The story of barbiturates is a century-long arc that began in a German laboratory and evolved from a medical "miracle" into a cautionary tale of addiction and cultural tragedy. 1. The Laboratory Genesis (1864)
: Marketed by Bayer, this was the first commercial sleeping pill. Von Mering supposedly named it after Verona , Italy, which he considered the most peaceful place on earth. barbiturate
During World War II, barbiturates earned the nickname "" as they were used to help soldiers cope with combat stress. In the post-war decades, their use exploded in civilian life, but the dark side of the "miracle drug" began to surface: Barbiturate - wikidoc The story of barbiturates is a century-long arc