Depressants, Barbiturates, Sedatives, and Tranquilizers
1.
What are
they? - Barbiturates are
depressants that affect the central nervous system (CNS).
2.
Depressants
act as downers, and can slow the body and mind down.
3.
There are
over 2,000 known barbiturates.
4.
Street
Names: Barbs, downers, sleepers, stumblers, blues, yellow jackets, purple
hearts, red dolls, rainbows, tootsies
5.
How is it
taken? - Taken orally (pills of
various colors)
6.
The Scoop
on Barbiturates
a.
Barbiturates
are some of the of the most addictive drugs.
b.
They
are often a substitute for alcohol (as similar effects are produced.)
c.
People
use Barbiturates to get a sense of euphoria and relaxation.
d.
However,
it is illegal to take barbiturates with out a doctor's prescription and
supervision
7.
Short
Term Effects of Barbiturates: (last for 15 hours after ingestion)
a.
Relief of
tension and anxiety
b.
Sleepiness
c.
Feeling
of drunkenness / intoxication
d.
Slurred
speech
e.
Inability
to control simple bodily functions (walking, balance, etc...)
f.
Memory
impairment
g.
Emotional
instability
8.
Long Term
Effects of Barbiturates:
a.
Chronic
tiredness
b.
General
uncoordination
c.
Vision
problems
d.
Dizziness
e.
Slowed
reflexes and response
f.
Sexual
dysfunction
g.
Menstrual
irregularities
h.
Breathing
disorders
9.
Tolerance:
a.
Develops
very rapidly
b.
Ten times
the original dosage may be required to produce the same high
10.
Withdrawal
symptoms:
a.
Hallucinations
b.
Eating
disorders
c.
Disorientation
d.
Vomiting
e.
Sleep
disorders
11.
Barbiturates
and other depressants:
a.
The
combination of barbiturates and other drugs is very dangerous (especially when
combined with other CNS Depressants like Demerol, heroin, morphine, and
codeine).
b.
Barbiturates
produce many of the same effects as alcohol, and the combination of the two is
often lethal.
c.
There is
a hidden danger with barbiturate use, especially if you suffer from allergies.
d.
Antihistamines
(found in most allergy, cold, and sinus medicine) are another type of CNS
Depressants, and when taken with barbiturates, can cause respiratory arrest.
D.
Tranquilizers
1.
Tranquilizers
are depressant drugs that can be used to treat anxiety or insomnia.
2.
Sedatives
are used as a sleep aid or relaxer and anti anxiety tranquilizers are used to
gain a sense of well-being or to reduce feelings of panic or tension.
3.
Like
alcohol, tranquilizers work to depress brain functions which can cause impaired
thinking and memory loss, emotional instability, altered perceptions and slurred
speech.
4.
Common
Names - BuSpar, Equanil, Miltown, Librium, Valium, Serax Clonpin, Calmane,
Halcion
5.
Short-term
Effects
a.
Relief of
anxiety or tension
b.
Sense of
relaxation
c.
Sense of
well-being
d.
Impairment
of memory
e.
Drowsiness
f.
Confusion
g.
Stupor
6.
Long-term
Effects
a.
Lethargy
and over sedation
b.
Decreased
motivation
c.
Irritability
d.
Vivid or
disturbing dreams
e.
Nausea
f.
Headache
g.
Skin rash
h.
Impaired
sexual functioning
i.
Menstrual
irregularities
j.
Tremors
k.
Loss of
appetite or increased appetite
7.
Under the
class of sedatives, GHB and Rohypnol are popularly known as date rape drugs.
a.
In many
instances, victims are drugged when their drinks are spiked with GHB or Rohypnol.
b.
They
may wake up the next day not knowing how they got where they are or what
happened the night before.
E.
Diazepam
( T-Quil, Valrelease, Valium )
1.
Diazepam is an antianxiety agent ( benzodiazepines. )
2.
Used primarily for short-term relief of mild to moderate anxiety.
3.
It may also be used to treat symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawals, to
help control epilepsy and to relieve muscle spasms.
B.
Most depressant users ingest these drugs orally.
C.
However, a few abusers will inject their drugs intravenously.
D.
The injection paraphernalia used by barbiturate abusers are similar to
those used by heroin addicts, although a wider gauge hypodermic needle is used,
because the barbiturate solution is thicker than the heroin solution.
E.
The injection sites on the skin of a barbiturate abuser exhibit large
swellings, and may develop ulceration’s resembling cigarette burns.
F.
The affects of depressants are once again compared to those of alcohol.
1.
Reduced social inhibitions impaired ability to divide attention slow
reflexes impaired judgment and concentration impaired vision and coordination
slurred, mumbled or incoherent speech a wide variety of emotional effects, such
as euphoria, depression, suicidal tendencies, laughing or crying for no apparent
reason, etc.
G.
Depressants vary in the amount of time it takes the user to feel the
effects and also the amount of time the effects are felt.
H.
Some depressants act very quickly, and begin to affect their user within
seconds.
I.
Others act more slowly, sometimes taking one-half hour or more to begin
to exert an influence.
J.
The quick-acting depressants also tend to be relatively short acting: in
some cases their effects wear off in a matter of minutes.
K.
The slow-acting depressants, on the other hand, tend to produce
longer-acting effects.
L.
Overdoses of depressants produce effects that are the same as alcohol
overdoses. The person becomes extremely drowsy and pass out.
1.
Their heartbeat slows and respiration will become shallow.
2.
Their skin may feel cold and clammy, and death may result from
respiratory failure.