Signs and Symptoms of Sedative Use
In Europe, it’s mostly people approaching middle age who are the most problematic abusers of sedatives. The average age of a person seeking treatment for sedative abuse is 38 years. Greatest demand for treatment by far occurs in Hungary, with 38% of those seeking treatment being troubled by sedative abuse. Finland, Sweden, Croatia and France also have relatively high rates.
Since sedatives are prescribed to bring about calmness or help a person sleep, the most obvious signs and symptoms of sedative abuse would be drowsiness, poor coordination, slurred speech and poor memory. Their breathing, blood pressure and heart rate will slow. Sedatives can also cause a person to lose their inhibitions, so they may take risks they would not normally take.
If a person takes too much of a sedative, they can slow down the functions of the central nervous system to the point of death. Opiates, alcohol and other drugs also affect the central nervous system and so can interact with sedatives to intensify the deadly effect of the drugs.
Sleep aids have the peculiar effect of causing a person to do things they don’t remember later. Like cooking, talking on the phone, driving or having sex.
Types of Sedatives
The two main classes of sedative are barbiturates and sleep aids. Nembutal (pentobarbital), Luminal (phenobarbital) and Seconal (secobarbital) are common barbiturates. Lunesta (eszopiclone), Ambien (zolpiderm) and Sonata (zaleplon) are common sleep aids.
Most barbiturates have been phased out of popular use in favor of benzodiazepines.
Addiction is Also a Sign of Sedative Use
Sleep aids, barbiturates (and their replacements benzodiazepines) are all addictive. Thus a person who takes these drugs for a long duration or who abuses them over a period of time are very likely to become addicted.
Those who abuse these drugs like the euphoric feeling that results from their consumption. Some people use these drugs to deal with the side effect of some other drug of abuse.
Recovering from Sedative Addiction
A person who has been addicted to a sedative must recover the ability to enjoy life without drugs, otherwise that desire for the sensation the drug creates can drive them back into drug abuse. If a person simply feels that the future is going to be a grim battle to resist cravings from morning to night every day, they may have little motivation to get sober. When a person comes to a Narconon drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, they may be pleasantly surprised to find that they can learn to live a productive, enjoyable life again.
One of the key steps in achieving this change is the Narconon New Life Detoxification. This phase of the overall recovery program uses a sauna, moderate daily exercise and a strict regimen of nutritional supplements to help flush out old drug toxins. Learn more about the Narconon program and the New Life Detoxification.
RESOURCES:
