ABSTRACT
Central nervous system depressants comprise a range of substances including benzodiazepines, narcotic analgesics and alcohol. It is also unknown to what extent the risk of physiological dependence is conditional upon a minimum duration of exposure or dosage of the drugs; nonetheless, withdrawal phenomena appear to be more severe following withdrawal from high doses or short-acting benzodiazepines. This chapter presents the range of central nervous system depressants misused by adolescents and young people. Investigation of persisting cognitive effects in long-term benzodiazepine users has rendered conflicting results, and, on aggregate, there is insufficient evidence that benzodiazepines cause persistent cognitive decline. A Clinical Practice Guideline produced by the American Pain Society and College on Problems of Drug Dependence, in collaboration with the Heart Rhythm Society, has published guidelines on safety issues with regard to methadone prescribing for children, both when treating addiction and in pain control.
