system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Adderall and Xanax are both addictive substances. Why is it that Adderall causes mild withdraw symptoms, if any, while Xanax induces a potentially lethal withdraw?
gpt
They have different mechanisms of action, the common denominator of being addictive doesn't really say a whole lot.

Xanax is GABAergic, which is something most depressants share: they act on a specific type of receptor causing disinhibition and sedation because there's more GABA (a chemical that stops and slows down processes so to speak) floating around. 

Adderal/amphetamine is a stimulant which causes more adrenaline, and dopamine most notably to be produced, responsible for increased energy and in many cases anxiety and agitation opposite to that of a GABAergic drug. 

Withdrawing from adderal normally just means you feel shitty and crave more from the dopamine crash; not immediately life threatening. GABA on the other hand is essential for tonnes of important functions in your body, and if your body's used to having more of it, then it doesn't work as effectively at baseline.