Drug Education

Topic Outline
Drug Abuse
Drug Addiction
Drug Dependence
Commonly Used Drugs
Effects of Drug Use
Laws by the Government
Against Drugs
Drug
A drug is any psychoactive substance that can alter the way the
mind or body works, regardless of legal status or medical
approval. It can be synthetic or produced from natural sources
and can be used for a variety of reasons including medicinal,
recreational and spiritual.
Drug Abuse
It is the use of illegal drugs or the use of prescription or over-
the-counter medications in ways other than recommended or
intended. It also includes intentional inhalation of household or
industrial chemicals for their mind-altering effects.
Drug Addiction
Drug addiction, is a disease that affects a person's brain and
behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or
illegal drug or medication. When you're addicted, you may
continue using the drug despite the harm it causes.
Drug Dependence
A syndrome featuring persistent usage of the drug, difficulty in
stopping and withdrawal symptoms. Drug dependent people will
go to great lengths to maintain access to the drug, often
resorting to crime. Drug dependence is not limited to
dependence on illegal drugs.
Origin of Drug
Natural drugs are made from compounds found in nature. The
most prevalent natural drug sources are plants.

Synthetic drugs come from starting materials that are not

found in nature. Instead, they are produced by man from
smaller chemical building blocks.
Classification of Drugs
Stimulant
Any drug that excites any bodily function, but more specifically
those that stimulate the brain and central nervous system.
Stimulants induce alertness, elevated mood, wakefulness,
increased speech and motor activity and decrease appetite.
Their therapeutic use is limited, but their mood-elevating effects
make some of them potent drugs of abuse.
a.) Amphetamines
Amphetamine is a central nervous stimulant. Its use results in
an increase in certain types of brain activity resulting in a feeling
of higher energy, focus, confidence, and in a dose-dependent
manner. It is used to treat a variety of conditions, from alcohol
hangovers to weight loss. It was also used to treat Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Narcolepsy.
b.) Cocaine
A white crystalline alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of
the coca plant (Erythroxylum coca). Cocaine acts as an
anesthetic and when ingested in small amounts produces
feelings of well-being and euphoria, along with a decreased
appetite, relief from fatigue, and increased mental alertness.
c.) Nicotine
An alkaloid (a nitrogen-containing chemical) made by the
tobacco plant or produced synthetically. Nicotine has powerful
pharmacologic effects (including increased heart rate, heart
stroke volume, and oxygen consumption by the heart muscle),
as well as powerful psychodynamic effects (such as euphoria,
increased alertness, and a sense of relaxation). Nicotine is also
powerfully addictive.
d.) MDMA
MDMA (Methylenedioxy-methamphetamine) is a synthetic
substance commonly known as ecstasy. It acts as a central
nervous system (CNS) stimulant and has a weak hallucinogenic
property more accurately described as increased sensory
awareness.
Depressants
Depressant substances reduce arousal and stimulation. They
do not necessarily make a person feel depressed. They affect
the central nervous system, slowing down the messages
between the brain and the body. They can affect concentration
and coordination. They slow down a person’s ability to respond
to unexpected situations.
a.) Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are nervous system depressants commonly
prescribed to treat a few conditions including anxiety, stress,
insomnia, epilepsy and to sedate people before certain medical
procedures. They can be highly addictive and should only be
used for a short term. Overdose can occur if benzodiazepines
are mixed with alcohol or other drugs.
b.) Cannabis
The dried leaves and flowering tops of the Cannabis sativa or
Cannabis Indica plant. Cannabis contains active chemicals
called cannabinoids that cause drug-like effects all through the
body, including the central nervous system and the immune
system. Cannabis produces a pleasant feeling of being relaxed
that hinders your psychomotor performance if smoked or eaten.
Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens are certain types of drugs that distort a person's
mental and perceptual abilities and often produce bizarre
images and sensations. These sensations are so unusual that
they're sometimes referred to as trips. Users often see images,
hear sounds and experience sensations that seem realistic but
do not exist.
a.) Mescaline
Mescaline is a psychedelic hallucinogen obtained from the
small, spineless cactus Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) and can
be produced synthetically. People have used hallucinogens for
hundreds of years, mostly for religious rituals or ceremonies.
Mescaline leads to rich visual hallucinations.
b.) Marijuana
Marijuana is a mixture of dried, shredded flowers, as well as
leaves of the plant Cannabis sativa. Many people experience a
pleasant euphoria and sense of relaxation. Other common
effects, which may vary dramatically among different people,
include heightened sensory perception (e.g., brighter colors),
laughter, altered perception of time, and increased appetite.
Sedatives
A drug that calms a person, easing agitation and permitting
sleep.
a.) Barbiturates
Barbiturates are a group of sedative-hypnotic medications used
for the treatment of seizure disorder, neonatal withdrawal,
insomnia, preoperative anxiety, induction of coma for increased
intracranial pressure. They are also useful for inducing
anesthesia.
b.) Tranquilizer
A drug that is used to reduce anxiety, fear, tension, agitation,
and related states of mental disturbance. Most tranquilizers
induce drowsiness and can cause dependence.
c.) Alcohol
A chemical substance found in drinks such as beer, wine, and
liquor. It is made by a chemical process called fermentation that
uses sugars and yeast. Drinking regular or large amounts of
alcohol may increase the risk of certain types of cancer, such as
cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, breast, liver, colon, and
rectum.
Narcotics
Drugs (such as opium or morphine) that in moderate doses
dulls the senses, relieves pain, and induces profound sleep but
in excessive doses causes stupor, coma, or convulsions
a.) Morphine
A powerful narcotic agent that has strong analgesic (pain relief)
action and other significant effects on the central nervous
system. It is dangerously addicting. Morphine is a naturally
occurring member of a large chemical class of compounds
called alkaloids.
b.) Heroin
Heroin is a white or brown powder or a black, sticky goo. It's an
opioid drug made from morphine, a natural substance in the
seedpod of the Asian poppy plant. It can be mixed with water
and injected with a needle. Heroin can also be smoked or
snorted up the nose. All of these ways of taking heroin send it to
the brain very quickly. This makes it very addictive.
Effects of Drug Use
Short Term Effects:
Changes in appetite
Sleeplessness or insomnia
Increased heart rate
Slurred speech
Changes in cognitive ability
A temporary sense of euphoria
Loss of coordination
Long Term Effects:
Depression
Anxiety
Panic disorders
Increased aggression
Paranoia
Hallucinations
Cardiovascular disease
Respiratory problems
Kidney damage
Liver disease
Overdose
3 Laws Against Drugs
Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002
(Republic Act No. 9165).
This Act, consisting of 101 sections, provides for importation of
Dangerous Drugs and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential
Chemicals. It establishes offences and penalty according to the
different dangerous drug, regardless of the quantity and purity
involved.
 Executive Order No. 218
STRENGTHENING THE SUPPORT MECHANISM FOR THE
PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY

WHEREAS, by virtue of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs

Act of 2002 ( Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9165), the Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency (PDEA) was created for the efficient and
effective law enforcement of all the provisions on dangerous
drugs and/or precursors and essential chemicals as provided in
R.A. No.9165
 Republic Act No. 10640
WHEREAS, on July 22, 2014, RA No. 10640, entitled “An Act to
Further Strengthen the Anti-Drug Campaign of the Government,
Amending for the Purpose Section 21 of Republic Act no. 9165,
otherwise known as “The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act
of 2002″, was enacted amending Section 21 of RA No. 9165;

WHEREAS, Section 2 of RA No. 10640 provides that the

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) shall issue the
necessary guidelines on the Implementing Rules and
Regulations (IRR) of Section 21 of RA No. 9165 in consultation
with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and relevant sectors to
curb increasing drug cases
References
https://www.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/67095_Key_Concepts_in_Drugs_and_Society_What_is_a_drug_Medicine.pdf
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https://pinnacletreatment.com/blog/what-is-drug-addiction/
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https://americanaddictioncenters.org/amphetamine
https://www.britannica.com/science/cocaine
https://www.rxlist.com/nicotine/definition.htm
https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/drug-profiles/mdma_en
https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/depressants/
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/tranquillisers
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https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/cannabis
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/cannabis
https://study.com/academy/lesson/hallucinogens-definition-types-examples.html
https://www.drugs.com/illicit/mescaline.html
https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/conditions/cannabismarijuana
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/what-are-marijuana-effects
https://www.medicinenet.com/sedative/definition.htm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539731/
https://www.britannica.com/science/tranquilizer
https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/alcohol
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/narcotic
https://www.rxlist.com/morphine/definition.htm
https://medlineplus.gov/heroin.html
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/effects-of-drug-abuse#short-term-effects
https://www.fao.org/faolex/results/details/en/c/LEX-FAOC174225/
https://pdea.gov.ph/laws-and-regulations/eo-218
https://pdea.gov.ph/laws-and-regulations/irr-of-ra-10640
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