6.

1 Drug Abuse and Addiction

DRUG
What is a Drug?

1. Drugs are chemicals that affect a person in such a way as to bring about physiological,
emotional, or behavioral change.
2. ‘Dangerous drugs’ are those that have high tendency for abuse and dependency, these
substances may be organic or synthetic, and pose harm to those who use them.

 
Drug Abuse
Drug abuse exists when a person continually uses a drug other than its intended purpose. This
continued use can lead to drug dependence, a state of physical and psychological dependence or
both on a dangerous drug.
 
Drug Addiction
Drug addiction is a complex, and often chronic, brain disease. It is characterized by excessive drug
craving, seeking, and use. Addiction is caused by brain changes caused by constant drug use.

6.1.2 Commonly Abused Drugs

Commonly Abused Substances

* Figure estimates from the  2012 Household Survey on the Nature and Extent of Drug Abuse in the Philippines
conducted by the DDB with the Philippine Normal University.

 
Effects of the Commonly Abused Drugs
1. Methamphetamine Hydrochloride (Shabu)
Methamphetamine hydrochloride is found to have harmful effects to the brain. It changes how the
brain functions. Studies have shown that methamphetamine abusers have reduced motor skills and
impaired verbal learning as a result of alterations in the activity of the dopamine, a neurotransmitter
involved in reward, motivation, experience of pleasure and motor function.
Other adverse effects of methamphetamine:

1. Extreme weight loss

2. Severe dental problems (“meth mouth”)
3. Anxiety
4. Confusion
5. Insomnia
6. Mood disturbances
7. Violent behavior

2. Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana)

Marijuana use impairs a person's ability to form new memories and to shift focus. Its active
component, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) also disrupts coordination and balance, posture, and
reaction time (experience commonly referred to as “spacing out”). Thus, chronic marijuana use
significantly reduces a person’s capacity to learn, carry-out complicated tasks, participate in sports,
driving and operating other machineries. Studies also show that marijuana use can lead to lung
cancer and other problems in the respiratory and immune systems.
Health problems that come with the use of marijuana include:

1. Problems with memory and learning

2. Distorted perception(sights, sounds, time, touch)
3. Trouble with thinking and problem solving
4. Loss of motor coordination
5. Increased heart rate and palpitations

3. Inhalants
The effects of inhalants are similar to that of alcohol, including slurred speech, lack of coordination,
euphoria and dizziness. Inhalant abusers may also experience lightheadedness, hallucinations, and
delusions.
Harmful irreversible effects of inhalants include:

1. Hearing loss
2. Limb spasms
3. Central nervous system or brain damage
4. Bone marrow damage
2. Drug Abuse: By the Numbers
3. Estimated Drug Users in the Philippines: 1.3 Million
4. Profile of Drug Users
5. Mean Age:  20-29 years old
Ratio of Male is to Female Users: 10:1
Civil Status: Married
Employment Status: Employed
Educational Attainment: High School Level
6. Nature of Drug Use: Poly drug use
6.2 Drug Dependence and Tolerance
Drug Dependence
This is the state of physical and psychological dependence, or both, on a dangerous drug, or drugs,
experienced by a person following the use of that substance on a periodic or continuous basis. A
person dependent on drugs will experience withdrawal reactions (also known as “cold turkey”,
symptoms that occur after long-term use of a drug is reduced or stopped abruptly) after abstaining
from drugs.
 
Drug Tolerance

o A condition in which the body builds up a resistance to the effects of a drug, so that
larger quantities are needed to obtain the same effect .
o Uncontrollable increase in the amount of substance taken may lead to over dose which
can result to death.

6.3 Causes of Drug Addiction

Drug addiction is characterized by excessive drug craving, seeking, and use.
Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to
control, despite harmful consequences. The initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people,
but repeated drug use can lead to brain changes that challenge an addicted person’s self-control and
interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs. These brain changes can be persistent,
which is why drug addiction is considered a "relapsing" disease—people in recovery from drug use
disorders are at increased risk for returning to drug use even after years of not taking the drug.
It's common for a person to relapse, but relapse doesn't mean that treatment doesn’t work. As with
other chronic health conditions, treatment should be ongoing and should be adjusted based on how
the patient responds. Treatment plans need to be reviewed often and modified to fit the patient’s
changing needs.

6.4 Effects of Drug Addiction

1. Declining interest in school or work
2. Suddenly changes friends (hangs out with individuals known for their drug use)
3. Becomes pessimistic, irritable and anxious all the time
4. Asks to be left alone a lot
5. Is always tired (or makes it as an excuse to be left alone)
6. Becomes careless and often becomes involved in accidents
7. Becomes implicated  in a lot of fights
8. Frequent mood swings
9. Sudden change in appearance and conduct (red or puffy eyes, weight changes, constant
complaints of headaches or stomachaches, shaking, incessant cough, brown stains on
fingertips, stumbling, or a constant runny nose)
10. Loss of interest in hobbies or sports
11. Exhibits poor judgment
 12. Finds it difficult to concentrate

6.5 Ways to Control and Prevent Drug Abuse

If you suspect that a friend is using drugs, talk to him or her. Let your friend know that you care. Talk
to your parents, teacher, school counselor, or another trusted adult. Offer to go with your friend to his
parents or a counselor for help.
You alone can't make your friend stop doing drugs. It takes professional help. Counseling,  treatment
and rehabilitation (Links to an external site.) are among the interventions that can help someone
struggling with the compulsion to use drugs. You may contact Dangerous Drug Board via website and
social networking accounts or over the phone (+63-929-1753) for other queries and means of helping
a person recover from drug dependency.

6.6 Related Philippine Laws

1. Republic Act 9165 - Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002

Section Violation

Section 5 Pushing and/or Transporting Drugs

Section 11 Possession of Drugs

Section 12 Possession of Paraphernalia

Section 15 Use of Drugs

2. Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) MC 2009-09

Ensure that the provision of section 51 to 53 of R.A. 9165 also known as the Comprehensive
Dangerous Drugs Act shall be strictly and faithfully enforced.

6.7 Concerned Government Agencies

1. Dangerous Drugs Board
2. National Bureau of Investigation
3. Philippine National Police
4. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
5. Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council

6.7.1 Concerned Government Agencies

Dangerous Drugs Board
The Anti-Drug Strategy

 Drug Supply Reduction - Law Enforcement, Regulatory Compliance, Judicial and Legislative
Measures
 Drug Demand Reduction - Policy Formulation, Preventive Education and Capacity-building,
Treatment, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration, Research

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)

 Suppresses the supply of dangerous drugs;

 Implements Dangerous Drugs Board policies;
 Controls and regulates the legitimate use of dangerous drug and controlled precursors and
essential chemicals;
 Supervises the anti-drug activities of the drug law enforcement agencies;
 Coordinates the participation of all stakeholders in the anti-drug campaign.

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)

Philippine National Police (PNP)
Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council

6.8 Words to Know

Addiction - A person has an addiction when he becomes dependent on or craves a drug and
believes he needs the drug to live. All an addicted drug user can think about is getting the next dose
after getting high.
Depressant - A depressant is a drug that slows a person down. Doctors prescribed depressants to
help people be less angry, anxious, or tense. Depressants relax muscles and make people feel
sleepy or like their head are stuffed.
Hallucinogen - A hallucinogen is a drug, such as LSD, that changes a person's mood and makes
him see, hear, or think things that aren't really there. Hallucinogens change the way a person feels
time, making it seem to slow down. As the name implies, hallucinogens may cause hallucinations -
this is when people think they see or hear imaginary people or things.
High - A high is the feeling that drug users want to get when they take drugs. There are many types
of high, including a spacey feeling, euphoria, or a feeling that a person  has “special powers”, such as
the ability to fly or see into the future.
Stimulant - A stimulant speeds up a person's body and brain. Stimulants, such as
methamphetamines, have the opposite effect of depressants. Usually stimulants make a person high
energetic. When the effects of a stimulant wear off, a person will feel tired or sick.