HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF DRUG ABUSE HISTORY OF DRUG ABUSE The Holy Bible is very reliable

source in tracing the early use of and abuse of narcotics. The Book of Judges of the Old Testament
revealed that the mighty Samson was put to sleep by Delilah by means of a drug-laced wine before
cutting his hair. Ancient Greek and Roman literature likewise are replete with stories alluding to drug
abuse, as in the lamentable and tragic romance of Mark Anthony and Cleopatra. Cleopatra, in
desperation over her disprized love drank a narcotic-laden wine before allowing her self to be bitten to
death by a poisonous asp from the River Nile.Historians credited that marijuana(cannabis sativa) is the
world’s oldest cultivated plant started by the Incas of Peru. The reference of introduction was in
Northern Iran as an intoxicant. And from there it spread throughout India by the Hindus used for
religious rituals in the belief that it is a source of happiness and “laughter provoker”.The word
“hashis”(resin) of the marijuana plant was derived from the name Hasan or Hashasin, the Muslim cult
leader who fed his disciples a preparation made from the resin of the female hemp plant as a reward for
their successful activities in assassinations.Knowledge on the opium poppy plant (papaver somiferum)
goes back about7000 years B.C cultivated and prepared by the Sumerians. Even the AncientGreek
physician Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, prescribed the juice of the white poppy plant as early as
5000 B.C in the belief that it can cure manyillnesses both in the internal and external use. The plant was
first harvestediOpium use in china was stemmed out from India and became widespread in the 19 th
century. From middle east, the plant was cultivated in India, Pakistanand Afghanistan. Five centuries
later, Opium trade between China andPortuguese merchants became a lucrative business. The
British took over thetrade from the Portuguese and established the Opium Trade
Monopolythrough the British East Indies Company.In an attempt to stop the extremely high rate of
opium addiction in China,Emperor Yung Chen prohibited the smoking of opium and attempted to
closeports for its importation. This triggered the “opium war” of 1840 which inducedChina to accept the
British sponsored opium trade and forced to sign a treatypermitting the importation of opium into China
after her defeat. It was in 1806 that a German pharmacist in the name of Friedrich W.Serturner
discovered Morphine, the first derivative of opium. He called thisnew drug as “Morphium” and late
changed to “Morphine” after the Greek godof dream, Morpheus. This was the first attempt to cure
opium addiction. Butmorphine addictive properties came to prominence during the American CivilWar
vast numbers of American soldiers became addicted to the drug- somuch so that morphine
addiction became known as “Soldiers Disease”

The second attempt of treating opium and morphine addiction started In 1896 when Heroin
(Diacetylmorphine), synthesized from the drug morphine, was discovered by a British chemist in the
name of Alder Wright. It was called the “miracle drug” because it is believed that it can cure both opium
and morphine addiction. It was named after the word “hero” due to its impressive power. So physicians
began to use heroin but it became a substitution of one addiction to another. It turns out later that
heroin is the most addictive of all drugs.

Meanwhile, codeine, the third derivative of opium was discovered in France while in the process of
discovering other drugs that could cure opium, morphine and heroin addiction but it also ended in the
same tragic result. Today, it is widely used as an ingredient in most cough syrup.
There are of course other historical events that would reveal drug abuse in the history of man, the
greatest influence of the modern medical practice today. In fact, physicians all over the world still
consider narcotics as the most effective pain reliever (Sotto, 1994).

HISTORY OF DRUG ABUSE AND ADDICTION IN THE PHILIPPINES

Very little known about drugs in the Philippines during the pre-Spanish era. The intoxicants and
stimulants used by the early Filipinos were fermented alcoholic beverages and the masticatory
preparations known as “nga-nga” in vernacular. Narcotics, including marijuana, were not in the list of
vices in the country at that time. The opium poppy plant and the coca bush were absent in the
Philippine vegetation prior to 1521.

During the Spanish era, drug control laws prohibited the use of opium by the native Filipinos and other
people except the Chinese. Chinese residents in the Philippines particularly in Manila and of the more
distant Chinese pariahs (ghettos) started smoking opium in 1780. As a vice, it was not widespread and
was particularly accepted and tolerated by the authorities. In 1844, The Spanish colonial government
laid down an opium monopoly, which entitled the importation by the Spanish government and its sale to
Chinese users. At this period, opium smoking became widespread among Chinese as its use was
forbidden to Indians, Mestizos and the Filipinos. This compromise policy lasted up to 1896, a period of
revolt and insurrection. The Americans took over the rule of the country, and after establishing a civil
government in 1901, a systematic survey was conducted and it was found out that there were 190 joints
where the Chinese smoke opium. It was observed that the habit had not yet gained foothold among
Filipinos. In 1906, partial legislation allowed Chinese addicts to obtain a license to use opium in their
homes for a fee of P5.00. The opium sale was under the government control and the quality was limited.
In 1908, the total ban of opium was effected. The campaign continued until the Japanese occupation in
1946, at which point all supplies of opium were cut of from the country and during that period the
number of opium addicts was probably the lowest in Asia. In 1953, Republic Act No. 953 was enacted
which provided for the registration of collection, and the imposition of fixed and special taxes upon all
persons who produce, import, manufacture, compound, deal-in, dispense, sell, distribute, or give away
opium, marijuana, opium poppies, or coca leaves or any synthetic drugs which may declared as habit
forming. The law also declared as a matter of national policy, the prohibition of the cultivation of
marijuana and opium poppy. Some time in 1955, the marijuana plant was introduced in Pasay City by
foreigners for purpose of producing "reefers". These were sold in taverns in Pasay City and introduced
into elite schools in the same area. The PC Criminal Investigation on January 8, 1959 conducted the first
marijuana raid in Pasay City when several potted marijuana plants were seized. the early 60's when
small heroin laboratories opened in The Philippines has been relatively heroin-free until Manila. In 1963,
new trends appear. There was a waning of opium addiction among the Chinese but a concurrent
increase among the Filipinos, just the latter contributed 63 percent of the total arrests from drug
offenses.
Recognizing the deleterious effect of drug abuse on the health and well-being of the Filipino youth and
the threat that it poses to national security, then President Ferdinand Marcos signed into law Republic
Act No. 6425 known as the “Dangerous Drug Act of 1972” on March 30, 1972. This law which was
amended by Presidential Decree No. 44, dated November 9, 1972 placed under control not only
narcotics by also psychotropic substances. On November 14, 1972, the Dangerous Drug Board was
organized to provide leadership, direction and coordination in the effective implementation of R.A.
6425. By early 1974, addiction to opiates and barbiturates had almost disappeared among the native
population.

During the period 1975-1980 the cultivation of marijuana increased and became geographically
widespread, thus the pattern of drug taking involved marijuana, abuse of pharmaceutical products
(especially cough syrup) and the inhalation of solvents. There was very little trafficking of heroin, cocaine
and LSD and the non-availability of narcotic drugs made the prices sour beyond the reach of Filipino
drug abusers.

Definition of Terms

Drug- is a chemical substance used as medicine or in the making of medicines, which affects the body
and mind and have potential for abuse. Chemical – is any substance taken into the body that

Alters the way and the mind and the body work. ⚫ Chemical Abuse – is an instance when the use of
chemical has produced negative or harmful consequences.

. Narcotic Drug refers to illegally used drugs or dangerous drugs, which are either prohibited or
regulated drugs. It also refers to drugs that produces sleep or stupor and relieves pain due to its
depressant effect on the CNS. The term Narcotic comes from the

Greek word “narcotikos”. It is sometimes known as “opiates”. Drug Abuse – is the illegal, wrongful or
improper use

Of any drug. Drug Addiction refers to the state of periodic or chronic intoxication produced by the
repeated

Consumption of a drug.
Drug Dependence – refers to the state of psychic or – physical dependence or both on dangerous drugs
following the administration or use of that drug. WHO defines it as the periodic, continuous, repeated
administration of a drug.

Physical Dependence – an adaptive state caused by repeated drug use that reveals it self by
development of intense physical symptoms when the drug is stopped (withdrawal syndrome).

Psychological Dependence – an attachment to drug use that arises from a drug ability to satisfy some
emotional or personality needs of an individual.

Tolerance is the increasing dosage of drugs to

Maintain the same effect in the body.

Pusher any person who sell, administer, deliver – or give away to another, distribute, transport any
dangerous drug.

Use the act of injecting, consuming, any dangerous – drugs. The means of introducing the dangerous
drug into the physiological system of the body.

Administer the act of introducing any dangerous – drug into the body of any person with or without his
knowledge.

• Manufacture the production, preparation, compounding or processing a dangerous drug either

directly or indirectly or by extraction from substances of natural origin or by chemical synthesis.

Drug Experimenter – one who illegally, wrongfully, or improperly uses any narcotic substances for
reasons of curiosity, peer pressure, or other similar reasons.