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Show MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS Stanley Yolles, M.D., Director National Institute of Mental Health I I III f WHAT ARE THE "UP AND DOWN" DRUGS? This is a nickname for two large families of drugs that we are all familiar with: the amphetamines am-phetamines and barbiturates. Amphetamines are the "up" .drugs. They stimulate the brain and other parts of the central jjervous system. Slang terms for them include: "pep pills," "ben-gies," "ben-gies," and "speed." '2 Barbiturates are "down" drugs. They relax the central .nervous system. Slang for them, particularly the fast-starting, short-acting kinds of barbiturates, barbitu-rates, includes "barbs" and goof balls." - What are the medical uses? Both stimulant and sedative drugs have definite medical uses. When properly employed under the direction of a physician, physi-cian, they can be invaluable as a part of his treatment for a number of conditions. But it must be remembered that they like any drugs must be taken as prescribed. The patient should not attempt to set his own dosages, for example, by leaving off a pill or' doubling up on the amount to be taken at one time. Stimulants are now mainly prescribed for narcolepsy (overwhelming (over-whelming attacks of sleepiness), to control overweight by reducing reduc-ing one's appetite, to combat fatigue when this is desirable, and to fight depression by elevating ele-vating mood. Barbiturates are prescribed by doctors to help in the treatment treat-ment of such conditions as high blood pressure, epilepsy, insom nia, and mental illnesses. Alone, or with other drugs, barbiturates are prescribed for many kinds of other conditions and illnesses. ill-nesses. Everyone probably knows almost al-most instinctively that these drugs can be hazardous to health and safety. But they are so familiar that we may be lulled into forgetting the definite dangers of misuse. The "up" drugs can drive a person to do things beyond his physical endurance and leave him exhausted. Heavy doses may cause a temporary toxic psychosis (mental derangement) derange-ment) which requires hospitalization. hospitali-zation. These drugs can lead to accidents and they can become psychologically addicting. The "down" or sedative drugs can produce effects resembling alcoholic drunkenness when taken in high doses. The ability to think, concentrate, work is reduced; and emotional control is weakened. Overdoses can cause death. Moreover, barbiturates barbitu-rates are a leading cause of accidental poison deaths. They are both psychologically and physiologically addicting. The extent of misuse of these drugs in the U.S. is not known, but best estimates seem to indicate indi-cate 200.000 to 400,000 persons regularly abuse these and other non-narcotic drugs. When in doubt about use of any of these potent compounds, it is a good idea to consult your doctor. For a free leaflet on "The Up and Down Drugs," write to NIMH, Box 1080, Washington, D.C. 20013. |
