SOC 204 Drugs & Society

Goldberg Chapter 9Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs

Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs (depressants)

• Drugs that slow activity in the central nervous system

• Include prescription drugso 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

TrueFa

lse

0%

100%

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

Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs

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

actingD. Have little potential

for abuseIncre

ase energy

Depress the CNS

Are very quick-acti

ng

Have little potential fo

r ...

9%0%0%

91%

Effects• 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

Medical Uses• Used primarily to treat

o Anxietyo Insomniao Convulsive disorders

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

Mechanisms of Action• Benzodiazepines and

barbiturateso Enhance inhibitory effects of GABA

• Non-benzodiazepine hypnoticso Selectively target the GABA-A receptoro Work better as sleep aids rather than anti-

anxiety medicationso Zolpidem (Ambien), zaleplon (Sonata),

eszopiclone (Lunesta)

Medical uses for barbiturates do NOT

include:A. Treating

depressionB. Reducing

anxietyC. Controlling

seizuresD. Inducing sleep

Treating depressi

on

Reducing an

xiety

Controllin

g seizu

res

Inducing sle

ep

67%

14%19%

0%

Non-barbiturate Sedatives

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

• Chloral hydrate 1832• Paraldehyde 1882• Bromides 1960s

Adolescent boys are more likely

to give medications to their

friends than adolescent girls.

A. TrueB. False

TrueFa

lse

57%

43%

Barbiturates• Veronal was introduced in 1903• Barbiturates classifications

o Short-acting• Pentobarbital, secobarbital

o Intermediate-acting• Amobarbital, butabarbital

o Long-acting• Mephbarbital, phenobarbital

Barbiturates, continued

• Sodium Pentathol 1934• Meprobamate 1950s• Methaqualone 1965

• Great risk for physical and psychological dependence

• 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

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

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

o Toleranceo Withdrawalo 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

TrueFa

lse

60%

40%

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 se

vere sid

e ef...

Are not addicti

ve

Do not cause w

ithdrawal...

Have a wider s

afety margin

33%

43%

10%14%

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

62%

38%

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

100%

0%

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

TrueFa

lse

42%

58%

Inhalants• Most frequently used class

of illegal drugs among adolescents aged 12 and 13

• Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome

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

TrueFa

lse

50%50%

More people die from inhaling air

fresheners than from inhaling gasoline.

A. TrueB. False

TrueFa

lse

63%

37%

Nitrous oxide has been used as an

anesthetic by dentists.

A. TrueB. False

TrueFa

lse

0%0%

Benefits Risks

• Anxiolytics• Sleeping agents• Anticonvulsants

• Dependenceo Tolerance & Cross Toleranceo Withdrawal

• Toxicityo Behavioralo Physiological

• Can be fatal with alcohol• Patterns of abuse