What Is a Depressant?

A depressant is a substance that inhibits or slows down the central nervous system. The effects include relaxation of the mind, relaxation of the body and an apparent relief to stress. Depressants are among the mostly commonly used drugs worldwide.

Barbiturates

• Barbiturates have been prescribed since the early 1900s to induce sleep. In the medical world, they are often used as sedatives. They have been used to control high blood pressure, relieve anxiety and treat epilepsy. Barbiturates are known to cause a euphoric feeling and are easily abused, so the medical community has replaced them in favor of benzodiazepines.

Benzodiazepines

• Benzodiazepines are depressants that are widely used as a short-term treatment for anxiety and sleep disorders. These are currently some of the most widely prescribed drugs in the United States because of their effectiveness and low toxicity levels. Because of the risk of dependency, they are normally not used to treat long-term conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

Tranquilizers

• Tranquilizers are sedatives used to calm a person without affecting alertness or clear thinking. They are not as potent as barbiturates, but still have a strong enough effect to help induce sleep, and have been prescribed for anxiety for more than 20 years.

Methaqualone

• Commonly referred to as quaaludes, these types of depressants were commonly used in the United States until 1985, when doctors stopped prescribing them. They were commonly used recreationally, and overdoses and addiction were common.

Alcohol

• Alcohol is a depressant and is the second most commonly consumed drug, behind caffeine. Beer alone is the third most consumed beverage in the world. Alcohol is legal (over the age of 21), but also has a high abuse rate. One study found that over 70 million people in the United States engage in heavy drinking. It is also believed that over 50 percent of homicides and traffic deaths involve alcohol.