WEEK NO: 6-8

Drug Education
In an article from Recovery Connection (2019), it listed ten (10) reasons why people use drugs. It explains
that there are circumstances that put a person to choice between properly using drugs and abusing it. Here is the
reasons:
1. Experimenting – It is not uncommon for addiction to stem from a person being curious and experimenting
with drugs or alcohol. It is a scenario that often starts with a young person using alcohol or marijuana out
of curiosity.
2. Family History / Genetics - If you have a family history of drug addiction, you may have a genetic
predisposition to develop an addiction to drugs or alcohol.
3. Prescription Drugs - There is a popular misconception that any medication prescribed by a doctor is safe.
Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Doctors prescribe medications to alleviate symptoms of
physical or mental health issues. However, many individuals are not properly educated on the risks that
the medications may carry. Chronic pain is often managed through opioid medications, which are highly
addictive. Dependent upon the amount used and other factors, someone may require a medical detox
just to stop using opioids.
4. Loneliness - Addiction can start when an individual feels lonely or is isolated from the friends and family.
They turn to drugs and alcohol thinking that it will fill a void that they have been living with. People
lacking positive daily interaction may choose to use substances to feel happy or content.
5. Peer Pressure - Peer pressure usually applies to adolescents or young adults. The need to fit in, on some
level, is built into each and every one of us. Some people may feel the need to participate in potentially
harmful activities to do so. The pressure of being around others who are abusing drugs or alcohol can
push someone to follow suit.
6. Drugs And Alcohol Can Make You Feel Good - There is a popular quote in the Big Book of Alcoholics
Anonymous that states: “Men and women drink essentially because they like the effect produced by
alcohol.” While this seems obvious, some people like the effect so much that they are unable to stop. It
may be difficult to see the harm in something that makes you feel good.
7. Mental Health Disorder - Depression, anxiety, and PTSD can put individuals at higher risk of developing an
addiction. Using substances to cope with difficult feelings may seem like an easier path for some. Though
they may seem crippling at times, there is help available to anyone struggling with a mental health
disorder. Non-narcotic medications are often available for most mental health disorders.
8. Recreation - Many people use drugs or alcohol socially with friends or to “unwind” after a long day. They
often see substances as a way to relax or clear their minds. Recreational drug users are still at risk to
become addicted if their use becomes more frequent or they use highly addictive substances.
9. Alcohol Isn’t Enough - For some, alcohol stops doing the trick. A few beers after work or having drinks with
friends at a local bar just doesn’t have the same effect that it used to. Some individuals end up “chasing a
buzz” that they were once able to attain with a few drinks.
10. Self-Medicating - People struggling with any of a multitude of ailments may turn to drugs or alcohol to
ease their pain. Mental health disorders and chronic pain leave some seeking solutions on their own.

COMPREHENSIVE DANGEROUS DRUG ACT OF 2002

Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 or Republic Act 9165 is an act that supersedes R.A. 6425 or
the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972. This amended law practices a more intensive approach against drug abuse,
trafficking and enforcement. It also gives emphasis on the role of the educational system in information
dissemination and prevention campaign. It re-evaluates the procedures, policies and programs concerning drug
abuse. It highlights the importance of rehabilitation and reintegration of rehabilitated individuals to society.
These are some of the important provisions in the law:
UNLAWFUL ACTS AND PENALTIES
SEC. 5
Sale, Trading, Administration, Dispensation, Delivery, Distribution and Transportation of Dangerous Drugs and/or
Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals
SEC. 6
Maintenance of a Den, Dive or Resort
SEC. 11
Possession of Dangerous Drugs
SEC. 15
Use of Dangerous Drugs
SEC. 19
Unlawful Prescription of Dangerous Drugs
DANGEROUS DRUGS TEST AND RECORD REQUIREMENTS
SEC. 36
Authorized Drug Testing
PARTICIPATION OF THE FAMILY, STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND SCHOOL AUTHORITIES IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF
THE ACT
SEC. 46
Special Drug Education Center
PROGRAM FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG DEPENDENTS
SEC. 54
Voluntary Submission of a Drug Dependent to Confinement, Treatment and Rehabilitation
SEC. 60
Confidentiality of Records under the Voluntary Submission Program
SEC. 61
Compulsory Confinement of a Drug Dependent who Refuses to apply under the Voluntary Submission Program

PARTICIPATION OF THE FAMILY, STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND SCHOOL AUTHORITIES IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF
THIS ACT

SEC. 41. Involvement of the Family. — The family being the basic unit of the Filipino society shall be primarily
responsible for the education and awareness of the members of the family on the ill effects of dangerous drugs
and close monitoring of family members who may be susceptible to drug abuse.

SEC. 42. Student Councils and Campus Organizations. — All elementary, secondary and tertiary schools’ student
councils and campus organizations shall include in their activities a program for the prevention of and deterrence
in the use of dangerous drugs, and referral for treatment and rehabilitation of students for drug dependence.

SEC. 43. School Curricula. — Instruction on drug abuse prevention and control shall be integrated in the
elementary, secondary and tertiary curricula of all public and private schools, whether general, technical,
vocational or agro-industrial as well as in non-formal, informal and indigenous learning systems. Such instructions
shall include:

(1) Adverse effects of the abuse and misuse of dangerous drugs on the person, the family, the school and the
community;

(2) Preventive measures against drug abuse;

(3) Health, socio-cultural, psychological, legal and economic dimensions and implications of the drug problem;

(4) Steps to take when intervention on behalf of a drug dependent is needed, as well as the services available for
the treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependents; and
(5) Misconceptions about the use of dangerous drugs such as, but not limited to, the importance and safety of
dangerous drugs for medical and therapeutic use as well as the differentiation between medical patients and
drug dependents in order to avoid confusion and accidental stigmatization in the consciousness of the
students.

COMMONLY ABUSED DRUGS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Not all drugs are illegal, it says. The caffeine in coffee, the nicotine in cigarettes, and alcohol are
technically legal drugs. Medicines are pharmaceutical drugs used to treat or prevent illnesses. They are legal,
although they could also be abused.
 The ones people should totally shun are the illegal drugs because they alter a person’s mood, thinking, and
behavior.
 All illegal drugs have immediate physical effects, and they also hinder psychological and emotional
development, especially among young people.
 The effects of illegal drugs do not last long. When they wear off, a user gets depressed, lonely and sick,
appears confused, sweats a lot, has red eyes, and neglects his/her physical appearance. Then comes the
irrational craving.

The following are the most common prohibited drugs and how they affect their users:

METHAMPHETAMINE
 Methamphetamine, a.k.a. Shabu, also goes by the names Crack meth, Ice, Crystal meth, Tik, and Yaba.

 Methamphetamine belongs to a group of drugs called amphetamine-type stimulants. Like ecstasy, it is

manufactured in illegal laboratories and sold in powder, tablet or crystal form. It could be swallowed, sniffed,
smoked or injected.
 Over the short term, users tend to lose their appetite, start to breathe faster, and sweat due to increased heart
rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.
 Taking in large doses would make users feel restless and irritable and could induce panic attacks. Taking in
excessive doses could result in convulsions, seizures, and death from respiratory failure, stroke or heart failure.
 Long-term use could also lead to malnutrition, weight loss, and psychological dependence.
 Stopping its use results in a long period of sleep, followed by depression.

ECSTASY
 The drug, usually made in illegal laboratories, consists of a range of substances that make it dangerous to consume.
It comes in the form of tablet, powder or capsule and is usually swallowed, but could also be snorted or injected.
 Ecstasy increases users’ empathy levels and induces a feeling of closeness to people around them. It makes them
feel more sociable and energetic.
 Short-term use of ecstasy prompts the body to ignore distress signals such as dehydration, dizziness, and
exhaustion, and interferes with the body's ability to regulate temperature. It could also severely damage the liver
and kidneys and could cause convulsions and heart failure.
 In large doses, ecstasy could cause restlessness, anxiety and severe hallucinations. Long-term use damages certain
parts of the brain, bringing about serious depression and memory loss.

CANNABIS
 Cannabis is known by many names -- Bongo, Ganja, Grass, Pot or Thai sticks. Its most famous name, however, is
Marijuana, or Mary Jane.
 Cannabis, a tobacco-like greenish or brownish substance made of dried flowering tops and leaves of the cannabis
plant, is usually smoked, but its resin and oil could also be swallowed or brewed in tea.

 After taking cannabis, users feel relaxed and sometimes euphoric, with an intensified sense of sight, smell, taste,
and hearing.
 Short-term use makes them experience increased appetite and pulse rate, and an impaired ability to perform
physical and mental tasks, such as driving a car and thinking logically.
 With large doses, users’ thinking slows down and they become confused and have bouts of anxiety, panic, and
psychotic episodes.

COCAINE
 Cocaine is known as Crack, Bazooka, Blanche, Cake, Coke or Lady. It is a fine white or off-white powder extracted
from the leaves of the coca plant.

 Cocaine is usually sniffed or injected, while crack is usually smoked. After snorting cocaine, users feel exhilarated
and euphoric, leading to increased energy levels and alertness, along with delayed hunger and fatigue.
 Short-term use results in loss of appetite, faster breathing, increased body temperature and heart rate. Users may
act strangely, erratically and at times violently.
 Other risks include strong psychological dependence, malnutrition, weight loss, disorientation, apathy and a state
similar to paranoid psychosis. Mixing cocaine with alcohol is dangerous and could lead to sudden death.

HEROIN
 Heroin is also called Smack, H, Horse, Junk, Harry and White Lady. Heroin is a painkiller processed from morphine,
which comes from the opium poppy plant.
 Pure heroin is a white powder, but street heroin is brownish white. This highly addictive drug is usually injected, but
could also be snorted, smoked or inhaled.
 Heroin could relieve tension, anxiety, and depression, including physical distress or pain.
 Its short-term effects include constricted pupils, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, inability to concentrate and apathy.
 Long-term effects, meanwhile, include severe weight loss, malnutrition, constipation, menstrual irregularity,
sedation and chronic apathy. Users could develop a tolerance for the drug, making them ingest more to achieve the
effect they want.
 Overdosing on heroin could lead to coma and death through respiratory depression. Abruptly quitting heroin leads
to severe withdrawal symptoms, such as cramps, diarrhea, tremors, panic, runny nose, chills, and sweats.

LSD
 Also known as Acid or Hippie, LSD is a semi-synthetic drug made from lysergic acid, which is found in a fungus that
grows on rye and other grains.
 Dealers often sell it in squares of blotting paper with drops containing the drug, but also in the form of tablets,
capsules, and liquid. The colorless and odorless drug is often swallowed and has a slightly bitter taste.
 LSD use leads to strong changes in thought, mood, and senses, along with feelings of empathy and sociability. Its
exact effects, however, vary, depending on the mental state of the user and the environment when taking the
drug.
 Over the short term, users experience delusions and distorted perceptions in terms of time and color, severe and
terrifying thoughts and feelings, such as fear of losing control, insanity, death, and despair. Users manifest dilated
pupils, increased heart rate and blood pressure, dry mouth and tremors. They lack appetite and are sleepless.

ROLE OF THE YOUTH ON DRUG DETECTION AND PREVENTION

As drug abuse and addiction is prevalent in younger generation, it is imperative that the youth take part in
its prevention and rehabilitation efforts. Youth group or organizations can be a vehicle in which their community
can help alleviate or eradicate the possibility of drug abuse. Whether individually or as a group, the youth is a good
driving force that could shape the drug abuse prevention initiative of the country. Here are some ways the youth
can step up in this endeavor:
1. UNDERSTAND. Know the concept and reality of drug abuse. Having a grasp of the addiction can help in
avoiding it and watching out for others.
2. LISTEN. Open yourself up in the knowledge of the experts and experiences of others that have undergone
the abuse. Hear the stories and get their lessons to heart.
3. SHARE. Share your knowledge and network in aiding others towards being informed and recognizing their
role in drug prevention.
4. ENCOURAGE. Give your peers and family members a good push in the right direction whether its
prevention or rehabilitation.
5. SUPPORT. Take part in activities beneficial in the drug abuse prevention initiative. Add your presence to
the growing force tackling this issue.
6. ORGANIZE. Great minds think a like. Having a mutual goal, it is more purposeful to combine efforts and
sources to create a bigger impact about the concern.
7. INFORM. Approached appropriate government agencies regarding incidents and cases of drug abuse.