Psychotherapeutic Drugs

(See:Drugs in American Society, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th. and 9th editions, Erich Goode, McGraw-Hill, 1999/2005/2008/2012/2014. Chapter 8/11/9 and Drugs, Society, and Human Behavior, Ray and Ksir, Mosby, 1993. Chapters 7 and 13) Statistics are gathered from the various surveys discussed, especially: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Results from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings, NSDUH Series H-48, HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4863. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014.

Sedatives

Major: Serious psychological problems

  1. Anti-psychotics
  2. Phenothiazines
  3. No high
  4. Rarely used recreationally
  5. Defining Neuroleptica

Minor: Less serious problems

  1. Benzodiazepines
  2. Reduce anxiety
  3. Calmatives

Sedatives vs. Tranquilizers: Sedatives can do the same thing as tranquilizers, but therapeutic doses tend to produce clouding, intoxication, dis-coordination and dependence. Experience with tranquilizers showed later that dependence was a reality with them, too.

Types of Sedatives

Chloral hydrate

Paraldehyde

Bromides

Barbiturates

Recreational use significant too.

  1. The "Downer Freak"
  2. Obliteration of Awareness
  3. Juveniles and VIOLENCE especially with alcohol; 78% rank SECONAL as producing assaultiveness (11% rank alcohol): Not all barbiturates equal. Potentiation vs. Causation.

Meprobamate

Benzodiazepines

    1. Thought to be less problematic.
    2. Concern: Rushed through testing without adequate controls or review in order to get to the market-- Profit potential very high.
    3. Problems: dependency, memory loss, rage?

(www.erowid.org)

Methaqualone

All of the above drugs apparently enhance the inhibitory effects of GABA . Seems there are GABA-Receptor Complexes which attract the variety of drugs described. Now work is on to develop new drugs that work on this complex: Xanax

Pattern: Conventional-Deviant Behavior

Crime and deviance as converted form of Conventional behavior

PCP

Anti-Psychotics

1946: 525,000 patients (220,000 admit/year)

1955: 680,000 patients (350,00 admit/year) (Chlorpromazine: Thorazine introduced)

1993: 120,000 patients (750,000 admit/year)

1998: 90,000 patients (no data available)

Admissions up steadily, census peaks in 1955 and then steady, dramatic decline

Stay earlier: 6 or more months, Now: 2-3 weeks

Antidepressants

Focus: Prozac

  1. Introduced in 1987, by 1990 prescriptions up 500%. Now in the top 10
  2. One million prescriptions filled per month. More than one-half by non-psychiatrists.
  3. Psychologist James Goodwin of Wenatchee, WA, has used himself since 1989, and virtually demands that all his clients be prescribed the drug!
  4. Big $$$$$'s for Eli Lilly.
  5. Questions: Testing. By 1990 reports of bizarre, violent and self-destructive behavior.
  6. "Prozac-Generated Syndrome."
  7. Prozac Survivors: legal action.
  8. 1991: FDA rejected request by above groups to remove Prozac.
  9. Continues to be one of the most popular antidepressants (Zoloft and Paxil outsell now).
  10. Now "Sarafem."

Another Horror Story (Pattern Continues): Halcion (triazolam) (1997 IOM Report)

The "new" drug: Ambien

A Word about Ritalin (methylphenidate)

(www.erowid.org)

The Next Drug=>????????????????

Drugs and Crime

URL: http://www.umsl.edu/~keelr/180/prescrip.html
Owner: Robert O. Keel rok@umsl.edu
References and Credits for this Page of Notes
Last Updated: Thursday, April 12, 2018 11:08 AM