Barbiturates and Barbiturates and BenzodiazepinesBenzodiazepines

Prescription Medication DrugsPrescription Medication Drugs

• These drugs are often prescribed for These drugs are often prescribed for pain, insomnia, depression, anxiety.pain, insomnia, depression, anxiety.

• They slow brain functioning by They slow brain functioning by increasing activity of the increasing activity of the neurotransmitter GABA which neurotransmitter GABA which decreases brain activity and causes decreases brain activity and causes drowsiness and calmness.drowsiness and calmness.

• They also decrease heart rate and They also decrease heart rate and blood pressure.blood pressure.

PrevalencePrevalence

• People who abuse these drugs have People who abuse these drugs have usually either been prescribed the usually either been prescribed the drug and began abusing it, or had a drug and began abusing it, or had a family member who was prescribed family member who was prescribed the medicationthe medication

• Most commonly mixed with alcohol Most commonly mixed with alcohol and or opiates such as heroin or and or opiates such as heroin or Oxycontin.Oxycontin.

Use:Use:• ““There has been a decline in the lifetime There has been a decline in the lifetime

use of sedatives from a peak of 10.5 use of sedatives from a peak of 10.5 percent in 2005 to 9.3 percent in 2007. Past percent in 2005 to 9.3 percent in 2007. Past year use of sedatives/barbiturates declined year use of sedatives/barbiturates declined from a peak of 7.2 percent in 2005 to 6.2 from a peak of 7.2 percent in 2005 to 6.2 percent in 2007 .“ (percent in 2007 .“ (www.nida.nig.govwww.nida.nig.gov))

• The death rate from overdose is 10% - The death rate from overdose is 10% - complications which can arise from an complications which can arise from an overdose is coma and damaged fetuses in overdose is coma and damaged fetuses in pregnant women.pregnant women.

• More than half of all overdoses are a result More than half of all overdoses are a result from mixing barbiturates and from mixing barbiturates and benzodiazepines.benzodiazepines.

Short-term effectsShort-term effects

• These drugs induce state of intoxication These drugs induce state of intoxication that is identical to that of being that is identical to that of being intoxicated with alcohol.intoxicated with alcohol.

• Symptoms such as impaired judgment, Symptoms such as impaired judgment, slowed speech, lack of coordination, slowed speech, lack of coordination, disinhibition, shallow breathing, staggering disinhibition, shallow breathing, staggering and aggressive impulses.and aggressive impulses.

Long-term effectsLong-term effects• Sometimes when an individual stops Sometimes when an individual stops

abusing the drug, the symptoms they were abusing the drug, the symptoms they were taking the drug for in the first place come taking the drug for in the first place come back even stronger (anxiety for example).back even stronger (anxiety for example).

• Withdrawal symptoms are also present: Withdrawal symptoms are also present: irritability, paranoia, muscle tension, irritability, paranoia, muscle tension, perceptual disturbance, etc. perceptual disturbance, etc.

• Serious usage and sudden withdrawal can Serious usage and sudden withdrawal can cause seizures.cause seizures.

Possible Research Solution:Possible Research Solution:

• Melatonin, a hormone that is produced at night by the pineal gland, promotes normal sleep in humans. Can counter benzodiazepineenzodiazepine addiction.

• A number of studies in elderly insomniacs, children, and patients with delayed sleep phase syndrome when receiving melatonin therapy did not develop a tolerance to the hormone during prolonged periods of use and experienced no withdrawal effects upon discontinuation. (1999)

Sources:Sources:

• www.nida.nig.govwww.nida.nig.gov

• www.nih.govwww.nih.gov

• www.sfn.orgwww.sfn.org

• http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprihttp://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/159/20/2456.pdfnt/159/20/2456.pdf