Xanax has likely helped millions of people to better deal with anxiety, and it is generally safe to use so long as it is taken under doctor’s orders. Alprazolam is a schedule IV drug, and this means there is said to be a relatively low risk of addiction when compared to harder drugs such as opiates or amphetamines.

Regular users can and do become addicted to Xanax. Trouble often starts when the person begins to use this medication for reasons other than for why it was originally prescribed or they use alprazolam without a prescription (this is referred to as recreational use).

There is a temptation to abuse Xanax because this drug produces a number of pleasurable effects such as:

• A feeling of calmness
• Reduced perception of stress
• Improved mood
• Increased confidence
• Euphoric feelings
• Feeling less inhibited
• Relaxation
• A drowsy feeling that some of us find pleasurable

There is a high risk of abuse with Xanax because it produces effects that are similar to drinking alcohol. In fact, some people use it along with alcohol to increase the experience of intoxication.

Nobody sets out to become addicted to Xanax. Using this drug recreationally can seem harmless at first – what could be wrong with popping a pill now and again if it helps you feel a bit more relaxed at the end of a busy day? The risk is it doesn’t take long for an occasional Xanax to ‘take the edge off’ to become a habit, and once this happens, the person is well on the way to a full-blown addiction.