Depressant drugs such as alcohol, opiates, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines are used to cope with which state?

• A. Anxiety
• B. Stress
• C. Pain
• D. Boredom

Answer: (B)

Depressants calm the nervous system, lowering arousal and tension. When people feel stressed, overwhelmed, or unable to cope with demands, they often reach for substances that dull nervous energy and produce a sense of relief. That soothing, dampening effect makes stress the state most people are attempting to manage with these drugs, which is why it’s the best answer.

They can also ease anxiety or pain in some contexts, but the core idea in this question is the broad experience of heightened activation and strain that depressants are used to blunt. Boredom isn’t a primary driver in the same way, and pain is more about analgesia than coping with emotional or situational stress.