1. Drug Investigation Assignment
By: Jon Pressman

2. BARBITURATES Barbituric Acid is the base for all forms
Most common known drug they are used in is Ambien, a prescription sleeping medication.
Common street names for Barbiturates:
Christmas Trees
Pink Ladies
Downers
Blue Birds
Red Devils
Sleepers
Goof Balls

3. What Barbiturates do… Central Nervous System Depressants (CNS)
Effect all excitable tissue in the body but Nervous tissue is the most strongly effected
GABA reduces electric activity within the brain
“There is an area in the brain called the reticular activating system, which is responsible for maintaining wakefulness. Since this area has many interconnecting or polysynaptic neurons, it is the first to succumb to the barbiturates, and that is why an individual becomes tired and falls asleep after taking a barbiturate”.

4. History & Medical use
Barbituric Acid was discovered in 1863 by Nobel Prize winning chemist Adolf Von Baeyer.
German scientists Emil Hermann Fischer and Joseph Von Mering synthesized Barbital in the search for an anti-anxiety drug.
Introduced into the medical field in 1903
Used in the medical field for Anesthesia, Sedation, Induction of Coma, Anti-Convulsant, and to treat Insomnia

5. Schedule Rating and Effects
Barbiturates fall into Schedules II, III, and IV
Schedule II drugs are dangerous substances with genuine medical uses that also have a high potential for abuse and addiction. They are accepted for medical use with restrictions. These drugs may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
Schedule III drugs have real medical uses, but their abuse can still lead to psychological addiction or psychological dependence in those who take them.
Schedule IV drugs have a low abuse potential when compared to Schedule III drugs. These substances have an accepted medical use, but some patients risk developing a psychological dependence on them.

6. Effects of Barbiturates (Physiological, Psychological, Side Effects)
Ultra-short, short, intermediate, and long acting
Physiological Effects: slow down all body functions through decreased electrical activity.
Psychological Effects: Can cause dependency if used for long periods of time. Slurred speech, dizziness, drowsiness, sleep
Side Effects: tightness in chest, weakness, joint swelling, Bleeding sores in the mount, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

7. The Reality of Barbiturates today…
Minimal use

8. Sources http://www.justice.gov/dea/concern/barbiturates.html