Barbiturates

Yes, barbiturates are associated with increased potential for addiction hence they should only be used for legitimate medical purposes as prescribed by your doctor. 

Since barbiturates are psychoactive substances, they alter brain chemistry by increasing the levels of GABA neurotransmitters. The brain becomes dependent on the stimulating effect of barbiturates that lead to the release of this inhibitory neurotransmitter. Barbiturates produce an inhibitory and sedating effect accompanied by relaxation, drowsiness, and euphoria and individuals often misuse these drugs to attain these pleasurable effects for recreational purposes.

Addiction to barbiturates can even develop when the drug is taken as prescribed due to which individuals who are taking barbiturates are strictly monitored. Tolerance to barbiturates develops in as little as two weeks. During this phase, an individual requires more of the drug to achieve the same effect whether therapeutic or recreational. Once tolerance develops, individuals start taking increased doses of barbiturates which leads to the development of physical and psychological dependence since the brain finds it difficult to work in the absence of the stimulus as mentioned earlier. During this phase, discontinuation of the drug results in withdrawal symptoms that are quite painful and unpleasant for the individual to bear. 

Eventually, addiction to barbiturates results, and the individual starts taking increased doses of the drug despite the negative consequences that ensue after its misuse. During barbiturate addiction, individuals feel compelled to use the drug regardless of the adverse events that result. Injecting, snorting, or smoking barbiturates increases the odds of developing an addiction since drugs reach the bloodstream faster through these routes as compared to when someone is ingesting the drug in the form of a tablet or capsule. 

Moreover, the addictive potential of barbiturates depends on their duration of action since drugs that are short-acting produce the effects faster and the feelings of high also fade sooner due to which individual has to keep consuming increased doses of the drug leading to a vicious cycle of abuse. Amobarbital (Amytal) has the highest risk of addiction since it is a short-acting barbiturate with a fast onset of action as mentioned above. 

Developing an addiction to barbiturates is influenced by various factors. These include:

• Genetics: The genetic makeup of an individual plays a primary role in the development of addiction. It has been proven through scientific grounds that individuals who have a first-degree relative with a history of addiction are more likely to develop an addiction to drugs such as barbiturates.
• Environmental: Individuals living in an environment with increased levels of stress, or those who have not been restricted about using abusive drugs and those who have been consuming drugs since an early age are more likely to develop an addiction to barbiturates.
• Psychological: Individuals with a history of mental illness frequently misuse barbiturates. Moreover, individuals doing suicide attempts also use barbiturates to aid themselves in this process.