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General Discussion / What Are Xanax Bars?

« on: February 10, 2021, 10:19:29 AM »

Xanax “bars” are 2 mg rectangular tablets of alprazolam, a benzodiazepine drug. When marketed under the Xanax brand name, these tablets are white. There are many generic 2 mg alprazolam pills that come in other colors, such as green or yellow. Though not branded as Xanax, these are also referred to as xanny bars.

Alprazolam (Xanax) is a sedative-hypnotic drug that depresses the central nervous system (CNS) to help a person relax. Some people use Xanax to self-medicate, taking pills that were not prescribed to them or taking more than recommended by their doctor. Others simply enjoy the calming sensation that Xanax produces.

The 2 mg dosage of Xanax bars is the highest dose offered in a single immediate release tablet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cautions that taking more than 4 mg of Xanax per day (two Xanax bars) can lead to “severe emotional and physical dependence.”

The Dangers Of a Xanax Bar

As with many prescription drugs, side effects may occur even with the recommended use of Xanax. If the drug is used in excess of prescription guidelines, side effects are more likely, and they can be worsened by uncontrolled Xanax use.


Side effects of abusing Xanax bars may include:

sleepwalking
memory loss
slurred speech
lack of coordination and balance
fatigue
depression
changes in appetite and weight
change in sex drive
dry mouth
constipation
nausea
mood swings
seizures
The most common way to abuse Xanax bars is orally or sublingually, by letting the pill dissolve underneath the tongue. Through these methods, the greatest amount of Xanax gets into a person’s system. Some people abuse Xanax by snorting (insufflation) and injection, though these methods are less common because they are less effective.

For Xanax bars to be snorted, they must first be crushed into a powder. When inhaled into the nose, Xanax irritates the nasal tissue and can cause nosebleeds. Over time, snorting Xanax can wear a hole through the nasal septum (wall between the nostrils).

Injection is not a popular mode of intake as Xanax bars are not water soluble (they do not dissolve in water). It is possible to dissolve them with propylene glycol, but this may be painful when injected. Injection drug use can also cause bacterial skin infections and spread diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C.

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General Discussion / The Power of Hope in Mental Health Treatment

« on: February 09, 2021, 06:37:21 AM »

For many, the diagnosis of a mental health condition has been the end of dreams, the end of a future, the end of hope.

Historically, those with more-serious mental health conditions were relegated to a lifetime in asylums or other psychiatric facilities. Even when they lived in the community, they were siloed in communal living situations and daily treatment programs. They were told they could never live independently, work, have a family. The mental health field had no hopes of recovery for this population. Perpetual illness was the bleak expectation, and this lack of hope transferred to those we served.

Today, new philosophies focus on strengths and abilities, rather than on weaknesses and disabilities. And new medications enable people to carry out their dreams, with minimal interference from symptoms.  We recognize the importance of work and social factors in recovery. And we embrace the contributions of peers—people whose similar mental health conditions help them relate to and engage others through shared experience. People who are diagnosed with mental health conditions can live fulfilling and productive lives and become valued and contributing members of society Mental Health Hope.

What has yet to change is the enduring stigma attached to mental health conditions. But progressive practitioners are changing the conversation and looking at mental health as a presence of wellness rather than an absence of illness. It’s very much the “glass half empty or half full” paradigm. As part of its core values, PEOPLe, Inc., a local peer-run organization, says that recovery from mental health issues and trauma is not merely possible, but is “the expectation.”  And yet the stigma persists and is often a deterrent to seeking help.

Research shows that the sooner treatment and intervention begin, the better the prognosis for recovery, community participation and positive socioeconomic outcomes. If you were showing signs of a serious physical health condition, you probably wouldn’t wait until you were severely ill before you sought medical intervention.   And yet, with mental health, people often don’t seek help until they’ve threatened or attempted suicide; alienated their families, employers and friends; or are threatened with expulsion from school. We’re witnessing epic rates of suicide, homelessness, substance use and involvement in the criminal justice system.

In a field where a diagnosis has often resulted in blame, and a loss of rights, dignity and hope, it’s no wonder that many people avoid seeking treatment until the situation reaches a crisis level. Denial is prevalent, and understandably so. Why would anyone seek help for a condition for which there is ostensibly no hope, no chance of recovery? But there is hope, and there is recovery.

Recovery involves more than just a reduction of symptoms, and although symptoms may remain or recur, people can learn to live with them. Treatment programs must view recovery as a highly individualized process, occurring with the guidance of a practitioner who believes in and stands by the person and imparts hope from the very first encounter.

Unfortunately, people are often unaware of mental health resources in their community until they need them. In such a time of crisis, how do you differentiate between a program that believes in recovery and one that’s mired in the old ways of thinking?

Mental health programs that embrace hope and recovery are evident upon the first encounter. Is the space clean, appealing and welcoming? Does everyone there treat you kindly and respectfully? Are you a true partner in the treatment and recovery process? Are the goals you set important to you, and do they reflect your hopes and dreams for your future?  Are you offered an informed choice of treatment options? Is your relationship with your practitioner based on trust? Are people ever discharged, or do they languish endlessly in treatment? Is your success measured in terms of outcomes important to you rather than to the program?

There are many new service models and programs in the mental health field today that embrace these values.  There are peer-run programs that offer crisis and hospital diversion, and programs for young adults experiencing a first episode of psychosis.  The Personalized Recovery Oriented Services (PROS) program was based on the principles of recovery and rehabilitation and offers vocational services along with an array of other services.

Regardless of which treatment program or practitioner you choose, you have as much right to interview as to be interviewed. You are the consumer of services, and the treatment should be centered around you and your distinct needs and wishes.

It all starts with hope. Hope drives recovery, just as it drives life.