Women's Drug Depressants Treatment & Effects Of Depressants

Stress. Pressure. Sleeplessness. Neurological disease. Bodily pain. Overexcitement. These are natural reasons a woman might need help self-soothing.

Trauma. Abuse. Manic episodes. Untreated anxiety disorders. These are issues many feel the need to seek out depressant substances to cope.

What Is A Depressant?

So what is a depressant? Alcohol, painkilling opioids, tranquilizers and sedatives are all under the umbrella of depressant, or “downer” drugs. They limit activity of the central nervous system, causing calm, reduced pain or sleep. The effects of depressants also include dependence and eventual addiction. When misused, depressants can cause serious physical and mental damage.

Sovereign Health of Arizona provides treatment for depressants that is holistic and offers a realistic alternative lifestyle to that of addiction.

Abusing Depressants

Some prescription depressants were designed to mitigate psychotic episodes and are major depressants.

Tranquilizers intended to put down large animals like elephants and horses have infiltrated black market downers.
Anti-anxiety prescriptions containing benzodiazepines are called “benzos” on the street and illegally bought, sold and stolen among nonprescribed users.
Barbituate pharmaceutical drugs used as sleeping pills are also abused.
Other depressants include alcohol and nonbenzodiazepine sleep medicines, including zolpidem, sold under the name Ambien and eszopiclone, known on the retail market as Lunesta.

Side Effects Of Depressants

Some of the difference effects of depressants can include:

Confusion
Depression
Dilated pupils
Disorientation, lack of coordination
Difficulty or inability to urinate
Dizziness
Fatigue, drowsiness
Fever

Slow brain function
Lowered blood pressure
Poor concentration
Reduced coordination
Slowed pulse and breathing
Sluggishness
Slurred speech
Visual disturbances

Red Flags Of Abuse

“Doctor shopping” – trying to get multiple prescriptions for Vicodin from various doctors
Explaining away pill-popping habits
Hiding pills in other containers
Obsession with obtaining more pills, may even frequent others’ homes to raid their medicine cabinet
Taking pills at random times of the day

Inside The Body

All depressants work by slowing down the functioning of the central nervous system. This is usually done by enhancing the effect of a type of neurotransmitter called GABA. This is an inhibitory neurotransmitter which means that its job is to calm down operations within the central nervous system.

Depressants And Opioids

It is estimated that two-thirds of all tranquilizers, such as Valium (diazepam), Librium (chlordiazepoxide) and Xanax (alprazolam), are prescribed to women.

Other prescription drugs used frequently by women include sedatives, such as Halcion (triazolam) and Prosom (estazolam), and analgesics, including Demerol (meperidine) and Percodan (oxycodone). When these drugs are misused, they can cause serious health problems, including addiction and death—especially when combined with alcohol.

Women are more likely to use narcotic pain relievers for nonmedical use than men and also tend to mix prescription drugs with alcohol. Effects of this abuse can include physical dependence, headaches, drowsiness, fainting and elevated blood pressure.

According to a study conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), there are many differences between men and women who abuse opioids. These differences include:

Women have significantly higher cravings for opioids than men
Women have significantly more current and past medical conditions
Women progress faster from use to dependence
Women suffer more severe emotional and physical consequences of opioid use
Among adolescent users of heroin, females are 3.6 times more likely to inject than males
Suicide attempts have shown to be higher among heroin-dependent women than men
Women are more likely to report current and past psychiatric disorders, with significantly higher rates of depression and anxiety

Sovereign Health of Arizona

For those in need of effective types of treatment for addiction to depressants, we are here to help. Sovereign Health of Arizona is a women’s residential rehabilitation center located in Chandler, Arizona. Our expert clinical staff specializes in identifying unique needs and targeting treatment plans for each client. The programs include drug and alcohol addiction, mental health disorders and co-occurring conditions. Additionally, this location provides a special emphasis on treating trauma that may have been caused by abuse, addiction or mental health issues.

Why Choose Sovereign Health?

All Sovereign Health locations throughout the U.S. are committed to individualizing our mantra for each person by treating each patient’s unique needs and circumstances through personalized treatment plans tailored to his or her specific needs.

We offer holistic programming to aid in the rehabilitation of brain functioning while educating our patients on life skills, equipping them with the tools they need to lead more productive lives and avoid relapse in the future. Our brain wellness program includes many therapeutic activities, including equine therapy, art therapy, yoga, meditation, exercise and nutritional counseling.

Sovereign Health of Arizona accepts most major health insurance plans as well as financing through My Treatment Lender, making treatment affordable. If you would like further information about treatment for alcohol, depressants and opioid abuse, please call our 24/7 helpline to speak with a member of our admissions team.