Xanax Misuse: Effects, Addiction, and Rehab in Atlanta

Xanax is a prescription benzodiazepine drug used to treat anxiety. Currently, it is classified as a Schedule IV drug due to its having a lower risk of abuse and dependence compared to other prescription or illicit drugs. While Xanax requires a prescription from a physician, many people obtain it illegally, such as buying it from illegal sources. On the street, you may hear different names for Xanax, like:2

• Zanbars
• Bricks
• Blue footballs
• Benzos
• Z-bars
• Upjohn
• Alpralozam
• Zannies
• Xan

Xanax, also known as alprazolam, is a prescription benzodiazepine drug used to treat anxiety and panic disorders.¹ It is commonly available in tablet form, including standard and extended-release versions, and may also be prescribed as an oral solution.¹,² Xanax works by affecting the central nervous system to produce calming effects, but it also has the potential for misuse due to effects like euphoria and disinhibition.¹

Alprazolam is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance, meaning it has a recognized medical use but also carries a risk for misuse.² While it is legally prescribed by a physician, it may also be misused outside of medical guidance or purchased illegally.¹

On the street, Xanax may be referred to by several different names, including:²

• Bricks
• Benzos
• Blue Footballs
• Upjohn
• Z-Bars
• Bars
• Zanbars

What Is Xanax prescribed for?

Xanax is typically prescribed to treat anxiety disorders and panic disorders. This drug is effective in treating panic disorders with or without agoraphobia, which is a fear of places or situations that may cause a panic attack, a sense of helplessness, or embarrassment.3

Xanax is sometimes prescribed as an off-label drug to treat insomnia, premenstrual syndrome, and depression.1 When you feel anxious, there is an abnormal increase in brain activity. Xanax is a central nervous system depressant.3

Xanax, like many other prescription medicines, may have side effects. Abusing Xanax increases the potential for side effects. 

Xanax effects may include the following4:

• Drowsiness
• Light-headedness
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Irritability
• Difficulty concentrating
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Changes in appetite
• Difficulty urinating
• Joint pain

If you experience any of the following side effects, seek emergency care4:

• Slowed or difficult breathing
• Seizures
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes
• Disorientation or confusion
• Problems with speech
• Problems with coordination or balance

Mixing Xanax with other substances, including alcohol, prescription medicines, or illicit drugs, can lead to life-threatening consequences. If you combine it with depressants, like other benzodiazepines, alcohol, or opioids, your Xanax risks such as respiratory depression, sedation, coma, and death3

Mixing the drug with stimulants, like cocaine and amphetamines, can lead to additional or separate effects of Xanax abuse, such as5:

• High blood pressure
• Chest pain
• Nosebleeds
• Headaches
• Paranoia
• Hyperthermia
• Excessive sweating
• Itching
• Vision disturbances
• Digestive problems
• Excited delirium

Xanax Overdose Symptoms

Like many other prescription and illicit medicines, Xanax has the potential for overdose when misused. It is a central nervous system depressant and, when taken in large amounts or mixed with other substances, can be dangerous. Symptoms of Xanax overdose include the following3,6:

• Respiratory depression
• Loss of consciousness
• Extreme fatigue or drowsiness
• Slurred speech
• Loss of motor skills
• Confusion

In severe cases, Xanax misuse can lead to respiratory failure, aspiration pneumonitis, and rhabdomyolysis.6 Treatment for Xanax overdose changes depending on the stage of toxicity as well as the symptoms presented.

Xanax misuse is when you take the medicine in any other way than how it was prescribed.7 You may misuse a medicine because you have built a tolerance to it and it is no longer effective at the prescribed dose, or you may want to feel a quicker high. Misuse can lead to severe Xanax dangers. 

Common ways Xanax is misused include7:

• Taking more of the medicine than prescribed.
• Taking too much, too often, and over a long period of time.
• Taking it for a reason other than why it was prescribed.
• Taking someone else’s Xanax.
• Taking it by crushing, snorting, or injecting it rather than orally.
• Taking it with alcohol or other drugs.

If you are misusing Xanax and buying it off the streets, please be aware that fake pills are being distributed. They look exactly like Xanax but may contain harmful chemicals or drugs. You don’t know what you are getting. Many fake pills contain fentanyl, and just a small amount can be deadly.7

Xanax Addiction and Dependence

Having a dependence on Xanax is not the same as being addicted to it. Dependence means your body has become so used to having the drug in its system that it feels it needs the drug to function. If you stop taking it, you will experience noticeable withdrawal symptoms that often cause you to continue using Xanax.3

Being dependent on Xanax can lead to addiction. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5), there are 11 criteria or signs of Xanax addiction:

• Using Xanax more often and for more extended periods than intended
• Trying to cut back or quit using Xanax, but can’t
• Spending much of your time using, seeking, or recovering from use
• Having obsessive thoughts or cravings for Xanax
• Using Xanax so that it interferes with your ability to fulfill your duties at home, work, school, or socially
• Continuing to use even though it causes problems with friends and family
• Avoiding important activities to use Xanax
• Getting into situations to use Xanax that put you at risk of getting hurt
• Continuing to use Xanax even though you know it is causing or making a physical or mental health problem worse
• Developing a tolerance to the drug
• Experiencing Xanax withdrawal symptoms.

Meeting one to three criteria means you have a mild substance use disorder. Meeting four to five criteria is considered moderate, and exceeding six is severe.8

If you are dependent or addicted to Xanax and quit taking it abruptly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms that can be very uncomfortable. Suddenly quitting a benzodiazepine is dangerous, which is why you should get help from your prescribing doctor or medical detox center. They can safely manage your withdrawal symptoms with the use of medications and have staff monitoring your progress.

Xanax withdrawal symptoms may include psychological symptoms such as:9 

• Nightmares 
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• panic attacks
• Hallucinations
• Paranoia
• social phobia
• poor memory
• poor concentration
• Psychosis

Physical symptoms of Xanax withdrawal may include:9 

• Headache
• Seizures
• weakness and fatigue
• tingling and numbness
• muscle tics or spasms
• Tremors
• gastrointestinal problems
• appetite and weight changes
• unusual smell
• And more

When getting help with a Xanax addiction, you have many Xanax rehab options available, which range in intensity depending on your care needs. Many people start treatment at a higher level like inpatient and step down through a continuum of care. However, with the help of a licensed professional, you can decide which treatment options best meet your needs.

Medically Supervised Detox

With medically supervised detox, you can enter a hospital where a doctor and medical staff will monitor you 24/7 and treat your withdrawal symptoms. They can use detox medications and symptom-specific medicines to manage each withdrawal and ensure a safe detox.

Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient treatment occurs in a hospital-like setting or a residential facility. After you are stable from detox, you can attend individual and group therapies to learn recovery skills that will help you prevent relapse.

Partial-Hospitalization Program (PHP)

Partial-hospitalization programs are the highest level of outpatient care with programs that occur daily, five days per week, for at least five hours per day. You receive all the benefits of inpatient treatment, except that you return home at night (or live in sober housing). 

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

Intensive outpatient programs are similar to PHPs, but you attend for a shorter time. Typical programs run three days a week, with each session lasting about three hours. Like PHPs, you return home or to sober housing when you are not in treatment. 

Standard Outpatient

Standard outpatient rehab is the lowest level of care. You typically attend once or twice a week and receive the same type of services as the other levels of care, with less of a time commitment and you live at home (or in sober housing).

Selecting the appropriate program for Xanax addiction treatment in Atlanta, GA, is crucial for recovery. A supportive environment fosters healing and growth. At Empowered Recovery Center, we recognize that a stable and understanding setting is vital for those battling addiction. Our facility offers just that. 

Our team utilizes experts in addiction medicine and therapy, ensuring that every individual receives personalized care. This client-first approach means we cater to the unique needs of each person, addressing both substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders. Recovery isn’t just about overcoming addiction; it’s about rebuilding a fulfilling, substance-free life. Our supportive environment is designed to make this possible.

Therapies Used During Xanax Addiction Treatment

At Empowered Recovery Center we utilize a range of therapies to address both addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps clients understand and change the thought patterns contributing to their addiction. Our individual and group therapy sessions provide emotional support and strategies for coping with triggers. 

Family therapy aims to repair and rebuild relationships affected by addiction, offering a holistic approach to recovery. At Empowered Recovery Center, we also incorporate holistic therapies like yoga and art therapy, which empower clients to express themselves and heal in diverse ways.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment & Xanax Addiction

Dual diagnosis treatment is crucial for individuals with Xanax addiction, particularly because many people with substance use disorders also struggle with mental health disorders. 

Dual diagnosis is a treatment approach that addresses both the substance use disorder and the co-occurring mental health condition simultaneously. This comprehensive approach ensures that both issues are treated, reducing the risk of relapse and promoting long-term recovery.

Often, individuals misuse substances like Xanax to self-medicate underlying mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD. By addressing these underlying conditions, dual diagnosis treatment can help reduce the reliance on substances as a coping mechanism.

This treatment approach integrates different therapeutic methods, including medication management, psychotherapy, and behavioral therapies, tailored to the individual’s needs. This helps in managing withdrawal symptoms, reducing cravings, and addressing psychological issues.

Individuals receiving dual diagnosis treatment have better outcomes compared to those who receive treatment for only one condition. Both addiction and mental health disorders are treated in a coordinated manner, leading to more effective and sustainable recovery. Treating the co-occurring mental health disorder helps in reducing the triggers that may lead to substance use. By managing symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions, individuals are less likely to relapse into substance use.

Dual-diagnosis treatment is essential for individuals with Xanax addiction because it provides a holistic and integrated approach to treatment. Consequently, addressing both substance use and mental health disorders. This comprehensive care leads to better outcomes, reduced relapse rates, and improved overall well-being.

Are you ready to get started with treatment to overcome a Xanax addiction? Give our rehab admissions department a call, and they can answer your questions and walk you through the process. They can also check your insurance coverage and help you figure out how to pay for treatment, even if you don’t have insurance.

Our team can explain our various addiction treatment programs, which range in intensity, and help you set up an assessment with a professional to determine which level of care best meets your needs. The first step is to give us a call. We will verify your benefits online and help you get started with Xanax addiction treatment today.

References

1. George TT, Tripp J. (2023). Alprazolam. Retrieved on 11/25/2025 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538165/.
2. Connecticut Department of Consumer Services. (2025). Alprazolam. Retrieved on 11/25/2025 from https://portal.ct.gov/dcp/drug-control-division/drug-control/alprazolam?language=en_US.
3. Pfizer. (2016). Xanax XR CIV (Alprazolam). Retrieved on 11/25/2025 from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2016/018276s052lbl.pdf.
4. MedlinePlus. (2021). Alprazolam. Retrieved on 11/25/2025 from https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a684001.html#side-effects.
5. Richards JR, Le JK. (2023). Cocaine Toxicity. Retrieved on 11/25/2025 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430976/.
6. Kang M, Galuska MA, Ghassemzadeh S. (2023). Benzodiazepine Toxicity. Retrieved on 11/25/2025 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482238/.
7. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2025). Prescriptions and Opioids. Retrieved on 11/26/2025 from https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/learn/prescriptions-opioids.
8. McNeely J, Hamilton LK, Whitley SD, et al. (2024). Substance Use Screening, Risk Assessment, and Use Disorder Diagnosis in Adults. Retrieved on 03/24/2026 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK565474/table/table-3/
9. Edinoff, A. N., Nix, C. A., Hollier, J., Sagrera, C. E., Delacroix, B. M., Abubakar, T., Cornett, E. M., Kaye, A. M., & Kaye, A. D. (2021). Benzodiazepines: Uses, Dangers, and Clinical Considerations. Neurology international, 13(4), 594–607. https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint13040059. Retrieved on 11/26/2025 from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8629021/.