DEFINITION

 DRUGS - are substances that change a person’s mental or physical state. They
can affect the way your brain works, how you feel and behave, your
understanding and your senses. This makes them unpredictable and dangerous,
especially for young people.
 DRUG ABUSE - the excessive, maladaptive, or addictive use of drugs for
nonmedical purposes despite social, psychological, and physical problems that
may arise from such use.
 DRUG ADDICTION – obsession with any legal or illegal drugs.

RA 9165
 AN ACT INSTITUTING THE COMPREHENSIVE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF
2002, REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6425, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF 1972, AS AMENDED, PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

2 INSTITUTIONS
 National Institute on Drug Abuse ( NIDA)

The mission of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is to advance science on
the causes and consequences of drug use and addiction and to apply that knowledge
to improve individual and public health. In this regard, NIDA addresses the most
fundamental and essential questions about drug abuse — from detecting and
responding to emerging drug abuse trends and understanding how drugs work in the
brain and body, to developing and testing new approaches to treatment and
prevention. NIDA also supports research training, career development, public
education, public-private partnerships, and research dissemination efforts. Through
its Intramural Research Program, as well as grants and contracts to investigators at
research institutions around the country and overseas, NIDA supports research to:

 Identify the biological, environmental, behavioral and social causes and

consequences of drug use and addiction across the lifespan;
 Develop improved strategies to prevent drug use and its consequences;
 Develop new and improved treatments to help people with substance use
disorders achieve and maintain a meaningful and sustained recovery;
  Increase the public health impact of NIDA research and programs.

 NATIONAL INSTITUES ON HEALTH (NIH)

 Substance Abuse and Mental Health services Administration ( SAMHSA )

EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE

The Effects of Drug Misuse on Health

Substance use disorders are associated with a wide range of short- and long-term health effects.
They can vary depending on the type of drug, how much and how often it’s taken and
the person’s general health. Overall, the effects of drug misuse and dependence can be far-
reaching. They can impact almost every organ in the human body.
Side effects of drug addiction may include:
 A weakened immune system, increasing the risk of illness and infection

 Heart conditions ranging from abnormal heart rates to heart attacks and collapsed
veins and blood vessel infections from injected drugs

 Nausea and abdominal pain, which can also lead to changes in appetite and weight
loss

 Increased strain on the liver, which puts the person at risk of significant liver damage
or liver failure

 Seizures, stroke, mental confusion and brain damage

 Lung disease

 Problems with memory, attention and decision-making, which make daily living more
difficult

 Global effects of drugs on the body, such as breast development in men and increases
in body temperature, which can lead to other health problems
ROLE OF THE FAMILY ( in the drug addiction )
Family members and loved ones of those dealing with addiction or another mental
health disorder play important roles. Family support in addiction recovery may look like: 4
 Intervening in a crisis situation.
 Finding treatment options and helping them get into treatment.
 Providing necessary information about their life and substance use that will help
the treatment professionals provide the right type of care.
 Maintaining health records and providing them to treatment providers as
necessary.
 Advocating for their needs and rights.
 Helping them stick with their treatment and aftercare plans and watching for any
significant behavioral changes that may signal an impending relapse.
Your involvement has so many benefits for your loved one. Studies show that when
families take part in the treatment and recovery process, the recovering person is: 4
 Less likely to be hospitalized or experience a relapse.
 More likely to adhere to treatment.
 More likely to recover from the disorder.
 Less likely to be involved in the criminal justice system.
Family members themselves can also benefit from taking part in the treatment process.
They may receive education on the disease of addiction and learn healthy coping
strategies to be positive contributors to their loved one’s recovery efforts. 4
Many treatment programs invite families into the treatment process through scheduled
family visits, family classes, and even family therapy. When major issues in the family
improve, the recovering person may be more likely to stay in recovery, and other family
members may be less likely to struggle with the same problems in the future. 1

HOW TO IDENTIFY A DRUG ADDICT

Physical Signs of Drug Abuse - How to tell if someone is on drugs

1. Small Physical Symptoms:

Side effects can include slight alterations to physical appearance that may start to become
noticeable. Bloodshot or red eyes and pinpoint or dilated pupils are all telling signs of many
types of drug abuse. Also, pay attention to skin texture and complexion. Frequent abnormal
puffiness and flushed or washed-out color can also indicate ongoing abuse of drugs or alcohol.

Many forms of drug abuse come with small behavioral changes that might be dismissed as “tics.”
If you notice any of the following, it could be signs of a hidden condition:

 Persistent itching in a specific area of the body

  Impulsive pulling down of sleeves to hide marks
 Slurred speech
 Frequent sniffling

While these are not definitive signs, if they are accompanied by secretiveness or defensiveness,
they could provide helpful clues as to whether something is wrong.

2. Overall Appearance:
Long-term abuse of drugs and alcohol can result in drastic changes to physical appearance. Many
drugs have appetite suppressing or other altering side effects, meaning abuse often results in
visible weight changes.

These rapid changes to body composition, such as sudden weight loss or weight gain, or lack of
interest in personal grooming, especially if it declines without explanation, can also point to
substance abuse and can be cause for concern.

3. Paraphernalia:
It can be an obvious indicator if you find equipment in someone’s room or among their things.
Some common items include:

 Cigarette wrapping papers

 Pipes
 Syringes
 Rolled up banknotes
 Cut-up straws
 Soiled cotton swabs
 Lighters
 Burnt spoons or bottle caps
 Bongs
 Razor blades
 “Cutting” surfaces like mirrors or glass

Not all drugs require anything to use them, but you might see other items that point to misuse.
For example, medicine bottles from more than one doctor can be a sign of prescription drug
abuse.

People can use eyewash to hide the effect of bloodshot eyes – and while this is not a definite
indicator, abnormal amounts can be a clue. Depending on many factors, someone struggling with
addiction might go to great lengths to hide the physical signs or treat the symptoms with total
apathy.

COMMONLY ABUSED DRUGS

 Alcohol
 Bath Salts (Synthetic Cathinones)
 Club Drugs
 Cocaine
 Heroin
 Inhalants
 Marijuana
 MDMA (Ecstasy/Molly)
 Methamphetamine
 Prescription Drugs & Cold Medicines
 Steroids (Anabolic)
 Tobacco/Nicotine