What are barbiturates?
Barbiturates are a type of central nervous system (CNS) depressant prescribed to treat mental health and neurological conditions, as well as being used as an anesthetic. Like many other prescription medications, barbiturates do carry various risks such as addiction and overdose. Examples of barbiturates include Phenobarbital, Primidone, Sodium thiopental, Pentobarbital, Amobarbital. It is common for these medications to be referred to by their nicknames/street names when distributed illicitly.
Barbiturate Street names
- Barbs
- Blues
- Downers
The History of Barbiturate Use
Barbiturates were first used for therapeutic purposes in the early 1900s. They provide to be very effective for people with severe psychiatric and neurological disorders. Their use grew during the first half of the century and were widely available for some time. In the ’50s people had become greatly aware of the risks of barbiturate use, such as overdose and addiction, and the WHO finally recommended regulating the medication only to be available via prescription. Still, barbiturate overdoses were rising. In the ‘60s, benzodiazepines hit the scene, which were quickly recognized as safer than barbiturates. It was not long before barbiturate prescriptions declines and benzos began to take over as the medication of choice. While barbiturates are still available, they are used much less frequently than they once were.
Risks of Barb Use & Abuse
As mentioned above, the decline in barbiturate use was in large part due to the severe risks associated with their use. First, barbiturates are addictive. They carry a high risk of developing physical dependence and increased tolerance. A CNS depressant, overdose is a sincere risk at any dose, but when tolerance increases the risk of abuse and overdose goes up.
Due to these risks, barbiturate use should be taken seriously. Physical craving can be difficult to ignore, but patients should not take more than the prescribed dosage and doctors should monitor these patients closely. It is also ideal to have a plan for ultimately getting off of this medication.
Finding Help for Barbiturate Addiction
If you or someone you know has been struggling with Barbiturate addiction, there are options for recovery. The first option to look into is a drug and alcohol treatment program. Most treatment centers provide treatment for addiction to an array of substances including barbiturates.
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