The Social Menace

of Drug Addiction
 Drug is defined as follows
according to the Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency (PDEA)
Clinical definition
 Drug is a therapeutic substance other
than food used in the prevention,
diagnosis, alleviation, treatment, or cure
of disease in humans or animals.
General definition
 Drug is a substance aside from food
intended to affect the structure or
function of a physiological system
like the human body.
Popular definition
 Drug refers mainly to chemical or plant-derived substances that affect the body’s psychological,
behavioural, or physical functions and leads to varying degrees of independence or addiction.
 Drug addiction pertains to dependency on drug. Unpleasant withdrawal symptoms appear
unless the person is taking the substance. Addictive drugs make a person crave for or make
him/her feel an overwhelming urge to continue taking the drug, even after withdrawal
symptoms have disappeared.
 Drug change the way the body and the brain function. Sometimes, the result are pleasant as in
the case of prescription medications that are used to treat various conditions and diseases.
However, there are also times when the result are terrible and cause great harm to one’s body
and well-being.
 Thus, it is wise to know that not all drugs are harmful or are always safe. It is more important,
however, to recognize if you are addicted to drugs. Serious consequences can result from the
use of both illegal drugs and prescription medication.
ADDICTION
 An addition is not having a control over doing,
taking, or using something, until it becomes
harmful. Commonly, there are dependencies on
alcohol or drugs, but you can also become addicted
to everything from gambling to chocolates. Being
addicted to something means having a difficult
time without it during the day.
CLASSIFICATION OF DANGEROUS DRUGS
According to the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972, there are two classes
of dangerous drugs:

 Prohibited drugs which include all the drugs that produce

psychological effects of narcotics or those that relieve pain and
induce sleep (cocaine, LSD, marijuana, opium and its derivatives,
etc.)
 Regulated drugs which include self-inducing sedatives like
barbiturates, amphetamines, or other hypnotic drugs or compounds
producing the same physiological effects
COMMON DRUG TYPES
There are different types of drugs. Some are
prescribed. Others are known as club drugs, illicit or
illegal substances, and designer drugs.
MARIJUANA
 Marijuana is the term used to describe all that comes from the cannabis plant (Cannabis
sativa) like leaves, tops, stem, flowers, and roots. These are dried and prepared for smoking
or taken orally as “brownies.”
 Marijuana has psychoactive effects, it is taken into the body in the form of smoke or vapour
and can also be consumed and mixed into food or steeped in tea. It is believed to act as the
“gateway” to other more serious substances.
 According to PDEA, marijuana or Indian hemp embraces every kind,
class, genus, or species of the plant Cannabis sativa L. including but
not limited to, cannabis Americana, hashish, bhang, guaza, churrus,
and ganjab. It also includes every kind, class and character of
marijuana, whether dried or fresh and flowering, flowering or fruiting
tops, or any part or portion of the plant and seed thereof, and all its
geographic varieties whether as a reefer, resin, extract, tincture or any
form whatsoever.
 The mind altering component of marijuana is the delta-9-
tetrahydrocannibol (THC) which is concentrated in the resin.
 Smoked cannabis produces a dreamy state of consciousness in
which ideas seem disconnected, unanticipated, and free-flowing. Time,
color, and perceptions may be altered. In general, a feeling of well-
being and relaxation is experienced. Panic reactions usually occur,
particularly to new users.
 ADVERSE EFFECT
 Impairment of memory and short-term cognitive functioning, particulary mathematical, reading,
and verbal comprehension skills
 Impairment of motor skills which may lead to accidents and respiratory problems such as
bronchitis or lung cancer
 Premature babies, low birth weight, abortion, or still birth (neonatal death)
 Panic or state of anxiety, sometimes accompanied by paranoria
 Motivational syndrome as the regular use of marijuana dulls the mind of the smoker, blunts
enthusiasm, and takes away drive or urge
 Burnout as the user can become dull, slow-moving, inattentive, and unaware of his/her
surroundings
 Susceptibility to infections
 Decreased sperm production and altered sperm shape and mobility
 Decreased testosterone level, so that pre-teenagers are at an increased risk of temporary loss of
fertility.
 Symptom of mental illness
METHAMPHETAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE (SHABU)

 Methamphetamine Hydrochloride HCL is a type of amphetamine also known as “poor

man’s cocaine.” Its other names are shabu, ubas, siopao, sha, and ice. Shabu is a white,
odourless crystal or crystalline powder with a bitter, numbing taste.
 Abuser are known to take this drug by ingestion: inhalation (chasing the dragon),
sniffing (snorting), or injection. Amphetamines are regularly absorbed orally and are
associated with rapid onset of action, usually within one hour. If taken intravenously or
through injection, they have an almost immediate effect.
ADVERSE EFFECT
 Anxiety, tension, irritability, irrational
behaviour, talkativeness, and loss of self-control
 Loss of appetite and inability to sleep
 Euphoria, elation
 Acute psychotic reactions, violent and
destructive behaviour, and recklessness that may
result in accident.
PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS

These include chest pains;
irregularity of hearth beat; elevated
or lowered blood pressure, evidence
of weight loss, convulsion, and death
from cardiac arrest.
LONG-TERM EFFECTS
 Psychiatric consequences are the major feature of chronic “Shabu” abuse and
dependency. Prolonged use and even a single exposure, especially if
administered intravenously, can lead to the manifestation of a full-blown
psychosis which is similar to a schizophrenia characterized by the presence of
paranoid delusions and auditory and visual hallucinations. The paranoia may
lead to violent and aggressive behaviour.
 Some chronic users have difficulty in concentrating and remembering things.
Diminished ability to cope with problems and difficulties in facing reality is
common. Loss of interest in sex, ambition, or motivation may also result from
using shabu.
 Chronic shabu snorters may suffer from severe irritation of the nasal
passages and, at times, may even develop tissue perforation of the nasal septum,
so that they become prone to frequent nosebleed. Renal damage, hearth disease,
and stroke have likewise been documented among chronic abusers.
 Injecting shabu from contaminated needles may lead to poisoning
(septicaemia) and AIDS which can lead to death.
INHALANTS
 Inhalant abuse is the deliberated inhalation of volatile chemical
substance that contains psychoactive (mind/mood-altering) vapors
causing a state of intoxication. Most inhalants are common
household products such as nailpolish remover, glue, gasoline,
household cleaners, and nitrous oxide. Inhalants also include
fluorinated hydrocarbons found in aerosols such as hairspray, spray
paint, and household cleaners.

As the name suggests, inhalants refer to a group of drugs

that are inhaled in the form of a gas or solvent.
IMMEDIATE EFFECTS
 Confusion
 Distorted perception of time and distance
 Aggressive behaviour/violence
 Hallucinations
 Illusions
 Nausea and vomiting
 Drowsiness
DELAYED EFFECT
 Loss of memory
 Inability to think
 Muscle cramps and weakness
 Numbness of limbs
 Abdominal pains
 Damage to the central nervous system, kidney,
liver, and possibly, the bone marrow
ECSTACY
 Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) commonly known as “ecstacy,” “X-TC,”
“Adam,” and “Eden Tablet,” refers to the drug having such chemical composition,
including any of its isomers or derivatives in any form.
 Ecstacy is the term used for a group of “designer” drugs closely related in chemical
form to the amphetamine family of illicit drugs. Demands for this drug caused its price to
soar up to ₱2,000 today.
 MDMA was first develop as an appetite suppressant in 1914 by the German company,
Merck. In the 1970s, U.S. therapists, led by biochemist Alexander Shulgin, used the drug
to help patients explore their feelings.
ADVERSE EFFECTS
 Fatigue and, perhaps, depression after the drug is stopped
 Restlessness, anxiety, and pronounced visual and auditory
hallucinations at large doses.
 Nausea and vomiting
 Rise in blood pressure and heart rate, or death from heart
failure or stroke
 Prolonged regular use can lead to the same long-term
effects those of synthetic stimulants, including a potential
for neurotoxicity and brain and liver damage.
OPIATES/NARCOTICS
 Opiates, sometimes called narcotics, are a group of drugs that are used medically to relieve
pain but have a high potential for abuse. Some opiates that are commonly abused are
opium, morphine, codeine, and synthesized or manufactured opiates.
 Opium refers to the coagulated juice of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) and
embraces every kind, class, and character of opium, whether crude or prepared; the ashes
or refuse of the same; narcotic preparations thereof or therefrom; morphine or any alkaloid
of opium is used as an ingredients; opium poppy; poppy straw; and leaves or wrappings of
opium leaves, whether prepared for use or not.
 Opium poppy refers to any part of the plant of the species Papaver somniferum L.,
Papever setigerum DC, Papaver orientale, Papaver bracteatum and Papaver rhoeas which
include the seeds, straws, branches, leaves, or any part thereof, or substances derived
therefrom, even for floral, decorative, and culinary purposes.
COCAINE
 Cocaine is a drug from the leaves of the Erythoxylon coca plant, a shrub that originated
from South America. This drug affects the central nervouse system as a stimulant.
 Cocaine exaggerates changes caused by at least two brain chemicals-noradrenaline and
dopamine-increasing alertness and causing euphoria. Pure cocaine was produced in 1860
and was hailed as a cure-all. Doctors used it to treat anxiety and depression until they
realized it was addictive. Dentists also used cocaine to numb their patient’s gums, but
because it damage living tissues, it was replaced by drugs like lignocaine.
SEDATIVES
 Sedatives-hypnotics such as tranquilizers, sleeping
pills and sedative are drugs which depress or slow
down body functions. These drugs can be
dangerous when taken without a physician’s
prescription or instructions.
STEROIDS
 Anabolic steroids are not the same as the kind used in medicine for
the reduction of inflammation. Rather, these substances are used to
build muscle mass and strength. They typically consist of male sex
hormones and can be very damaging when used without a medical
prescription.
TOBACCO
 Tobacco is often smoked in the form of cigarettes or cigars
or chewed. It contains nicotine which is a stimulant and a
highly addictive substance that has been known to cause
cancer and other diseases.
NICOTINE
 Tobacco was introduced in America in the late 5th century. When tobacco smoke
is held, nicotine is absorbed through the lungs and reaches the brain in about
seven seconds. Nicotine works by mimicking the actions of a naturally occurring
brain chemical-acetylcholine-by docking with its special receptor molecules.
Some of these nicotine receptors in the brain activate part of the “pleasure
center,” which could be responsible for nicotine’s euphoric effects.
 Nine out of ten smokers say they like to quit smoking but cannot. Nicotine
withdrawal symptoms include irritability, anxiety, loss of concentration, and
sleeplessness. Cigarette smoke contains a handful of other harmful substances,
including carbon monoxide and tar.
 REASON BEHIND DRUD ABUSE
Typically, adolescence is a time of experimentation. Taking drugs is common as teenagers struggle to
establish their independence in a society where alcohol and other substances are associated with being a
mature adult. Some reasons behind addiction to substance, alcohol, and prohibited drugs include:
1. Curiosity
2. Social influence (peer pressure)
3. New sensations, for example, the effects of ecstasy which include increased energy and confidence
4. Rebellion and willingness to take risks especially when teenagers like illegal substances that their
parents strongly disapprove
5. Escapism. Alcohol and other drugs are used as a means of avoiding problems associated with family
life, school or work frustrations, friendship and relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, and
depression.
These problems should be addressed as early as possible to prevent any related drug use from escalating.
SIGNS OF DRUG DEPENDENCY

 There are no specific physical signs or

personality changes that indicate when a
person is using drugs. Although a deviant
behaviour may indicate drug use, some
behaviour changes may also not be drug-
related.
The following manifestation of drugs use require attention and appropriate action from the parent of the use
1. Mood swings or explosive outbursts
2. Staying out late or not coming home night
3. Frequent absence from work or school, or declining work or school performance
4. Unexplained need for money or sudden loss of money and valuables
5. Less extracurricular activities, social withdrawal, and minimal interaction with the family
6. Sudden or noticeable change in friends
7. Tiredness or changes in sleeping patterns
8. Changes in eating patterns
9. Impaired memory and poor concentration
10.Blood-shot or glassy eyes
11. Lethargy and loss of motivation
12.Deterioration of physical appearance and grooming
 If you suspect of using drugs, talk to him/her about it. He/She
may not want to talk about it right away, but if he/she feels that
you will listen then he/she will agree to talk to you.
Different higher educational institution (HEI) have their own
structure or organization in the prevention of drug use and
addiction within their campuses. Organizing peer counsellors
among students is one way of knowing if there is an
escalation of drug use and addiction inside the school
premises.
Students can help each other, through peer
counselling or barkadahan inside the school
premises or letting them participate actively in
various school activities or organizations. In the
process, they become more productive in terms of
school involvement.
CONCLUSION
 There are several reason why persons takes prohibited drugs. The
probability of becoming too much dependent on these illegal substances
leads a person to manifest behavior, mental reasoning, and habits that are
negatively affecting the way he/she treats his/her family, other people
around him/her, the society where he/she lives, and most especially
himself/herself.
 Drug dependency is extremely hazardous to a person’s health, the
people who care for him/her and his/her future as well.
 A drug dependent can still be saved from his/her present situation as
long as there are people who are willing to listen, understand and help
him/her until full recovery is achieved.