Are barbiturates dangerous?
Barbiturates are among the most dangerous of the drugs used illegally. Here’s why: Your body quickly becomes tolerant to the drug’s pleasant effects – meaning that you need a bigger dose to get the “high”. But the body does not become tolerant to the effect the drug has on breathing – meaning that the more you take, the weaker your breathing. At some point you may become unconscious, go into a coma, or even die. Mixing barbiturates with other “downers” such as alcohol, tranquillizers, or heroin, or even with some antihistamines, is very dangerous for the same reason. They also slow your heart and breathing rates. If you inject barbiturates you run even more risks, such as tetanus or other infections from dirty needles – or hepatitis or AIDS from needles shared with others. Pregnant women should not take barbiturates except under a doctor’s supervision. Prolonged use may cause birth defects or, at the very least, babies may suffer withdrawal symptoms from their mother’s drug use.
