TRANQUILLISERS
Tranquillisers are manmade drugs produced to treat anxiety, depression and insomnia. Manufactured to be prescribed by a doctor, they're designed to reduce anxiety and promote calmness, relaxation and sleep
There are hundreds of different tranquillisers around but most common are the Benzodiazepines. Benzos, as they're sometimes called, come in over 50 different forms.
Some people extract the liquid from temazepam capsules and inject it as a substitue for heroin. This is mega dangerous as the thick liquid easily blocks veins and can lead to having to have your limb cut off.
ID: Jellies, benzos, eggs, norries, rugby balls, vallies, moggies, mazzies, roofies, downers.
Appearance and use
Tranquillisers come as tablets, capsules, injections or suppositories (tablets you put up your bum).
They're often used as chill out drugs on the club scene. Some people use them to come down off acid, speed or ecstasy after a big night.
Cost
Around £1 for four 5mg capsules.
Purity
There may be some illegal manufacture of tranquillisers or benzos in other countries. But mostly these drugs are stolen from legal sources and sold.
The effects
- Tranquillisers have a sedative effect. They work by depressing the nervous system and slowing the body down.
- They relieve tension and anxiety and make the user feel calm and relaxed.
- Big doses can make a user sleepy and forgetful and can send them to sleep.
Chances of getting hooked
Pretty high. Tranquillisers or benzodiazepines can cause psychological and physical addiction and because tolerance increases over time users have to keep increasing their dose to get the same hit.
The risks
- Benzos in particular are highly addictive.
- Tranquillisers are a depressant and if they're taken with other depressive drugs like alcohol it can lead to accidental overdose.
- Some tranquillisers have been shown to cause short-term memory loss.
- Injecting crushed tablets or melted down gel capsules is extremely dangerous and sometimes fatal. The chalk in tablets is a major cause of collapsed veins which can lead to infection and abscess. Injecting gel capsules can also be fatal when the gel solidifies inside the blood vessels.
- Withdrawal can cause unpleasant symptoms like a pounding headache, nausea, anxiety and confusion. Some people report withdrawal symptoms after only four weeks use. These can be dangerous and require medical help.
- Sudden withdrawal after big doses or from some specific drugs can cause panic attacks and fits.
There's been a big increase in sex crime involving tranquillisers like rohypnol. Victims' drinks are spiked with the drug, knocking them into an often paralysed stupor so they're either unaware of or unable to prevent a sexual assault
The law
Tranquillisers can only be prescribed by a pharmacist. They are controlled under Class C of the misuse of drugs act.
It's illegal to possess benzodiazepines, including temazepam, without a prescription. Unauthorised possession could result in a prison sentence of up to 2 years and an unlimited fine. Supplying could mean up to 14 years in prison and an unlimited fine.
Fact: Passing drugs among friends is supplying in the eyes of the law.
Fact: A drug conviction could stand between you and your ideal job.
