CDI 7 - A Content-based Module for Facilitating Learning

1. Vice
• A vice is a moral failing or a bad habit. Traditional examples of vice include drinking alcohol,
smoking tobacco, and gambling in card games.

2. Drug Abuse
It is when you use legal or illegal substances in ways you shouldn’t. You might take more than the
regular dose of pills or use someone else’s prescription. You may abuse drugs to feel good, ease
stress, or avoid reality. But usually, you’re able to change your unhealthy habits or stop using
altogether.

3. Addiction
• Addiction is when you can't stop. Not when it puts your health in danger. Not when it causes
financial, emotional, and other problems for you or your loved ones. That urge to get and use
Drugs can fill up every minute of the day, even if you want to quit.
R.A No. 9165 - Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

R.A No. 6425 - Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972 - the law that was repealed by RA No. 9165.

• It is the policy of the State to safeguard the integrity of its territory and the well-being of its
citizenship particularly the youth, from the harmful effects of dangerous drugs on their physical
and mental well-being, and to defend the same against acts or omissions detrimental to their
development and preservation. In view of the foregoing, the State needs to enhance further the
efficacy of the law against dangerous drugs, it being one of today's more serious social ills.

4. Classification of Drugs according to effect

• Depressant - "downers" - a drug reducing functional or nervous activity. Lower the level of
arousal when taken.
Stimulants - "Uppers" - increase mental and/or physical function. A substance that raises the
levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body.
• Hallucinogens - "psychedelics" - a drug that causes hallucinations. Psychoactive drugs that cause
subjective change in perception, thought, emotion and consciousness.
 •

5. Classification of Drugs according to Pharmacology

• Depressants
• Narcotics
• Tranquilizers
• Stimulants
• Hallucinogens
• Solvents/Inhalants

6. Classifications of Drugs according to Legal Categories

• Prohibited Drugs
• Regulated Drugs
• Volatile substances

7. Golden Triangle of Drug Trafficking

• Laos
• Thailand
• Burma

8. The Golden Crescent - global site for opium production and

distribution)
• Afghanistan
• Pakistan
• Iran
• India

9. Classification of Drug User/Abuser

• Situational user - those who use drugs to stay awake or for additional energy to perform.
an important work. Such individual may or may not exhibit psychological dependence.
• Spree user - a school-age user who takes drugs for 'kicks', adventure, daring experience or a
means of fun.
Hard core addicts - those whose activities revolve almost entirely around drug use and securing.
supplies. They show strong psychological dependence on the drug.
• Hippies - Those who are addicted to drugs believing that drugs are an integral part of life.
 •

Commonly abused drugs:

• Sedatives are depressant drugs that reduce anxiety and excitement, such as barbiturates.
tranquilizers and alcohol.
• Stimulants - are drugs which increase alertness and activity such as amphetamine, cocaine and
caffeine.
• Hallucinogen/Psychedelics - drugs which affect sensation, thinking, self-awareness, and emotion.
• Narcotics - drugs that relieve pain and often induce sleep. This includes opium and its derivatives.
like morphine, codeine and heroin.
• Solvents - volatile substances that are found to be the most commonly abused.

Primary causes of drug addiction:

• Pride - excessive feeling of self-worth or self-esteem or sense of self-importance.

• Anger - against, himself, family, friends and society in general.
• Lust - burning sexual desire can distort the human mind to drug abuse.
• Glutony - 'food trip' in the lingo of junkies.
• Greed - wealth, fame, recognition as exemplified by people under pressure in their work of art
such as musicians, actors, and athletes who indulge in drug abuse.
• Envy - to get attention from someone as a sign of protest.
• Laziness - 'I can't syndrome' incapacity to achieve is a breeding ground of drug abuse and
boredom coupled with poor self-image.

Warning Signs of Commonly Abused Drugs

10. Marijuana
• glassy red eye
• loud talking
• inappropriate laughter followed by sleepiness
• loss of interest
• weight gain or loss
11. Depressant
• contracted pupils
• drunk-like
• difficulty concentrating
• clumsiness
• poor judgement

12. Stimulants - e.g. cocaine, amphetamines

• dilated pupils
• hyperactivity
• euphoria
• irritability
• anxiety
• excessive talking followed by depression or excessive sleeping
• may go long periods of time without eating or sleeping
• weight loss
• dry mouth and nose

13. Inhalants - e.g. glues, aerosols, vapors

• watery eyes
• impaired vision, memory and thought
• secretions from the nose or rashes around the nose and mouth
• headaches and nausea
• appearance of intoxication
• drowsiness
• poor muscle control
• changes in appette
• anxiety
• irritability
• lots of cans, aerosols in the trash
14. Hallucinogens - ex. LSD, PCP - Lysergic acid diethylamide
(LSD), also known colloquially as acid, is a hallucinogenic drug.
Effects typically include altered thoughts, feelings, and awareness of
one's surroundings. Many users have visual or auditory hallucinations
• dilated pupils
• bizarre and irrational behavior including paranoia, aggression, hallucination
• mood swings
• detachment from people
• absorption with self or other objects
• slurred speech
• confusion

15. Heroin
• contracted pupils
• no response of pupils to light
• needle marks
• sleeping at unusual time
• sweating
• vomiting
• coughing, shuffling
• twitching
• loss of appetite

16. Alcohol
• clumsiness
• difficulty walking slurred speech

• sleepiness
• poor judgement
• dilated pupils
• possession of false ID cards

17. Tobacco/Nicotine
• smell of tobacco
• stained fingers or teeth
Analgesic - any drugs such as salicylates, morphine or opiates used primarily for the relief of pain.

Content-based Module for Facilitating Learning

18. A BRIEF HISTORY OF DRUG ABUSE

For thousands of years, humans have used various types of drugs and other intoxicating substances.
substances. For example, the consumption of wine was tracked from the early Egyptians; narcotic
was used by as early as 4000 B.C. However, it was not until the 19th century A.D. when the active
substances in drug were extracted for human consumption. This period was followed by newly found
substances, including laudanum morphine, cocaine, all of which were completely unregulated and
freely prescribed by physicians for various ailments. They were available as patent medicines and
sold by traveling salesmen, in drug stores, or by mail. During the American Civil War, morphine was
freely used, such that wounded veterans returned home with their morphine kits and hypodermic
needles. With the influx of their soldiers coming home, opium dens flourished around the same time,
and by early 1900s, there were an estimated 250,000 drug addicts in the United States alone.
Addiction and Drug Abuse, 2012

Several years afterwards, problems related to addiction were eventually recognized.

Protective measures against drug abuse in the US were first established in 1875, the year when
opium dens were finally outlawed in San Francisco California. The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906
required that patent medicines containing opium and certain other drugs be labeled accurately. Later
heroin was also completely banned. As a result, the use of narcotics and cocaine became less popular
in the 1920s.

By the 1930s, most US states mandated the inclusion of anti-drug education programs in all
public schools. However, due to lingering fears that knowledge would lead to experimentation, this
The initiative was discontinued in most places. After the repeal of Prohibition, the US Drug Enforcement
The Administration (Federal Bureau of Narcotics) began a campaign to present marijuana to the public as
a highly addictive substance. In the 1950s, marijuana use saw a surge, along with the increased use of
the other drugs like tranquilizers and amphetamines.

A decade later, the social upheaval of the 1960s in the US saw a dramatic increase in drug
use and some degree of increased social acceptance. In fact, by the early 1970s many states and
Localities had lowered drinking ages and even decriminalized marijuana in some places. When the
The 1980s came, there was a decline in the use of these drugs, but only to be replaced by others that were more
Powerful drugs, such as cocaine and crack, became popular. For the first time, the military became
involved in border patrols, and US troops invaded Panama and brought Manuel Noriega, its de facto
leader, to trial for drug trafficking.

In accordance with the public perception, drug laws have also kept pace with the changing
perceptions and dangers of substance abuse. More than 55 federal drug laws and many other state
laws, which were implemented during the 1970s, already specified various punitive measures,
including death penalty and life imprisonment.

Although possession was considered illegal, the most severe penalties were reserved for
illegal distribution and production of drugs. The act handled the prevention and treatment of drug
abuse and aimed to control and manage drug trafficking. In relation to this, the Anti-Drug Abuse Acts of
1988 increased funding allocations for drug treatment and rehabilitation. Specifically, the 1988 Act
created task the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and its director is given the task of
coordinating national drug control policies.

19. Motivations for Drug Use

For relaxation
2. Stress relief
3. Increased energy levels
4. Peer pressure
5. Pain relief
Escapism
Increased self-esteem
For recreation purposes

20. Worldwide Trends in Illegal Drug Production and Trafficking

Drug use rates throughout Asia remain at low levels, with the annual prevalence rates of
amphetamine-type stimulant ATS ranging between 0.2% and 1.2% of the total adult population.
Prevalence rates for other types of drugs: Opioids; between 0.3% and 0.5%, Cannabis: between 0.1%
to
3.1%, Ecstasy: between 0.1% to 0.7% and Cocaine: 0.05% of the total adult populaton.

21. Categories of Psychoactive Substances (NPS) sold globally

market (UNODC 2013)
1. KETAMINE - This is a type of anesthetic used for humans and animals. One of the mos
widespread in Asia.
2. PIPERAZINES - Commonly sold as “ecstasy,” these have gained popularity because of their
properties that stimulate the central nervous system.
3. PHENETHYLAMINES- This group has substances related to methamphetamine and
amphetamine. These generally produce stimulant effects. Recently, modified versions of
these compounds have been reported to yield such powerful hallucinogens as Bromo-
Dragonfly.
 4. PLANT-BASED SUBSTANCES - Plants with psychoactive properties are commonly included in
this group. Khat (Catha edulis), which is a plant that is native to the African and Arabian
Peninsula. As the users chew the leaves of this plant, this action releases stimulants such as
cathinone and cathin, which are absorbed in the user's bloodstream. Kratom (Mitragyna
speciosa), which is a plant indigenous to Southeast Asia. It contains mitragynine, which is an
alkaloid that acts as a stimulant and as a sedative at low and high doses, respectively.
5. SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS- These receptor agonists generate effects that are similar to
those of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol which is the main psychoactive component of
cannabis.
6. SYNTHETIC CATHINONES- These are derivatives and analogues of the internationally
controlled substance known as cathinone, which in turn, is one of the chemically active
components of the khat plant.
7. OTHER SUBSTANCES- Those classified as other substances includes aminoindanes, which act
as stimulants, and tryptamines and phencyclidine-type substances, which act as
hallucinogens.

22. Nine Most Commonly Used Illegal Drugs Worldwide

Heroin
2. Crack cocaine
3. Methamphetamine
4. Cocaine
5. Marijuana
6. Ecstasy
7. LSD
8. PCP
9. Psilocybin mushrooms Illicit Drugs Routes

Investigators have uncovered common routes taken by manufacturers to transport illicit drugs.

23. THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE

Known as one of the two main opium-producing areas in Asia, the Golden Triangle has a size of

approximately 950,000 km, which overlaps the mountain ranges of three Southeast Asia countries,
namely Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar.

Heroin produced in Southeast Asia is brought to the US by couriers who prefer to travel via
commercial airlines.
24. THE GOLDEN CRESCENT
The Golden Crescent is another area in Asia where illicit opium production takes place.
The area is primarily located at the crossroads of Western, South, and Central Asia and overlaps.
countries, namely Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Afghanistan are opium producers, while Iran
serves as a transshipment route for these smuggled opiates, aside from being a consumer of such
illegal drugs.

25. ILLEGAL DRUG TRADE IN THE PHILIPPINES

At present, the illegal drug trade in the Philippines is considered a critical national issue, with
methamphetamine hydrochloride also known as SHABU and marijuana as two of the most used and
Valued methylenedioxy methamphetamine, also known as ECSTASY, is also among the list of illegal substances.
drugs that are of great concern to the authorities.

26. Marijuana Production

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported that the mountainous parts of Luzon,
Visayas and Mindanao are very viable marijuana cultivation zones. Marijuana created within the
The country is distributed regionally and is additionally exported to different countries. The local
Distribution of marijuana has increased since 2012 despite the destruction of illegal marijuana.
plantations throughout the country.

27. Shabu Production

Since 2010, drug syndicates are manufacturing meth in small-scale and kitchen-type.
laboratories to prevent detection by Philippine authorities. Normally, drug syndicates rent warehouses
to be used as their drug laboratories. These syndicates prefer renting houses in private subdivision,
condominiums, and residential areas where they can establish bases for their illegal drug
Production. Private properties have become favorable to drug syndicates as sites of illegal drug.
Production. Shabu continues to enjoy higher demand in this country than cocaine, which is a more
expensive illegal drug.

28. Factors that contribute to the rampant drug courier problem in

the Philippines
Many Filipinos have fallen victim to syndicates' promise of love/marriage, as recorded in
many arrests involving Filipina drug couriers. Others were lured by the chance to travel, the promise
of a comfortable life, and/or having a high-paying job easy cash. In other words, the drug courier
The problem may also be attributed to these factors:

• Poor educational background

• Rampant poverty
• Unemployment
• Easy money
• Opportunity to travel
29. Commonly Abused Drugs in the Philippines
The commonly abused drugs in the Philippines include shabu, methylene
dioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or ecstasy, marijuana, cocaine, and ephedrine. These are but some
of the ordinarily abused drugs within the Philippines. Recently, the drug problem has reached
alarming proportions. The increasing number of arrested drug traffickers; seizures of huge volumes of
dangerous drug, controlled precursors and essential chemicals; and the dismantlement of clandestine
Laboratories since the conceptions of the powerful PDEA show the extent and impact of the drug.
trade and drug abuse problem within the Philippines (PCTC, n.d.).

The illegal trade of shabu has grown into a P1 billion-a-day business. However, the drug has
currently become more expensive; thus, it is no longer 'the poor man’s cocaine' according to
antinarcotics agents and international drug reports. The current street value of shabu in the country
ranges from P15,000 to P17,000 depending on the demographic locations. Such price increase may
be attributed, in part, to the government’s success in dismantling many clandestine laboratories
throughout the country.

The worsening phenomenon of drug addiction in the country is demonstrated by relevant data.
In 1972, there were 20,000 drug users within the Philippines. In 2004, this figure climbed to an
astounding 6.7 million drug addicts throughout the country. Of all the available illegal substances,
Shabu and marijuana are preferred by one in 29 Filipinos aged 10 to 44 years old (PCTC, n.d.).

30. CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS

Classification of Drugs according to their Pharmacological effects

Hallucinogens - these are drugs that affect one’s senses, self-awareness, emotions, and one’s
ability to think properly. Hallucinogens cause delusions and hallucinogenic episodes ranging
from mild to overwhelming.
• Ecstasy - its street names include 'ADAM', 'XTC', 'Essence'
• Lysergic diethylamide (LSD) – LSD is a partially synthetic alkaloid substance that is extracted
from fungus growing on wheat and rye, among other types of grains.
• Mescaline – this is a chemical extracted from the peyote cactus. Peyote buttons have a very
bitter taste, and on average, they have a diameter of 1-2 inches. These are brown in color and
look like the underside of a mushroom.
• Hashish - (concentrated cannabis) this refers to the concentrated resin that has been
extracted from marijuana using various methods. Hashish is said to be eight to ten times
stronger than commercial grade marijuana.
• Marijuana - commonly called Indian hemp, this refers to the dried flowering or fruiting top of
the plant Cannabis Satva L.
Narcotics - this group of drugs are substances that dull the senses and are thus often used to
induce sleep and/or relieve pain. The term narcotic is derived from the Greek word 'stupor'.
 • Opium - this is the coagulated juice of the opium poppy (Papaver Somniferum L.) and includes
Crude preparations that contain morphine or any alkaloid of opium as ingredients.
• Heroin - technically known as diacetylmorphine (INN), heroin is a semi-synthetic opioid and it is
derived from morphine.
• Speedball - this is a mixture of cocaine and either morphine or heroin.
• Morphine - this is the main active component of the opium plant, Papaver Somniferum.
The term morphine is derived from the name of the Greek god of dreams, 'Morpheus'. It comes
with crystalline powder form or sometimes in small white tablets or cubes.
Sedatives - these drugs that can be used to reduce anxiety and excitement.

• Alcohol- it comes in many forms, such as whisky, beer, gin, wine, and brandy.
• Barbiturates- these are made from a kind of barbituric acid commonly known as “barbs”.
Stimulants - these are drugs that enhance the users' mental and physical condition by
improving alertness and stamina, respectively.
• Amphetamine - this is the stimulant prescribed to relieve minor cases of mental depression.
to minimize one's appetite, and to relieve fatigue and sleepiness. (eye opener, pep pills,
uppers)
• Caffeine - this is a bitter methylxanthine or alkaloid commonly found in regular beverages, such
such as cola, coffee, tea, carbonated drinks, cocoa, and some over-the-counter drugs.
• Cocaine - this is extracted from coca bush leaves. Natives of the Andes Mountains chew its leaves to
relieve fatigue when working at high altitudes. Cocaine is white in its pure form and consists
of bright, colorless crystals that look like snow. Cocaine is bitter and odorless, its street name
include “crack,” “coke” “heavens dust” “gold dust”.
• Methamphetamine hydrochloride (locally known as shabu) - shabu is odorless, has a white,
crystalline powder appearance, and has a bitter taste. Also known as poor man’s cocaine, and
has street name 'bato'.
Prescription Drugs

• Sedatives - these are used to calm the nerves, reduce tension, and induce sleep.
• Tranquilizers - classified into major and minor tranquilizers.
Street Drugs- Shabu this was originally synthesized from ephedrine extracted from the
ephedra plant by Japanese scientist Dr. Nagayoshi Nagai in 1888. The term “shabu” is a
When you use it you will become thin as bone.

Major Causes of Addiction

31. GENETICS
The link between genetics and addiction remains a topic of strong debate. Reports have found that
40% to 60% of predisposition to addiction is a result of genetics, and furthermore, that the children
Individuals who suffer from addiction have a 25% greater likelihood of also developing addiction.
compared to children of non-addicted parents. Researchers are actively searching for an addiction
gene, but it seems more likely that familial trends towards addiction are the result of environmental
factors like exposure and normalization of drug use.
Gender is also one of the potential causes of addiction or at least predisposition to addiction. While
Men have generally been found to have higher rates of addiction than women, a recent study.
presented by the American Psychological Association suggests that there are other key differences
worth investigating. This study found that although women begin using substances at much smaller
Women require lower dosages than men; however, their drug use escalates into addiction much more rapidly than for men.
Women also face a higher rate of relapse than men and are more prone to mood and anxiety.
disorders, and therefore, addiction.

32. ENVIRONMENT
The Nature vs. Nurture argument is relevant to addiction as well. While genetic predisposition is
possible although has not been conclusively determined, the environment in which we were raised
and continue to thrive has a huge impact on mental and physical well-being and therefore, is one
of the major causes of addiction.

If drug use is common in the home, an individual may become desensitized to it or normalize it. If
Positive results of drug use are witnessed by children (euphoria, partying, having fun, etc.), they
come to understand that using drugs leads to happiness and will naturally want to repeat this
behavior. The other side of the coin can be equally as problematic, however, in that if children
experience negative effects of drug use (abuse, unemployment, damaged relationships, etc.) they
may become depressed or anxious and turn to drugs as a coping mechanism due to their availability.

33. OUR BRAIN AND BODY

Thus far we have discussed various genetic, environmental, and social influences that may contribute.
to the causes of addiction, but we cannot ignore the role the brain and body play in the disease of
addiction. Whenever you eat, have sex, or partake in any activity that contributes to survival, the
brain is flooded with dopamine.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter or chemical messenger that signals to the brain that what you are
doing is good and should be repeated. Drugs cause dopamine to be unnaturally released. When an
individual continues to take a drug, the brain will be overwhelmed by the surges of dopamine and
subsequently start producing less and less of it on its own. This is the start of physical dependency – a
condition in which the user has overridden his or her natural dopamine factory and now needs to
continue taking the drug in order to produce dopamine.

Withdrawal is also another bodily effect of drug use that may cause a person to get and remain
hooked on a substance. It is the body’s way of saying, Hey! You told me I needed this for survival (not
true) and now I’m going to do everything I can to make you keep using it Thetme it takes for the
The onset of withdrawal is different for everybody. As a starting point, for most, heroin withdrawal begins
within 12 hours of the last dose and can last a week to up to a few months, while alcohol withdrawal
usually begins between eight and thirty-six hours after drinking and usually lasts a few weeks.