DIAZEPAM (VALIUM)

ORIgin

• >1963-present
• >Roche Labs (Sweden)
• >"mother's little helper"
• >first billion-dollar, brand name medicine
• >launched era of blockbuster medication
• (http://www.valiumaddiction.com/valium.htm)

valium treats:

• >seizures/epilepsy
• >anxiety
• >muscle spasm
• >drug withdrawal
• >agoraphobia
• >cerebral palsy
• (http://drugabuse.com/library/the-effects-of-valium-use/)

(Proper) short term effects:

(abused) short term effects:

long term effects:

administration/action site

• >snorting
• >vein injection
• >orally 2mg(w)5mg(y)10mg(b)
• >>>slows down brain and nerve (cns) activity
• (http://www.rxlist.com/valium-drug/indications-dosage.htm)

valium structure

• >C16H13ClN2O
• >small molecule-benzodiazepine derivative
• >molecular weight: 284.75g/mol
• >>anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, sedative, muscle relaxant, and amnesic properties
• >>actions are mediated by enhancement of GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID activity

cost/addiction

• >2mg($3.50) 5mg($4.60) 10mg($9.06)
• >20m people 12+ abused Valium in their lifetime in the u.s in 2010
• >6,500+ reports of illicit market to forensic laboratories in 2011
• >Drug Abuse Warning Network reported 345k emergency room visits
• >Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports 36,000 fatal overdoses

legal action

• >doctors' are being sued for prescribing to addicts
• >doctors' accused of not following safety guidelines set 20 years ago
• >patients claim to not know about dangers of rapid detox

detoxification

• >rapid detox can cause seizures and death
• >recovery takes 28 days to a year with extreme caution
• >other drugs are substituted to help with recovery
• (http://www.recovery.org/topics/find-the-best-residential-valium-recovery-ce...)