What are Benzodiazepines?
Benzodiazepines, commonly referred to as benzos, belong to the tranquilizer category of medications. Recognizable names include Valium and Xanax. These medications act to slow down the central nervous system, inducing sedation, muscle relaxation, and reduced anxiety levels. Often prescribed for conditions such as anxiety or insomnia, they rank among the most frequently recommended drugs in the U.S. Nevertheless, caution is warranted due to their potential for addiction, particularly with daily or long-term usage.
Benzodiazepine drugs are unfortunately sometimes employed as “date rape” substances because of their ability to impair functions that typically enable a person to resist sexual aggression or assault. These drugs are often discreetly added to alcoholic beverages or even soft drinks in powder or liquid forms, with their taste being difficult to discern.
What are some alternative names for benzos?
Alternative names for benzodiazepines include Valium, Xanax, Ativan, Librium, xannies, vallies, roofies, tranks, downers, goofballs, Mexican, roach, heavenly blues, valo, stupefi, anxiety drugs, date rape drugs, or club drugs.
Benzodiazepines are a controlled substance, which means it’s illegal to have them without a doctor’s prescription. Legally manufactured forms of benzodiazepine are classified as schedule IV drugs in the U.S.
Synthetic benzodiazepines, sometimes called “street,” “designer,” or “novel” benzos, are classified as schedule I. That means they’re considered highly addictive. These drugs are made in illicit labs and sold for recreational use.