Tranquilizers

Tranquilizers (or sleeping pills) are a group of drugs called benzodiazepines. These drugs are widely prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep problems. They are also used to treat panic attacks, seizures and muscle spasms.

How it works

Tranquilizers work by calming the central nervous system. In small doses they make you feel relaxed. In large doses they make you very sleepy.

Side effects

Side effects of legal tranquilizers include:

  • Relief of tension, mental stress and anxiety
  • Positive feelings of calmness, relaxation and well being in anxious individuals
  • A lessened emotional response to things around the user. (ex. a lessened response to pain)
  • Reduced inhibition
  • Decreased mental activity and alertness

Long term effects

Long term effects of legal tranquilizers include:

  • Headache
  • Irritability
  • Confusion
  • Memory impairment
  • Depression
  • Insomnia and tremors (as a result of chronic high dose use of benzodiazepines)
  • Development of psychological and physical dependence

Abrupt cessation after prolonged use leads to withdrawal symptoms which can include insomnia, anxiety, perceptual hypersensitivity, tremor, irritability, nausea and vomiting, and even mental confusion and life-threatening convulsions (after unusually high doses).

Facts

  • When these drugs are prescribed by your doctor and used according to his/her instructions, these drugs are very safe and effective.
  • In the medical world, they have almost entirely replaced barbiturates in the treatment of anxiety and sleep disorders and do not carry the same risk of fatal overdose.
  • Tranquilizers are usually prescribed only for short periods of time. When people use them regularly for a long time they can become physically dependant on them.
  • Tranquilizers should not be used to treat everyday stress. They should be only used during difficult times under the supervision of a doctor.

Examples of tranquilizers

Examples of legal tranquilizers include:

  • Ativan
  • Dalmane
  • Librium
  • Restoril
  • Serex
  • Valium
  • Xanax

Example of illegal tranquilizers:

  • Rohypnol (Flunitrazepam)

Rohypnol (also known under the scientific term GHB)

Rohypnol is an inexpensive drug and this particular aspect makes it dangerously popular in high schools, college campuses, clubs, bars, and at private parties. It is available in many different forms, and called many different names.

Slang

Rohypnol: roofies, rope, the forget pill, the “date rape drug”, R2, Roche, Mexican valium, roachies, la rocha, rib, circles

Effects

Relatively similar to the side effects mentioned above, rohypnol (onset usually takes about 20-30 minutes and can last up to 12 hours) can cause:

  • Drowsiness
  • Sedation
  • Dizziness
  • Memory loss
  • Confusion
  • Muscle relaxation
  • Impaired thinking
  • Loss of motor coordination
  • Decreased blood pressure
  • Headaches
  • Nightmares
  • Aggressive behaviour (rarely)

Regarding the long terms effects of rohypnol, withdrawal symptoms include headaches, muscle pain, extreme anxiety, tension, confusion, numbness, loss of identity, hallucinations, delirium, convulsions, shock, and cardiovascular collapse.

Laws

When tranquilizers are obtained or used without a prescription, offences are punishable on summary conviction by imprisonment for up to one year or on indictment by imprisonment for up to three years.

Rohypnol is not approved for general marketing as a therapeutic drug in Canada. It is governed by the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of the Criminal Code under Schedule III. Possession of rohypnol is a criminal offence. Offences of trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession for the purpose of exporting, production, import and export of the drug are also criminal offences.

Things to think about…

  • Rohypnol is legally available in 64 countries (in Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East), and is primarily used as a sleeping pill in some countries. Although, it is not prescribed in Canada or the U.S, as it is used for illegal purposes only and has been known to be involved in instances of “date rape”.
  • Rohypnol tablets can easily be crushed into powder form which dissolves quickly in beverages. The drug is odourless, colourless and tasteless when dissolved into alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages. Often a victim has no idea the drug has been added to their drink. It is important to always keep an eye on your drink and never leave it unattended. If you order a mixed drink, watch the person who mixes it.
  • Also, NEVER accept a beverage that has been mixed or that is offered in a can or bottle that has already been opened, including alcohol, from someone you do not know well and trust. In the same perspective, it is better not to drink anything out of a common punch bowl.
  • Since February 1999, many rohypnol tablets have been reformulated and now turn blue when added to a drink to increase its visibility. People should still beware because the blue cannot be detected in blue drinks.
  • The amnesia that results from rohypnol means a rape victim may not remember the sexual assault or how and when the drug was ingested—hence the term “date rape” drug. So when you are attending a party or going to a club, use the “buddy system”; ensure you are with one or more friends, and keep an eye on each other.

(Health Canada) (The National Women’s Health Information Centre) (Dawn Ontario)

Where to get help?

For more information on tranquilizers, please talk to your family doctor or your school counselor. You can also check out the Health Canada website or the links below.

Links

Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Dawn Ontario
Drugs.com – Rohypnol
Streetdrugs.org
The National Women’s Health Information Centre
Web MD Health

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