COMMONLY USED DRUGS, THEIR SYMPTOMS, AND METHODS OF

PREVENTION

DEPRESSANTS
The actions of depressants slow down or suppress the central nervous system's
operations. Depressants can relax you when used in moderation. Depressants might
make you unconscious by slowing your heartbeat and breathing when taken in higher
doses. Speech may become slurred, and a person's movements may become slow and
disorganized.
These can include:
 Alcohol;
 Opiates and opioids (heroin), morphine, codeine, methadone and
buprenorphine;
 Cannabis or marijuana;
 Minor tranquillizers diazepam such as Valium, oxazepam (Serepax);
 Some solvents and inhalants such as vapors from petrol, glue, chrome
paint and lighter fluid.

HALLUCINOGENIC DRUGS
alter how the user perceives reality. the key physical symptoms include dilated
pupils, hunger loss, increased activity, chatting or Laughing, clenching of the jaw,
perspiration, and occasionally nausea or stomach cramps. Drug Effects may include a
feeling of exhilaration and well-being on an emotional and psychological level. Users
may have tactile, aural, and visual hallucinations that cause them to see or hear things
that are merely imagined. These drugs include:
 LSD, also known as 'trips', 'acid' and 'microdots';
 magic mushrooms (psilocybin), also known as 'mushies’ or ‘shrooms’;
 Ecstasy (MDMA/methylenedioxymethamphetamine), also known as 'E', 'XTC
and 'Eccies', produces a combination of hallucinogenic and stimulant effects;
And
 Ketamine, also known as 'K' and 'Special K'.
STIMULANTS

STIMULANTS accelerate or stimulate the central nervous system, which can increase
users' alertness, confidence, and alertness. Stimulants raise blood pressure, body
temperature, and heart rate. Reduced appetite, enlarged pupils, chattiness, agitation,
and disturbed sleep are other physical side effects..
Types Include:
 Caffeine
 Nicotine in tobacco is a stimulant, despite smokers using it to relax
 Ephedrine, used in medicines for bronchitis, hay fever, asthma
 Amphetamines and methamphetamines, also known as 'speed', 'ice' and
'crystal meth'
 Cocaine, also known as 'coke' and 'snow'; • slimming tablets: e.g.
Duromine and Tenuate;

REASONS WHY PEOPLE TURN INTO DRUGS

-to be accepted by a group of friends
-They could be enquiring
-frequently to aid the person in temporarily escaping reality.
-A medication may help someone who is depressed or distressed feel better or
momentarily forget about their issues. However, this escape only lasts while the
medicine is still active. Drugs don't address problems, and using them frequently makes
the problems a person already has worse.
Drug use in some people may begin as an untreated mental health condition, such as
anxiety or depression. Drug use can temporarily ease suffering that can result from a
variety of mental health conditions or other problems, such as the following:
 Trauma or abuse
 Mental illness
 Low self-esteem
 Poverty
 Relationship problems
 Loss of a loved one
 Stress
 Chronic pain or medical conditions

HOW ADDICTION DEVELOPS

Most people choose to use drugs on their own volition. However, when adolescents
become entangled in the addiction cycle, their neurological circuits change, making it
harder for them to maintain control over their behavior and withstand strong impulsive
urges.
The brain sends out bursts of feel-good chemicals like dopamine to reward enjoyable
experiences (including food, closeness, and laughing). However, compared to eating
chocolate or snuggling, using drugs significantly increases the release of dopamine, and
the ensuing surge of happiness motivates users to repeat the experience. The more
drugs someone uses, the more their brain is trained to look forward to the same drug-
induced pleasurable experiences.
That is why stopping is so challenging. The brain develops an addiction-prone wiring.
One's tolerance may eventually increase to the point when addictive behavior no longer
brings pleasure and consuming drugs just becomes a means of avoiding withdrawal.
For them to feel normal at all, they require medicines.
THE EFFECTS OF DRUG ADDICTION

 Damaged immune system, which increases susceptibility to infection

 Cardiovascular conditions, including heart attacks and collapsed veins
 Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain
 Liver overexertion or liver failure
 Seizures and strokes
 Widespread brain damage that can interfere with memory, attention, and
decision-making, as well as permanent brain damage

SYMPTOMS/BEHAVIOURS

 Feeling that you have to use the drug regularly — daily or even several times a
day
 Having intense urges for the drug that block out any other thoughts
 Over time, needing more of the drug to get the same effect
 Taking larger amounts of the drug over a longer period of time than you intended
 Making certain that you maintain a supply of the drug
 Spending money on the drug, even though you can't afford it
 Not meeting obligations and work responsibilities, or cutting back on social or
recreational activities because
  of drug use
 Continuing to use the drug, even though you know it's causing problems in your
life or causing you physical or
 psychological harm
 Doing things to get the drug that you normally wouldn't do, such as stealing
 Spending a good deal of time getting the drug, using the drug or recovering from
the effects of the drug
 Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you attempt to stop taking the drug

RECOGNIZING SIGNS OF DRUG USE AND INTOXICATION

MARIJUANA AND CANNABIS-CONTAINING SUBSTANCE

Signs and symptoms of recent use can include:

 A sense of euphoria or feeling "high"
 A heightened sense of visual, auditory and taste perception
 Increased blood pressure and heart rate
 Red eyes
 Dry mouth
 Decreased coordination
 Difficulty concentrating or remembering
 Slowed reaction time
 Anxiety or paranoid thinking
 Cannabis odor on clothes or yellow fingertips
 Exaggerated cravings for certain foods at unusual times

METH, COCAINE, AND OTHER STIMULANTS

Signs and symptoms of recent use can include:

 Increased alertness
 Behavior changes or aggression
  Rapid or rambling speech
 Dilated pupils
 Confusion, delusions and hallucinations
 Irritability, anxiety or paranoia
 Nausea or vomiting with weight loss
 Impaired judgment
 Nasal congestion and damage to the mucous membrane of the nose (if snorting
drugs)
 Mouth sores, gum disease and tooth decay from smoking drugs ("meth mouth")
 Insomnia
 Depression as the drug wears off

CLUB DRUGS

Signs and symptoms of use of club drugs can include:

 Hallucinations
 Dilated pupils
 Chills and sweating
 Involuntary shaking (tremors)
 Muscle cramping and teeth clenching
 Muscle relaxation, poor coordination or problems moving
 Reduced inhibitions
 Heightened or altered sense of sight, sound and taste
 Poor judgment
 Memory problems or loss of memory
 Reduced consciousness
 Increased or decreased heart rate and blood pressure

METHODS OF PREVENTION

INDIVIDUAL STEPS
• Take such addicts to a clinic for treatment.
• Of all forms of treatment, a humanistic approach is thought to be the most popular and
successful.
• Parental education and prevention must begin at home.
• Avoiding drug use entirely is the greatest method to avoid drug addiction. Follow your
doctor's instructions carefully when taking any drugs that have the potential to lead to
addiction if they are prescribed by your doctor.
• Doctors need to prescribe these medications in moderation and keep an eye on your
progress to ensure that you aren't taking them for an excessively lengthy time or at an
excessively high dose. Talk to your doctor if you believe you need to take a drug in
excess of the recommended dosage.
THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT

In this sense, the government may make a significant contribution by bringing down the
rate of unemployment. This is also known as a situation that led to someone starting to
use drugs, and it can become serious if left untreated.

1) Institutionalization of neighborhood drug abuse programs (with Department of the

Interior and Local Government and Department of Health)

2) Offering government assistance for enrollment in rehabilitation programs

(Department of Health and Local Government Units)

3) Establishing a Drug-Free Workplace as an Institution (with the Civil Service

Commission and the Department of Labor and Employment)

4) Implementation of the “Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013” or Republic Act
No. 10586 (with Department of Transportation, Land Transportation Office and
Department of Health)
5) Institutionalization of Random Drug Testing for Students (Department of Education,
Commission on Higher Education and Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority in collaboration with the
Department of Health)

TREATMENT FOR ADDICTION

 • Medical interventions such as hospitalization, medicine, equipment, and

software that treat withdrawal symptoms or impart skill training
 • Counseling/Behavioral Therapies
 Occupation Therapy
 • Modification of the Addict's Social Setting
 • assessment and therapy for co-occurring mental disorders
 Mental health conditions like anxiety and depression
 • Continued monitoring to prevent relapse