Definitions:


Drug Abuse
Drug Addiction
Drug Dependence
Drug Habit
Drug Tolerance
Drug Syndicate

2. Signs of Drug Abuse

3. Signs of Abuse of
   Specific Drugs

4. Hazards and
   Effects

6. Types:
   
   Depressants/Sedatives
   
   Narcotics
   Opium
   heroin
   Morphine
   Barbiturates
   Tranquillizers
   

   Stimulants
   
   Amphetamines
   Cocaine
   

   Hallucinogens
   
   Mescalene
   Marijuana
   LSD
   

7. Ecstacy

8. Other substances of
   Abuse

9. Teenagers and Drugs

10. Street Drugs

11. Drugs in the Elderly

12. Drugs in Sports

13. Abuse and Misuse of
    legal Drugs

14. Dependence on
    Analgesics

15. How to Recognize drug abuse
    and addiction

TRANQUILIZERS

What Are Tranquilizers?

Tranquilizers are a chemical and medical kinfolk of the sedatives. Like sedatives, they calm anxiety, ease tension and relax the muscles. Like sedatives, too, they are widely used in treating emotional and mental disorders. They sedate, likewise.

Unlike sedatives, however, they generally are not sleep- inducing and allow a patient to take them without significantly impairing his physical and mental functions. In fact, people put on tranquilizers by doctors are known to think and work productively while on the drug.

Again unlike the sedatives, not all tranquilizers are addict- ing. But tranquilizers like meprobamate (Miltown, Equinil) can develop physical and mental dependence. Unhappily, these are the ones most abused and misused.

Tranquilizers are so easily abused and, in the case of Lib- rium, Valium, Miltown, Equinil, other meprobamate and chlordiazepoxide brands, so' addicting that doctors dispense them 1) only to patients in extreme stress and 2) only for a short period of time. Still, they are the most abused drugs.

Are Tranquilizers All Alike?

Not all tranquilizers are alike. In general, they are divided nito two groups based on their usefulness in treating psychoses (severe mental disorders):

1. Major Tranquilizers
   These are non-addicting, have anti-psychotic properties. These include primarily the penc- thiazine and reserpine-type drugs, which are also used to treat high blood pressure. Abuse of "major" tranquilizers is practical- ly non-existent.
2. Minor Tranquilizers
   For the most part, these are not effective in psychotic conditions. They are widely used, however, in calming anxiety, relieving tension and treating other emotional disorders. Many are also useful in relaxing muscles.

Abuse invariably leads to physical addiction and psych~ logical dependence, much like with the barbiturates. As with barbiturates, "withdrawal symptoms" occur when these drugs are cut off abruptly. Convulsions, which can be fatal, happen in a sudden withdrawal from a prolonged high-dose abuse.

What Are the Common Tranquilizers?

Commonly used, abused and misused are:

1. Librium
   This is low in toxicity (poison content), but large doses can cause drowsiness and dizziness (or the opposite: stimulation and rage), confusion and discoordination, headaches. If high doses are continued for months, "withdrawal symptoms" occur: agitation, depression, convulsions. These usually appear about 48 hours after the last dose.
2. Valium
   This gives effects similar to Ubriimi's, but slightly stronger. This is the most commonly sold prescription drug.
3. Miltown
   This acts in the same way as Ubrium and Valium, has the same ill effects when abused. But large doses produce a greater degree of physical addiction and psychological dependence, "withrawal symptoms" are: anxiety, hallucinations, tremors, convulsions, vomiting Body tolerance can develop with continued abuse of any of these drugs

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