Historically, barbiturates were used in the treatment of anxiety, epilepsy, to induce sleep, and as anesthetics. Nowadays, their use is limited to a few specific conditions, such as:
Research indicates that the abuse of barbiturates is on the rise, especially among adolescents. They are often used to counteract the stimulant effects of drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine. This has earned them the nickname “downers”.
The “high” from barbiturate abuse is similar to alcohol intoxication. In small doses, the user feels drowsy, disinhibited, and intoxicated. In higher dosages, the user develops confusion, slurred speech, and staggers like they are drunk. Too high a dose can lead to unconsciousness, breathing difficulties, and sometimes death. In the 1970s many people died after taking barbiturates, and this, together with the fact that they are extremely addictive, are the reasons they are hardly ever prescribed toda