SEDATIVISM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90M01364R000700190010-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 18, 2013
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: September 14, 1988
• Content Type: REPORT

r
, Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/04/18: CIA-RDP90M01364R000700190010-0
STAT
STAT
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
Draft Article on Sedativism
DP/ eg :duly
FROM:
Gary E. Fosteryd,A,
D'OMS'i, '
1D4061 Hqs.
EXTENSION
NO.
'
DATE
14 September 1988
TO: -(Officer designation, room number, and
building)
DATE
OFFICER'S
INITIALS
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
to whom. Draw a line across column after each Comment.)
RECEIVED
FORWARDED
DDA /Ex A b $t
11'6
61
CO
Rae:
During your visit
9 September, you asked
of questions about
abuse or are addicted
The attached
(now in draft) will
our next OMS Newsletter.
to OMS on
a number
clients who
to legal
-
A-1.1 A.
? 'kg*
.
Tnft(/L,uvw1drugs.
_c0
NF
Q
article
appear in
4 . 1+:'
#
A I l'e 1;--1-rii(-P: i
1 Ir
4 ,
/ ?-1
107...(.41
Gary
, .;
(-----
?
.
.
.
10.
IL
12.
? ;V
13.
14.
15.
FORM 61 0 usiDMEOV:17US
1-79
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/04/18: CIA-RDP90M01364R000700190010-0
G U.S. Government Printing office: 1905-494-834/49156
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/04/18: CIA-RDP90M01362-1R000700190010-0
SEDATIVISM
In the last decade/increased attention has been given to the
use of illegal drugs and alcohol. The efforts of such groups as
Just Say No Clubs of America, Partnership for a Drug-Free
America, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Students Against
Drunk Driving have increased public awareness of the dangers
associated with substance abuse. Government, private industry
and the medical profession have spent billions of dollars for
research, treatment and control of these substances.
Public concern has generated much literature aimed at the
abuse of illegal drugs, but there also are alarming consequences
from the abuse or misuse of prescription medications. The
effects,g of abusing drugs classified as sedative-hypnotics have
not been so well publicized -- and the effects are severe.
Sedative-hypnotics include benzodiazepines, barbiturates, minor
tranquilizers and alcohol. All are legal under certain
government regulations. All are debilitating or lethal if
misused. In 1985 there were an estimated 85 million
prescriptions written for benzodiazepines such as Valium,
Librium and Ativan. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that all the
patients for whom these drugs were prescribed were aware of the
possibility of physiological dependence?L (addiction). The use
of all sedative-hypnotics requires careful monitoring. Patients
must be warned about potential adverse consequences,
particularly those associated with increased Wales long-term use,
and of the use of such drugs with alcohol.
Taken in the amounts prescribed, and under the supervision
of a knowledgeable physician, sedative-hypnotics can be helpful
1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/04/18: CIA-RDP90M01364R000700190010-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/04/18: CIA-RDP90M01364R000700190010-0
in the treatment of anxiety, insomnia, muscular tension, back
pain, and irritability. These drugs act by depressing the
central nervous system.
As in the case of alcohol, the effects may be expected to
vary from person to person and from time to time. Low doses
produce mild sedation. Higher doses may produce a temporary
state of euphoria, but they may also cause irritability, mood
depression, and apathy. Intoxicating doses, as with alcohol,
will cause impaired judgment, slurred speech, and loss of motor
coordination. At still higher doses they can progressively
lead to drowsiness, sleep, stupor, coma, and death.
The physiological impact of mixing sedative-hypnotics may be
life threatening. Alcohol and tranquilizers use the same enzyme
processing system in the liver; however, these enzymes cannot
metabolize both drugs at the same time. Alcohol is metabolized
first, while the other drugs build up in the blood stream,
potentially causing toxic reactions such as convulsions, coma,
and respiratory failure. These toxic reactions often occur due
to the phenomenon of synergy. Synergy results from adding
UL
alcohol to another sedative-hypnotic, this multiplying their
individual potencies by a factor of three, four, or more.
There are well-publicized cases that are tragic examples of drug
synergy. In one, a 21 year?old mixed alcohol and the
tranquilizer methaqualone (quaalude), sustaining irreparable
brain damage. She lapsed into a coma and ultimately died ten
years later, never having regained consciousness. The list of
victims of sedative overdose is long and includes several
celebrities who have died from a combination of prescription
2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/04/18: CIA-RDP90M01364R000700190010-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/04/18 : CIA-RDP90M01364R000700190010-0
playing with a chemical time bomb that could explode into
multiple addictions, multiple withdrawal symptoms, or death.
Another little known effect of sedative-hypnotics is
cross-tolerance. Tolerance is an adaptation the body makes to
certain drugs, such that increasing dosages of the drug are
required to obtain the same effect. When tolerance builds to
one sedative-hypnotic, it carries over to another. Often those
using tranquilizers find that their alcohol tolerance increases;
they need to drink more in order to get the effect that one or
two drinks once had. Treated alcoholics are well aware of this
phenomenon. They know that the use of any sedative-hypnotic can
reactivate their addiction to alcohol. In fact, sedative
tolerance can lay the groundwork for alcoholism. Mrs. Betty
FordiVreports that her use of prescribed Valium over a period
of time increased her tolerance to alcohol; she consequently
became addicted to both.
Unfortunately, as tolerance increases, so do the effects of
withdrawal.The withdrawal symptoms of all sedative-hypnotics are
similar to those of alcohol; however, some are longer lasting
and more distressing. The mildest form of withdrawal is
characterized by anxiety, agitation, apprehension, and may be
accompanied by a loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, palpitating
heart, excessive sweating, insomnia, tremulousness and muscle
spasms. In withdrawing from dependency on a large amount of the
drug, delirium, psychotic behavior, convulsions and death may
occur. Withdrawal symptoms are diagnostic of sedative
dependence. Withdrawal from the shorter acting sedatives (also
the most addictive) occurs usually within 12 hours. For the
benzodiazapines the onset can be 2-9 days from the last dosage.
3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/04/18: CIA-RDP90M01364R000700190010-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/04/18: CIA-RDP90M01364R000700190010-0
Due to the potential severity of withdrawal, it is
recommended that detoxification be supervised in the controlled
conditions of a hospital. Treatment for sedative dependence in
general calls for medical intervention, abstinence from all
drugs and alcohol, participation in self help groups, and often
concurrent family treatment. Monitoring is usually advised for
at least two years.
In preventing sedative dependence, it is wise to keep in
mind the following:
(1) Using any mood altering drug requires personal
responsibility. Ask questions and be informed.
(2) Usually these drugs should not be prescribed for
longer than one week and should not be refillable without a
visit to your physician.
(3) Chemically dependent persons should not use
sedative-hypnotics. If you are a recovering alcoholic,
inform your physician.
(4) Do not drink alcohol while using a sedative-hypnotic
drug.
The following is a partial list of the most common
sedative-hypnotics prescribed:
Minor Tranqulizers: Chloralhydrate, Doriden, Placidyl,
Methaqualone, Meprobomate, Paradehyde.
Benzodiazapines: Valium, Librium, Sperax, Tranxene,
Ativan, Centrax, Dalmane, Xanax, Halcion.
Barbiturates: Phenobarbital, Seconal, Amytal, Twinal,
Nembutal,
4
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/04/18: CIA-RDP90M01364R000700190010-0
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/04/18: CIA-RDP90M01364R000700190010-0
? ?
STAT
Questions about drugs or alcohol may be directed to the
Employee Assistance Program's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Branch on
Information, assessment, referral to appropriate
treatment, and family intervention assistance is available to
all employees and their family members.
5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/04/18: CIA-RDP90M01364R000700190010-0