DOWNERS

DOWNER DRUGS

• Hydrocodone
• Xanax/Oxycotin
• Rohyphol

-Downers: drugs that reduce excitability and calm a person.
-Reasons: pain, surgery injury, anxiety, stressful, addictions

XANAX

Xanax (alprazolam) belongs to a group of drugs called benzodiazepines. It works by slowing down the movement of chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced. This results in a reduction in nervous tension (anxiety).

Xanax is used to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and anxiety caused by depression.

SIDE EFFECTS

depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself, unusual risk-taking behavior, decreased inhibitions, no fear of danger;
confusion, hyperactivity, agitation, hostility, hallucinations;
feeling like you might pass out;
urinating less than usual or not at all;
chest pain, pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
uncontrolled muscle movements, tremor, seizure (convulsions); or
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious Xanax side effects may include:
drowsiness, dizziness, feeling tired or irritable;
blurred vision, headache, memory problems, trouble concentrating;
sleep problems (insomnia);
swelling in your hands or feet;
muscle weakness, lack of balance or coordination, slurred speech;
upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea;
increased sweating, dry mouth, stuffy nose; or
appetite or weight changes, loss of interest in sex.
Along with over 100 more

SCIENTIFIC NAME

Alprazolam

STREET NAMES

Benzos, Z-bars, Bars, School Buses, Yellow Boys, Footballs, Handlebars, White boys, White Girls, Bicycle Parts

GERALD LEVERT

Untitled Slide

singer Gerald Levert passed away at the age of 40 in his Ohio home from what was labeled accidental acute intoxication due to a combination of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, including painkillers for shoulder and Achilles tendon injuries and Xanax for anxiety attacks.

OCYCONTIN

OxyContin (oxycodone) is an opioid pain medication. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic.

OxyContin is used to treat moderate to severe pain that is expected to last for an extended period of time. OxyContin is used for around-the-clock treatment of pain. It is not to be used on an "as-needed" basis for pain.

SIDE EFFECTS

More common
Difficulty having a bowel movement, (stool)
drowsiness,
lack or loss of strength,
relaxed and calm feeling,
sleepiness, or unusual drowsiness

Less common
Abnormal dreams, acid or sour stomach, anxiety, belching
burning feeling in the chest or stomach,
false or unusual sense of well-being,
heartburn,hiccups,indigestion
stomach discomfort, upset, or pain
tenderness in the stomach area,
trouble sleeping, weight loss
Along with 100s more

SCIENTIFIC NAMES

Oxycodone, Oxecta, OxyContin, Oxyfast, Roxicodone

STREET NAMES

Cotton
Pills, Kickers, OxyCotton,
Ox, OCs, Orange County,
Os, Oxys, Killers,
Xanax, Rushbo,
Codeine, Codone

ELVIS PRESLEY

Untitled Slide

The official cause of death of the King of Rock ‘n Roll, then 42, was cardiac arrhythmia (an irregular heartbeat), but it’s generally believed that prescription drugs contributed to his heart condition. Although initial statements from the medical examiner excluded drugs as a cause of death, further investigations found that the singer had been prescribed between 5,000 and 10,000 pills in the eight-month span before his death. Presley’s doctor, Dr. George C. Nichopoulos, explained the singer’s open attitude toward prescription drugs: “He felt that by getting [pills] from a doctor, he wasn’t the common everyday junkie getting something off the street.”

ROHYPHOL

-An intermediate acting benzodiazepine used as an hypnotic, sedative, anticonvulsant anxiolyticand and skeletal muscle relaxant drug.

SIDE EFFECTS

-Loss of muscle control
-Confusion
-Drowsiness
-Amnesia

SCIENTIFIC NAMES

Narcozep,
Flunitrazepam

STREET NAMES

forget me drug, roches, roofies, ruffles; other names include date rape drug, la roche, R2, rib, roach, roofenol, rope, rophies, the forget pill, getting roached, lunch money drug, Mexican Valium, pingus, Reynolds, Robutal, wolfies.

DANA PLATO

Untitled Slide

The Diff’rent Strokes actress, 34, died in Oklahoma from what was deemed an accidental overdose of two prescription drugs, a muscle relaxant and a painkiller. She had a long track record of abusing prescription drugs, as witnessed by her 1992 arrest for forging a Valium prescription.

HYDROCODONE

A group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers and a cough suppressant, similar to codeine. Hydro codons blocks the receptors on nerve cells, in the brain that gave rise to the sensation of pain.

SIDE EFFECTS

dry mouth, itching,
swelling in your hands or
feet, muscle pain, back pain,
cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat,
mild drowsiness, tired feeling, or headache, dizziness.

SCIENTIFIC NAMES

Acetaminophen, Vicodin
Lorcet, Lortab
Anexsia, Hycodan
Vicoprofen, Tramadol
Zydone, Tylox
Tussionex, Hycomine

STREET NAMES

Vikes
Viko
Hydro
Norco

HEATH LEDGER

Untitled Slide

The acclaimed Australian actor died unexpectedly at age 28 in his New York City apartment. The medical examiner found that “the manner of death is accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications,” given the presence of six prescription medications in Ledger’s body.

BY: ASHLEY, JESUS, SUZIE, NOEMI