E4DEPRESSANTS (Downers)

These are drugs that suppress vital body functions especially those of the brain or central nervous system
with the resulting impairment of judgment, hearing, speech, and muscular coordination. They dull the
minds and slow down the body’s reactions to such an extent that accidental deaths and/or suicides usually
happen. They include narcotics, barbiturates, tranquilizers, alcohol, and other volatile solvents. These
drugs, when taken in, generally decrease both the mental and physical activities of the body. They cause
depression, relieve pain and induce sedation or sleep and suppress cough.

Narcotics - are drugs, which relieve pain and produce

profound sleep or stupor when introduced to the body.
Medically, they are potent painkillers, cough depressants and
as an active component of anti-diarrhea preparations. Opium
and it derivatives like morphine, codeine and heroin, as well
as the synthetic opiates, meperidine and methadone, are
classified as narcotics.

Opium - derived from a poppy plant - Papaver somniferum

popularly known as "gum", "gamot", "kalamay" or "panocha".
A plant that can grow from 3 to 6 ft in height originally in
Mesopotamia. Its active ingredient is the "meconic" acid the
analgesic property.

Morphine - most commonly used and best used opiate.

Effective as a painkiller six times potent than opium, with a
high dependence - producing potential. Morphine exerts action
characterized by analgesia, drowsiness, mood changes, and
mental clouding.

Heroin - is three to five times more powerful than morphine

from which it is derived and the most addicting opium
derivative. with continued use, addiction occurs within 14
days. It may be sniffed on swallowed but is usually injected in
the veins.

Codeine - derivative of morphine, commonly available in

cough preparations. These cough medicines have been
widely abused by the youth whenever hard narcotics are
difficult to obtain. Withdrawal symptoms are less severe
than other drugs

Paregoric - a tincture of opium in combination with

camphor. Commonly used as a household remedy for
diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Demerol and Methadone - common synthetic drugs with

morphine - like effects. Demerol is widely used as a
painkiller in childbirth while methadone is the drug of
choice in the withdrawal treatment of heroin dependents
since it relieves the physical craving for heroin.
 Barbiturates - are drugs used for inducing sleep in persons plagued
with anxiety, mental stress, and insomnia. They are also of value in
the treatment of epilepsy and hypertension. They are available in
capsules, pills or tablets, and taken orally or injected.

Seconal - commonly used among hospitality girls. Sudden

withdrawal from these drugs is even more dangerous than opiate
withdrawal. The dependent develops generalized convulsions and
delirium, which are frequently associated with heart and respiratory
failure.

Tranquilizers - are drugs that calm and relax and diminish anxiety.
They are used in the treatment of nervous states and some mental
disorders without producing sleep.

Volatile Solvents - gaseous substances popularly known to abusers as

"gas", "teardrops". Examples are plastic glues, hair spray, finger nail
polish, lighter fluid, rugby, paint, thinner, acetone, turpentine gasoline,
kerosene, varnishes and other aerosol products. They are inhaled by the
use plastic bags, handkerchief or rags soaked in these chemicals.

Alcohol - the king or all drugs with potential for abuse. It is considered
the most widely used, socially accepted and most extensively legalized
drug throughout the world. In the field of medicine, it is "valuable" as
disinfectant, as an external remedy for reducing high fever among
children, and as preservative and solvent for pharmaceutical
preparations like elixirs, spirits and tincture.

STIMULANTS (Upper)
They produce effects opposite to that of depressants, Instead of bringing about relaxation and sleep, they
produce increased mental alertness, and wakefulness, reduce hunger and provide a feeling of well-being.
Their medical users include narcolepsy - a condition characterized by an overwhelming desire to sleep.
Abrupt withdrawal of the drug from the heavy abuser can result in deep and suicidal depression.

Amphetamines - used medically for weight reducing in obesity,

relief of mild depression and treatment.

Cocaine - the drug taken from the coca bush plant

(Erythroxylon Coca) grows in South America. It is usually in
the form of powder that can be taken orally, injected or sniffed
as to achieve euphoria or an intense feeling of "highness".

Caffeine - it is present in coffee, tea, chocolate, cola drinks, and

some wake-up pills.
 Shabu/ "poor man's cocaine" - chemically known as
methamphetamine hydrochloride. It is a central nervous system
stimulant and sometimes called "upper" or "speed". It is white,
colorless crystal or crystalline powder with a bitter numbing
taste. It can be taken orally, inhaled (snorted), sniffed (chasing
the dragon) or injected.
Nicotine - an active component in tobacco which acts as a
powerful stimulant of the central nervous system. A drop of pure
nicotine can easily kill a person.

HALLUCINOGENS (Psychedelic)
These are group drugs that consist of a variety of mind-altering drugs, which distort reality, thinking, and
perceptions of time, sound, space, and sensation. The user experiences hallucination (false perception)
which at times can be strange. His "trips" may be exhilarating or terrifying good or bad. They may
dislocate his consciousness and change his mood, thinking, and concept of self.

Marijuana - It is the most commonly abused hallucinogen in the

Philippines because it can be grown extensively in the country many
users choose to smoke marijuana for relaxation in the same way
people drink beer or cocktail at the end of the day. The effects of
marijuana include a feeling of grandeur. It can also produce the
opposite effect, a dreamy sensation of time seeming to stretch out.

Peyote - Peyote is derived from the surface part of a small gray

brown cactus. Peyote emits a nauseating odor and its user suffers
from nausea. This drug causes no physical dependence and therefore,
no withdrawal symptoms; although in some psychological
dependence has been noted

Mescaline - it is alkaloid hallucinogen extracted from the peyote

cactus and can also be synthesized in the laboratory. It produces less
nausea than peyote and shows effects resembling those of LSD
although milder in nature.

STP (Serenity, Tranquility, and Peace) - It is a take -off on the

motor oil additive. It is a chemical derivative of mescaline claimed to
produce more violent and longer effects than mescaline dose. Its
effects are similar to the nerve gas used in chemical warfare. It is less
potent than LSD although its effects are similar to those of
psychedelics.

Psilocybin - This hallucinogenic alkaloid from small Mexican

mushrooms are used by Mexican Indians today. These mushrooms
induced nausea, muscular relaxation, mood changes with visions of
bright colors and shapes, and other hallucinations. These effects may last
for four to five hours and later may be followed by depressions, laziness
and complete loss of time and space perceptions.

Morning Glory Seeds - The black and brown seeds of the wild
tropical morning glory are used to produce hallucinations. The
seeds are ground into flour, soaked in cold water, then strained
though a cloth and drunk. The reactions are likened to those
resulting from LSD. Prolonged psychosis is also one of its effects.
 DISSOCIATIVE ANESTHETICS

Dissociative (also referred to as 'dissociative anesthetics') are a class of psychedelic drugs. Colloquially
discos, are a subclass of hallucinogens that distort the perception of sight and sound and produce feelings
of detachment, and dissociation from the environment and/or self. This class of drugs causes people to
feel separated or detached from their body or physical environment. Dissociation can also cause
hallucinations and other changes in thoughts, emotions, and consciousness.

Ketamine - a dissociative anesthetic that is used in surgery and

veterinary medicine. It causes amnesia (memory loss) and analgesia
(pain-relief). Low doses produce stimulant effects; medium to high
doses produce possible out-of-body or near death experiences.

PCP – Phencyclidine (PCP) is a drug that has both hallucinogenic

and dissociative properties. The dissociative effects of PCP leaves
users feeling removed from their body and their environment. This
effect produces a trance-like state. It also has strong anesthetic
effects, which produces amnesia (memory loss) and analgesia (pain-
relief). Also known as “angel dust”.

DXM – (lean, dank) Dextromethorphan is a medication usually used

as a cough suppressant in cold and cough medicines. It is sold in
syrup, tablet, spray, and lozenge forms. It leads to vomiting, nausea,
hot flashes, sweating, and slurred speech.

Nitrous Oxide – (nangs) Nitrous oxide is a dissociative anesthetic and

has been found to produce dissociation of the mind from the body (a
sense of floating), distorted perceptions and in rare cases, visual
hallucination.

Methoxetamine - is derived from ketamine and also has dissociative

properties. It lasts longer and has more powerful effects than ketamine,
but lower analgesic and aesthetic effects. The main effects include
hallucinations, depersonalization and dissociation
 NARCOTIC ANALGESICS
Narcotic analgesics are prescription pain relievers ordered for the treatment of moderate pain to severe
pain. They are most appropriately prescribed for the relief of short-term, intense discomfort due to
medical conditions or pain occurring immediately after surgery.

Codeine - is an opiate and pro drug of morphine mainly used to

treat pain, coughing, and diarrhea. It is also commonly used as a
recreational drug. It is found naturally in the sap of the opium
poppy, Papaver somniferum. It is typically used to treat mild to
moderate degrees of pain. 

Hydromorphone - also known as dihydromorphinone, and sold

under the brand name Dilaudid among others, is an opioid used to
treat moderate to severe pain. Typically, long-term use is only
recommended for pain due to cancer. It may be used by mouth or
by injection into a vein, muscle, or under the skin.

Hydrocodone - also known as dihydrocodeinone, is an opioid

used to treat pain and as a cough suppressant. It is taken by mouth.
Hydrocodone can cause drowsiness, dizziness, nausea,
constipation, urinary retention and in higher amounts, depressed
respiration. Long term use can lead to dependence and addiction.

Fentanyl - is a highly potent synthetic opioid used as an analgesic.

Together with other drugs, fentanyl is used for anesthesia. It is also
Meperidine
used - is a narcotic
recreationally, sometimesanalgesic
mixedwithwithmultiple actions
heroin, cocaine,
qualitatively similar
benzodiazepines to those of morphine;
or methamphetamine. the most prominent
An overdose of it can beof
these involve
neutralized by the central Its
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effectssystem and
include organshappiness,
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smooth muscle. It leads to cold, clammy skin, decrease in urine
drowsiness, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation, tolerance,
volume, and
addiction, difficultydepression
respiratory of swallowing.
and arrest, unconsciousness, coma,
and death.

Morphine - is a strong opiate that is found naturally in opium, a

dark brown resin in poppies. It is mainly used as a pain
medication, and is also commonly used recreationally, or to make
other illicit opioids. It may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and
fainting when you get up too quickly from a lying position.

Oxycodone - sold under various brand names such as Roxicodone

and Oxycodone, is a strong, semi-synthetic opioid used medically
for treatment of moderate to severe pain. It leads to dry mouth,
stomach pain, dizziness, mood changes and flushing.

Tramadol - sold under the brand name Ultram among others, is

an opioid pain medication used to treat moderate to moderately
severe pain. When taken by mouth in an immediate-release
formulation, the onset of pain relief usually begins within an hour.
Tramadol may cause serious or life-threatening breathing
 INHALANTS
Inhalants are drugs inhaled through the nose or the mouth, usually by sniffing, snorting, huffing, or
bagging. Despite the short-lived high that inhalants cause, people often attempt to make these symptoms
last by continuously using for inhalants several hours. 

Solvents - are chemicals that are commonly found in everyday

products such as cleaning fluids, aerosols, lighter gas, nail varnishes
and glue. Its vapor and mists have various effects on human health.
Many of them have a narcotic effect, causing fatigue, dizziness and
intoxication. High doses may lead to unconsciousness and death.

Gases – is a medical anesthetics as well as gases used in household

or commercial products. Medical anesthetics include ether,
chloroform, halothane, and nitrous oxide. A very serious allergic
reaction to this drug is rare. It leads to itching/swelling (especially of
the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

Nitrites - it is the ester of cyclohexanol and nitrous acid, i.e. it is an

alkyl nitrite. Like amyl nitrite and butyl nitrite, it acts as an anti-
anginal due to vasodilation. Poppers are highly flammable and can
cause chemical burns on the skin, leading to rashes around the nose
and mouth. Poppers can cause nausea, headache, and disorientation.

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 sativa - is an annual herbaceous flowering plant indigenous to

Eastern Asia, but now of cosmopolitan distribution due to widespread
cultivation. It has been cultivated throughout recorded history, used as a
source of industrial fiber, seed oil, food, recreation, religious and
spiritual moods and medicine. Some users report feeling relaxed or
Cannabis indica - is an annual plant species in the family
Cannabaceae which produces large amounts of
tetrahydrocannabinol and is cultivated for purposes including
hashish in India. Common effects associated with indica strains
include feeling relaxed, euphoric, happy, and sleepy. Indicas are
commonly known as nighttime strains, used for relaxing and
unwinding at the end of the night.