break free from Xanax dependence, but are at a loss as to how to go about it, reach out for help now. You can be find a rehab centre that suits all your needs. Take the first step to freedom from Xanax addiction today.
Xanax abuse and addiction treatment
The best way to treat Xanax abuse and addiction is via an inpatient or outpatient rehab service that offers a medically assisted detox programme. Continuing support and counselling are also vital for abstinence in the long-term.
While Xanax may be initially prescribed for short periods to treat anxiety and panic-related disorders, taking it over a long period of time can be dangerous. Despite this, people still find a way to source the drug – either on the streets or from illegal black markets on the web.
Initially, you may have been prescribed Xanax to help manage certain health conditions, but due to the pleasant effects of the drug, you chose to stay on it a little longer than directed. As a result, you could be forced to use the drug repeatedly because of the unpleasant symptoms you experience whenever you attempt to stop.
If you or a loved one are battling with Xanax addiction, you can get help. The first step is to consult a professional before you attempt to quit. Don’t do so without medical consultation, as you may be opening yourself up to dangerous mental and physical health risks.
Treatment for abuse involves a dedicated detox programme that will gradually wean you off Xanax safely. From there, you’ll transition to rehabilitation, where your psychological difficulties will be tackled.
What is Xanax addiction?
Addiction to Xanax is a compulsive drug-seeking behaviour that is induced by the activity of the drug in the brain.
Xanax (which is the brand name for the generic drug, Alprazolam) is a quick-acting central nervous system (CNS) sedative that belongs to a drug class known as Benzodiazepines. These drugs travel to the brain when ingested, to enhance certain neurological activities in a bid to induce
feelings of calmness and relaxation.
Like other Benzodiazepines (or ‘benzos’), Xanax serves to heighten the secretion and activity of a neurochemical called Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA). This chemical is responsible for regulating how neurons distribute excitatory signals that cause heightened emotions, such as agitation and anxiety.
Whenever you take Xanax, GABA is produced in a larger quantity than your brain is used to. This causes a shutdown of the brain regions that cause excitement and feelings such as panic and paranoia, leading to a tranquil sensation and an intense state of relaxation. This is the temptation that draws most users to Xanax.
When taken for a long time, the brain begins to depend on Xanax for further production of GABA, as it has grown used to the level produced by the drug. At this point, you’re said to have developed a dependence on Xanax.
Unpleasant withdrawal symptoms will begin to occur when you choose to stay away from the drug or decrease your dosage dramatically. When these symptoms begin to adversely affect your mental and physical balance, you will likely to do anything it takes to get a hold of Xanax. This compulsive behaviour is known as addiction.
Xanax addiction treatment
Treating addiction to Xanax is tackled on two fronts: on one front, striving to control and stop the physical obsession with the drug. The second front addresses your psychological cravings for Xanax.
Xanax addiction treatment goes further still. The first stage of any treatment plan is eliminating the drug from your system through a medically assisted detoxification process. Subsequent stages consist of rehabilitation, where you’re given psychological skills to battle your dependence, and aftercare, which provides continuing support when your treatment is complete.
Generally, treating addiction to Xanax is best undertaken within a medically controlled inpatient facility. Many such facilities offer inpatient detox programmes to help wean you off Xanax and manage withdrawal symptoms.
If you cannot commit to an inpatient/residential treatment programme because of time restraints or external responsibilities, you can alternatively benefit from quality outpatient treatment that will help with your addiction. Rehab can be carried out in a residential facility or on an outpatient basis, where you attend on a regular basis for treatment and therapy.
Aftercare is also employed by most rehab clinics to provide support when you leave the facility or end your rehab regimen. This will help you stay off Xanax and prevent you from relapsing.
Call our admissions line 24 hours a day to get help.
Xanax dependence: Treatment suggestions
Inpatient treatment programmes are considered the gold standard when it comes to addiction treatment. However, you could be given other alternatives that will also prove effective if your situation is particularly unique.
For Xanax especially, inpatient detox is important, as withdrawal can be quite distressing. The medically supervised detox process will involve tapering you off the drug gradually, which requires close monitoring. There’s also the need for close supervision in terms of managing withdrawal symptoms as they arise.
While you might want to detox on an outpatient basis, please adhere to your doctor’s recommendations. If your case of dependence is severe, a residential detox will be the best path to follow. However, If your dependence is mild, you may be given the approval to detox from home, albeit with medical supervision.
To an extent, Xanax is more complicated than other benzodiazepines. Withdrawal symptoms may start out mild, but they can grow in severity as time goes on. Make sure you’re always checked by a healthcare provider if you’re partaking in an outpatient programme.
Why you should seek treatment and rehab for Xanax abuse and addiction
Getting treatment is the safest way to escape the dangers of Xanax addiction and abuse. If you find that you’re addicted or notice the signs of abuse, you should seek help as soon as possible. You won’t achieve freedom just by resolutely deciding not to take the drug. In fact, this may cause you more harm than good.
Research has found that the majority of people who have attempted to detox on their own fell back to using the substance to which they were addicted. Relapse can be dangerous – especially in the case of Xanax – as you run the risk of overdose when you start using again.
The best course of action to take when you’re ready to fight addiction is to seek treatment.
Treatment involves well laid out plans, handled by professionals that are conversant with how Xanax works. Your treatment regime will be devised according to your individual situation. This is because everyone’s experience with addiction and recovery is unique.
You’ll also be reducing the risk of complications during withdrawal when you go through a medically assisted detox. Your healthcare experts will administer drugs to help alleviate the distressing symptoms of withdrawal. You’ll be weaned off Xanax bit by bit, to ensure your brain re-adjusts without severe complications.
How to help a loved one seek treatment
If you have a loved one who is struggling from Xanax addiction, you can get help on their behalf. In many cases, addicts don’t realise they have slipped into addiction and are ignorant of how their actions are affecting others.
You can call them to order and make them understand how their behaviour has been taking a toll on those around them. While it’s important for the benefit of those people
around the addict, seeking help is essential primarily for their health.
To seek help for your loved one, try to understand what they’re going through and don’t react in a judgmental manner. When you speak to them, do so in a caring tone, without directly attributing blame. Otherwise, you risk losing them further to addiction.
If they don’t listen to reason when you speak to them one-on-one, you can take things further by organising an intervention. Gather a number of closely related people and those who have a measure of influence over your loved one. Together, you can make them see reason. You can also employ the services of a professional to organise the intervention if you are not experienced and confident enough yourself.
Xanax is a potentially dangerous depressant that can result in death. As such, you shouldn’t hesitate to intervene the moment you notice a loved one has slipped into addiction.
Why seek rehab at a treatment centre for Xanax addiction?
Addiction treatment centres are set up with the sole aim of helping addicts fight their addiction and recover safely. These treatment centres have facilities that enhance the rehabilitation process, empowering people who are struggling with addiction to fight and overcome their problems.
Studies have found that residential rehab facilities are instrumental in the recovery process. The longer you stay in rehab, the higher your chances of achieving full recovery. Most addiction treatment centres have dedicated detox facilities and teams that will ensure you rid your body of all traces of Xanax in the safest and most comfortable way possible.
Addiction treatment centres are managed by licensed psychologists and medical professionals that have years of experience in treating addiction. These experts are trained to understand specific addiction cases and chart individualised treatment plans.
If you attend a dedicated treatment facility, you’ll also be checked and treated for any co-occurring mental or physical health issues. If you’ve abused other drugs in combination with Xanax, this will be tackled accordingly.
You will go through individual counselling and group therapy sessions, during which you’ll learn life changing behaviours that will enhance your outlook and help you live a better life without Xanax.
It doesn’t end there though; when your rehabilitation is over, your addiction treatment centre will also provide continuing care to support you during ongoing recovery in everyday life.
What to expect from Xanax treatment and rehab
You should understand that your treatment will follow a certain course and schedule, based on the plan that was drawn up for you. You may go through rehab and treatment for a relatively longer or shorter time than others.
Furthermore, your rehab will include individual counselling and group therapy sessions – either on an inpatient or outpatient basis. It’s important that you stick to the plan drawn up by your resident physician to ensure full recovery.
What’s Xanax rehab like?
Your Xanax rehabilitation will take place after you have successfully completed your detox (either in the same treatment centre or at a different detox clinic). Rehab mainly entails fighting any psychological issues associated with Xanax addiction.
Once enrolled, your rehab treatment will follow the course set by your doctor during intake and methods applied by the rehab centre of your choice.
Rehab normally involves daily individual and group therapy sessions, scheduled medications and occasional drug tests to monitor your situation.
Your therapy sessions will look to address the psychological issues that resulted in you abusing Xanax, as well as those induced by your addiction to the drug. You will also be taught mental skills to help you prevent relapse and cope without this substance in the future.
There are also rules and regulations that guide both patients and staff at the treatment centre. Ensure you follow the rules of the rehab centre where you’re enrolled to avoid infractions.
Psychological therapy options
Therapy options include 12-step programmes, group therapy and individual counselling sessions. Some rehab centres incorporate their own signature therapy into the treatment process. These may include massage therapy, music therapy, yoga, energy healing and equine therapy.
Types of Xanax addiction treatment
Xanax addiction treatment can be carried out via inpatient or outpatient programmes. Both types of treatment are handled by medical professionals. It is never advised to undergo self-treatment or self-detoxification.
Inpatient treatment programmes include receiving supervised care in a residential facility. This treatment plan is considered one of the best ways of treating addiction to any drug, including Xanax. This programme is more beneficial during detox (especially from Xanax) as you are removed from your normal environment and any triggers or temptations that may lead to drug use.
Outpatient treatment on the other hand, involves being treated at home or as a visiting patient. Life issues such as time restraints and work responsibilities are factors that make an outpatient treatment a necessity for some people. If your addiction is particularly severe or longstanding, your doctor may recommend inpatient treatment, and you should always try to make time to follow their recommendations.
Choosing the best Xanax rehab centre
Because treatment plans and therapy options vary from centre to centre, it’s important that you choose a facility with the right kind of plan that works for your personality and needs.
There’s also the need to choose a centre that checks the right boxes when it comes to your environmental and social needs. Your medical condition may call for you to choose a specific type of venue. You might also want to stay close to your family or place of work if you’re undergoing outpatient treatment.
Which to choose: Inpatient vs. outpatient
Inpatient programmes are the best course of treatment when it comes to detoxification. This is because detoxing from Xanax involves weaning you off the drug in decreasing doses. As such, this requires constant supervision. Withdrawal complications may also arise without round-the-clock medical supervision.
When your detox is complete, your doctor could recommend an outpatient rehab programme if you cannot attend residential treatment.
Specialised treatment and therapy options
Every drug addiction affects addicts in different ways. For instance, the approach adopted for treating alcohol use disorder will be different from that employed when treating addiction to other drugs like Xanax. Specialised treatment plans and therapy options target the substance involved and the specific situation of whoever is battling the addiction.
Your treatment for Xanax addiction will involve a specialised care and therapy plan, devised after your situation has been evaluated by a doctor. The treatment plan in question will be targeted at eliminating Xanax from your body via detox and addressing the exact way in which it has affected your psychological wellbeing.
Continuing and follow-up care
Recovery from Xanax addiction is a lifelong process. This doesn’t mean you will be dealing with difficult bouts of cravings all your life. However, there are situations that could trigger these cravings after you’ve completed treatment and are back amongst society.
This is why your rehab centre will employ an aftercare and follow-up plan to help you stay on your feet once you leave the facility or finish treatment. This programme will support you until you are able to fend off relapse cues and signals on your own.
Remember that you should always seek help of your own accord whenever you feel vulnerable and are on the brink of relapse.
Relapse prevention
The goal of rehab is to reshape your thoughts and perception of Xanax and form new behaviours. This is undertaken in order to help prevent you from relapsing. Getting used to this new way of life cannot happen at the snap of a finger – it takes considerable time. As such, you should take measures to prevent relapse until these new behaviours become solidified.
Here are some tips that will help you maintain abstinence until you’re used to life without Xanax:
Recognise your triggers: You should understand the situations that are likely to provoke cravings and stay away from them. You will likely have encountered one or more of these during treatment and withdrawal.
Join a support group: Support networks like 12-step programmes provide a platform to connect with other struggling addicts. Accountability to a sponsor (or the group) will serve as a strong motivating force to maintain abstinence.
Avoid company that encourages drug use: Ensure you stay away from people that are likely to tell you that taking a drug just the once won’t hurt. Instead, surround yourself with those who are invested in your welfare and abstinence.
Minimise stress: A heightened level of stress can cause tension, which could lead to relapse. If you want to prevent this, engage in stress-relieving activities like meditation, deep breathing and exercise –and make sure you get plenty of rest.
Xanax Treatment: Costs and payment options
The cost of treatment will differ according to the length of your treatment and the kind of rehab centre you attend.
If you have private medical insurance, check whether your insurance plan covers you. If it does, your rehab centre will most likely receive payment from your insurance provider. If you don’t have insurance, you should directly contact the clinic about how to make payment – many clinics will provide you with the option to pay in instalments, to make the cost of your treatment more manageable.
Live a drug-free life again
Being addicted to Xanax isn’t the end, and giving up shouldn’t be an option. You can get back on your feet and lead a healthy life again. While withdrawal can be challenging, you can pull through safely with the right medical support and treatment.
Xanax addiction: Statistics and facts
- Xanax is the popular trademark name for the drug, Alprazolam
- The drug isn’t available on the National Health Service in the UK, but people do get hold of it through private hospital prescriptions and online
- According to a report by The Guardian, 22% of black market internet sales of Xanax took place in the UK
- It is a prescription medication used to treat panic and anxiety disorders
- It has a short half-life, which means it acts very fast and leaves the body at the same pace
- It is one of the most popular anti-anxiety drugs in the US and is also popular in the UK
FAQ’s
What is Xanax treatment?
Xanax addiction treatment involves ending your physical compulsion to take Xanax and your psychological pull towards the drug.
Do I need an inpatient Xanax rehab facility?
Inpatient rehab treatment is considered the best form of treatment by experts. However, if your circumstances are better suited to outpatient rehab, it can be arranged for you.
How much does Xanax treatment cost?
Treatment will vary according to your treatment duration and the type of rehab centre you choose.
Are Xanax rehabs private and confidential?
Treatment centres are bound by confidentiality agreements and will keep your personal details private. If privacy is of particular concern, you may wish to opt for a luxury or exclusive rehab facility.
What types of Xanax addiction treatment programmes are available?
Treatment programmes available for Xanax addiction include inpatient and out-patient programmes. While inpatient programmes are always recommended, outpatient care may be undertaken if your addiction is mild and you have other commitments such as work or family.
What does Xanax treatment include?
Treatment begins with detox, during which you’ll be weaned off the drug. From there, you’ll be admitted into a rehab centre – either on an inpatient or outpatient basis – to tackle any psychological difficulties. After this, you’ll receive continuing care once your treatment is over to help you integrate back into society and also maintain abstinence.
Is there an ideal duration for Xanax rehab?
The ideal duration for Xanax rehab will largely depend on your personal situation. However, clinicians have tagged the 90-day period as the gold standard for rehabilitation. Your unique situation may call for a shorter or longer rehab period.
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