Lesson 3: Depressants 101

Despite being “downers”, depressants are often used in social settings, particularly when it comes to alcohol. Alcohol is known for being the most used substance in the world, and being legal in most areas it is also one of the most easily-accessed. Depressants are also used to help with pain relief, for managing emotional or mental health difficulties, or as a result of physical dependence. Alcohol and benzos both have physically addictive qualities that make withdrawal potentially fatal, making it more difficult for people to change their patterns of use or to go without.

Alcohol in our Native communities continues to be associated with great physical, social, and spiritual tolls on us and our loved ones. Since first contact, alcohol has been weaponized as a tool of violence and land theft against our people. There are many negative racial stereotypes placed upon Native peoples related to alcohol use, when in reality alcohol was a weapon. In our Native communities today, alcohol use is prevalent as it is easily accessible and helps people manage pain or negative effects of trauma. The alcohol crisis has disproportionately affected the Native community, as with other substances, due to systemic violence, a historical lack of culturally-sensitive resources, and racism experienced in non-Native facilities.

Alcohol use in the Native community is not a failure on our part. It is a reflection of the ways alcohol has been used by non-Natives to intentionally disrupt our communities and break apart our traditional family systems for the purposes of land theft and forced removal. Native people throughout California have worked hard to develop paths of healing and care for our relatives who struggle with alcohol use, and is an example of the deep work that’s been done in our communities since contact to heal from these atrocities.

Alcohol is a physically addicting substance where the body becomes reliant on regular use. When people become dependent on alcohol, symptoms ranging from more mild such as headache, anxiety, nausea, insomnia, or sweating, to more severe symptoms such as tremors, heart palpitations, hallucinations, and seizures. Alcohol is one of few substances where unmanaged withdrawal can be fatal. There are many options for managing alcohol withdrawal, which typically include supervision and/or medication.

Alcohol overdose, or alcohol poisoning, is a life-threatening emergency that can happen when someone drinks too much too quickly, or if someone drinks a standard amount but with another risk factor added such as drinking on an empty stomach. Like all depressants, alcohol affects the central nervous system, so an alcohol overdose means the central nervous system begins to slow or shut down to the point of potential fatality. The signs of alcohol poisoning include uncontrolled vomiting, lowered or lack of consciousness, unusually slow breathing, seizures, or blue/gray/pale skin. Alcohol poisoning is an emergency that can lead to brain damage or death if left untreated. If there is a potential instance of alcohol poisoning, it’s important to act quickly to prevent additional harm or potential for injury.

Benzos are typically prescribed anti-anxiety medications, although some benzos are manufactured illicitly. Benzos are more common among younger people and tend to be in social settings, and some of the main effects include inhibition, confidence, muscle relaxation, and memory loss. Many people experience “black outs” when using benzos recreationally.

Benzo use in tandem with alcohol is also potentially fatal because of the interactions between the two substances. While benzo overdose is less common than with other substances, using too high of a dosage can lead to heavy impairment, loss of consciousness, or even coma or fatality. Regular benzo use can lead to physical dependency, which can be a potentially fatal situation if someone decides to stop using “cold turkey” – similar to alcohol dependency, benzo withdrawal if done wrong can lead to death.

Other depressants, including GHB, barbiturates, and sleeping pills are less commonly used recreationally in comparison to alcohol and benzos. These substances similarly work to slow the central nervous system and produce sedative effects, with a slight difference in sensation between them. GHB is typically used in club settings, while barbiturates and sleeping pills tend to be used in less-social settings. These have similar risk of overdose as alcohol and benzos due to central nervous system depression, though only barbiturates have a similar risk of withdrawal-related fatality. These drugs are less commonly seen in substance use programs or related organizations providing services to people who use drugs, though there is a small demographic still using them recreationally.