1. Depressants
K.Cumming

2. Depressants
Depress the central nervous system by interfering with the transmission of neural impulses in the nerve cells (neurons)

3. Effects of Depressants
Slow down bodily functions especially motor activity and mental activity
Low doses
Feelings of calm and reduced anxiety
Induced sleep
Large doses
Loss of consciousness, coma, death

4. Alcohol
Ethanol is the only common alcohol that can be consumed. Other common alcohols such as methanol and isopropyl are much too toxic
Alcohols are used as antiseptics for injections and to harden skin

5. Alcoholism
Prolonged consumption of alcohol leads to both psychological and physiological dependence
Alcoholism also results in
Violent antisocial behavior
Social costs to families
Safety issues especially road accidents

6. Alcohol Consumption Short term effects
Relaxation, confidence, and increased sociability
Dialation of blood vessels leads to feelings of warmth
Impaired judgment
Lengthened neural response time

7. Alcohol consumption Long term effects of heavy drinking
Cirrhosis of the liver and liver disease
Coronary heart disease
High blood pressure and strokes
Dementia
Miscarriage
Fetal abnormalities and fetal alcohol syndrome

8. Alcohol Withdrawal
Sudden discontinuation of alcohol by heavy drinkers leads to withdrawal symptoms including
Delirium
Tremors’

9. Legal limits for driving
Most states in the US and many countries have established 0.08% blood alcohol as the legal limit for driving
After drinking the concentration of alcohol in the blood increases as the alcohol is absorbed and then gradually declines

10. Alcohol detection Breathalyser tests
Reduction of potassium dichromate to Cr3+ ion
Fuel cell where alcohol is oxidized to produce an electric current
Gas Chromatography
Infrared spectroscopy- intoximeter

11. Other Depressants
Certain medicines known as antidepressants are used to treat anxiety, stress, and clinical depression
These include
Diazepam (Valium)
Nitrazepam
Fluoxetine hydrochloride (Prozac)

12. Fluoxetine Hydrochloride(Prozac)
Prozac is an example of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
SSRIs work by preventing neurons (nerve cells) from pulling in the serotonin that is floating in the space between neurons. This allows more serotonin to build up and improves communication between the neurons.

13. Tranquilizers
Valium

14. Barbituates
Barbiturates are short acting, and include pentobarbital, secobarbital, and amobarbital.
Affect the cortex and create a state similar to alcoholic intoxication in large doses.
Extremely dangerous when mixed with alcohol or other drugs.
A person in withdrawal suffers anxiety, agitation, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, sweating, a fast heartbeat, tremors, and cramps. These symptoms can escalate to convulsions, delirium, and hallucinations.