CNS depressants can be highly addictive

CNS, or central nervous system depressant drugs are widely abused in the United States, and represent a large portion of the medications being misused by teens, as well as adults in the growing prescription drug abuse epidemic. In part 2 of this series on common drugs of abuse, the types of drugs being abused in this category are outlined below. In this list are the sedatives such as barbiturates, and benzodiazepines, such as diazepam.

Sedative Abuse

CNS depressants are used mainly to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. Some of these drugs can be interchanged because they produce the same affects but through different mechanisms. For instance, the barbiturates treat sleep, and seizure disorders, but can also be used to treat anxiety as well, but less often because benzodiazepines are preferred.

Recognize drug or alcohol abuse

Most drugs in this class slow down brain activity. That is why they are useful in treating anxiety and sleep disorders. These drugs work on a brain neurotransmitter called gammaaminobutyric acid, or GABA for short. GABA is responsible for slowing down nerve firing. When drugs such as diazepam (Valium), or triazolam (Halcion) are used, they increase GABA in the brain thereby slowing its activity.

Drug Bust

Sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs this article addresses are highly addictive, and have contributed to, and been responsible for many deaths. One of the most recent is the death of Michael Jackson who died as the result of a powerful anesthetic, propofol, and benzodiazepine combination. There is also a strong possibility that DJ AM, another loved music artist, died recently from a combination of benzodiazepines, narcotic painkillers, and/or crack cocaine. That verdict awaits a tox report, however.

Drugs most commonly abused in this category are:

Benzodiazepines:

Alparzolam (Xanax), Chlordiazepoxide (Librium), Clonazepam (Klonopin), Diazepam (Valium), Lorazepam (Ativan), and a drug referred to on the street as Mexican Valiums, roofies, roofinol, rope, or rophies is flunitrazepam. These drugs are highly abused in America, and often overprescribed.

Sedative/hypnotics - Barbiturates:
Quaaludes, Mebaral, Phenobarbital (Nembutal), Amobarbital sodium (Amytal Sodium), and Secobarbital Sodium (Seconal Sodium Pulvules).

There are newer class drugs in the sedative/hypnotic class that have short half-lives and are fast acting that reduce the possibility of dependence. However, they are still addictive. Some of the drugs in this class are Imidazopyridines – zolpidem (Ambien), and chloral hydrate (Noctec).

Memorial to the souls who lost the war with drugs

Any of these drugs whether used alone, or in combination with others, are dangerous at the very least if taken outside the directives of a physician. The author was highly addicted to benzodiazepines, Valium, and hydromorphone, Dilaudid in combination for 2 years. The resultant withdrawals when incarcerated in the Macomb County Jail were so gruesome, death was prayed for at any time in the drama. The hallucinations, either from lack of sleep (9 days), or a symptom of benzo withdrawal, were so lucid that reality and fantasy were totally blurred for about 3 full days. Needless to say, it wasn't a picnic in any regard.

Addiction, everyone's problem

When abusing these types of drugs, it may be all fun and games now, and your problems and worries seem to melt away as fast as the medication dissolves in your stomach, but be assured that they will be waiting for you on the other side when you wake back up. You can get away with abusing many types of drugs for great periods time, but then again, you never know when the planets will align to take you out of the picture. Just ask DJ AM, Michael Jackson or Heath Ledger.

Those in the Detroit area can contact SEMCA, CARE, PACE or Drug Free Detroit for help with a substance abuse problem. Make the move.

How to help a friend with a drug problem.

In the flow…

Follow me on Twitter: Crash Test Addict

Visit my website under construction: www.crashtestaddict.com