CHAPTER VI : DRUGS
Lesson Objectives: After the lesson and interactive discussion, the students will be able :
1. Distinguish different types of drugs according to their classification
2 State the undesirable effects of dangerous drugs to the person taking it
3. Group different types of drugs according to their respective classification.
Drug defined.
Drug is a chemical substance that brings about physical, physiological, behavioral and/or
change in a person taking it.
All medicines are drugs, but not all drugs are medicine drug.
Medicinal Drugs
A substance which when taken into the human body cures illness and/or relieves
signs/symptoms disease.
Dangerous Drugs
A substance affecting the central nervous system which when taken into the human body
brings abou physical, emotional or behavioral changes in a person taking it.
Drug Abuse
Any non-medical use of drugs that cause physical psychological, legal, economic, or social
damage to the user or to people affected by the user's behavior.
Abuse usually refers to illegal drugs but may als be applicable to drugs that are available
legally, such as prescribed medications and certain over-the-counter medications.
CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS
According to origin:
a. Natural Drugs are active ingredients, secondary metabolic products of plants and other
living systems that may be isolated by extraction
Examples: Raw opium, Marijuana, Coca bush
b. Synthetic Drugs are artificially produced substances, synthesized in the laboratory for
the illicit market, which are almost wholly manufactured from chemical compounds in illicit
laboratories.
Examples: Methamphetamine Barbiturates
According to Legal classification:
a. RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002)
b. PD 1619 (Volatile Substances)
c. RA 6425 (Classified as: Regulated and Prohibited)
Under RA 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, the term
prohibited and regulated was changed into dangerous drug with the following classification:
1. Immediate precursors - a chemical substance used in the clandestine manufacturing
process becomes incorporated in full or in part into the final molecules of a substance
under international control
2. Essential chemicals - chemical substance used as reagent or solvent in the illegal
manufacture of controlled substances.
3. Narcotic, psychotropic and designer
According to International Classification:
a Narcotics substance
b Psychotropic substances
c Designer drugs
According to Pharmacological Classification (Effects):
a. Stimulants
b. Hallucinogens
c Depressants
d. Inhalants
STIMULANTS - are drugs which increase alertness of physical disposition
Example: Amphetamine
Street Name: Eye opener, lid poppers, pep pills, uppers, hearts
What it is: Reduces appetite Relieves mental depression Comfort fatigue and
sleepiness
How Taken: Orally as tablet or capsule
Effects:
General: wakefulness, increased alertness/initiative
Toxic: from restlessness to coma and death
Dangers: Dependence, overdose, violent/bizarre behavior
Example: Shabu (Methamphetamine Hydrochloride)
Street Name: Poor man's cocaine, S, shabs, ubas, siopao, sha, ice
What it is: White odorless crystal/crystalline powder with a bitter numbing taste
How Taken: Ingestion, inhalation (chasing the dragon), sniffing, injection, smoked
Effects:
General: anxiety, irritability, irrational behavior
Long Term: psychosis similar to schizophrenia difficulty in concentrating, loss of interest in sex
Physical: chest pain, irregular heartbeat, hypertension. convulsion, death
Dangers: Injection from contaminated needles may lead to risk of infections, phlebitis, septicemia, AIDS,
etc.
HALLUCINOGENS - are drugs which affect sensation thinking, self-awareness and emotion
Changes in time and space perception delusions (false beliefs) and hallucinations may be
mild oroverwhelming, depending on dose and quality of drugs.
Example: Ecstacy
Street Name: XTC, Adam, essence, E. herbals
How Taken: Swallowing or inhalation
Effects: Exaggerated emotions, makes HR and BP hike up, dries the mouth, stiffens
arms, legs. jaw; dilates pupils of the eyes,causes ſaintness, chills sweating
and nausea.
Dangers: It can really kill!
Example: LSD Lysergic Acid Dicthylamide
Street Name: Lucy in the sky with diamonds, wedding bell white sugar, lightning, cub brain
eaters
What it is: A semi-synthetic alkaloid substance extracted from a fungus which grows
on ry wheat, and other grains, odorless, tasteless, colorless
Effects:
Psychological: vivid hallucinations, confusion, blurring an distinction between
conscious and unconscious thought etc.
Physical: dilated pupils, flushed face, increased BP. etc
Dangers: May cause abnormal amount of breakage of chromosomes of WBCs that carry
genes, which may resu to miscarriages and birth defects.
Example:Marijuana
Street Name: Mary Jane, Flower, pampapogi, brownines, damo pot, tea, joint, Dope
What it is: Comes from Cannabis Sativa L. (Indian hemp); looks like fine, green
tobacco
How Taken: Smoked in pipes/cigarettes: can be taken in food: made into candy, sniffed
in powder form, mixed with honey or butter
Effects:
Immediate: faster heartbeat, bloodshot eyes, dry mouth
Long Term: chest pain, temporary loss of fertility, cancer, marijuana burn-out.
Dangers: Slows down user's mental and psychomotor activities; long-term use may
lead to psychological dependence, may lead to cancer
DEPRESSANTS - are drugs which depress or lower the functions of the Central Nervous System
Types of Depressants:
Narcotics a drug which induces sleep (Hypnotics) or stupor and relieve pain (Analgesics)
Something that soothes, or causes a sensation of mental numbness
This includes Opium, Opiates, Heroin, Morphine,and Codeine
Tranquilizers - a substance that reduces anxiety, ease tension and relax muscles.
Sedatives and Hypnotics - calm the nerves, reduce tension and induce sleep.
Example: Barbiturates, alcohol
INHALANTS - these are any liquid, solid or mixed substance that has the property of releasing toxic
(psychoactive) vapors or fumes.
Example: solvent, glue, gasoline, kerosene, paint, thinner, naphthalene.
What are considered Dangerous Drugs?
Dangerous Drug is a substance affecting the central nervous system which when taken into
the
human body brings about physical, emotional or behavioral changes in a person taking it
It is a substance which when taken into the human body alters mood, perception, feelings
and behaviour.
Under Republic Act 6425, otherwise known as s Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972, dangerous drugs a
classified into three (3) main categories, namely:
A. Prohibited Drugs
B. Regulated Drugs
C. Volatile Substances
A. Prohibited Drug, which includes opium and its active components and derivatives, such as
heroin and morphine, coca leaf and its derivatives, principally cocaine; alpha and beta eucaine;
hallucinogenic drugs such as mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and other substances
producing similar effects; Indian hemp and its derivatives; all preparations made from any of the
foregoing; and other drugs and chemical preparations, whether natural or synthetic, with the
physiological effects of a narcotic or a hallucinogenic drug (As amended by B.P. 179 dated March 2,
1982).
B. Regulated Drug, which includes self-inducing sedatives, such as secobarbital, Phenobarbital,
pentobarbital, barbital, amobarbital and any other drug, which contains a salt or a derivative of a
salt of barbituric acid; any salt, isomer or salt of an isomer, of amphetamine, such as Benzedrine or
Dexedrine, or any drug which produces a physiological action similar to amphetamine; and
hypnotic drugs, such as methaqualone, nitrazepam or any other compound producing similar
physiological effects (As amended by PD No. 1683 dated March 14, 1980)
C. Volatile Substance, Liquid, solid or mixed substances having the property of releasing toxic
vapors or fumes or any chemical substance which when sniffed, smelled. inhaled, or introduced
into the physiological system of the body produce/induce a condition of intoxication, inebriation,
excitement, stupefaction, etc.
Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, gives
a single definition for prohibited and regulated drugs. The old law defines the
term "dangerous drugs as pertaining to either "prohibited drug" or "regulated
drug".
"Drug Dependence" - means a state of psychic or physical dependence, or
both, on a dangerous drug, arising in a person following administration or use
of that drug on a periodic or continuous basis.
Characteristics of Drug Dependency
1. Physical dependence - the body's physical system changes until the body needs that particular
drug in order to function.
2. Mental or psychological dependence - a need of drug in order to feel good, to get by or feel
normal.
3. Idiosyncrasy or side effect.
"Use" - refers to the act of injecting, intravenously or intramuscularly, or of consuming,
either by chewing, smoking, sniffing, eating, swallowing, drinking, or otherwise
introducing into the physiological system of the body, any of the dangerous drugs.
"Sell"- means the act of giving a dangerous drug whether for money or any other
material consideration.
