Depressants

= **DEPRESSANTS** = A depressant is a type of drug that has the ability to reduce the responsiveness (by interfering with nerve transmission) of a body part or brain. It is also commonly referred to as an __anti-depressant__ because it has the ability to relieve the symptoms of mental depression.

=GENERAL THERAPEUTIC USAGE AND EFFECTS=
 * can reduce feelings of anxiety and stress
 * can induce sleepiness and used against [|insomnia]
 * can induce [|analgesia]
 * can reduce seizures in the treatment of epilepsy
 * can reduce muscle tension
 * can lower blood pressure and heart rate
 * can boost mood

=TYPES OF DEPRESSANTS=

=EXPONENTIAL INCREASE OF THE EFFECT OF DEPRESSANTS=
 * **Depressant** || **Functional Group** || **Effects** ||
 * Alcohol || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Alcohol_general.svg caption="Hydroxyl"]] || Can be addictive, mild side effects in comparison to other depressants. Can induce sleepiness, reduce anxiety and reduce blood pressure and heart rate. Can cause respiratory problems in large dosages which can result in death. ||
 * Barbiturate || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Kwas_barbiturowy.svg caption="Barbituric acid"]] || Highly addictive mentally and physically. Used as an anesthetic as well as a sedative. In modern days have been replaced by benzodiazepines which have fewer side effects. ||
 * Benzodiazepines || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Benzodiazepine_a.svg caption="Fusion between a benzene ring and a diazepine ring"]] || Has a large span of medical uses. Used to treat symptoms of anxiety, seizures and can be used as an anesthetic. Can induce sleepiness as well as treat alcohol withdrawal. ||
 * Opoids ||  || Common examples of an opoid is heroin and morphine. They bind to opoid receptors and cause dependence and addiction. Commonly misused as illicit drugs to achieve euphoria. ||

The ability of depressants to interfere with nerve transmission does not increase linearly with increased quantities, but rather exponentially. This is why high dosages of a depressant can be fatal by completely severing nerve transmission.

=SOCIAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF THE USE/ABUSE OF ETHANOL= =SYNERGISTIC EFFECT OF ETHANOL WITH OTHER DRUGS= The consumption of ethanol with another drug can cause otherwise unpredictable (and usually harmful) side effects. One common example is the combined usage of alcohol with aspirin. This can cause severe stomach bleeding.
 * **TYPE** || **DOSAGE** || **EFFECTS** ||
 * Physiological || Moderate || When taken less than an hour before sleep, it can decrease the time required to fall asleep but it can disturb the sleep maintenance (frequently wake up). However, upon 3 days of consuming alcohol before sleep, the body develops a resistance; thus, the ethanol does not affect sleep as greatly. ||
 * Physiological || Low || Increases total sleep time and sleep maintenance. People that drink less frequently are usually sedated (better sleep) while those that drink more frequently are usually stimulated (disturbing sleep). ||
 * Physiological || N/A || Withdrawal (caused by suddenly stopping alcohol consumption) can cause sleep deprivation. ||
 * Physiological || High || Vomiting, decreased heart rate, unconsciousness or death ||
 * Physiological || Moderate || Delayed reactions, balance difficulty, problems with ability to comprehend or remember, impairment of certain senses (depends on person) ||
 * Physiological || Low || Flushed appearance, affects judgement ||
 * Social || Low || Enhanced sociability, increased confidence, stimulates better mood ||
 * Social || Moderate/High || Increase in hormonal levels (more susceptible to acts of violence and lust) ||
 * Physiological || High/Long-Term || Coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes and increased risk of dementia. ||
 * Physiological || N/A || Can cause miscarriage if taken during pregnancy. ||
 * Physiological || N/A || Delirium tremens (a violent shaking) upon sudden discontinuation of alcohol intake and can last up to four days. ||

The combined usage of an alcohol with another sedative (depressant) can cause heavy sedation and in some cases, death. The combined usage of an alcohol with another stimulant (for example an illicit drug) can become the cause of death and severe health issues, and is commonly advised against.

=TECHNIQUES TO DETECT ETHANOL= Often used in roadside detection. The orange potassium dichromate (VI) turns green as it reacts with alcohol.
 * By breathalyser:**

Oxidizes alcohol in order to generate electricity.
 * By fuel cell:**

However, neither of these methods are accurate enough to be used in court. They are used as a form of preliminary testing only. More accurate ways include:

Uses blood or urine sample for laboratory analysis for a far more accurate detection of the level of alcohol.
 * Gas liquid chromotography:**

The suspect blows his/her breath into the tube. Because the C-H bonds in ethanol absorb infrared radiation of a particular wavelength (3.39 micrometers). A control group is used first, without the breath. Then, the intoximeter measures the total amount of radiation absorbed by the breath sample and convert it into micrograms of ethanol per 100 cm3 of breath. = = = = = = =IB OBJECTIVES= = = =REFERENCES:= 1. [] 2. IB Biology class 3. IB Chemistry Book
 * Modern intoximeter:**
 * Describe the effects of depressants.
 * Discuss the social and physiological effects of the use and abuse of ethanol.
 * Describe and explain the techniques used for the detection of ethanol in the breath, the blood and urine.
 * Describe the synergistic effects of ethanol with other drugs.
 * Identify other commonly used depressants and describe their structure.