WHAT IT IS

Names: Barbiturates, barbs, downers, goofballs, Amytal (amobarbital), Butisol (butabarbitral), Nembutal (pentobarbital), Luminal (phenobarbital), Seconal (secobarbital), methaqualone (lodes, 714s).

Type: Sedative, hypnotic.

Forms: White, bitter tasting powders soluble in water.

Combinations: With amobarbital and secobarbital, 'Tuinal" with butalbital, ASA (Aspirin), and caffeine, "Fiorinal" (with codeine, "Fiorinal C") with weak steet heroin and methamphetamine.

Usage: Swallowed as tablet, capsule or liquid solution. Inserted as rectal suppository. Injected into bloodstream (mainlining) or muscle, or under skin (skin popping).

Legal Status: Legal as manufactured and prescribed by license for clinical use.

Other Forms: Similar acting non-barbiturate downers once sold as Quaalude or Mandrox are no longer manufactured in America.

WHAT IT FEELS LIKE

Relaxation, peacefulness, sleepiness, pleasurable intoxication, dizziness, inactivity, withdrawal, interrupted thought processes, mood swing, excitement, increased pain, hostility, depression, anxiety, confusion, changed vision, intense emotions, hangover.

WHAT IT DOES

To Your Mind: Depresses central nervous system.

To Your Body: Progressive decline in blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain. Alternate pupil constriction and dilation. Loss of reflex response. Low body temperature and blood temperature. Weak pulse.

Special Characteristics: Effects course ever increasing depression of respiratory control centers of the brain. Medical application is based on the durations of action of the many and various barbituates: ultra short, short and intermediate, long acting. Tolerance leads to increased doses, risk of life -threatening complications, and severe withdrawal symptoms.

HOW IT CAN HURT YOU

Anxiety, restlessness, depression. Psychotic episodes. Impaired memory, judgment and thinking. Worsening of preexisting emotional disorders. Hostility, chronic fatigue from sleep disturbance or insomnia. Slurred speech, limited motor coordination. Changes in eyesight. Vertigo, impotence, reduced sex drive, irregular menstruation, breathing disorders.

Death can come from stopped breathing, suicide, combination with other CNS depressants (such as alcohol), severe withdrawal reactions.

Dependence builds with tolerance, which varies for each individual, and develops as cross-tolerance to similar drugs. Craving continues after pleasurable effects disappear and drug use is stopped.

WHEN TO GET HELP

• Do you use downers regularly?
• Do you think about how and when you're going to use them again?
• Is your work or school performance affected?
• Are you having problems with family and friends?
• Are you spending more on drugs than you can afford?
• Do you use other drugs in addition to barbiturates?

One "yes" and your common sense tells you it's time to get smart about drugs and the rest of your life.

Fact: Barbiturates are among the most dangerous, life threatening drugs.