| Teenagers who use depressants abusively are in | | | | rape drug" because guys can easily drug their date |
| danger of being addicted to it not only physically but | | | | by just dropping a tablet of flunitrazepam in their |
| also psychologically. Inappropriate use of depressants | | | | date's beverage. It dissolves quickly in water and has |
| may cause slurred speech, confusion, detached from | | | | absolutely no color, distinct odor and taste. |
| reality, lack of coordination and slowed breathing. If | | | | Flunitrazepam makes people feel drowsy, lose control |
| not monitored properly, depressants can cause | | | | over their muscles and makes people barely recall the |
| serious health problems and complications. | | | | events that happened when they were under the |
| Tranquilizers, another kind of depressant, help people | | | | influence of the drug. |
| become calm and eventually make them fall asleep. | | | | A lot of teenagers resort to using depressants and |
| The most common tranquilizers today are | | | | alcohol to take their mind off things because they |
| benzodiazepines, which include the diazepam and | | | | feel that they have no other place to go to, no |
| alprazolam. | | | | other person to talk to. Students who are under the |
| Tranquilizers such as benzodiazepine provide a calming | | | | abuse of alcohol and depressants may be observed |
| effect by facilitating transmission at synapses that | | | | to be drowsy and sleepy in class, unresponsive to |
| make use of the GABA neurotransmitter. Similarly, | | | | class participation and lacking a sense of balance. |
| alcohol facilitates transmission at the same synapses | | | | Teachers or parents should be sensitive enough to |
| but through a different mechanism. If depressants | | | | detect if a teenager is under the influence of |
| and alcohol are taken together in excessive doses, it | | | | depressants. Early detection is helpful because it |
| can be fatal because they increase the GABA | | | | would mean that early intervention may also take |
| transmission that in turn have a suppressing effect | | | | place. Parents and teachers should not shrug off |
| on the areas of the brain which are responsible for | | | | sudden changes in the mood and attitude of a |
| controlling heartbeat and breathing. | | | | teenager. The deterioration of academic performance |
| Another dangerous benzodiazepine drug is | | | | may also be taken as a warning. |
| flunitrazepam. This is popularly known as the "date | | | | |