DRUG ED U C A T IO N

DRUG
IT IS THE SUBSTANCE THAT AFFECTS THE FUNCTION OF
LIVING CELLS, USED IN MEDICINE TO DIAGNOSE, CURE,
PREVENT THE OCCURRENCE OF DISEASES AND DISORDERS
AND PROLONG THE LIFE OF PATIENTS WITH INCURABLE
CONDITIONS.
DRUG ABUSE

THE OVERUSE OF A DRUG WITHOUT DUE REGARD TO

ACCEPTED MEDICAL PRACTICE RESULTING IN TH
INDIVIDUAL’S PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL OR
BEHAVIORAL IMPAIRMENT.
DRUG DEPENDENCE
IS A COMPULSIVE BEHAVIOR BROUGHT ABOUT BY DRUG
ABUSE. IN 1987, THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
DECLARED ALL DRUG DEPENDENCIES TO BE DISEASES.
WHEN CHEMICAL DEPENDENCIES ARE VIEWED AS A
DISEASES, THEIR TREATMENT AND UNDERSTANDING ARE
FACILITATED.
DRUG USER

ANOTHER TERM FOR “DRUG ADDICT” WHICH REFERS TO

AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS DEPENDENT ON A CERTAIN DRUG
OR DRUGS.
COMMON SIGNS OF DRUG ABUSE
1. CHANGE IN ATTENDANCE AT WORK OR SCHOOL.
2. CHANGE IN NORMAL CAPABILITIES (WORK HABITS, EFFICIENCY, ETC. )
3. POOR PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, INCLUDING IN ATTENTION TO DRESS AND PERSONAL HYGIENE.
4. CONSTANT WEARING OF SUNGLASS IN APPROPRIATE TIMES. MARIJUANA CAUSES
BLOODSHOTS EYES.
5. UNUSUAL EFFORT MADE TO COVER ARMS IN ORDER TO HIDE NEEDLE MARKS.
6. ASSOCIATION WITH KNOWN DRUG ABUSERS.
7. STEALING ITEMS THAT CAN READILY SOLD FOR CASH.
8. CHANGE IN MOOD, DEPENDING ON THE DRUG TAKEN.
CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS AND THEIR EFFECTS

•ALCOHOL LIQUOR
EXTRACTED FROM CHEMICAL COMPOUND AS ETHYL AND
HYDROCARBON, IS DANGEROUS CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE
THAT TRIGGERS THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AND MAY
DAMAGE VITAL HUMAN ORGANS.
EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL USE
• GIVE A FEELING OF RELAXATION AND LOSS OF INHIBITION.
• A SENSE OF EXCITEMENT DUE TO THE RELEASE OF INHIBITIONS.
• DISRUPTED MOTOR ACTIVITY, MOTOR SKILLS AND COORDINATION.
• DEEP INTOXICATION THAT CAUSES DISTURBANCE IN BODILY PROCESSES.
• DILATED SUPERFICIAL BLOOD VESSELS CAUSING WARM FEELING.
• WARNING CONSCIOUSNESS, CAUSING MENTAL DULLNESS.
• LOSS OF SELF-CONTROL RESULTING IN VIOLENT BEHAVIOR.
MARIJUANA (CANNABIS SATIVA)
ANNUAL PLANT THAT GROW S WILD IN MANY TEMPERATE
PARTS OF THE WORLD.
EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA
• THROAT INTOXICATION AND COUGHING.
• INCREASED HEARTBEAT AND PULSE RATE.
• REDDENING OF THE EYES, DIZZINESS, BODILY INCORDINATION.
• SLEEPINESS AND DECREASED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
• POSSIBLE CHRONIC BRONCHITIS AND ASTHMA.
• FEELING OF EXCITEMENT AND FRIENDLINESS.
• DISTORTION OF TIME AND SPACE PERCEPTION.
• DISTURBANCES OF BRAINWARE ACTIVITY, CAUSING OF IMPAIRMENT OF SKILLS
LEADING TO ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR.
STIMULANTS
•DRUGS THAT USED TO INCREASE MENTAL ACTIVITY, RELIEVE FATIGUE,
INCREASE ALERTNESS AND OFFSET DROWSINESS
A.) AMPHETAMINES
B.) COCAINE
C.) SHABU
(METHAMPHETAMINE, HCL
EFFECTS OF STIMULANTS
• FEELING OF BEING STRONGER, MORE DECISIVE AND SELF-POSSESSED.
• EXTENDED WAKEFULNESS AND INCREASED MENTAL ALERTNESS.
• MAY INCLUDE IRRITABILITY, ANXIETY AND FEAR.
• LOSS APPETITE RESULTING IN DECREASED BODY WEIGHT.
• PREGNANT WOMEN WHO ABUSED “SHABU” CAN CAUSE MENTAL RETARDATION TO THEIR UNBORN BABIES.
• LOSS OF SEXUAL DESIRE AND INTEREST TOWARDS WORK.
• “SCHIZOPHRENIA” OR SPLIT PERSONALITY, LEADING TO VIOLENT BEHAVIOR.
• LOSS OF MEMORY BY CHRONIC USERS.
• CHRONIC SNORTERS FROM IRRITATION OF THE NOSE LEADING TO FREQUENT NOSE BLEEDING.
• INJECTING “SHABU” USING DIRTY NEEDLES CAN LEAD TO VARIOUS INFECTIONS SUCH AS HEPATITIS B, BLOOD
POISONING AND AIDS.
 COUGH SYRUPS
• ALSO CALLED OVER THE COUNTER COLDS/COUGH
PREPARATIONS
A.) EPHEDRINE, PSEUDOEPHEDRINE, PHENYLEPHRINE AND
PHENYLPROPPANOLAMINE FOR NASAL DECONGESTION.
B.) CLOROPHENAMINE MALEATE FOR ALLERGIC ASTHMA,
NOCTURNAL COUGH.
C.) DEXTROMETHORPHAN IS COUGH SUPPRESANT: CODEINE HAS
AN ANTI-TUSSIVE EFFECT.
DEPRESSANTS
USUALLY KNOWN AS “DROWNERS”. THESE DRUGSACT ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM,
PROMOTING RELAXATION AND SLEEP.

• A.) BARBITURATES
• B.) MATHAQUALONE
EFFECTS OF DEPRESSANTS
A USUAL DOSE OF BARBITURATES CAUSING A CALMING, RELAXING EFFECT THAT
PROMOTES SLEEP. OTHER NOTABLE REACTIONS ARE GIVEN.

• RELIEF OF ANXIETY AND EXCITEMENT.

• REDUCE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
• A MARKED DECREASED IN BREATHING.
BARBITURATES
USED TO REDUCE THE FREQUENCY OF CONVULSIONS IN EPILEPTICS. AN OVERDOSE OF BARBITURATE
PRODUCES THE FOLLOWING REACTIONS.

• UNCONCIOUSNESS AND DECREASE IN BREATHING.

• DEEPENING UNCONCIOUSNESS LEADING TO “COMA”
HALLUCINOGENS (PSYCHEDELICS)
DRUGS THAT CAN PRODUCE CHANGES IN MOOD AND BEHAVIOR. THEY CAN PRODUCE
DELUSIONS AND HALLUCINATIONS. THEY INDUCE A STATE OF EXCITATION OF THE
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, SHOWN BY CHANGES IN MOOD. HALLUCINOGENS DISORIENT
THE SENSE OF DIRECTION, DISTANCE, AND TIME OF A PERSON. A USER MAY SPEAK OF
“HEARING” COLORS, SEEING SOUNDS.

• A.) MESCALINE
• B.) LSD
• C.) PSILOCYBIN
• D.) PHENCYCLIDINE
EFFECTS OF HALLUCINOGENS
• INCREASE HEARTBEAT AND PULSE RATE.
• ELEVATED OR INCREASED BODY PRESSURE.
• INCREASED ACTIVITY OF THE BODY DUE TO THE EFFECT OF THE BRAIN.
• ENLARGED OR DILATED PUPILS OF THE EYES.
• INCREASED BODY TEMPERATURE.
• PALENESS OF THE FACE AND SKIN OF THE BODY,
TRANQUILIZER
• DRUG USED TO TREAT NERVOUS DISORDERS, CALM PSYCHOTIC PATIENTS. THEY ARE
NOT HABIT-FORMING BUT WHEN TAKEN IN LARGE NUMBERS WILLPRODUCE DEEP
UNCONCIOUSNESS, A DROP IN BLOOD PRESSURE AND FINALLY RESPIRATION STOPS
LEADING TOP DEATH.
A.) MEPROBAMATE
B.) DIAZEPAM
EFFECTS OF TRANQUILIZER
• PHYSICAL WEAKNESS AND SLEEPINESS.
• INDUCED MENTAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DULLNESS.
• IT CALMS THE NERVES AND RELIEVES TENSION AND ANXIETY.
• OVERDOSE CAN LEAD TO “COMA”, RESPIRATORY FAILURE, AND DEATH.
NARCOTICS
•REFERS TO OPIUM, MORPHINE, CODEINE, HEROIN, AND
HYDROMOPHONE.
EFFECTS OF NARCOTICS
• REDUCED SIZE PUPIL OF THE EYES AND REDUCED VISION.
• DROWSINESS AND DECREASED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
• NAUSEA, VOMITING AND DIFFICULTY IN BREATHING IF TAKEN IN LARGER DOSAGE.
• “TOLERANCE”, WHICH FINALLY LEADS TO “DRUG DEPENDENCE”
• INDUCED “COME” WITH SLOW , SHALLOW RESPIRATION.
• CONVULSIONS, FOLLOWED BY THE STOPPING OF BREATHING THAT CAN LEAD TO DEATH
IF OVERDOSED.
 INHALANTS
VOLATILE SUBSTANCES DERIVED FROM ETHER OF CHLOROFORM. IT IS AN INHALATOR
THROUGH THE NOSE TO EXPERIENCE INTOXICATION. INHALATION OF DIFFERENT SUBSTANCE
CALLED “GLUE SNIFFING”. THESE SUBSTANCES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

• A.) QUICK-DRYING GLUE OR PLASTIC CEMENT, LIKE RUGBY.

• B.) PAINT REMOVER AND LACQUER, SUCH AS THINNER AND SOLVENT.
• C.) GASOLINE AND OTHER GASOLINE BASED-PRODUCTS.
• D.) KEROSENE OR COMMONLY KNOWN AS GAAS.
• E.) NAIL POLISH AND CUTCLE REMOVER.
• F.) LIGHTER-FLUID AND DRY-CLEANING FLUID.
EFFECTS OF INHALANTS
• UNSTEADINESS AND RESTLESSNESS.
• DRUNKENNESS WITH DEPRESSION LEADING TO UNCONCIOUSNESS.
• IRRITABILITY AND HIGHLY AGITATED CONDITION.
• INITIAL EXCITEMENT THEREBY LOSING EMOTIONAL CONTROL.
• IRRITATION OF THE THROAT AND NASAL PASSAGES. SOMETIMES INHALANTS CONTAIN
TOXIC ELEMENTS THAT ARE HARMFUL TO THE HEART AND CAN CAUSE SUDDEN DEATH
WHEN INHALED .
EFFECTS OF
DRUGS
REASONS WHY DRUGS ARE ABUSED
• FOR RELIEF FROM PROBLEMS-PERSONAL, FAMILY, SCHOOL OR WORK
• TO EXPERIENCE ITS EFFECT ON THE MIND AND BODY
• TO EASE DEPRESSION, BOREDOME, OAIN AND MISERY
• GIVING IN TO PRESSURES FROM “PEERS” OR OTHER DRUG USERS
• FOR CURIOSITY, DUE TO MISINFORMATION FROM ACQUAINTANCES
• FOR SECURITY FEELINGS – WITH DRUGS, THEY CAN HAVE SELF-CONFIDENCE
SOME OF PREVENTIVE MEASURES FOR DRUG ABUSE
• A.) IMPROVEMENT IN FAMILY RELATIONS. THE PARENTS AND CHILDREN
MUST COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER AND STRENGTHEN THEIR TIES TO
COMBAT DRUG ADDICTION;
• B.) DIRECT AND SINCERE ACTION ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT TO
ADDRESS THE GROWING PROBLEMS OF DRUG ABUSE;
• C.)
CLEAR AND NOTICEABLE REFORMS IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND
ECONOMY TO PROVIDE EVERYONE WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE AND GOOD LIFE;
• D.)
STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF DRUG LAWS AGAINST VIOLATORS AND
TRAFFICKERS ;
• E.) ESTABLISHMENT OF A DEDICATED JUDICIARY SO AS TO FACILITATE THE
DELIVERY OF AID OF VICTIMS OF DRUG ABUSE;
• F.) COMPLETE “CRACKDOWN” AGAINST DRUG PUSHER AND SYNDICATES ;
AND
• G.) INSTITUTING HEAVY PENALTIES, SPECIFICALLY THE “DEATH PENALTY”
FOR DRUG-RELATED CRIME AND SERIOUS DRUG VIOLATORS.
ROLES OF SCHOOLS, THE
COMMUNITY AND PARENTS IN
PREVENTING DRUG ABUSE.
SCHOOL

•DRUG POLICY
•DRUG AWARENESS
COMMUNITY
• CONDUCTING AN ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN, COOPERATING WITH AUTHORITIES IN THE
ARREST OF THE DRUG PUSHERS;

• HELPING DRUG USERS GET TREATMENT FROM DRUG REHABILITATION CENTERS,

DISMANTLING THE DRUG-BASED NETWORK EXISTING IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH
POLICE ACTION;

• PLANNING A COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM INVOLVING YOUNG PEOPLE , CIVIC

WELFARE, AND RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS IN TACKLING THE DRUG PROBLEM ; AND

• ORGANIZING WORTHWHILE AND CONSTRUCTIVE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS RECREATIONAL ,

SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC PROJECTS THAT WILL SERVE AS A POSITIVE ALTERNATIVE TO
DRUG ABUSE.
PARENTS
• IF PARENTS USE MEDICINES IMPROPERLY AND IN LARGE DOSAGES, CHILDREN WILL IMITATE THIS BAD
EXAMPLE. THIS SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

• PARENTS MUST TEACH THEIR CHILDREN NOT TO USE DRUGS INDISCRIMINATELY SO AS TO DEVELOP IN
THEIR CHILDREN THE CORRECT DRUG ATTITUDE.

• PARENTS SHOULD ADVICE THEIR CHILDREN ON THEIR CHOICE OF FRIENDS AND INCULCATE THE BASIC
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DRUG ABUSE.

• IF PARENTS DISCOVER THEIR SON OR DAUGHTER IS INTO DRUGS , THEY MUST FACE THE PROBLEM AND
SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP AT ONCE.

• PARENTS MUST CREATE A HAPPY FAMILY LIFE AND MAINTAIN AN OPEN COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
THEM AND THEIR CHILDREN.
HELPFUL AND TIMELY ADVICE
• MAINTAIN GOOD PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.
• USE DRUGS PROPERLY.
• UNDERSTAND YOUR OWN SELF.
• DEVELOP YOUR POTENTIALS.
• LEARN TO RELATE EFFECTIVELY WITH OTHERS.
• SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP IF YOU CANNOT COPE WITH YOUR PROBLEMS
ANYMORE.
• DEVELOP STRONG MORAL AND SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION IN LIFE.