The Basics
Barbiturates help lower feelings of anxiety and also assist individuals falling asleep. They are sedative hypnotics, used to treat various ailments in the early part of the 20th century. In the 1960s and 1970s their use increased dramatically. Doctors prescribed them to treat seizure disorders, anxiety and insomnia. As their use increased to treat the above ailments, so did their abuse.

When Barbiturates are not used for medical reasons, many people take them to counteract the effects of other drugs such as cocaine or methamphetamine. Some individuals take them to decrease anxiety.

Barbiturates can be dangerous because it's hard for users to determine the correct dosage. Also, it doesn't take a large amount of the drug to cause death or to induce a coma.

Why Barbiturates Treatment Is Important

Individuals with an addiction to barbiturates should receive treatment as soon as possible because as stated, there is always the risk of overdose and thus, death. This is especially true when they are used with other stronger drugs such as methamphetamine or cocaine. Barbiturates (downers) are able to counteract the effects of these drugs and make them less stimulating.