What exactly is prescription sedatives, and why has it become such a big topic? Understanding the facts helps you cut through all the noise and mixed messages.
Sedatives suppress your central nervous system activity and make you tired and calm. These drugs are often prescribed to help people with anxiety, sleep disorders, or seizures. There are two major types of sedatives known as barbiturates and benzodiazepines. Medically, barbiturates (a.k.a. sleeping pills) are prescribed for acute anxiety, tension, and sleep disorders. Benzodiazepines (a.k.a. tranquilizers) are prescribed for anxiety, acute stress reactions and panic attacks. Most of these drugs are used legitimately for pain relief, as anesthesia, or in the treatment of psychological issues. But they can also be misused and dependence can result if not used properly.
- Swallowed
- Injected
Common Names
- Bennies
- Benzos
- Downers
- Sleeping pills
- Purple footballs
- Candy
The drugs most specifically used for sedative purposes have their roots in the 19th century. These include choral hydrate, different alkaloids and bromides.2
Depending on the depressant used, the effects can vary. The commonly shared effects:
- Dream-like feeling
- Reduced anxiety
- Feelings of wellbeing
- Lowered inhibition
This may not seem like much, so let's put it in perspective. In 2016, there were approximately 12.6 million seniors in the US. 5% of 12.6 million is 630,000 12th graders! That is nearly the population of Denver! And that's just seniors misusing tranquilizers!1
Sharing isn't Caring
If you are prescribed sedatives, how can you keep your friends and family safe?
Remember your first day of Kindergarten when your teacher is going on about the rules?
- Be nice.
- Have fun.
- Sharing is caring.
These are largely still true. However, when it comes to prescription drugs, sharing is definitely not caring. Say your friend is feeling really anxious about a test and you are prescribed anti-anxiety medicines for your obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). You might think that giving them some prescription pills is helping them, but it’s not. When a doctor writes a prescription, they consider the person’s size and check for allergies and adverse interactions with other medications, over-the-counter or prescription. When you decide to share prescriptions, you are bypassing these important safety measures, putting both yourself and your friend in danger. What if your friend is allergic or experiences serious negative effects, like death from mixing medicines you didn’t know they were taking or were even lethal in combination? How could you? You’re not a doctor. Sharing is never caring when it comes to prescription drugs.
- Poor concentration
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Impaired movements
- Loss of memory
- Drowsiness
- Slurred speech
- Low blood pressure
- Slowed breathing
- Nausea
- Clumsiness
- Slowed heartbeat5
- High risk of dependence on the drug
- Tolerance
- Withdrawal
- Seizures
- Overdose, especially if paired with alcohol6
The classification of sedatives spans Schedule I to Schedule IV, meaning the drug laws that apply to each vary depending on their medical usefulness, abuse potential, safety and dependence profile. Don’t be fooled by the medical nature of prescription drugs though, even legal drugs can get you into a lot of trouble. The following instances are illegal, even with legal drugs:
- Possessing a prescription drug without a lawful prescription
- Obtaining prescription drugs by fraud or “doctor shopping” (going to multiple doctors to obtain multiple prescriptions)
- Forging a prescription
- Selling prescription drugs, whether the original prescription is yours or not
- Even driving under the influence of prescription drugs can be a punishable offence.
Each state deals with these crimes differently, but Colorado penalties start with fines of $50-$100,000 and/or jail time of up to a year.
1 http://riseaboveco.org/resources
2 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2424120/
3 Kuhn, Swartzwelder, & Wilson. (2008). Buzzed: The Straight Facts About the Most Used and Abused Drugs from Alcohol to Ecstasy.
5 https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/opioid-prescribing/
6 https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/misuse-prescription-drugs/summary
8 https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000949.htm
10 https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates
11 https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/misuse-prescription-drugs/summary
12 https://www.dea.gov/druginfo/ds.shtml
13 http://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-18-criminal-code/co-rev-st-sect-18-18-403-5.html
14 Kuhn, Swartzwelder, & Wilson. (2008). Buzzed: The Straight Facts About the Most Used and Abused Drugs from
