Sober Living

Crushing & Snorting Xanax: What Happens & Side Effects

He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker as well as Certified Addictions Professional in the State of Florida, and Internationally Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor. Aurelio specializes in the treatment of Addiction, Trauma, and Abandonment using strength based strategies deeply rooted in Solution Focused, and Mindfulness Therapies. Join 40,000+ People Who Receive Our Newsletter Get valuable resources on addiction, recovery, wellness, and our treatments delivered directly to your inbox. When taken as prescribed, Xanax is a safe and effective medication. However, it can be addictive and should not be taken without a doctor’s supervision.

Can You Shoot Up Or Inject Xanax

People who misuse Xanax may choose to snort or smoke it to feel its effects faster. When individuals smoke Xanax, they typically crush the pills and mix the powder with another drug, usually tobacco or marijuana. This is called lacing because the tobacco or marijuana is laced with Xanax. The second method of smoking Xanax involves smoking only the powder with the use of a pipe. Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that help individuals who have a high degree of anxiety.

I obtained my masters in applied behavioral analysis and started off working with people with disabilities. I then found my love for counseling when I worked with juveniles who had mental health and substance use issues. I then decided to go back for my mental health therapy license after that and working in a forensic treatment center. I went on to obtain my therapy credentials and since 2017, I have also been working on my PhD in forensic psychology in which I am currently working on my dissertation.

  • If you or a family member needs addiction treatment, you can find help at Bedrock Recovery Center, a treatment center located in Massachusetts.
  • An individual may have a Xanax dependency if they smoke, snort or inject the drug.
  • Short-term effects of snorting are at least typically minor, but they still have the potential to be painful.
  • At our Atlanta rehab center, we specialize in treating dual-diagnosis disorders.
  • If the user decides to quit at any moment or doesn’t take their usual dose for a few hours, they may begin experiencing withdrawals like restlessness, insomnia, tremors, and rebound anxiety.

How Xanax Affects the Brain and Body

These changes explain the persistent memory problems and personality alterations that remain even after stopping both substances. Cardiovascular damage manifests through weakened heart muscle tissue and rhythm disturbances. The heart, constantly battling to function under dual depressants, gradually loses pumping efficiency. Many develop persistent atrial fibrillation after prolonged Xanax and alcohol use, increasing stroke risk fivefold.

While snorting drugs like opioids can result in a stronger and quicker high, this is not necessarily the case for Xanax. When medical detox takes place, it is common to experience Xanax withdrawal symptoms. These can arise regardless of whether a person is smoking Xanax or snorts Xanax. Benzodiazepine drugs or benzos as they are commonly known are steadily increasing in popularity, as is the number of people seeking treatment for benzodiazepine abuse. Xanax is the most prescribed psychiatric medication in the United States, meaning it is incredibly easy for most people to access it. In fact, it is thought that 70% of teenagers with a Xanax addiction acquire the drug from the medicine cabinet in their house.

However, this burst of euphoria is short-lived and doesn’t last as long as the effects of taking Xanax orally. The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice. Your kindness could be key to helping stop the cycle of drug misuse.

Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Over time, the person may eventually develop a psychological addiction to Xanax, making it nearly impossible for them to control how often and how much of it they use. Someone with a Xanax addiction can take as many as 20 or 30 pills a day. If the user decides to quit at any moment or doesn’t take their usual dose for a few hours, they may begin experiencing withdrawals like restlessness, insomnia, tremors, and rebound anxiety. A Xanax overdose is life-threatening.4 Common symptoms include severe sedation, confusion , lack of coordination, and unconsciousness. In studies, people rank Xanax more likable than other drugs like Valium.3 But some people will use any drug in this class that they can get from a dealer.

Xanax can have dangerous side effects when abused, leading to addiction and other health problems. Xanax is a Schedule IV controlled substance, which means it has a moderate potential for abuse and can lead to dependence. Some people may abuse the medication by crushing the tablets and snorting them. It is important to note that tolerance is not the same as physical dependence, but increased tolerance can lead to dependence and addiction if not addressed by a medical professional. Smoking Xanax could be dangerous because it may encourage people to mix the medication with other substances. Heating it could also change how it works, and the effects on people who smoke benzodiazepines of any kind have not been examined.

Mental Health Therapist

  • We offer many different treatment programs that provide therapeutic education and guidance for each individual to help them safely reintegrate into society.
  • Those who consume Xanax quickly build a tolerance to the effects of the drug, which is one reason it is misused.
  • Preparation involves chopping Xanax tablets up into a fine powdery substance.
  • Despite Xanax being a legal medication that’s prescribed for anxiety, panic disorders, muscle spasms and seizures, it is still possible to overdose on it.
  • Xanax can cause mood changes in severe but rare cases and induce visual, auditory, and sensory hallucinations.
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy teaches practical skills for managing anxious thoughts and breaking negative thought patterns.

Throughout her undergrad, she worked at the local CASA program, supporting volunteers advocating for children who had experienced abuse and neglect. Caty worked for seven years at a community mental health center (CMHC), partnering with children, adults, and families. I am a dedicated and passionate professional with extensive experience in business development Admissions and marketing. With multiple years of experience, I bring a multi-faceted approach and am always seeking new ways to make can you shoot up xanax a difference in the lives of those I work with.

Victims of alprazolam overdose may also experience shallow or slowed breathing to the point where they don’t get enough oxygen to their brain, resulting to possible brain damage and death. Eventually, this constant increase in doses may lead to physical dependence, which is marked by withdrawal symptoms that occur when Xanax use is discontinued. Users with Xanax dependence may continue to take the drug to prevent withdrawals from occurring, which are often uncomfortable and terrifying. It may also be used alongside other medications to treat nausea caused by chemotherapy. Xanax is often referred to as a tranquilizer due to its sedative and calming effects, reduction of anxiety symptoms, and pain relief.

Questions About Treatment?

This is because snorting Xanax causes it to become rapidly absorbed through the mucous membranes in the nasal passages and into the bloodstream and brain. Among those who abuse Xanax, snorting the drug is a common ingestion method. When people snort Xanax, the pill is crushed to create a powder. Smoking Xanax also contributes to the risk of overdose, especially if the quantity used exceeds the dose prescribed by a medical professional.

During a search of Colbert’s home the day after Manzano’s death, authorities discovered the anti-anxiety medication, further strengthening the case. Our science-backed approach boasts 95% of patients reporting no withdrawal symptoms at 7 days. We’ve compiled some of the most frequently asked questions about crushing and snorting Xanax. Allowing you to achieve sobriety slowly (rather than quitting cold turkey) reduces your seizure risks. People may crush and snort Xanax in order to experience a more rapid onset of effects and a more intense high.

Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. In the event of a medical emergency, call a doctor or 911 immediately. This website does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Site.

The suicide risk among those dependent on benzos alcohol exceeds that of most other substance combinations. Xanax and alcohol rank among the deadliest substance combinations, yet remain frequently mixed. The consequences range from immediate life-threatening emergencies to long-term health deterioration. Understanding these risks could save your life or the life of someone you care about. We have years of experience treating prescription medication abuse like addiction to benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Valium (diazepam), and Klonopin (clonazepam). Xanax is a benzodiazepine that is a very effective treatment for specific mental health problems, but it is also routinely misused to get highs that are more potent.

Once you have detoxed, the best and safest option to get off of and stay off benzodiazepines is by the use of one of the many treatment programs we offer at Garden State. We offer many different treatment programs that provide therapeutic education and guidance for each individual to help them safely reintegrate into society. With the help of our team of therapists, we offer one on one, group therapy, as well as many other specialized options to fit each person’s needs. Benzodiazepine treatment requires a multi-layered approach for maximum success. We want to make sure you have the tools you need to avoid relapse in the real world. Having all of that substance rushing through you and to your brain at one time dangerously increases depression of the central nervous system, slowing the heart rate and breathing.

With Xanax, most tablets rapidly release into the bloodstream in the same amount of time that it would take regardless of whether an individual orally ingests or snorts them. When an extended-release tablet is crushed and snorted, the high might be rather fast, but the peak of its intensity seems to be the same regardless of whether it is snorted or swallowed. Extended-release Xanax has a coating that contains the chemicals that create the rapid release, and crushing it removes the extended-release mechanism. This makes the effects come all at once, not over an extended period of time. He specializes in both Addictions and Trauma, he has worked first as a therapist then as the clinical supervisor to both the Juvenile and Adult Drug Court programs in Brevard County. Aurelio has been instrumental in developing substance abuse treatment programs directly tailored to help those that also suffer from complex trauma due to their addiction.

Megan says “I am very passionate about therapy, especially about supporting my clients in exploring their strengths and identity. Her dream is to own acres of land so she can care for vulnerable animals, especially old dogs, cats, and horses. Detoxing from benzos such as Xanax without medical supervision and support can increase the risk of potentially lethal complications such as seizures.

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