Hello! This is Jimmy Oakley. Let me welcome you to my new Health Education video series. The addiction videos are being produced in conjunction with addictioneducation.net.
Now for those of you who are not familiar with my program, that is a website for new book I have written called Addiction Education, You Have Questions, I Have Answers! Please, take a look if you are interested in finding out how you can best deal with addiction recovering.
This is video number 5 in the addictions category and before I go further let me just say, I am not a professional voice over artist. I make mistakes when I do these. Please forgive me. The title of this video is Discover The 7 Signs that Somewhere Around You is Using Depressants. A depressant is a chemical agent that diminishes the function or activities of a specific part of the body. The term is used in particular with regard to the central nervous system.
Now Central Nervous System is made of your brain and your spinal cord. We will refer to it as CNS in this video. Alcohol is the most common example of a depressant. Now many Depressants acing on the CNS do so by increasing the activity of a particular neurotransmitter know as gamma-aminobutyric acid otherwise referred to as GABA.
The GABA'S task is to calm the central nervous system and to promote sleep. Drugs stimulate the activity of this amino acid produce slowed brain function and a drowsy or calm feeling so depressants are often prescribed by doctors to treat a variety of medical problems including anxiety, tension, stress, insomnia, muscle spasm and irritability. The downside is that depressants are often abuse, because of their intoxicating effects. Depressants are frequently referred to as downers because of their sedative, hypnotic, and tranquillizing effects.
Internal systems regulate the body's production of GABA. However, when medication is taken to stimulate GABA action, it is possible to induce hazardously high level. These high levels can dangerously slow breathing and heart rates and actually result in death.
Depressants are a group of drugs that depress the central nervous system. The most familiar depressants in use today are Alcohol, Barbituates, Benzodiazepines, Quaaludes, Nitrous Oxide, Diazepam, Methaqualone and Chloral Hydrates. Other less common depressants include Chlordiazepoxide, Gluthethimide, Meprobamate, Pentobarbitol and Secobarbitol.
The signs or symptoms to watch out for are very similar to alcohol intoxication, though without the smell of alcohol. Signs and symptoms include the symptoms of alcohol intoxication with no alcohol odor in the breath. Remember, depressants are frequently used in conjunction with alcohol. A lack of facial expression or animation, a flat affect, a flaccid expression, slurred speech, dizziness and a lack of coordination.
If you determine someone close to you or love one is using depressants for any reasons other than what they are prescribed for, please encourage them to seek medical attention and diagnosis as soon as possible. If you fee they are in total denial, I would recommend that you seriously consider setting up an intervention on their behalf.
Well, that brings us to a close of our short video number 5. I truly hope that you have derived some useful information from its contents. I hope to see you again in video number 6. The 10 Definitive Signs That Users of Hallucinogens Can't Hide. I am Jimmy Oakley saying thanks till next time.
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