SOC 204 Goldberg Chapter 9

SOC 204 Drugs & Society

Goldberg Chapter 9Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs

Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs

(depressants)• Drugs that slow activity in the central nervous

system• Include prescription drugs

o To treat anxiety: sedativeso To treat insomnia: hypnotics

• Alcohol is the most widely used depressant• Benzodiazepines are the most widely prescribed

depressants

The nonmedical use of

controlled medications

by adolescents is

increasing.

A. TrueB. False

True

False

12%

88%

Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs

• Sedative-hypnotic drugs are central nervous system depressants that produce relaxing to sleep-inducing effects

• Three main types of sedative-hypnotic drugs:o Barbiturateso Nonbarbiturate sedativeso Minor tranquilizers

Classification• Classified based on potency and the length of

time they act:o Ultra-short-actingo Short-acting (less than 4 hours)o Intermediate-acting (4 to 6 hours)o Long-acting (more than 6 hours)

• Drugs that take effect rapidly have a higher abuse potential than slow-acting drugs

People who enter treatment for benzodiazepine abuse are likely to be older than people

who enter treatment for abuse of other illegal drugs.

A. TrueB. False

True

False

33%

67%

Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs

A. Increase energyB. Depress the CNSC. Are very quick-

actingD. Have little potential

for abuse

Increase

energy

Depress th

e CNS

Are very quick-acti

ng

Have little pote

ntial for ..

.

0% 0%0%

100%

Effects of Barbiturates• Produce a depressed, mood-altering action on the

central nervous system – act on GABA

• Slow activity of the cardiovascular, muscular and respiratory systems

• Can cause confusion, inadequate emotional control, slurred speech, poor judgment, and intoxication

Those who enter treatment for abuse of prescription drugs are

better educated than people abusing other kinds of drugs.

A. TrueB. False

True

False

29%

71%

Dangers• Tolerance• Lethal in combination with alcohol• Withdrawal severe, can be fatal

Medical Uses• Used primarily to treat

o Anxietyo Insomniao Convulsive disorders

• Short-acting barbiturates continue to be used for anesthetic purposes

Medical uses for barbiturates do NOT

include:A. Treating

depressionB. Reducing

anxietyC. Controlling

seizuresD. Inducing sleep

Treating d

epressi

on

Reducing an

xiety

Controllin

g seizu

res

Inducing sl

eep

89%

0%11%

0%

Non-barbiturate Sedatives

• Older drugs with similar actions to barbiturates• With the advent of safer drugs, rarely used now

Adolescent boys are more likely

to give medications to their

friends than adolescent girls.

A. TrueB. False

True

False

0%0%

Benzodiazepines• 1960 introduced chordiazepoxide (Librium)• 1970s introduced diazepam (Valium)• Dependence and overdose can occur

o Rarer than with barbiturateso More common in combination with alcohol

• Wider margin of safety and fewer side effects than barbiturates

• Used to treat anxiety

Hypnotics• Non-

benzodiazepines (Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata)

o Short-term treatment of insomnia

o Short half-lifeo Less dependency, less

tolerance, less carry-over

Doctors are more likely

to prescribe

barbiturates for sleep

now than they were 20

years ago.

A. TrueB. False

True

False

94%

6%

In comparison to barbiturates,

benzodiazepines A. Have more

severe side effects

B. Are not addictiveC. Do not cause

withdrawal symptoms

D. Have a wider safety margin

Have more

seve

re si

de ef...

Are not addicti

ve

Do not cause

with

drawal...

Have a wider s

afety margin

17%

83%

0%0%

Do you know someone who has had their drink spiked with GHB or

roofies?A. I think soB. I don’t think so

I think s

o

I don’t t

hink so

50%50%

Do you know someone who has drugged someone else by spiking their

drink?A. I think soB. I don’t think so

I think s

o

I don’t t

hink so

83%

17%

Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid

• Naturally occurring chemical found in brain and body

• Similar to GABA• Causes CNS depression• Has been used as an anesthetic• Considered a date-rape drug

o Along with Rohypnol and Ketamine

• GHB is listed on Schedule I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPtcU_8yvR4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwtBEkFXBjQhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2udrpuNxcmM

When it is used in conjunction with

alcohol, the effects of Rohypnol can be

fatal.

A. TrueB. False

True

False

44%

56%

Inhalants

• High-dose exposure causes intoxication

• Examples:o Volatile solventso Aerosols, propellants, gaseso Anestheticso Nitrites

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g99h4qaCio

Inhalants• Most abusers are very young• Abuse tends to occur as localized fads• Dangers:

o Kidney damageo Brain damageo Peripheral nerve damageo Irritation of respiratory tracto Severe headacheo Death by suffocation

The highest rate of inhalant use

by youths occurs among

Asians.

A. TrueB. False

True

False

60%

40%

More people die

from inhaling air

fresheners than from

inhaling gasoline.

A. TrueB. False

True

False

63%

38%

Nitrous oxide has been used as an

anesthetic by dentists.

A. TrueB. False

True

False

0%0%