What is Xanax?
Xanax is a medication commonly prescribed to treat anxiety, depression, and insomnia. It often comes in a long, skinny tablet known as a “Xanax bar.”
The generic form of Xanax is alprazolam, which is a benzodiazepine. A benzodiazepine is a type of powerful tranquilizer medication used to treat anxiety and panic attacks. They’re also sometimes used to treat seizures and insomnia.
A Xanax bar is made through pressing by taking the powder form of alprazolam and compressing it into a tablet. This is done with a pill press machine.
Xanax is the most prescribed psychiatric medication in the United States. According to one estimate, over 48 million prescriptions for Xanax are written each year. This wide availability has led to Xanax becoming a popular street drug.
Because of its calming and euphoric effects, people often abuse Xanax bars recreationally. People choose Xanax bars because they are the most potent form of the drug. One Xanax bar contains two milligrams of Xanax.
Some street names for Xanax include:
- Xannies/Zannies
- Benzos
- Bars
- Planks
- Bricks
- Xanbars/Zanbars
Because of its potential for addiction, Xanax is classified as Schedule IV under the Controlled Substances Act. It’s considered more addictive than other benzodiazepines. For this reason, a Xanax bar should never be taken without a prescription.
Read on to learn more about the effects and dangers of Xanax use.
What is a Xanax Bar?
The term “Xanax bar” refers to the highest single dosage of this drug, which is a 2-milligram tablet. It’s called a “bar” because the pill is oblong and can be divided into smaller doses.
Xanax comes in several different forms and dosages:
- Immediate-release tablets — These are available in 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, and 2mg strengths. They’re typically oval or elliptical in shape. The 0.25mg tablet is white, the 0.5mg tablet is peach, the 1mg tablet is blue, and the 2mg tablet (“Xanax bar”) is white, yellow, or green.
- Extended-release tablets — These are available in 0.5mg, 1mg, 2mg, and 3mg strengths. They’re typically round in shape, except for the 3mg tablet, which is triangular. The color of the extended-release tablets varies from green to yellow, depending on the dosage.
- Oral solution — This is a liquid form of alprazolam that comes in a concentration of 1mg per ml.
Xanax bars also come in a variety of colors:
- White Xanax bars — Some dealers refer to these bars as “sticks.” They contain 2mg of active alprazolam. They are the common color of Xanax bars.
- Yellow Xanax bars — Yellow Xanax bars also deliver 2mg of alprazolam. A yellow Xanax bar is sometimes known as a “yellow school bus.”
- Blue Xanax bars — Blue Xanax bars typically have 2mg of alprazolam. They are scored “B707.”
- Green Xanax bars — In most cases, green Xanax bars have a dosage of around 2mg, similar to blue or yellow Xanax bars. Despite this, people who abuse Xanax sometimes report green Xanax bars as being the most powerful.
If you or a loved one habitually use Xanax, it may be time to consider substance abuse treatment.
How do People Buy Xanax Bars Illegally?
Those who abuse Xanax bars will often try to go around U.S. regulations to buy them. The two main ways people do this is via buying Xanax bars online or going to Mexico to buy them.
Both of these are extremely risky. It’s illegal to purchase prescription drugs without a valid prescription and could lead to legal problems.
In addition, it’s impossible to ensure the quality or authenticity of drugs purchased this way. Counterfeit drugs are common, especially online and in countries with lax drug regulations, and they can contain harmful or ineffective substances. According to U.S. authorities, Mexican Xanax bars often contain fentanyl.
Moreover, Xanax is a potent medication that should only be used under the close supervision of a healthcare provider due to its potential for addiction and other serious side effects.
Self-medication without professional guidance can lead to harmful health consequences, including dependency, withdrawal, and overdose.
Get confidential help from our addiction treatment specialists in Orange County. Call to join our rehab program today!
Call 866-881-1184Facts About Alprazolam and Anxiety
Because of how available it is, Xanax is widely misused. Concerns of a Xanax “epidemic” have risen in recent years.
Some facts about Xanax:
- Xanax is the most prescribed benzodiazepine medication
- Nearly 5% of Americans between ages 18 and 80 filled a prescription for Xanax or other benzodiazepines in 2008
- One report found that Xanax misuse-related emergency room visits were highest than all other benzodiazepine medications
- Another report found these visits doubled between 2005 and 2010
- Xanax is often misused with other drugs like opiates and alcohol
- Xanax is the fifth most common drug involved in fatal overdoses in the U.S.
Regular usage of Xanax bars can result in physical dependence, withdrawal symptoms, and addiction over time. Long-term abuse of Xanax bars can result in serious health consequences like mental health issues.
It’s important to use Xanax under the close supervision of a healthcare provider. Any discontinuation should be done gradually to manage Xanax withdrawal symptoms and reduce the risk of complications.
Looking for quality substance abuse treatment that’s also affordable? South Coast accepts most major insurance providers. Get a free insurance benefits check now.
Check Your CoverageXanax Addiction Treatment at South Coast Behavioral Health
Xanax bars are highly addictive. Multiple studies have found Xanax has the highest potential for misuse out of all the benzodiazepine medications.
Moreover, it’s easy to overdose on Xanax. This is especially the case when taking Xanax with alcohol or opiates (as they often are).
If you or a loved one are looking for assistance treating addiction to Xanax bars, South Coast Behavioral Health is here to help. The first step in treating Xanax addiction is a medical detox. This means using drugs to manage withdrawal symptoms.
Our medical detox program in California is staffed by caring and compassionate professionals who can provide you with medications to manage your withdrawal symptoms. This may include things like anti-seizure medication and antidepressants.
After detoxing, treatment should involve therapy to address the drivers of addiction.
Treatment for substance abuse takes place along an entire spectrum of care. Along that entire spectrum are various behavioral therapies, support groups, and the use of medically-assisted treatment (MAT).
These levels of treatment are, in order, as follows:
Residential Treatment in California
After completing medical detox, you’ll move to inpatient treatment in Orange County, California. There, you’ll receive medically-assisted treatment and dual diagnosis treatment to deal with any cravings or co-occurring mental health issues you may be battling.
We also offer residential treatment facilities in Costa Mesa, Irvine, and Huntington Beach for those who desire gender-specific treatment. There, patients get round-the-clock medical attention and monitoring while living at the facility full-time.
In addition to individual and group counseling and medication management, you’ll also have access to leisure activities and family support services.
Partial Hospitalization in California
Most clients start substance abuse treatment with South Coast in our residential treatment program. After completing that, many desire something that still provides structure and support, but with extra space and time to oneself. For that, we offer Partial Hospitalization in Newport Beach.
A step down from inpatient care but with more structure than conventional outpatient programs, partial hospitalization offers a good balance for those looking to ease back into normal life. Clients can receive care five to seven days a week for several hours each day, returning to their sober living homes in the evening.
This way, they can recover without putting their daily lives completely on hold, receiving intense therapeutic interventions like group and individual therapy, skills development, and medication management as necessary.
Intensive Outpatient Treatment in California
For those leaving inpatient residential treatment or partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs (IOP) are yet another gradual step forward on the road to recovery.
With a focus on group therapy, individual counseling, and education, clients undergoing Intensive Outpatient Treatment in Newport Beach can meet three to five days a week. Each session lasts three hours.
This level of care requires the least amount of attendance at a facility.
Get Started Today
Xanax addiction is a serious disease but can be overcome with proper treatment. If you or a loved one are struggling with Xanax addiction but wonder how long addiction treatment takes or have other questions, call us at 866-881-1184 or contact us here. Our highly qualified staff will be happy to help give you an idea of what to expect from your addiction recovery timeline, help verify your insurance, and assist with any other questions you may have.
Reach out today to speak with a representative who can help you determine your treatment options and get you started on the road to recovery.
- US warns about fake, dangerous pills being sold in Mexico | AP News
- Drug Scheduling (dea.gov)
- The Role of High-Potency Benzodiazepines in the Treatment of Panic Disorder – PMC (nih.gov)
- A Review of Alprazolam Use, Misuse, and Withdrawal – PMC (nih.gov)
- A Review of Alprazolam Use, Misuse, and Withdrawal – PMC (nih.gov)
- ED Visits for Sedatives Increase | Toxicology | JAMA | JAMA Network
- Benzodiazepine Use in the United States | Geriatrics | JAMA Psychiatry | JAMA Network
