| Barbs,
barbies, blue bullets, blue devils, gorillas, nembies, pink ladies, red
devils, sleepers
Amytal, Sodium Amytal, Soneryl, Seconal and Tuinal
Barbiturates are synthetic
drugs which used to be regularly prescribed for anxiety, depression and
insomnia. However, they are highly dangerous because of the small difference
between a normal dose and an overdose
and many people were either accidently dying or deliberately using them
to commit suicide. Therefore they are only now prescribed for very serious
insomnia. A less dangerous type is also used to treat epilepsy.
Barbiturates used to be a regular feature of the UK drugs
scene, but because there is very little prescribing and no illicitly made varieties
around, fortunately little is seen of them these days.
THE LAW
Barbiturates are Prescription Only drugs under the
Medicines Act. This means they can only be sold from a pharmacy in accordance with a
doctor's prescription.
Barbiturates are also controlled
as class B drugs under the Misuse
of Drugs Act. Doctors can still prescribe them and patients take them
but unauthorised possession or supply is an offence. Maximum penalty is
5 years imprisonment and a fine for possession and 14 years imprisonment
and a fine for supply. If prepared for injection barbiturates are regarded
as class A drugs with more severe penalties.
HISTORY
A large number of barbiturates have been manufactured for
medical use since 1903. They were originally advertised as being completely safe and
without any side effects. Despite stories of fatal overdoses, physical dependence and
unpleasant effects medical use grew dramatically in the 1950s and 1960s, especially as
sleeping tablets. In 1966 there were over 16 million prescriptions for barbiturates in the
UK Barbiturates diverted or stolen from medical supplies also became commonly used as
street drugs.
Concern about the number of accidental and deliberate
overdoses from prescribed barbiturates led to a campaign amongst doctors in 1975 to warn
people of their dangers. The campaigning group of doctors estimated that 27,000 people had
died using barbiturates between 1959 and 1974. Medical prescribing fell to 5.1 million
prescriptions in 1978 and continued downwards in 1996. Doctors switched to prescribing
minor tranquillisers instead.
Street use also led to many deaths and problems, especially
where barbiturates were injected. Despite this the government did not consider them
dangerous enough to control under the Misuse of Drugs Act until 1985. By then street use
had begun to decline. Fewer barbiturates were being manufactured as pharmaceutical
companies marketed tranquillisers as an alternative and by the mid 1980s greater supplies
of another 'downer' drug hit the streets - heroin.
There have been some recent isolated reports of use of
barbiturates in clubs possibly by users of amphetamines and ecstasy to bring them down
from the high.
EFFECTS/ RISKS
Barbiturates are sedative
drugs which slow down the central nervous system in a similar way to alcohol.
A small dose will make people feel relaxed, sociable and good humoured.
With larger doses hostility and anxiety are common effects and slurred
speech, loss of co-ordination and difficulty staying awake may follow.
Falling over and accidents become more likely.
There is a high risk of
overdose
because the lethal dose is quite close to the 'normal' dose level. 10
tablets may be fatal and this risk is greater if barbiturate use is combined
with use of other downer drugs such as alcohol, heroin or tranquillisers.
"This friend of mine was always taking barbs.
He also drank whisky a lot. Anyway one night he'd had a skinful of both. He was out in the
back garden and his flatmate had started a fire to burn a load of garden rubbish. He
collapsed and fell into the fire. He just lay there for ages. We found him and his leg was
like a burnt piece of lamb. I've played around with all sorts of drugs but barbs no
way".
Injected into a vein barbiturates produce an almost
immediate feeling of warmth and drowsiness. Besides the usual hazards of injecting
(hepatitis, HIV etc.) barbiturate injectors run an increased risk of overdose, gangrene
and skin abscesses.
Tolerance
and physical dependence develop with regular use. Withdrawal
from regular use may result in irritability, anxiety, inability to sleep,
faintness and nausea, twitching and occasionally convulsions. After very
high doses and regular use, severe withdrawal symptoms are likely including
seizures, low blood pressure, delirium and hallucinations. Sudden withdrawal
from high doses can be fatal.
Heavy users are also liable to bronchitis and pneumonia
(because the cough reflex is suppressed) and hypothermia.
Regular use of barbiturates in the later stages
of pregnancy
can result in withdrawal
symptoms in new born babies.
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