Can You Spot Fake Xanax? How Veterans Can Stay Safe

Xanax abuse

Fake Xanax bars are spreading throughout the United States. This medication is meant to soothe the nerves, but counterfeit pressed Xanax bars are actually causing people to fatally overdose time and time again.

If you have ever taken anxiety medications or you are currently struggling with an addiction to drugs, it’s possible that you have encountered fake Xanax. So, here’s what you need to do to protect yourself from the deadly dangers of fake Xanax pills before your luck runs out.

Real vs Fake Xanax: What’s The Difference?

fake Xanax

Xanax bars are long white pills that are etched with the brand name and typically with the number two to indicate the dosage of the medication. Fake Xanax bars are also long white pills that are pressed with the brand’s name as well as the number two. So how can you tell the difference? The truth is that most people aren’t able to visually differentiate between real vs. fake Xanax.

But the biggest difference between real and fake Xanax are the side effects and the ingredients. This is because fake Xanax ingredients often contain a deadly dose of fentanyl. Often, fentanyl-laced Xanax bars don’t look, smell, or taste any different than a real Xanax pill. As a result, people who buy these counterfeit or fake pressed Xanax bars have no idea what they are getting into—this makes taking a less dangerous dosage all but impossible.

Remember, though, that Xanax is still an addictive substance, even when prescribed. This means that even if you use the medication exactly as prescribed, you still are at risk of developing a dependence on it. And if you are in a situation where you cannot legally get Xanax, then you are at real risk for unknowingly taking fake Xanax.

This is a real problem for veterans, since they face an increased risk of addiction. People who are more at risk for drug addiction include those who are trying to deal with untreated mental health symptoms, chronic pain, or people who have been through significant trauma.

Reasons Veterans Take Fake Xanax

For veterans, Xanax might seem like something that could help ease the nightmares, anxiety, public panic attacks, or other troubling symptoms that sometimes occur after military service. And in some cases, that works, and medication can be a part of a veteran’s treatment plan. But when taken without proper mental health and medical supervision, the side effects of real or fake white Xanax bars could include:

  • Increased mental health distress
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Addiction
  • Overdose

For these reasons, medication should not be the only mental health strategy at your disposal. Even if you know how to spot fake Xanax bars, you might not know what else to do to calm your nerves. While it’s true that Xanax can help people with anxiety and panic attacks, this medication isn’t a cure-all—especially not for veterans.

In fact, a recent literature review by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shows that Xanax and its entire class of benzodiazepines is more harmful than helpful for veterans who have PTSD. The VA strongly suggests that veterans stay far away from Xanax, whether real or fake, because this medication is rarely useful in treating PTSD. Instead, Xanax causes more veterans to develop substance use disorders that often spiral out of control when left untreated.

How to Recover from an Addiction to Xanax

veteran addiction counseling

If you suspect that you might be struggling with an addiction to drugs and you worry about the dangers of fake Xanax, becoming an expert on how to tell if a Xanax bar is fake won’t help the root of the problem. The only way to truly protect yourself from fake Xanax and any of the other consequences of addiction is to find specialized treatment right away.

Fortunately, Heroes’ Mile, a recovery center made by and for veterans, offers a safe environment away from fake Xanax, prescription drug abuse, and other life stressors. Through our treatment programs, you will do much more than just learn how to spot fake Xanax bars—rather, you will have the opportunity to replace addiction with healthier coping mechanisms.

Experience the challenges and rewards of our safe detoxification process, followed by treatments such as:

  • One-on-one counseling
  • Group and family sessions
  • Specialized therapies
  • Art therapy
  • Recreational activities

Furthermore, you will learn how to connect your mind, body, and spirit with nutritional planning and job preparedness discussions so that you will feel fully ready to begin your new life after you leave our treatment facility. Here, we’ll help guide you through all of your options so that you no longer have to rely on substance abuse just to get through the day. We want you to take each moment as it comes and enjoy your days once again.

For more information on how to begin your recovery journey, reach out to us at 888-838-6692 or submit a confidential contact form today. Your happiness doesn’t have to be forced or fake—share your goals with us and let us help you reach them at Heroes’ Mile.

 

  1. What is fentanyl used for?
    Fentanyl belongs to the category of synthetic opioids that are mainly meant to be used in situations of extreme chronic pain. But fentanyl is highly addictive and used illegally throughout the United States because it is so cheap to manufacture. In recent years, fentanyl has been detected in doses of heroin, cocaine, and fake Xanax.
  2. What does fentanyl look like?
    In its legal form, fentanyl is usually administered as a shot, dissolvable lozenges, or even as a patch that sticks to skin. On the streets, however, illegally used fentanyl comes in a powdered form that people can mix into virtually anything without it being seen. There is no real way to know if the drugs you buy are laced with fentanyl unless they are tested in a specialized lab setting, which leaves you vulnerable to serious side effects.
  3. What do fake Xanax bars look like?
    One of the biggest dangers with fake Xanax bars is that they look nearly identical to the real prescribed medications. Fake Xanax bars are long, white pills with letters and a number pressed into them. However, fake Xanax contains deadlier substances, such as fentanyl, that lead to unintentional deaths related to overdosing.
  4. What does a Xanax bar look like?
    Prescription Xanax is a small white pill in the shape of a bar. On the bar, there are lines and letters stamped into it, usually spelling Xanax or sometimes including the dosage with a number pressed into the back of the pill.
  5. What does Xanax do?
    Xanax is the name brand of benzodiazepines that doctors prescribe to patients who experience severe anxiety and other mental health crises. Xanax works to spread a feeling of calmness throughout the body’s nervous system. As a result, patients will feel less anxious or panicked in certain situations.

The post Can You Spot Fake Xanax? How Veterans Can Stay Safe appeared first on Heroes’ Mile Veterans Recovery Center.

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Original Author: Heroes’ Mile

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