Rehab Centers for Xanax Addiction

Xanax (alprazolam) is a commonly prescribed benzodiazepine, a class of drugs that enhances the effects of the brain’s gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitters, leading to calming and sedative effects. It is often used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. However, its ability to provide rapid relief can also make users susceptible to abuse and addiction.

Benzodiazepine addiction poses serious risks, as it can result in severe withdrawal symptoms and a heightened risk of overdose. Additionally, addiction can lead to significant psychological and social consequences, along with long-term health issues.

Individuals seeking to overcome Xanax addiction should pursue professional treatment to minimize the risk of dangerous withdrawal effects and improve their chances of successful recovery without relapse.

RehabNet is a free and confidential resource for finding Xanax rehabilitation and other treatment centers. Continue reading to learn more about treatment for Xanax addiction and discover how to start the process of getting help through rehab.

Someone may need a Xanax rehab program if they have developed a strong physical and psychological dependence on Xanax. Physical dependence happens when the body gets used to the presence of a drug, developing tolerance (needing more of the drug to get the same effect) and withdrawal symptoms (negative effects when someone stops using the drug for too long).

Psychological dependence describes what happens when someone starts depending on the drug to regulate their emotions or to feel okay. They may feel like they need Xanax to get through everyday activities.

This psychological and physical dependence can quickly transition into addiction, where someone is no longer in control of their use of Xanax, continuing to use it even if it harms them, and even if they want to stop.

Signs that someone may need professional rehab include:

• Taking higher doses than prescribed
• Trouble reducing or stopping use
• Having withdrawal symptoms between doses
• Needing more Xanax to get the same effects
• Trouble keeping up with responsibilities
• Strained relationships because of use
• Engaging in illegal acts like doctor shopping or buying Xanax illegally
• Engaging in risky acts like driving while under the influence of Xanax
• Being unable to stop thinking about the drug
• Using Xanax for recreational or other purposes (e.g., to avoid uncomfortable emotions)
• Continuing to use despite harm to health, finances, relationships, etc.

Some forms of benzodiazepine dependence treatment can be undergone while an individual continues to live at home and carry out their everyday responsibilities. However, for cases of moderate to severe addiction, repeated relapse, and situations where someone’s environment makes it hard to recover, inpatient prescription drug rehab may be necessary.

Whether you’re looking for outpatient or inpatient programs, it’s important to seek early intervention when someone is showing signs of Xanax addiction. Doing so often makes recovery easier, lowers the risk of overdose, and increases the chance of lifelong sobriety.

The Xanax rehab process can vary depending on the program and the patient’s needs, but most structured benzodiazepine rehab programs follow similar core steps.

The following is a typical outline of what happens in drug rehab:

1. Intake and assessment: A team of licensed professionals assesses the individual’s substance use history and current use, health, and personal needs.
2. Individual treatment plan: Based on the assessment, clinicians create a treatment plan to address any physical and psychological factors that need to be taken into account, like multiple drug use or co-occurring mental health issues.
3. Detoxification: Next, the patient goes through detox under careful medical care. This allows for the careful management of withdrawal symptoms while the body removes Xanax from its system.
4. Therapy and recovery planning: Prescription drug treatment often also involves individual therapy, group therapy, and a comprehensive plan for maintaining sobriety after rehab.

Medical professionals are essential to a successful rehab program, managing patients going through detox (which can be life-threatening), easing withdrawal symptoms to help prevent relapse, and carefully monitoring the patient’s health and progress throughout their treatment.

Among commonly used drugs, Xanax has some of the most intense and potentially dangerous withdrawal processes, with roughly 40% of people experiencing severe symptoms during withdrawal. Unlike drugs like opioids and stimulants, Xanax withdrawal can even be life-threatening. This is why medically supervised Xanax detox is necessary for quitting Xanax safely.

Mild to moderate symptoms of Xanax benzodiazepine withdrawal include:

• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Insomnia
• Restlessness
• Sweating
• Memory loss
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Shaking
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Muscle stiffness
• Muscle pain
• Panic attacks
• Anxiety

Severe withdrawal symptoms include:

• Seizures
• Psychosis
• Hallucinations
• Irregular heartbeat
• Suicidal thoughts or actions
• Extreme confusion
• High blood pressure

During medical detox for Xanax, clinicians will treat patients with certain medications to ease their withdrawal symptoms.

Xanax detox medications include:

• Long-acting benzodiazepines: Medications like Diazepam, Clonazepam, or Chlordiazepoxide are used to ease withdrawal symptoms by letting the patient wean off benzodiazepines.
• Anticonvulsants: Drugs like Gabapentin, Carbamazepine, and Valproate help prevent seizures.
• Antidepressants: Fluoxetine (Prozac), Sertraline (Zoloft), Escitalopram (Lexapro), or other antidepressants may be prescribed to help regulate the patient’s anxiety and general mood.
• Beta Blockers: Propranolol or Atenolol can help regulate heart rate, tremors, and other physical symptoms.
• Sleep Aids: Patients suffering from insomnia and restlessness may be given Trazodone, Hydroxyzine, or the natural supplement Melatonin.

It’s incredibly dangerous to quit Xanax cold turkey, especially if you’ve been on the drug for a while or have been taking a higher dose. Xanax has some of the most severe and deadly withdrawal symptoms of any common drug.

Xanax addiction treatment methods range from individual therapy to support groups, and all may play an important role in someone’s recovery journey. Common methods include the following:

Matrix Model therapy is a structured behavioral treatment program created for stimulant addiction, but it has since proven successful for other substance use disorders like benzodiazepine addiction.

It provides a combination of intensive therapy, education on how addiction works, and individualized relapse prevention strategies and plans to help individuals through their recovery and sobriety post-rehab.

Behavioral therapy may involve Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and/or Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: CBT for addiction helps individuals identify thought patterns that may have contributed to their addiction or that may put them at risk of relapse. They learn how to notice and change those unhelpful patterns to help break the cycle of addiction.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy: DBT helps with emotional regulation and tolerating distress, which is essential for long-term sobriety outside of a controlled environment.

Addiction counseling can take the form of both individual and group therapy. Individual therapy may focus more on how a patient’s struggles, such as co-occurring mental health issues, trauma, and relational issues, may contribute to their Xanax addiction.

Group therapy provides individuals with accountability, motivation, emotional support, and a sense of community that can transcend their time in rehab for continued support after recovery.

Support groups for recovery are often a critical part of long-term sobriety after rehab. Individuals can join 12-step programs such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and/or non-12-step alternatives like SMART Recovery (Self-Management and Recovery Training) for peer support and accountability.

How long drug rehab lasts for Xanax addiction depends on several factors.

Xanax rehab duration factors include:

• How severe someone’s addiction is.
• Whether the individual has co-occurring mental health problems.
• How quickly the individual makes progress during treatment.

The benzodiazepine recovery timeline looks different for different drugs, with Xanax addiction recovery tending to fall on the far end.

Rehab programs often last somewhere between 30 and 90 days:

• 30-day Programs: These short-term, intensive programs are helpful for individuals with mild to moderate addiction and few or no co-occurring issues.
• 60-day Programs: 60-day programs may be helpful for people with moderate to severe Xanax addiction, allowing more time for gradual detox, working on mental health issues, and healthy habit setting.
• 90-day Programs: These programs are best for those with long-term or severe Xanax addiction, providing long-term behavioral therapy, help rebuilding life skills and relationships, and time to heal from mental health and trauma issues.

Long-term care is often necessary for Xanax addiction. As a short-acting benzodiazepine, Xanax withdrawal tends to hit fast and hard, causing serious symptoms that can sometimes last for months and may even be deadly. It’s very easy to give in to the intense cravings and severe withdrawal side effects and relapse without careful medical supervision and structured support.

Getting through rehab is always a step worthy of celebration, but life after Xanax rehab presents many challenges as well. Post-recovery, many people find themselves facing potential stressors that may have led them to start misusing Xanax in the first place. Thankfully, aftercare programs are available to help those in recovery stay sober and thrive.

Going from the high-support structured environment of an inpatient rehab center back into everyday life can be jarring. This sudden transition may increase the risk of relapse for people who’ve recently recovered from Xanax addiction.

Sober living homes provide a transition between inpatient programs and fully independent living, including peer support and accountability, as residents get more time to practice new healthy habits and rebuild their lives.

For those who can’t access a sober living home or don’t want that kind of support, there are other forms of continuing care for addiction.

Common forms of aftercare for Xanax addiction include:

• Outpatient therapy: Outpatient therapy happens while someone is living at home. It can involve various types of counseling and therapy, including individual counseling to address ongoing problems and group therapy for added accountability and peer support.
• Follow-up care: Some rehab programs provide follow-up care after a patient is discharged, which often includes appointments with a therapist or addiction specialist to make sure the individual is staying on track. This care may be frequent at first, then taper to monthly or quarterly meetings.
• Support groups: Programs like Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, and LifeRing offer peer support outside of rehab to keep those recovering from addiction connected and accountable.
• Medication management: Some individuals still have co-occurring anxiety or other mental health issues that require medication. Doctors will often prescribe a non-addictive medication to help support someone’s mental health while helping them stay off of addictive benzodiazepines.

Those who’ve recently recovered from Xanax addiction have a high risk of relapse, but long-term recovery support is a powerful way to help individuals stay sober during and long after rehab.

Xanax relapse prevention is critical to living free from addiction. While avoiding addiction relapse can be difficult with Xanax, it’s very possible, especially with the right post-recovery plan, support systems, and deep personal knowledge of what might trigger a relapse.

Common relapse triggers include:

• Returning to places where Xanax abuse occurred
• Being around people who still abuse drugs
• Stress
• Having no life structure
• Lack of basic needs (sleep, food, etc.)
• Untreated anxiety or panic disorders
• Negative emotions
• Overconfidence
• Boredom or feeling purposeless
• Skipping therapy or support group meetings
• Major life changes
• Social isolation
• Depression or low self-esteem
• Dates associated with Xanax use or negative experiences

One of the most effective ways to manage triggers is to know what they are and have a thorough relapse prevention plan that outlines how you’ll handle triggers when they come up.

Healthy coping mechanisms include:

• Journaling (including journaling about triggers)
• Healthy eating
• Exercise
• Deep breathing
• Mindfulness exercises
• Meditation
• Calling a supportive friend or family member
• Creative activities
• Participating in a hobby

It’s important to remember that even after rehab, support for recovering addicts largely comes from other people. It’s nearly impossible to remain sober and healthy without a support network. Continuing therapy, participating in support groups, and cultivating social support from family and friends are critical parts of drug rehab aftercare.

Rehabilitation programs can cost anywhere from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands, depending on several factors.

Factors that influence Xanax rehab cost include:

• Inpatient vs. outpatient care (inpatient is generally more expensive)
• Private vs. public (private is generally more expensive)
• Length of the program
• Program location
• Amenities available
• Level of medical supervision required

Despite the seemingly daunting cost, there are many ways to lower drug rehab expenses, including insurance coverage. Many rehab facilities take insurance for addiction treatment, and most U.S. insurance plans are required to provide at least partial coverage for addiction treatment.

Verify coverage for addiction treatment with your insurance company and discuss what insurance plans a rehab center takes to make sure you’re not surprised by the final cost.

Even if you don’t have insurance or thousands of dollars for rehab, there are accessible paths to Xanax addiction recovery programs. Various organizations provide affordable rehab options that, in some cases, may even be free. That said, these rehab centers often have longer wait times.

Many grants and donations go toward funding low-cost or no-cost rehab programs throughout the United States. There are also a few ways individuals may be able to lower the cost of rehab, other than through insurance.

Potential avenues for rehab financial assistance include:

• Sliding scale prices: Many rehab centers will charge based on income, adjusting their cost for those who can provide proof of low income.
• Payment plans: Many rehab centers also offer payment plans to help reduce the financial burden of rehab.
• Partial scholarships: Some programs also offer scholarships, usually based on need and funded by charities and the treatment center.
• Employer Assistance Programs (EAPs): Sometimes employers will confidentially provide short-term counseling or rehab referrals to employees through EAPs, covering initial treatment costs.
• Medical loans: You may also be able to get medical loans to help pay for rehab through a healthcare financing company or a personal lender.

Rehab can seem prohibitively expensive for many people struggling with Xanax addiction, but getting structured medical care can potentially save a life. If you have questions about affording rehab, contact the RehabNet helpline and talk to a dedicated treatment specialist.

No, rehab does not cure Xanax addiction. Addiction is considered a chronic condition, which means it has long-term effects and, especially in the case of Xanax addiction, often involves periods of relapse and recovery.

That said, rehab is an essential tool for long-term recovery, providing support during the dangerous detox period, therapy, and a plan for Xanax addiction management. Many people have achieved long-term addiction recovery with continued treatment and support long after rehab.

There are several reasons why someone should go to rehab for Xanax addiction. Xanax is an incredibly addictive drug that can have dangerous—even deadly—withdrawal symptoms. Medical supervision via a structured recovery program is the most effective and safe way to recover from Xanax addiction.

The benefits of drug rehab include:

• Safe detox and withdrawal management
• Professional medical and psychological support
• Personalized treatment plans for long-term success
• Reduced risk of relapse through structured care
• Other addiction treatment advantages

Don’t wait to find Xanax rehab for yourself or a loved one struggling with addiction. It’s always best to get help for addiction as soon as possible to avoid potential long-term side effects, increase the chances of successful recovery, and, potentially, to save a life.

Professional prescription drug treatment programs improve recovery outcomes by providing a highly supportive environment full of medical professionals who can monitor the dangerous detox process and provide proven therapy methods that get to the root of someone’s addiction struggles.

RehabNet’s addiction recovery support helpline can assist you in finding the right treatment center confidentially. Contact us today to begin your recovery journey.