National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCAC I) Practice Exam

What type of effects do barbiturates generally produce?

1. Stimulatory effects

2. Hallucinogenic effects

3. Depressant effects

4. Analgesic effects

The correct answer is: Depressant effects

Barbiturates are a class of drugs that primarily act as central nervous system depressants. They enhance the effects of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), leading to sedative, tranquilizing, and muscle-relaxing effects. This results in decreased brain activity, which can help to alleviate anxiety or induce sleep, hence producing depressant effects. In contrast, stimulatory effects are associated with drugs that increase alertness or energy, which is opposite to what barbiturates do. Hallucinogenic effects are characterized by altered perceptions and sensory experiences, which is not the primary action of barbiturates. Analgesic effects refer to pain relief, which is not a primary characteristic of barbiturates; instead, they can actually lower pain perception indirectly due to their depressive effects on the central nervous system. Therefore, barbiturates are best characterized by their depressant effects.