By: Heavenly, Miranda, Line, Jessica, Matt, Dylan

1. Depressants By: Heavenly, Miranda, Line, Jessica, Matt, Dylan

2. Origin of Depressants Depressants have been around for centuries and are depicted in many different cultures and date back as far as Mesopotamia in 3400 BC. Herbs and alcohol have been used to ease pain and induce sleep were the first and most basic depressants. Depressants can come from many different plants such as California Poppies, Lavender, and wild lettuce. Their effects as a depressant depend on how much of the plant you take and what part. Depressants such as alcohol can also be made by fermenting things such as wood and fruits. Barbiturates were invented on December 4, 1864, by German researcher Adolf von Baeyer who combined animal urine and acids from apple juice to make it. Alcohol and other fermented drinks go as far back as 10,000 BC

3. What Are Depressants? • A depressant, referred to in slang as a "downer," is a chemical agent that diminishes the function or activity of a specific part of the body. (See also sedative.) The term is used in particular with regard to the central nervous system (CNS). Alcohol (consumed in alcoholic beverages) is the most obvious example of a depressant. Many depressants acting on the CNS do so by increasing the activity of a particular neurotransmitter known as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), although other targets such as the NMDA receptor, mu-opioid receptor and CB1 cannabinoid receptor can also be important, depending on which drug is involved.

4. Alcohol (ethanol)  Beer Wine Alcohol Barbiturates  Aprobarbital >> Alurate Amobarbital >> Amytal Amylbarbial & Secobarbital >> Tuinal Butabarbital >> Buticaps, Butisol, Butalan Butarlbital >> Esgic, Fiorinal Hexobarbital >> Sombulex Pentobarbital >> Nembutal Phenobarbital >> Solfoton Secobarbital >> Seconal Thiopental >> Pentothal Benzodiazepines  Alprazolam >> Xanax Chlorazepate >> Tranxene Chlordiazepoxide >> Librium Clonazepam >> Klonopin Diazepam >> Valium, Ducene Flunitrazepam >> Rohypnol Flurazepam >> Dalamane Halazepam >> Paxipam Lorazepan >> Ativan Nitrazepam >> Alodorm, Mogadon Oxazepam >> Alepam, Murelax, Serepax Prazepam >> Centrax Quazepam >> Doral Temazepam >> Euhypnos, Normison, Restoril Triazolam >> Halciom Common Depressants

5. The Demographics of Depressants • Although depressant use has declined in recent surveys (which show prior-month use of tranquilizers by U.S. adults fell from 4,200,000 in 1985 to 1,817,000 by 2005), the U.S. introduction of Ambien in 1993 helped fuel a massive surge in the use of sleeping aids. To date, more than 12 billion doses of Ambien have been prescribed worldwide. • Several studies conducted by the National Institute of Drug Abuse, or NIDA, suggest that prescription drug abuse is on the rise in the United States. According to the 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, an estimated 1.6 million Americans first tried prescription pain relievers for non-medical purposes in 1998. Between 1990 and 1998, the number of people who used tranquilizers increased by 132%, and the number of new sedative users increased by 90%. In 1999, an estimated four million people —almost 2% of the population aged 12 and older— by 2001 were using prescription drugs for nonmedical purposes. Sedatives and tranquilizers were used by 1.3 million of these people.

6. The Demographics of Depressants • Overall, men and women have approximately equal rates of non-medical use of prescription drugs, with the exception of 12- to 17-year-olds. In this age category, young women are more likely to use psychoactive drugs non-medically. Also, among women and men who use anti-anxiety drugs non-medically, women are almost twice as likely to become addicted. • GHB-related emergency room visits increased from 55 in 1994 to 2,973 in 1999, according to the NIDA. There were 13 reported Rohypnol-related emergency room visits in 1994, versus 634 in 1998. The number decreased to 540 in 1999. Ketamine-related emergency room visits rose from a reported 19 in 1994 to 396 in 1999. Recent use have been reported more frequently among white youth in many major metropolitan areas.

7. The Demographics of Depressants [Cont.] • Misuse of prescribed medications may be the most common form of drug abuse among the elderly, according to the NIDA. Older people are given prescriptions approximately three times more often than the general population, and have poorer compliance with directions for use. • The National Household Survey on Drug Abuseindicates the steepest increase in new users of prescription drugs for non-medical purposes occur in 12- to 17- and 18- to 25-year-olds. Among 12- to 14-year-olds, psychoactive medications, including anti-anxiety drugs, were reportedly among the primary drugs used. • The 1999 Monitoring the Future Survey, a yearly survey of drug use and related attitudes conducted among eighth, 10th and 12th graders nationwide, found that for barbiturates, tranquilizers, and narcotics other than heroin, long-term declines in use during the 1980s leveled off in the early 1990s, with modest increases in use starting again in the mid-1990s.

8. Negative effects of Depressants *Large dose effects *slurred speech *staggering gait *altered perception. *Use with alcohol can multiply the effects *In pregnant women: Addicted infants with birth defects and behavioral problems *Overdose symptoms *respiratory depression *Coma *Death *Withdrawal symptoms *Restlessness *insomnia and anxiety *convulsions and death

9. Alcohol • Alcohol, or ethanol, is a colorless liquid solvent that has an unpleasant taste and odor. The liver is capable of oxidizing approximately one-half of an ounce of alcohol per hour. Any surplus alcohol is circulated throughout the body raising the blood alcohol concentration. 98% of ingested alcohol is metabolized by liver enzymes. It is the most common drug used in the United States.

10. Short Term Effects • Lowered Inhibitions • Poor Coordination • Blackouts • Loss of Memory • Nausea Sickness • Hangovers • Headaches • Stupor • Coma

11. Long Term Effects • permanent damage to vital organs • several different types of cancer • gastrointestinal irritations, such as nausea, diarrhea, and ulcers • malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies • sexual dysfunctions • high blood pressure • lowered resistance to disease

12. Blood Alcohol Level • The blood alcohol level that is produced will depend on the presence of food in the stomach, the consumption rate of alcohol, the strength of the alcohol, and the drinker's body composition.

15. Heroin is a synthetic drug made from morphine, a derivative of the opium poppy. It is used for the relaxation and intense euphoria it creates. It is either taken orally, smoked, or injected into the bloodstream. Smoking causes a high in about 3-5 minutes. Smoking creates an almost immediate high, while injecting it takes about 30 seconds. The risks of heroin include: HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, chronic constipation, addiction, and decreased kidney function.

16. Golden Crescent Golden Triangle Primary producers of heroin The primary producers of heroin are Colombia and Mexico. Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan are part of the “Golden Crescent, which is the world’s main supplier of heroin. The other producers of heroin are Laos, Burma (Myanmar), and Thailand which make up the “Golden Triangle,” which too is a main supplier. Vietnam also has a steady production of heroin also.

17. Narcotics • Narcotics can be used to relieve pain and to induce sleep. • Examples: heroin, opium, morphine

18. Depressants Effect on the Brain There are numerous CNS depressants; most act on the brain by affecting the neurotransmitter (GABA) gammaaminobutyric acid. Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that facilitate communication between brain cells.

19. Facts • Downer drugs consistently rank among the most widely used and abused drugs in the United States and Canada -- and, for that matter, most of the rest of the world.