Barbiturates
The effects, the risks, the law.
Slang:
Barbs, barbies, blue bullets, blue devils, gorillas, nembies, pink ladies, red devils, sleepers, seccies and downers.
Background:
Barbiturates were once commonly prescribed by doctors as sleeping pills. Fatal accidents due to misuse led to their demand being largely replaced by tranquillisers. Usually available in tablet form, or as ampoules, suppositories or syrup.
The effects:
- Barbiturates have a strong sedative effect. They work by depressing the central nervous system.
- In small doses barbiturates help people relax.
- Larger doses can give rise to a drunken feeling (slurred speech, clumsiness, and unconsciousness).
The risks:
- Tolerance can quickly develop, which means regular users need more to get the effects they want.
- There is serious risk of overdose. This can kill.
- Mixing barbiturates with even small amounts of alcohol, heroin or tranquillisers can also be fatal.
- Repeated use can lead to psychological and physical dependency.
- Withdrawal from barbiturates can be difficult. Symptoms include irritability, nervousness, inability to sleep, nausea, and even convulsions.
- Sudden withdrawal from high doses can be fatal.
- Injecting is the most dangerous form of taking barbiturates.
- Heavy users are also liable to bronchitis and pneumonia (because the cough reflex is suppressed) as well as hypothermia.
The law:
Barbiturates are a Class B drug, which are only legally available on prescription.
If you are planning on taking barbituates:
- You place yourself at greater risk of accidents, either to yourself or other people.
- There is a high risk of overdose because the lethal dose is quite close to the 'normal' dose level. 10 tablets may be fatal and this risk is greater if barbiturate use is combined with use of other downer drugs such as alcohol, heroin or tranquillisers.
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