Alprazolam (XANAX) Use Among Southern Youth: Beliefs and Social Norms Concerning Dangerous Rides on "Handlebars"

• NCJ Number: 221931
• Journal: Journal of Drug Education Volume: 37 Issue: 4 Dated: 2007 Pages: 417-428
• Author(s): Ronald J. Peters Jr.; Angela F. Meshack; Steven H. Kelder; Patrick Webb; Dexter Smith; Kevin Garner
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This pilot study used a qualitative approach in investigating relevant beliefs, norms, and perceived addiction associated with alprazolam (XANAX) initiation among 46 youth who were participating in an inpatient drug treatment program during the spring of 2004.

Abstract

Alprazolam has been widely prescribed to treat anxiety and panic disorder and falls within the class of drugs known as benzodiazepines or central nervous system depressants. Side effects from the use of alprazolam include impaired psychomotor performance, impaired memory, ataxia, anterograde amnesia, paradoxical excitement, hypomania, and birth defects. Overwhelmingly, participants in this study stated that addiction to alprazolam occurred as early as initial consumption and that their second alprazolam event occurred during the same or next day. Youth identified aggressive behavior, extreme composure, memory loss, and excessive need for the drug as indicators of alprazolam addiction. These findings suggest that adolescents believe that addiction to alprazolam is almost immediate; thus, it is important for researchers to understand the extent to which addiction is self-identified. The majority of the youth interviewed also stated that alprazolam is popular because of its euphoric effect, self-medicating properties, peer pressure, and relatively inexpensive cost. They also believed that if a user wanted to stop, it would be difficult because of the widespread use in their communities and peer and family pressure involved with its use. Adverse effects of alprazolam were overshadowed by its use as an inexpensive form of stress relief in the course of coping with various demands. Of 103 inpatient drug treatment clients, 46 self-identified as current alprazolam users and agreed to participate in the study. Sixty-seven percent were male; 46 percent were African-American; 41 percent were Hispanic; and 13 percent were White. They ranged in age from 15 to 18 years. Four focus groups were used to obtain participants' reports of their experiences with using alprazolam. 2 tables and 11 references