COUNCIL ON DRUG ABUSE

THE DRUG FILE

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS - TRANQUILLIZERS AND BARBITURATES

Street Names

diazepam (Valium)
lorazepam (Ativan)
alprazolam (Xanax)
clonazepam (Klonopin)
Zopiclone
pentobarbital (Nembutal)
amobarbital (Amytal)
tranks
barbs

Description
Tranquillizers and barbiturates are types of prescription drugs that are used for anxiety and sleep problems. When a person takes these drugs outside of their medical use, or in increasing dosage and frequency without talking to a doctor first, it becomes prescription drug abuse. These drugs act on the brain by increasing the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA. This results in a decrease in brain activity, which causes feelings of drowsiness and calmness. It also results in a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure.

Origin and medical usage
These drugs are made in the labs of pharmaceutical companies for a medical purpose. They are used for sleep problems, anxiety, to control muscle spasms and seizures. Some are also used as anaesthetics.

Short-term effects
Short-term effects of tranquillizers and barbiturates may include dilated pupils, relaxation, drowsiness, impaired co-ordination, slurred speech, loss of inhibition, fatigue, impaired judgment, paranoia and irregular breathing.

Long-term effects
The long-term effects of tranquillizer and barbiturate use may include chronic tiredness, vision problems, mood swings, aggressive behaviour, slowed reflexes, breathing problems, death due to respiratory depression, liver damage, sleep problems and sexual dysfunction.

Withdrawal
Withdrawal is what people experience when they stop using these drugs. Possible symptoms that a person might experience when going through withdrawal from tranquillizers or barbiturates might include brain activity rebound, which results in the brain racing out of control, and which causes seizures. As well, the person may experience anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, depression and delirium.

Legal status
Having barbiturates and tranquillizers for the purpose of trafficking, production, import or export are all criminal offences.

Signs that a person might be using
Signs that a person may be abusing prescription tranquillizers or barbiturates may include, but are not limited to, constricted pupils, decreased appetite, wearing long sleeves to cover up rashes or track marks from injection use, a change in appearance or decrease in personal hygiene, prescriptions in the home go missing or come up short, frequent requests for new prescriptions, secretiveness, failing to fulfil duties in school, work and the home, slurred speech, red eyes, forgetfulness and loss of interest in hobbies.