Depressants

What Is A Type of Depressant?

Alcohol is one type of depressant. According to the annual MTF study, 35 percent of high school seniors and nearly 22 percent of 10th graders admitted to using alcohol in the past month. Youths who drink alcohol are more susceptible to damage wrought by alcohol abuse, not just on their minds and bodies, but also on their relationships with their families and loved ones.

Alcohol is the most commonly abused and well-known depressant by teens and young adults. Due to its high toxicity, potential to form a dependency and widespread social acceptance, alcohol is more deadly than all the other depressants combined and accounts for more than 4,300 deaths in young adults under the age of 21 each year, reported the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Impairment from alcohol increases the risk of injury and death from car accidents, suicides, falls, drowning, homicides and alcohol poisoning itself.

Other Types of CNS depressants

There are different types of CNS depressants that are prescribed for anxiety or sleep problems:

• Benzodiazepines
• Sleep medications (non-benzodiazepines)
• Barbiturates

Benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Ativan are commonly prescribed for treating anxiety, insomnia and seizures. Although they have a low potential for abuse, benzodiazepines are still habit-forming and can quickly induce tolerance. For this reason, benzodiazepines are not intended to be used longer than one or two months. Side effects of benzodiazepines include drowsiness, a reduction in alertness and muscle coordination, and rare paradoxical effects such as aggression or disinhibition. Benzodiazepines are particularly dangerous when combined with alcohol, a potentially lethal combination, and other drugs such as opioids.

Non-benzodiazepine sleep medications or anxiolytics (anxiety-reducing drugs) such as buspirone, Ambien and Lunesta have the same action as benzodiazepines, but might have a lower risk of dependence and cause fewer side effects.

Barbiturates are used for treating sleep, seizure and anxiety disorders. The use of barbiturates has declined with the popularity of benzodiazepines, which are considered to be safer and have a lower overdose risk. Barbiturates are also highly addictive. Withdrawal symptoms and overdoses caused by barbiturates are extremely dangerous, and can lead to coma and even death.

Side Effects of Depressants

CNS depressants initially produce effects such as drowsiness and feelings of relaxation and calmness. People who abuse CNS depressants take higher doses or take these drugs for longer periods of time than they are supposed to. Side effects of depressants include:

Sometimes, CNS depressants can lead to a rebound effect, in which they produce effects similar to what the drugs treat. CNS depressants have a high potential for abuse and can lead to physical dependence among people who misuse these drugs. For this reason, depressants are typically only prescribed for short periods of time.

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While most effects of depressants rarely include death, abusing these substances can lead to physical and mental problems, and withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening. CNS depressant withdrawal symptoms include:

Addiction Treatment at Rancho San Diego

Rancho San Diego offers various types of treatment for addiction to CNS depressants. Adolescents receive evidence-based treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), for addiction to CNS depressants and other substance use disorders. Teens can also receive individual and group therapy, psychoeducation, and complementary and experiential treatments for substance use disorders. Students receive thorough evaluations during the admissions process to identify all co-occurring issues and provide a treatment plan optimized to each specific person. Call our 24/7 helpline at any time to speak to a member of our admissions team.