Xanax abuse is a widespread affliction in the United States. Club-goers say it’s relatively easy to obtain Xanax from a dealer. One anonymous drug user, a 28 year old, confessed that “Xanax is commonly sold at nightclubs”. Many people abuse this drug to lower their inhibitions. "It's kind of the same reason someone takes a drink. It’s a depressant, and in low doses it makes you more relaxed and sociable" says Dr. Glen Hanson (acting director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse).

While Xanax is heavily abused by many different types of individuals, the majority of its abuse is by 20-something "Xannie" poppers. Club-hoppers wedge a Xanax pill into the olive they get in their mixed drink. Many accounts have been recorded about young teens who have abused Xanax. In Philadelphia, 28 middle school teenagers took high doses of Xanax during their lunch period. Twelve had to be treated at a hospital. Two weeks ago in the Houston, four more middle school students were taken to the hospital after taking Xanax. The widespread abuse of Xanax across the United States is so severe that fraudulently obtaining a prescription for Xanax is a felony and is punishable by up to five years in prison.