Cameron Tidd
Xanax Encyclopedia
Xanax
In the 2018 Winter Olympics, a USA figure skater Adam Rippon stated, “I want to throw up. I want to go over to the judges and say, can I just have a Xanax and a quick drink,” (Joseph). Although Rippon stated this with sarcasm, he said it as if it was not a big deal to do so. If Rippon were to do so, the act would be illegal if he was not prescribed. The statement he made is evidence that one of the biggest reasons there is a drug problem in the world. People like Adam Rippon are often role models to other people and when a role model infers that is okay, then other people will likely believe the same thing. In fact, it was found that most youth in the US believed that it was okay to use Xanax (Peters, Jr.).
Definition and Background
Alprazolam, sold under the name of Xanax, belongs to the drug category of benzodiazepines and is intended to treat patients suffering from depression, anxiety, or panic disorder (Evans). Xanax is also known to be taken to treat insomnia, convulsive disorders, and others, as seen in figure 1 (Longo 2). It was made by Upjohn Laboratories in 1981, which now is a division of Pfizer Inc. (Pfizer). Xanax is also among the top 100 most commonly prescribed drugs, which can possibly attend to its abuse (Longo 1). Early versions of Xanax were of the high-potency and a short half-life benzodiazepines (Longo 2). Recently, Pfizer has made multiple versions of Xanax that can have a longer effect, depending on a patient’s needs (Pfizer). Xanax, among other benzodiazepines, are known to be very effective, but when used chronically, are known to be addictive (Longo 3). Xanax is ingested by consuming a pill or by crushing it up and putting it into a drink, but typically it is being abused and mixed with alcohol when it is crushed up (Epele). The side effects from Xanax include sleepiness, dependency, and amplified effects of opioids when mixed, among others (Pfizer). Because Xanax is a high-potency agent, a patient taking it can become dependent on the drug much quicker compared to other benzodiazepines (Longo 5). With the dependency that often comes along with Xanax, there is also often cases of patients having withdrawals, such as seizures or insomnia (Longo 3). Xanax also has a long history of being abused and has contributed to a large number of deaths, mainly due to the mixing of Xanax with alcohol or opioids (Longo 4).
Figure 1: Chart showing the multitude of uses for Xanax and other benzodiazepines (Longo 2).
Historical Context
Xanax was created in 1981 as a high-potency benzodiazepine to distinguish a balance between the different benzodiazepines so that they could cover a variety of conditions. Xanax and other benzodiazepines were made specifically to act quickly so that the patient would feel the effects quickly and also so that the patient did not build a tolerance for the drug so that they could keep taking it (Longo 9). As time has passed, the abuse of Xanax has increased because it is becoming more easily accessible by drug users (Peters, Jr.). Also, the drug has been more commonly socially accepted among southern youth and has become a drug that is intentionally abused for recreational use, most commonly by mixing it with alcohol (Peters, Jr.).
Controversy/Perspectives
The biggest, and practically only, controversy when it comes to Xanax is whether or not the risk outweighs the success of the drug. As of late, Xanax abuse has been becoming an increasingly prevalent topic and a headline in news stories. Because of the addictive nature of the drug and the effect that there is when Xanax is mixed with other drugs or alcohol, Xanax abuse has become a major risk of prescribing it (Longo 4). Studies indicated that between 3-41% of alcoholics had reported that they abused benzodiazepines at some time, often to modulate their intoxication (Longo 7). Xanax and other short acting benzodiazepines are specifically abused more because of the rapidity of their action (Longo 7). The main reasons that addicts want to abuse Xanax is to enhance the effects of opioids, alleviate their withdrawals from alcohol, or to even temper a cocaine high (Longo 7). Because Xanax can be used to satisfy so many different things for addicts, it only gives them even more of a reason to abuse the drug. Xanax is one of the most commonly used benzodiazepines and one of the best to abuse, which is why the drug is so dangerous to prescribe (Glod). Lastly, Xanax has a high street value because of the variety of uses that it has, so people are more eager to not use their own prescriptions and to sell it to drug users (Longo 7). In 2014 in Nashville, an estimated 21,000 Xanax pills were seized from an alleged drug cartel (Hodge). The cartel was believed to have been shipping the pills from California.
Figure 2: Xanax being abused by mixing with additional drugs for added effects (AP).
On the other side of the argument, Xanax is a great drug because it is effective when used properly. Xanax is effective in a wide variety of conditions (Longo 9). It does exactly what is intended to do, which is to relieve symptoms of anxiety, such as restlessness or panic. This drug is almost always preferred over other treatments for many anxiety disorders because the severity and frequency of the anxiety is not always the same, but the drug will always do its job because it acts so quickly (Longo 1). Xanax’s short half-life and fast action also attributes to its success because it makes it harder for the body to build a tolerance for it, so it almost always works how it is intended to (Britannica Academic). The drug’s greatest asset is that they work immediately, it just so happens that it also is the reason they are addictive (Longo 9).
Relation to Politics of Health
According to Simon Williams, pharmaceuticalization at its simplest is the transformation of human conditions, capabilities, and capacities into opportunities for pharmaceutical intervention (Williams 20). Pharmaceutical companies want to have the largest amount of people taking their drugs because it is how they will make more money. The problem with this is that they do not worry about whether a doctor is prescribing a patient a drug like Xanax, when they could be giving them something with less risk. It is easy for patients to get prescribed drugs like Xanax and often are given more than they need. Also, once a patient leaves the doctor’s office, the doctor does not know when or how often the patient is taking drugs. In the case of Xanax, since it has such a high street value, it is not uncommon for someone to sell their extra pills for some extra money (Longo 7). This attributes directly to the issue of people abusing Xanax because it is an easy way for people to get their hands on drugs that they are not prescribed. Because pharmaceutical companies and doctors are not careful enough when supplying drugs like Xanax to patients, they are the cause for the larger issue that is drug abuse.
Works Cited
Longo, Lance P, and Brian Johnson. “Addiction: Part I. Benzodiazepines–Side Effects, Abuse Risk and Alternatives.” American Academy of Family Physicians, 1 Apr. 2000, pp. 1–11.
Evans, R. Lee, and Alex A. Cardoni. “Alprazolam (Xanax®, the Upjohn Company).” Drug Intelligence & Clinical Pharmacy, vol. 15, no. 9, 1981, pp. 633–638.
Glod, Carol A. “Xanax: Pros and Cons.” Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, SLACK Incorporated, 1 June 1992, www.healio.com/psychiatry/journals/jpn/1992-6-30-6/%7B278f30ed-9385-45ce-b266-fbc19e6beb37%7D/xanax-pros-and-cons#divReadThis.
Peters, Ronald J., et al. “Alprazolam (Xanax®) Use among Southern Youth: Beliefs and Social Norms Concerning Dangerous Rides on “Handlebarsâ€.” Journal of Drug Education, vol. 37, no. 4, 2007, pp. 417–428.
“XANAX® (Alprazolam).” XANAX® (Alprazolam) | Pfizer Medical Information – US, www.pfizermedicalinformation.com/en-us/xanax.
“Benzodiazepine.” Britannica Academic, academic.eb.com/levels/collegiate/article/benzodiazepine/474321.
Epele, María E. “Memory, Forgetting, and Economic Crisis:” Medical Anthropology Quarterly, Blackwell Publishing Inc, 16 Mar. 2010, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1548-1387.2010.01083.x/full.
Joseph, Andrew. “Adam Rippon Said He Wanted a Xanax and Drink during Epic Olympics Interview.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 11 Feb. 2018, ftw.usatoday.com/2018/02/adam-rippon-interview-mike-tirico-nbc-xanax-figure-skating-video-winter-olympics-usa.
Sismondo, Sergio, et al. “The Pharmaceutical Studies Reader.” Wiley.com, 11 May 2015, www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1118488830.html.
Press, Associated. “Xanax Is Ruining People’s Lives.” New York Post, New York Post, 9 June 2016, nypost.com/2016/06/09/xanax-is-ruining-peoples-lives/.
Hodge, Billy. “Metro Police Seize 21000 Xanax Pills.” WSMV.com, 16 June 2014, www.wsmv.com/story/25667210/metro-police-seize.
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