What does Xanax treatment involve, and is it the same recovery process as other addictive benzodiazepines? When considering treatment for Xanax addiction, it’s important to understand that the treatment process involves more than alleviating withdrawal symptoms and stopping cravings. Xanax addiction treatment is a multidimensional process involving psychological and physiological connections.

Xanax Detox and Addiction Treatment

Addiction treatment can genuinely begin when a person admits they are powerless over a substance and seeks help. Detoxification from the drug, preferably medical detox, kicks off the recovery process. Detoxification is the stage in which the body gradually withdraws from the drug, detoxing from it while experiencing intense and often severe symptoms. People can detox from Xanax at a medical facility, called medical detox, or at a treatment center. Medical detox is an opportunity for the body to physically adjust to being free from substances, while treatment centers allow a client the chance to transform their mind, body, and spirit. Spending time at an addiction treatment center will enable people to reconstruct their lives and find foundational coping skills. These skills help prevent relapse and center the clients’ lives around healthy relationships.

At Boardwalk Recovery Center, we deliver comprehensive treatment with results that match the effort put in by our clients. A successful Xanax addiction treatment plan targets both the physical compulsions and mental conditions caused by substance addiction and withdrawal. To begin healing, clients must first face the physical side effects of early sobriety. This means enduring withdrawal symptoms, which are safer and more supportive in a healthcare setting.

Medication-Assisted Treatment

A clinical staff prescribes medicine to alleviate serious withdrawal symptoms and offers 24/7 support. Typically treatment centers’ approach to prescribing medication to clients in withdrawal involves anticonvulsant and anti-anxiety drugs. As Xanax is classified as a benzodiazepine, it is no surprise that the academic journal, American Family Physician, states that benzodiazepines are “effective in the treatment of withdrawal symptoms.” This may seem like a slippery slope, but physicians at substance use disorder (SUD) treatment centers are experts in the addiction field and are acutely aware of the potential for dependence.

Attempting a do-it-yourself detox can be unsafe. Having a professional consider your medical history and outline the best approach to treatment is the safest way to detox. Literature from the Journal of the Oklahoma State Medical Association argues detoxification at a facility “far outweighs the remote chance of a successful DIY detoxification” because of the increased risk of relapse and seizures.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

While the body begins to heal during the detox process, it is only the beginning. Using Xanax leaves behind toxic effects on the body and mind that become more noticeable during sobriety. The Journal of Clinical and Consulting Psychology supports the need for mental healing after a physical detox, stating that “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has shown considerable effectiveness in helping clients taper off benzodiazepine use.”

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of therapy that involves a therapist assisting a client in identifying specific patterns and personal histories that have led to maladaptive behaviors like using substances that led to a substance use disorder (SUD). In CBT, clients with a particular substance use disorder uncover their deepest feelings and discover what drove them to turn to drugs as a coping mechanism. The therapist does not simply leave the client with these newly revealed wounds. Instead, they help them to achieve a better understanding of their SUD’s root cause and develop a plan of action. The therapist will work with the clients, building on the discovered maladaptive behaviors to develop healthy coping skills and relapse prevention strategies.

The most important coping skill for those recovering from an addiction to Xanax is to find a healthy behavior to combat any compulsion to use.

Another advantage of receiving CBT treatment in an addiction treatment facility is that it may reveal the presence of a co-occurring mental health disorder. Co-occurring disorders are very common, as substance use disorders and mental health disorders are closely linked. The international medical journal Addictive Behaviors published a study in which “researchers examined the effectiveness of CBT in treating those who presented with both post-traumatic stress disorder and a substance abuse disorder.” While the study had some flaws, the research team is optimistic about implementing CBT in addiction treatment facilities. Additionally, the findings supported CBT as a treatment for co-occurring disorders. Another study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found, when used alongside a clinical detox, “CBT is effective in reducing benzodiazepine use over a three-month period.”

Additional Behavioral Therapies

While these findings suggest CBT is the go-to treatment for recovery from Xanax addiction, every client is different, and there are other effective behavioral therapies for benzodiazepines. Alternative therapies may include:

Self-management training
Cue Exposure
Individual counseling
Marital or family counseling
Psycho education
Support groups
12-Step Programs

When it comes to Xanax addiction treatment, let Boardwalk Recovery Center take the lead and put you on a path to holistic healing. You’ll receive services tailored to your individual needs and help you begin the process of recovery. On your journey with us, you will resolve much more than an addiction.

Additional Sources