Barbiturates

Barbiturates are man made drugs that affect the central nervous system by depressing the nerve signals in the brain (thus the term "depressant"). The classification of barbiturates is as a sedative-hypnotic; that is, a drug that causes relaxation, relief from anxiety, and sleep.

Every year, over three million Americans use barbiturates without medical supervision. About 5,000 deaths and tens of thousands of emergency room visits result each year from barbiturate overdoses, many resulting fro...