Xanax, or alprazolam, is an anti-anxiety drug that is widely prescribed to people who struggle with mental health-related issues. Many people suffer from such severe anxiety disorders that they are required to take the medication on a daily basis. Other people only use Xanax when they are in situation that produces anxiety for them, like a plane or an important event. Alprazolam is also a drug that causes impairment, and people taking it should not be driving or operating machinery.
Xanax is one of the most abused prescription drugs on the market, and many people develop a severe dependency to the drug, whether taken by itself or in combination with other substances. The millions of people who have taken the drug, either abusing it or using it by prescription, has increased the number of people cited for driving under the influence of the drug. In fact, Xanax has actually become the second-most common drug in DUI cases, having surpassed marijuana.
“I have no doubt that people who use Xanax for anxiety get some relief from these drugs. But we should steer away from medicines that require daily use for an extended period of time,” explained Peter Hendricks, a chemical psychologist. His point being that drugs like this can cause a serious dependency and addiction that can become more damaging than the original problem. Many professionals are now recommending finding other ways to deal with mental health problems, if possible, before resorting to medications that have a high potential for abuse.
