To know whether a drug is addictive or not is very important. It can help you determine the proper dosage that you should take to avoid addiction from a particular drug. Furthermore, you would be able to prevent the adverse effects attached to drug addiction.
Xanax, a drug with the generic name of Alprazolam, is a drug used to treat different types of mental disorder. However, its primary indications include the treatment of anxiety and panic disorders. Some reports have shown that it can also treat other ailments such as chemotherapy-induced nausea.
The addictiveness of Xanax has been a debatable topic for years as different experts have had different opinions regarding the matter. Nevertheless, we shall look into the history of abuse Xanax has undergone.
How Does Xanax Affect Our Minds?
To understand whether Xanax is addictive or not, we must first understand how this drug’s components interact with our brain. Benzodiazepines like Xanax work by attaching themselves to the GABA receptors in our central nervous system.
GABA receptors are one of the most common inhibitory receptors in our brain. By attaching itself, the drug can regulate the inhibitions that go around our brains. This action is how the drug helps people reduce their anxiety. It is also considered a mild tranquilizer due to its sedating effects on its users. (1)
Recreational Use Of Xanax
The abuse of the drug Xanax has been steadily growing since its approval back in 1981. This can partially be blamed on the availability of the drug compared to other addictive drugs such as morphine and cocaine. The euphoric and calming effects brought about by the drug have made it a viable as a substitute for other commonly abused drugs.
A recent study of the drug determined that the demand for Xanax is growing so fast that between the years 2004 to 2009 the production of the drug has increased by as much as 148%. It only comes second to the drug Oxycodone. (2)
Furthermore, the US SAMHSA or Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found out that there have been three times more rehab visits in 2008 compared to ten years ago. This set of data is becoming worrying as only a few actions are being done to curb this growing trend.
Government Regulations on Xanax
The United States’ Food and Drug Administration has deemed Xanax as a Schedule IV drug. This is the second lowest classification for drugs that have a potential for abuse. Furthermore, schedule IV means that the drug has a very minimal abuse and addiction potential.
Many experts have questioned this classification as they believe that contrary to what FDA claims, more and more Americans are becoming addicted to the drug. According to them, the recreational use of Xanax has grown in the past decades because the government only placed light regulations on it.
What Happens If I Snort Xanax?
The answer to this question is straightforward. Xanax does not work when snorted. The manufacturers of Xanax created the drug in such a way that it is almost impossible to take the drug in other means except through oral ingestion.
Many addicts think that snorting Xanax can increase its euphoric effects. However, the components of Xanax are non-water soluble; hence, they would not be able to be absorbed through the mucus in our nose and respiratory airways. Snorting them would instead lessen the effects of the drug on the person taking it. (3)
