Prevention of Substance Use and Abuse

Classifications of
Drugs of Abuse
Common Concepts in Drug Education
The following are the usual words you will
encounter in studying substance use and abuse:

DRUGS DRUGS OF
ABUSE
DRUG
TOLERANC
E
DRUG DRUG
DEPENDENC ABUSE
E
1. GATEWAY DRUGS
 GATEWAY DRUGS
⮚ Drugs that a non-drug user might
try which can lead him or her to
more dangerous drugs such as
marijuana and shabu.

⮚ Some common examples of these

are cigarettes and alcohols, which
are not allowed to minors.
2. DEPRESSANTS
 DEPRESSANTS
• Also known as “downers”, it slows down a person’s central
nervous system. It relaxes muscles and nerves.
• Depressants include alcohol, barbiturates and tranquilizers.
3. STIMULANTS
 STIMULANTS
• Also known as “uppers” or “speeders”, it speeds up a person’s
central nervous system.
• Caffeine is a kind stimulant which is found in softdrinks, energy
drinks, coffee, tea and chocolate.
• Illegal stimulants are Cocaine, Nicotine, and Methamphetamine or
Shabu, and Ecstasy.

Ecstasy
4. NARCOTICS
 NARCOTICS
• Also known as “painkillers”, it relieves pain and induce
sleepiness.
• Some illegal Narcotic drugs are Heroin and Marijuana,
which if taken wrong may cause overdose leading to coma
and death.
5. HALLUCINOGENS
 HALLUCINOGENS
• Drugs which distorts reality and facts. It affects all senses and makes
a user see, hear and feel things that don’t exist and are not real.
• Long term use may cause Psychosis which is a mental disorder in
which reality is twisted.
• Examples are Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), Psilocybin, Mescaline
& Magic Mushroom.
6. INHALANTS
 INHALANTS
• These are found in ordinary household chemical products which are
huffed or sniffed.
• Continuous use and abuse leads to delusion, brain damage, liver
damage, coma and death.
• Examples of household products used as Inhalants are acetone,
Rugby, Spray Paint, Cleaning Fluids, and Airconditioner Fluid (freon).
 Generalization
⮚ Drugs of abuse are classified according to their effect on the body - gateway drugs, depressants,
stimulants, hallucinogens, narcotics and inhalants.

⮚ Gateway drugs are drugs that a non-drug user might try which can lead him or her to more
dangerous drugs.

⮚ Depressants slows down a person’s central nervous system, while Stimulants have the opposite
effect, it speeds up a person’s central nervous system.

⮚ Inhalants are chemical products which are huffed or sniffed, usually found ordinary household
products.

⮚ Narcotics are known as “painkillers”, it relieves pain and induce sleepiness.

⮚ Hallucinogens are drugs that affects all senses, it distorts reality and facts.
⮚Commonly abused drugs in the Philippines are Shabu, Marijuana and
Inhalants.
⮚Filipino males are most vulnerable in experimenting and abusing
drugs.
⮚Prescribed medicine to treat a medical condition can lead to substance
abuse or addiction if not taken in the right way.
⮚Most people who are treated for substance-use disorder need to stay in
treatment for at least 3 months.
 Risk Factors & Protective Factors
Risk factors are those influences which
increase the chances of using, misusing
and abusing drugs.
Protective factors, on the other hand, are
those influences which decrease the
chances of using and abusing drugs.
 Signs of Drug Abuse
The following are common signs of drug revealed by
individual using drugs. While not all of these signs mean that
one person is involved in drugs and there could be some
other physical or emotional problem that is causing these
behaviors, there is high chance that drug use may be a
possibility:
• declining interest in school or work
• suddenly changes friends (hangs out with individuals
known for their drug use)
• becomes pessimistic, irritable and anxious all the time
• asks to be left alone a lot
 Signs of Drug Abuse
• is always tired (or makes it as an excuse to be left alone)
• becomes careless and often becomes involved in accidents
• becomes implicated in a lot of fights
• frequent mood swings
• sudden change in appearance and conduct (red or puffy
eyes, weight changes, constant complaints of headaches or
stomach-aches, shaking, incessant cough, brown stains on
fingertips, stumbling, or a constant runny nose)
• loss of interest in hobbies or sports
• exhibits poor judgment
• finds it difficult to concentrate
 Short-term and
Long-term Effects
of the Different
Drugs of Abuse
 ✔ REMEMBER
Use and abuse of drugs nowadays can be everywhere. Yet, as a
student there might be some influences which you cannot really
anticipate and so might affect you to try using drugs. For you to
prevent this from happening, you should have already learned the
Decision-making Skills and Resistance Skills.
There are also ways on how you can divert your attention to not
taking and trying to use illegal drugs. There are various and
healthy ways to get rid of drugs. People should understand the
different protective factors and risk factors. Protective factors
should be enhanced while risk factors should be avoided and
dropped for good.
Activities you need
to answer in your
Health Modules