Xanax (alprazolam) is a short-acting benzodiazepine, which means dependence can develop rapidly — sometimes within just a few weeks of regular use. Recognizing the progression is critical.
If any of these resonated, our clinical team can help determine the right level of care. Never stop Xanax abruptly — medical supervision is essential.
Get a Free AssessmentSame-day admissions available. Most insurance accepted. Completely confidential.
Xanax recovery requires careful medical management alongside intensive therapeutic support. Our programs are designed to address both the physical dependence and the underlying anxiety that drove the use.
Our most intensive outpatient level. Full-day programming with clinical assessments, group therapy, individual sessions, holistic activities, and daily lunch. Essential structure during the critical Xanax taper period.
A structured step-down from PHP. Continued group therapy and individual sessions with more flexibility for work, school, or family. Morning, afternoon, or evening tracks available.
Designed for working adults who can’t attend daytime programming. The same evidence-based IOP curriculum, delivered in the evening. Many Xanax users are high-functioning professionals — this track was built for them.
Step-down support for continued recovery momentum. Less intensive than IOP but maintains therapeutic continuity — especially important during the prolonged Xanax post-acute withdrawal period.
Full access to our programming from anywhere. HIPAA-compliant video sessions for groups, individual therapy, and psychiatric consultations. Ideal for clients in the extended post-taper recovery phase.
Safe Xanax discontinuation typically involves switching to a longer-acting benzodiazepine (such as diazepam) for a controlled, gradual taper. Our on-site Nurse Practitioner designs individualized taper schedules that minimize withdrawal severity and seizure risk.
“[Client testimonial about Xanax recovery at Trailhead — I had been on Xanax for six years and was terrified to stop. The NP switched me to a longer-acting benzo and tapered me so gradually I barely noticed. The therapy gave me real tools for my anxiety.]”— [Client Name] • Google Review
“[Client testimonial about the flexible scheduling — I’m a professional who couldn’t take time off work. The evening IOP let me get treatment without anyone at my office knowing. The staff treated my situation with total discretion.]”— [Client Name] • Google Review
“[Family member testimonial — we thought the Xanax was helping her anxiety. It took us a long time to realize the medication had become the problem. Trailhead helped our whole family understand what was happening and how to support her recovery.]”— [Family Member] • Google Review
1. Expert cross-taper protocols. Xanax’s short half-life makes direct tapering difficult. Our NP typically transitions clients to a longer-acting benzodiazepine for a smoother, safer taper with fewer withdrawal spikes.
2. Live at home, heal during the day. Our outpatient model means you sleep in your own bed, maintain family connections, and build recovery skills in the real world from day one.
3. Flexible scheduling across three tracks. Morning, afternoon, or evening sessions — switch daily based on your work, family, or personal commitments. Our Evening Professional Track (6–9 PM) is built specifically for working adults.
4. On-site Nurse Practitioner within 24 hours. Every client meets our NP within a day of admission for medication evaluation, health assessment, and taper protocol initiation.
5. Evidence-based anxiety treatment. DBT skills groups provide the emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and mindfulness foundation that replaces Xanax with genuine coping capacity.
6. Weekly individual therapy with a licensed therapist at every program level. One-on-one sessions address the underlying anxiety, panic disorder, or trauma that led to Xanax dependence.
7. Client-driven therapy choice. CBT, ACT, 12-Step, SMART Recovery — your modality is based on your preferences and clinical needs, not a rigid curriculum.
8. Rapid admission. Multiple weekly admission opportunities. No months-long waitlists — begin programming within 24 to 48 hours of your first call.
9. A family-style environment where staff know every client by name. Shared lunches build fellowship. This isn’t a factory — it’s a family.
10. Holistic & experiential programming including yoga, meditation, breathwork, equine therapy at Blue Sky Farm, and sober recreational activities — natural anxiety management that replaces chemical sedation.
11. Dual state licensing in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts ensures broad regional access and insurance acceptance across both states.
We work with most major insurance providers. Verify your coverage in minutes.
| Provider | Network Status |
|---|---|
| Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield | In-Network |
| Point 32 Health (Harvard Pilgrim) | In-Network |
| Point 32 Health (Tufts) | In-Network |
| Tricare | In-Network |
| Uprise Health | In-Network |
| WellSense (NH Medicaid) | In-Network |
Don’t see your provider? We may still be able to help. Call or submit the form below.
Submit the form below and our admissions team will verify your benefits within minutes.
Your information is secure and confidential. We will never share your data.
Once you make it, we handle everything else. Admissions, insurance, scheduling — all of it.
If you are reading this, you are probably worried about someone you love. That worry is a sign of something good — it means you haven’t given up. And we want you to know: you shouldn’t.
Xanax addiction is a medical condition, not a character flaw. It often starts with a doctor’s prescription for legitimate anxiety or panic attacks — that makes it uniquely difficult for families to recognize. The person you knew before the dependence took hold is still there. But they need professional help to find their way back.
Start by educating yourself. Understand that Xanax changes brain chemistry rapidly, creating physical dependence that willpower alone cannot overcome. Critically important: never take someone’s Xanax away, flush their pills, or pressure them to stop cold turkey. Abrupt Xanax cessation can cause seizures and is potentially life-threatening. The safe path is always a medically supervised taper.
Set clear boundaries, and mean them. “I love you, and I will not participate in behaviors that support your dependence.” Have the conversation when they are clearheaded, using “I” statements rather than accusations. Offer specific next steps: “I found a program in Salem that specializes in Xanax tapers — can we call together?”
Take care of yourself, too. Consider therapy, support groups, or our monthly family education groups on Zoom. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Trailhead offers individual family therapy sessions and ongoing family support — for all family members ages 18 and up, past and present clients.
Resistance to treatment is common, especially when Xanax was originally prescribed by a trusted doctor. It doesn’t mean recovery is impossible — it means a different approach may be needed.
Our family support program is open to all family members ages 18+, past and present clients.
Trailhead Treatment Center is located in Salem, New Hampshire — minutes from the Massachusetts border and easily accessible from communities across southern New Hampshire and northeastern Massachusetts.
103 Stiles Rd, Suites 1 & 2, Salem, NH 03079Physical dependence and addiction overlap but aren’t identical. Physical dependence means your body has adapted to the drug and you’ll experience withdrawal without it. Addiction adds compulsive use despite negative consequences, cravings, and loss of control over dosing. In either case, medical supervision is needed to safely discontinue Xanax. Our clinical team can help determine the appropriate level of care.
Xanax is a short-acting benzodiazepine, meaning it enters and leaves your system quickly. This rapid cycling creates intense withdrawal between doses. Abrupt cessation can trigger seizures, psychosis, and other life-threatening complications. A medically supervised taper — often involving a cross-taper to a longer-acting benzodiazepine — is the only safe way to discontinue.
Our NP typically converts the Xanax dose to an equivalent amount of a longer-acting benzodiazepine (such as diazepam), then gradually reduces the dose over weeks or months. This approach smooths out the withdrawal spikes that make Xanax particularly difficult to taper directly. The schedule is individualized and adjusted based on your symptoms.
PHP clients attend Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. A typical day includes group therapy (CBT, DBT, or ACT), an individual session with your assigned clinician, psychoeducation, holistic activities like breathwork or yoga, and lunch. You go home each evening — this is outpatient treatment, not residential.
Most major insurance plans cover substance use treatment. We are in-network with Anthem BCBS, Point 32 Health (Harvard Pilgrim and Tufts), Tricare, Uprise Health, and WellSense (NH Medicaid). Use the verification form above or call our admissions team — we can typically verify benefits within minutes.
Yes. Our IOP program offers morning (9 AM), afternoon (12:30 PM), and evening (6 PM) tracks specifically designed for people who need to maintain employment. You can even switch between time slots on a daily basis. Many of our Xanax clients are working professionals — the evening track was designed with them in mind.
Post-acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS) from Xanax can include anxiety, insomnia, cognitive difficulties, and mood instability that persist for weeks to months after the taper is complete. This is normal and temporary. Our extended outpatient support helps you manage these symptoms with evidence-based strategies rather than returning to medication.
When you’re ready to move from reading to recovering, we’re here.
