Benzo Addiction Health Risks

Xanax has become the new high among high school and college age individuals. Referred to as zanies, planks or bars, the feeling achieved from abusing the drug is similar to that of being intoxicated. Many argue that it has become one of those over prescribed medications that an overwhelming number of individuals have in their medicine cabinet. However, advocates argue that the drug is safe.

The truth is that while taking Xanax, a benzodiazepine, for the recommended time and for the appropriate reasons does not pose significant health risks; abuse and addiction of the drug can have potentially deadly side effects. Studies report that an addiction that goes without treatment in most cases results in death, overdose and illness.

Acute Health Risks

Xanax sedates the individual, becoming fully active in 10 to 15 minutes, to the point that they sometimes literally pass out and fall over. The effects of the drug may cause certain health conditions to emerge such as irritability, anxiety, mood swings, sleep disturbances and depression. Some individuals experience the inability to think clearly and slow motor skills and poor coordination, making it dangerous to operate machinery or drive.

Chronic Health Risks

Taking the drug for long periods of time can cause the drug to buildup in your system and create additional health problems. The problems that may have occurred by severe abuse or addiction may progress to continual health conce
s, especially if the addiction is not addressed. Liver and kidney failure are the more common complications from large amounts of the drug in the system that is not processed. Additional chronic issues include cardiac and respiratory problems.

Risk of Death

As Xanax abuse or addiction progresses from acute to chronic abuse, the individual may experience significant health complications that could result in death. When a tolerance develops from taking the drug for a long period of time, the individual will have to increase the amount they take to achieve the same results. Increasing the amount taken also increases the risk for drug overdose.

Another contributing factor to overdose is that the potential for memory loss is so strong that some individuals forget they have taken the drug and may take more, which could result in overdose. Still yet is the fact that the body metabolizes the drug quickly. When the benzo is used recreationally, there is the desire to take more of the drug when the effects wear off. Taking too much Xanax in a short period of time can be lethal.

Mixing the benzo with alcohol is yet another example of increasing the risk of death. The reason it is especially dangerous for Xanax users to mix the drug with alcohol is because of the fact that the two share the same affect. When it is taken with alcohol the intoxication affects are magnified and can be fatal.