This document discusses depressants and their effects. It describes how depressants slow down the central nervous system and mental functions. Alcohol is the most commonly used depressant and can cause feelings of calm in low doses but loss of consciousness or death in high doses. Long term alcohol abuse can lead to health issues like liver disease and alcoholism. The document also outlines techniques for detecting ethanol in breath, blood, and urine samples and discusses the synergistic effects of mixing alcohol with other drugs. It identifies other commonly prescribed depressants like benzodiazepines, Valium, and Prozac.

1. D4: Depressants
Ellie, Carson, April, Chynna

2. D.4.1: Describe the effects of
depressants.
• Depressants are drugs which depress the central
nervous system by interfering with the transmission
of nerve impulses in the nerve cells.
• Depressants slow down the funcAons of the body
including mental acAvity
• The most commonly taken depressant is alcohol.
• Depressants are someAmes referred to as anA‐
depressants because they relieve the symptoms of
mental depression.

3. D.4.1: Describe the effects of
depressants.
• In low doses they induce a feeling of calm and
relieve anxiety and may induce sleep.
• In moderate doses, the compound may induce
sedaAon (soothing, reducAon of anxiety).
• In larger doses they can cause loss of
consciousness, coma, and death.

4. D.4.2: Discuss the social and physiological
effects of the use and abuse of ethanol
• Medically, alcohol is used as an anAsepAc
before injecAons and is also used to harden
the skin.
• Drinking large and regular amounts of alcohol
can cause psychological and physical
dependence, known as alcoholism.
• The social costs of road accidents, violent
behavior, and family breakdowns due to
alcohol consumpAon are huge.

5. D.4.2: Discuss the social and physiological effects of the
use and abuse of ethanol
Short Term Long Term Effects
• Loss of self‐restraint. • Dependence,, known as
• Memory, concentraAon, and alcoholism.
insight are impaired. • Liver disease, including
• Violent behavior associated with cirrhosis and liver cancer.
domesAc abuse and family • Coronary heart disease
breakdown. • High Blood Pressure
• Dangerous risk‐taking behavior • Strokes
which can lead to accidents.
• Increased DemenAa
• DehydraAon • Miscarriage and fetal
• VomiAng, loss of consciousness, abnormaliAes.
coma, and death can be caused
by high doses.

6. D.4.3 Describe and Explain the Techniques used for the
DetecAon of Ethanol in the Breath, Blood and Urine
DetecAon in the:
Breath
‐A roadside breathalyser involves either: (not admissible in court)
‐acidified potassium (or sodium) dichromate(VI) crystals turning green when
reduced by alcohol to Cr3+
‐the use of a fuel cell where ethanol is oxidized to produce electricity
‐‐A Modern Intoximeter (conducted at a police staAon) is based in the fact
that the C‐H bonds in ethanol will absorb a certain wavelength (‐3.39µm).
1) The Suspect blows a breath sample into a chamber, and 2) infrared
radiaAon is then passed alternately through the sample chamber and control
chamber. 3) The intensiAes of the emerging beams are compared, and 4) the
amount of radiaAon absorbed is converted into micrograms of ethanol per
100ml of breath

7. D.4.3 Describe and Explain the Techniques used for the
DetecAon of Ethanol in the Breath, Blood and Urine
DetecAng in the Blood and Urine
• Alcohol in both blood and urine are detected using chromatography
• Infrared Intoximeter diagram
• Roadside breathalyser

8. D.4.4 Describe the synergisAc effects of ethanol with
other drugs
Taken from hp://oade.nd.edu/educate‐yourself‐alcohol/cauAon‐alcohol‐and‐other‐drugs‐do‐
not‐mix/

9. D.4.5 IdenAfy other commonly used depressants and
describe their structure
• Other depressants commonly prescribed to reduce anxiety and insomnia
are benzodiazepines and prozac, but only for a limited period of Ame with
counseling and psychotherapy
• Depressants are also used in hospitals before surgery (sedaAves)
• Three common depressants prescribed are Valium, sleeping pills
(mogadon) and Prozac

10. D.4.5 IdenAfy other commonly used depressants and
describe their structure
• FluoxeAne hydrochloride (Prozac) Nitrzepam (mogadon, sleeping
pill)
Diazepam (Valium)