ALSO KNOWN AS: Lithium Carbonate, Courage Pill, Red Devils, Phenobarbital, Florinal, Goof Balls, Flurazepam, Lithium Citrate, Methyprylon, Yellow Jackets, King Kong Pills, Green Dragons, Alcohol, Chlordiazepoxide, Blues, Fender Benders, Peanuts, Lotusate, Rainbows, Christmas Trees, Amosecobarbital, Secobarbital, Mickey Finn, Ludes, Barbs, Glutehimide, Desipramine, Pink Ladies, and many more.

SIGNS/EFFECTS OF USE: The primary method of administration is swallowing the substance. Some users experiment with intravenous (IV) injection. Because the solution of depressants is often thicker than that of, for example, heroin, the user must use a thicker needle, which can cause more severe damage to the skin. By acting on the central nervous system and slowing the brain, depressants impair voluntary actions as well as involuntary processes including respiration and heart rate. Many people are familiar with the effects of excessive alcohol consumption, and the effects of many other depressants are similar. These include impaired vision and coordination, reduced inhibitions, extreme emotional responses (both positive and negative), decreased judgment, and altered speech, among others. Fast- and slow-acting depressants tend to produce short- and long-lasting highs, respectively.

DANGERS: Overdosing on depressants, which sometimes happens when users are attempting to counteract the effects of stimulants, can cause drowsiness, fainting and a sensation of cold, clammy skin. Anyone attempting to recover from depressant use or overdoses should be under the care of a physician because the decreased respiration that may result can lead to respiratory failure and, ultimately, death.

See also:

• 5 Signs of Co-Dependency
• Al-Anon: Support for Loved Ones of Addicts
• Dual Diagnosis: When Addiction and Mental Health Collide
• Who Becomes an Addict?