1. Alprazolam (Xanax)

2. It is made from Alprazolam powder formed into a bar like form.
What is Xanax?
Xanax (Alprazolam) is a benzodiazepine medication first introduced in 1976 used to treat anxiety, depression, and panic disorders.
It is made from Alprazolam powder formed into a bar like form.
- Some street names for it include Xannies, Bars, Benzo’s, and Zanbars.
Xanax comes in many forms:
tablets (bars)
Liquid
degenerating tablets
and extending release tablets
You will typically feel the effects within minutes of taking it and they wear off within 6 hours.

3. Types of Xanax
Xanax bars are nicknamed based on either color or amount.
The uppermost milligrams are slender yellow and white tablets. These are the most common of the types of Xanax bars. The amount of Xanax in these bars varies from 0.25 to 10 milligrams.
- The yellow are the most common and sold for drug use to this day. It is the most potent and the most addictive.

4. The Effects Of Xanax on your brain:
Alprazolam (Xanax) affects chemicals in your brain that may be unbalanced with people with anxiety. It works by decreasing abnormal brain activity and results as a calming effect in the body.
Those who truly suffer from anxiety, ptsd, and depression really see how this helps them due to the calming aspect of the drug.

6. Effects on your body Short Term Effects Long Term Effects Dry mouth
Changes in sex drive
Drowsiness
Depression
Difficulty Concentrating
Fatigue
Memory problems
Damage to your central brain activity
Weight changes
Seizures
Overdose
Addiction
Death

8. Addiction?
A common question is if Xanax is addictive or not. The answer is, yes! Here’s how:
- The more you use the higher your tolerance is, therefore you need to take more to get your “high”.
- Stopping Xanax cold turkey even just using if for a short amount of time can cause withdrawals. These withdrawals are so intense that a lot of people go back to the drug or substance. In worse scenarios, even add another drug or substance to cope with the withdrawals.

9. Preview Video Below

10. Xanax in today’s society
Xanax is being “promoted” world wide by musicians and song writers which is influencing our younger generation to dab into the drug.
This is extremely dangerous because during the “experimental” stage, adolescents are mixing drugs and substances which is causing overdoses and even worse, death.
Xanax addiction is the leading cause of hospital visits in 2017.
It is now spreading all throughout the world - “The reputation of benzos is growing in the UK, too. Though the abuse isn't on the level of the US, 366 people were killed by benzo-related overdoses in 2015—more than by cocaine, speed, or MDMA.”

12. Addiction
Addiction doesn’t always effect just you – it’ll effect everyone around you. While you’re on it, and while you are trying to get off of it. People tend to take the hard times on others who are trying to be there and help them and it can be extremely hard on family and friends who care and love the addict.

13. Withdrawals Withdrawal symptoms include: - Headaches - Blurred Vision
Withdrawals from the drug are very common whether you have been using for 2 months or 2 years. The withdrawals will still take place.
Many have stated that the withdrawals are so bad, they end up going back to the drug to not have to deal with the withdrawals.
Many also stated they didn’t know they had an addiction until they stopped cold turkey.
Withdrawal symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Blurred Vision
- Insomnia
- Mood Swings
- Nightmares
- Tremors and Panic
- Heart Palpitations
- Seizures
- And SO MUCH MORE

14. After hearing about all of these symptoms and withdrawals, it makes sense to me how strong they can be and how one would want to resort back to the “norm” for them.
Who would want to experiencing all of that? And according to the timeline on the left, it can be for a long time constantly fighting these temptations.

15. Treatment
If necessary, and the person is willing, there are many treatment options.
You can see a physician or counselor to help you safety taper of your use of Xanax.
There is also of course, in patient. Inpatient a lot of people don’t like to resort to but come out saying it is the best thing they have ever done.
- You will learn coping skills with your addiction.
- You will gain friends who are struggle through the same thing you are, and understand where you’re coming from – a safe support system.
- Yes, you are detoxing. It WILL NOT be a piece of cake. You have to be committed to achieving sobriety for it to be worth your wild.
- You will be counseled daily in group such as CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and individually.

16. Is Treatment worth IT?

17. The Aftermath
After seeking treatment, it is up to you to continue sobriety.
Getting out into the “real world” after treatment can be scary because in treatment, you are in your safe zone. There are no worries, temptation is further from reach and it is easier to reach sobriety. When you’re out of treatment, it is much harder especially if you hang around the same group that got you into the drug/substance to begin with.
There are sober living facilities that are there to help. There are also meetings, outpatient, continued counseling, and meeting out with you treatment family for support.

18. Relapse
Relapse happens and it happens to most people who deal with addiction and mental disorders. Our goal is to strive to overcome the triggers that our placed in front of us.
60% of users, will end up relapsing.
If you relapse, don’t get down, use that to get better.
If you relapse hard and don’t know or remember or thing you can get out yourself, it is not bad to go back to treatment. It is actually very smart. I personally know a few people who have been to treatment multiple times due to relapse.

19. Celebrities that passed away with benzos in their system:

20. You’re not alone
If you or anyone you know if suffering from addiction there are many ways to help – even when the addict does not want help. Be there for them, be an ear and give them phone number and treatment pamphlets to help.
They may not like you at the time, but they will thank you later.