Drug Abuse Helpline: A Specific Prescription Drug Addiction

Xanax is commonly prescribed by physicians to treat panic attacks, nervousness, and tension. Xanax is considered to be a Schedule IV controlled substance. Xanax has been used as a tranquilizer since the 1960s. In the 1970’s the use of Xanax (or benzodiazepines) was beginning to be looked down upon by physicians and society alike. With strong disagreement to the use of benzodiazepine there was a 25 percent drop in the number of prescriptions written and today, with approximately 3 million Americans having used benzodiazepine on a daily basis for at least 12 months, they are the most controversial of all psychotropic medicines.

Xanax, Valium, Darvon, Talwin, Equanil are all controlled substances. Controlled substances are rated on a five-schedule system: schedule V is the lowest for the potential for abuse and dependency. 1 is the highest. Xanax is a Schedule IV. All Schedule IV controlled substances have the following attributes: a low potential for abuse, a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and if abused, may lead to limited physical dependency or psychological dependency.

Although there are many benefits to taking Xanax and other Schedule IV drugs, many people are becoming addicted and may require an intervention and drug treatment program to overcome their addictions. The person’s body can also build up a tolerance to the drug and require larger doses if taken for long periods of time. With these increases in Xanax use come physical and psychological dependency. Xanax is not a drug to quit cold turkey. It is estimated that over 25 percent of people who stop taking their medication experienced withdrawal symptoms such as: nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, chills, lethargy, fatigue, moodiness, crying, tremor, and vivid dreams. For more extreme cases of addictions, cold turkey, non-medically assisted withdrawal from drugs like Xanax could cause coma and death.

With this information in mind, the Xanax abuse treatment involves careful monitoring and counseling in an in-patient or outpatient treatment facility. Treatment encompasses a patient’s thought process, behavior, and helps them to cope with everyday life. People suffering from Xanax addiction should be tapered off gradually. Talking with your local doctor, you can find basic outpatient plans available for discontinuation of the drug including: gradual discontinuance over a six to 12 week schedule, monitoring and helping the individual to feel in control of their dosage, and supplying a helpline when the person needs reassurance. Other plans include inpatient treatment centers and 12-step programs such as Narcotics Anonymous. An inpatient setting where dosages can be monitored by a physician until the patient can reach a zero dose of the benzodiazepine is recommended.

Xanax and other types of benzodiazepine can be addictive drugs that are hard to discontinue however, they are also drugs of great benefit to patients who suffer from anxiety, depression, fear of open spaces (agoraphobia), premenstrual syndrome, and panic attacks. The patient and the physician should work together to regulate long-term usage, monitoring side effects, and any signs of abuse.

pranks calls – drug abuse #2 – another drug abuse call but this time alittle more crazy lol

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