Slang Words for Depressants

Depression

Before we look at slang words for depressants, it would be good to know about depression. Depression is an illness that affects the mind and body. It is also called major depressive disorder and clinical depression. It is not about being weak nor is it something you can just snap out of. It is a chronic illness that will require treatment for a long time. Both medication and psychological counseling can help with depression.

Symptoms vary from individual to individual and having just a few of these symptoms does not mean you have depression. Here is a list of common symptoms:

Sadness
Losing interest in normal activities
Little or no sex drive
Change in appetite
Irritability
Change in sleep patterns
Restlessness
Slowing down in thinking or moving
Fatigue
Thoughts of death or suicide
Distractibility
Crying for no reason
Feelings of worthlessness
Memory trouble
Difficulty making decisions

Depressants

Depressants slow down the nervous system and can be tranquilizers or sedatives. The effects of depressants are slow pulse and breathing, drowsiness, slurred speech, lowered blood pressure, and impaired coordination and thinking. If used for a long time, depressants can become addictive, cause problems with sleep and sexual function and often lead to respiratory arrest and death.

Some depressants are:

Barbiturates - These are sedative hypnotics which help with insomnia and anxiety. Some are Phenobarbital, Nembutal, and Amytal.
Benzodiazepines - These are tranquilizers and some of the brand names are Valium and Xanax
Marijuana - This is also a depressant and can be legally obtained in some areas.

Drug Addiction vs Physical Dependence

The definition of drug addiction is the compulsive use of a drug in spite of the negative, and possibly dangerous, effects. When you are addicted to a drug, the body will become tolerant of it and you need to have more of it to get the same effect. Drug addiction causes an intense craving for the drug.

Some drugs are needed for the body to function and may not be addictive, like blood pressure medicine, but they cause a physical dependence. Some drugs cause addiction but the body does not become physically dependent on them, like Cocaine. Your body can become physically dependent on any number of drugs, including nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol.