Many people who abuse Xanax are introduced to the medication through a doctor’s prescription. Others may try it at a party or nightclub by acquiring it from a friend or acquaintance.

Having abused Xanax a few times, some people might attempt to take the drug under different circumstances or at different times. They also might increase the dosage to experience new effects.

A person might not take the drug daily, but a pattern starts to develop during this stage. People either take the drug at a certain time of the day, a specific day of the week or as a reaction to a negative feeling.

This stage begins with tolerance, which involves an increase in frequency or dosage of the drug that the person’s body is able to readily process without experiencing strong effects. Once tolerance is high enough, people may develop dependence. Some people will need a shorter amount of time and a lower dosage to become dependent. The process of becoming addicted to Xanax is different for each person.

Substance Use Disorder

During this stage, attempting to stop taking the drug seems like an unbearable challenge. People often recognize they are dependent on Xanax but cannot stop taking the drug due to the severe withdrawal symptoms, which they can experience if they don’t take the drug. The time varies for each person and withdrawal symptoms vary depending on numerous factors. At this point, drug rehabilitation or medical intervention is the safest method for someone attempting to overcome their addiction.