Barbituates

The Names:

Barbs, barbies, sleepers, blue bullets, nembies, pink ladies, red devils

The Facts:

Several years ago, barbiturates were commonly prescribed by doctors as sleeping pills. However, following a spate of deaths due to misuse they have largely been replaced by tranquillisers when prescribed. They usually come in tablet form.

The Law:

Barbiturates are a Class B drug, which are only legally available on prescription.

The Effects:

Barbiturates are sedatives, which means they make you feel very sleepy. They work by depressing your central nervous system. In small doses barbiturates help people feel relaxed. Larger doses can make you feel drunk, slur your speech, be clumsy, feel sick, irritable, nervous, have fits or pass out. Falling over and accidents become more likely when you are on barbiturates. Users have been known to pass out and fall into fires.

The Risks:

Tolerance of barbiturates can quickly develop, which means you need more and more to get the same effects and addiction is common. Users are also liable to bronchitis and pneumonia (because the cough reflex is suppressed) and hypothermia.

Withdrawal from barbiturates can be difficult, and should always be done under medical supervision as sudden withdrawal from high doses can be fatal. Mixing barbiturates with even small amounts of alcohol, heroin or tranquillisers can also be fatal. There is a high risk of overdose because the lethal dose is quite close to the 'normal' dose level.

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