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All persons and situations reflected in these writings are pretty much fictional, based on generalizations over the course of many years of counseling. Any actual events or settings have been changed, including names and other details, to protect client confidentiality.



So whatever IS it about that cute little 'script, Xanax?

8/26/2016

1 Comment

 
She came in as a probation referral. A grown woman with a shoplifting charge: two of them! I asked her, as politely as I could, "umm, aren't you a little old for a teenage ghetto-girl shoplifting charge"? She said, "well, actually, I don't remember it- I was on Xanax®". Whatever. That was one of the goofiest excuses I had ever heard (although I politely rephrased by disbelief). She asked with some degree of amazement, "aren't you the local expert counselor on drugs? You don't know about the stealing amnesia you can get with Xanax?" I had never heard of it before, and I have never stopped hearing about it since. I have asked dozens of Xanax eaters about it, and apparently it is rather common knowledge. You eat a bar (or two!) of Xanax; that's 2mg per bar, go to Wal-Mart, come home and you have plastic table fruit in your purse. Or purple lipstick. Or a couple of hair dyes. Stupid amnesia from your (or someone else's) script. Not the high I would consider being desirable.
 
Many years ago, my doctor prescribed the new drug Xanax for me. He gave me a seven day sample. Ha! Samples of Xanax! Can you imagine? Anyway, it was a .25 mg. dose (1/4 of a mg.). It did its job. I was a little heavier then, and even so, the evening med (now please imagine a cool, smooth DJ voice saying this) turned me into a cool, late night...... jazz...... DJ. A couple of days later, I figured what to do about my bad stressful situation and discontinued. Now imagine not a 240 lb man, but a woman, 100 lbs. less who takes two bars, that is, SIXTEEN TIMES my dose. I know many people who are prescribed one mg., three times a day. Oh, that's only TWELVE times my dose. And, this is fairly common. Massively sedated, appearing to be very drunk people are all over the place. They are pitied by most people who know them, including, unfortunately, their children. Did I mention the frequency of alcohol consumption with Xanax?
 
Now for the least enjoyable part of this massively stupid prescription game: withdrawal. Casually ask any "partier" who likes Xanax, what it's like to run out. While you’re at it, ask the same to a friend who has a doctor who routinely prescribes her/him a typical large dose for some ailment. The withdrawal can be, and usually is, unbearably painful. And for a good number of days. It's absolutely no joke. People get pretty desperate for a dose when they run out.
 
Hey, as a side note: do you know what one potential reaction is for Xanax? RAGE! So much for the prescription anxiety-assistance for the heavily medicated. Rage. Hey doctors, did you know that? No? Why on earth not?
 
So, the bottom line is this: a small dose of Xanax can be a gift for those who need it, and there are plenty who do. Large, massively sedating doses are sad. Getting a 'script from a doc or off the streets makes no difference. This is a stupid drug to use for partying, and a really sad drug to use in high doses, prescribed from either greedy or unknowledgeable doctors. Come on, y'all: work at pulling your shit together.
 
Final side note: the "shoplifting Mama" is doing magnificently. Children are growing up and succeeding at their endeavors, and so is she. It was a genuine pleasure seeing her recently. No more 'scripts, and a lot of personal growth. She looked wonderful.



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1 Comment
K. Crawford
10/8/2016 07:32:29 pm

Ha! When I was younger I tried to take half a bar to get high and all I did was pass out till morning. Best sleep I ever had! I guess it's a darn good thing I didn't take a whole bar!

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    All persons and situations reflected in these writings are pretty much fictional, based on generalizations over the course of many years of counseling. Any actual events or settings have been changed, including names and other details, to protect client confidentiality.

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