Snorting Xanax

The Dangers Of Snorting Xanax

Xanax is one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States, and it is also one of the most commonly abused. While there are many ways to abuse Xanax, one of the most dangerous is crushing the pill and snorting the resulting powder.

What Is Xanax?

Xanax (Alprazolam) is a Benzodiazepine that is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. Benzodiazepines (Benzos) are central nervous system depressants that can reduce anxiety, help with sleep, relieve muscle spasms, and prevent seizures. Xanax is highly addictive and can be dangerous if misused. Xanax’s withdrawal symptoms can be very severe; one symptom is seizures which can be life-threatening. Some users experienced delirium and psychosis when going through withdrawal.

The FDA says that there is risk for dependence, even if the drug is taken short term and at the prescribed dosage. The risk of becoming addicted to Xanax is increased if you have a history of abusing other drugs or alcohol. Users might feel sleepy or dizzy or have slowed motor skills. It’s extremely dangerous to drink alcohol or consume Opioids or other depressants while under the influence of Xanax, as this may cause slow and ineffective breathing, coma, and death. It is even more dangerous to crush and snort Xanax.

Overdosing

Opioids mixed with Benzodiazepines caused 11,537 overdose deaths in 2017. That’s up from 1,135 overdose deaths in 1999. However, prescription rates are still climbing quickly and increased 67% from 8 million in 1996 to 13 million in 2013. In 2016 the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) stated that clinicians should avoid prescribing Benzodiazepines with Opioids “whenever possible,” but that has not stopped people from using Xanax recreationally and mixing it with other substances.

Snorting Xanax

Recreational Xanax use has flooded pop culture, appearing in songs by artists such as Future, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Xan, and Lil Peep who died of an overdose of Xanax in 2017. Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and Heath Ledger also had Xanax in their systems at their time of death. Common street names of the drug are:

• Bars
• Benzos
• Blue Footballs
• Bricks
• Upjohn
• Z-Bars
• Zanbars

Some users choose to crush Xanax pills and inhale them through the nose, because they feel the effects of the drug much faster compared to ingestion. In a study published by the National Institutes of Health, researchers compared groups who took Xanax and a placebo in pill form and as an inhaler.  It was found that the group who inhaled the drug had an increased abuse potential. This is because the abuse liability of a drug is partially determined by its speed of onset. Many users claim that the “high” that they get from snorting Xanax is more powerful.

Those abusing Xanax, might experience sedation, fatigue, amnesia, slurred speech, poor concentration, hypersensitivity, and irritability. However, snorting Xanax into the nasal passage has even more negative effects. Continued use can cause serious damage to the nasal cavity. There are reports of people who crushed and snorted other pills (Hydrocodone and OxyContin) who developed rare immune disorders, nasal fungal infections, and erosion of the inside of the nose. Snorting any powder through the nose can lead to inflammation of the nasal lining, infections in the lungs, severe and frequent sinus infections, and blockage of airways.

The drugs themselves are not the only dangerous part of snorting Xanax. It is common for people to use a rolled-up dollar bill to transfer the crushed drug to their nose, but researchers from New York University identified 3,000 types of bacteria on dollar bills, including types that cause pneumonia, food poisoning, and staph infections.

Addicted To Xanax?

Physical signs that someone is misusing Xanax include:

• Headache
• Nausea/Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Swollen hands or feet
• Tremors
• Fatigue
• Decreased urination
• Coordination difficulties
• Dry mouth
• Stuffy nose
• Increased sweating
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Weight fluctuations
• Blurred vision
• Slurred speech
• Drowsiness
• Heart palpitations
• Tachycardia
• Sluggishness
• Tolerance

Behavioral and psychological signs that you or someone you know is suffering from a Xanax addiction are:

• Inability to reduce dose
• Feeling unable to function without it
• Abusing other drugs and alcohol
• Lack of interest in sex
• Withdrawal symptoms
• Using in dangerous situations
• Personal, financial, and professional problems
• Visiting multiple doctors to obtain prescriptions
• Forging prescriptions
• Stealing or borrowing Xanax
• Taking higher doses than prescribed
• Crushing and snorting pills to increase effects
• Chewing pills to make them work faster
• Increase or decrease in appetite
• Risk-taking behaviors
• Hostility and violence
• Decreased inhibitions
• Memory problems
• Difficulty concentrating
• Disorientation or confusion
• Difficulty forming cohesive thoughts
• Complete amnesia (blacking out)

Get Help Now

It is possible to overcome a Xanax addiction and manage anxiety in a healthy way. A treatment center can help you detox safely and find the right treatment plan. Contact a treatment provider now to find out more about rehab options.