
Injection is one of the more high-risk ways to use Xanax. Like smoking, snorting Xanax involves crushing the pill, an action that always increases the risk of negative side effects. This is because breaking down the physical composition of the drug and inhaling it provides a quicker path to feel the effects, which may also make it a more intense high. Snorting is a popular method of abusing prescription pills. Here are the most serious risks associated with each consumption method. We’re focusing on the risks of smoking Xanax here, but that doesn’t mean other methods of misuse don’t also come with their own dangerous effects. This can cause severe respiratory illness, cancers and other serious health conditions that can affect you for the rest of your life. Additionally, smoking any substance involves inhaling the smoke into your lungs.

Xanax is not designed to be heated, so smoking it may put users at additional risk when done repeatedly. Many people don’t realize that applying high heat to any chemical can permanently change its structure. But this presents new dangers - street-manufactured pills like benzos and opioids often are cut or mixed with other, cheaper substances that may be more dangerous when consumed. Many people who get addicted to pills will turn to the street to purchase them once they can no longer get access to them as prescribed. Eventually, this can lead to addiction and make it very difficult to stop using and stay clean. When it’s misused as a means of feeling the effects faster or stronger, the risk of becoming dependent on the feelings that smoking Xanax provides increases. Increased Risk of AddictionĪ prescribed Xanax dose is calculated to have a lower (non-zero) risk of leading to addiction when used responsibly. Additionally, Xanax can have harmful interactions with other substances if you use it to lace something else to smoke, which decreases the barrier for an overdose and other potentially harmful effects. It’s harder to determine how much you’re using when you crush pills and smoke them. As soon as you start manipulating its form, however, the risk starts to increase. That’s why the drug is so widely prescribed for people experiencing anxiety and panic disorders. When taking Xanax as instructed by a doctor, the risk of overdose is virtually nonexistent. Here are some of the dangers you might be exposing yourself to by smoking Xanax. While some people insist that smoking Xanax, either by itself or with another substance, has unique benefits, these are far outweighed by the risks. This is usually intended to speed up the absorption of the drug so that the user feels the effects sooner. The second method is less common, and involves crushing the bar and smoking it by itself, usually wrapped in foil or rolling paper. The intent is usually to add another dimension to the experience of smoking. The “laced” substance tends to be one that’s normally smoked, like cannabis or tobacco.

The first method is to crush the Xanax pill - also called a “bar” - and mix it with another substance. Those who decide to smoke Xanax do it in one of two ways. If you’re not taking a pill orally, how else can you administer it? There are a few other options commonly used by people who abuse drugs:Įach of these are accompanied by their own potential dangers. While many users follow instructions and take the medication orally, others choose to take in different, unregulated ways. Xanax is known for the form in which it’s sold: long white bars. Xanax belongs to a class of benzodiazepines, colloquially known as “benzos.” These drugs are a popular solution for anyone who suffers panic disorders or severe anxiety. In this piece, we’ll confront the reality of smoking Xanax pills and the effects of smoking Xanax, then discuss the potential risks of misusing the drug in this and other forms. You may have wondered, “Can you smoke Xanax?” You can, which means Xanax abuse includes instances of the drug being smoked or otherwise used in a way contrary to instruction. While over an estimated 30 million people use this drug for its on-label benefits, it’s commonly misused. Xanax is the brand name for the anti-anxiety medication alprazolam.
