Tranquilizers act as depressants to the central nervous system and are used to calm, induce sleep, or decrease anxiety.

This drug is injected or swallowed in a pill form.

Tranquilizers depress the effectiveness of the central nervous system which in turn slows the body down.

There are two types of tranquilizers:

MAJOR TRANQUILIZERS

These tranquilizers are known as "anti-psychotics", which are used for the treatment of mental illness.

MINOR TRANQUILIZERS

These tranquilizers decrease anxiety as well as induce sleep. They also act as a general anesthetic.

Tranquilizers cause dependence and tolerance.

IMMEDIATE EFFECTS

The effects may appear rapidly and may last from hours to days.

· reduce emotional reactions
· reduce mental alertness
· reduce attention span
· produce a sense of relaxation and well-being
· produce a"floating" sensation
· depress heartbeat
· depress breathing
· induce long periods of sleep
· reduce feelings of anxiety
· cause drowsiness
· cause mental confusion
· cause physical unsteadiness

LONG-TERM EFFECTS

· increased aggressiveness
· physical dependence
· withdrawal reactions
· increased tolerance
|· severe depression
· tolerance and dependence

TOXIC EFFECTS

If tranquilizers are used in combination with other drugs, overdose or death could occur.

SIDE EFFECTS

· skin rashes
· nausea
· dizziness

Tranquilizers disrupt the psycho-motor, intellectual, and perceptual functions.

This drug accumulates in the body tissue after prolonged use.

TRANQUILIZERS AND PREGNANCY

Tranquilizers may cause congenital defects such as:

· cleft lip

· cleft palate

Infants may experience withdrawal symptoms such as: respiratory distress feeding difficulties disturbed sleeping patterns decreased responsiveness sweating irritability fever

Some tranquilizers accumulate in higher concentrations in the bloodstream and organs of the infant than in the mother.

Tranquilizers may accumulate in higher concentrations in the breast milk than in the bloodstream.

Dependence may occur from prescribed dosages.

Tolerance and dependence can occur within ten to fourteen weeks of use.

Large doses of tranquilizers are required by the user to maintain the feeling of well-being.

Dependence is visible if the user has a craving for the drug, tolerance increases, or experiences withdrawal symptoms.

If tranquilizers are used for four to six weeks, then abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms are likely to occur.

WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

· tremors
· agitation
· stomach aches
· sweating
· disturbed sleep
· irritability

These symptoms can last from two to four weeks.

WHY TRANQUILIZERS ARE PRESCRIBED

Tranquilizers are prescribed to treat anxiety caused by stressors in an individual's environment. Tranquilizers can treat:

· insomnia
· anxiety

Tranquilizers are not a cure; they merely relieve the symptoms associated with certain problems.

There may be over 4 million prescriptions written for tranquilizers in one year.

It is possible for tranquilizers to be misused or abused.

EXTENT OF USE

The 1993 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse reported that of those surveyed:

· 4.6% of people (12 and older) used tranquilizers
· 1.2% used in the last year
· .3% used in past month
· 5.2% who ever used were white
· 2.8% who ever used were hispanic
· 2.3% who ever used were black
· .9% of 8th graders had used in past month
· 1.1% of 10th graders had used in past month
· 1.2% of 12th graders had used in past month