DRUGS

Drugs in General

-drugs, are substance or chemicals used as

a medicine or in making medicines, which
affects the body and mind and have
potential for abuse.
 Two forms of drugs
• Natural Drugs it includes natural plant leaves,
flowering tops, resin, hashish, opium, and
marijuana.
• Synthetic or Artificial drugs are produced by
clandestine laboratories -include those drugs
that are controlled by law because they are
used in the medical practice.
 Prescriptive Drugs
• these are drugs requiring written
authorization from a doctor to allow
a purchase, they are prescribed
according to the age, weight, and
height and should not be taken by
anyone else.
 Over-the-Counter Drugs (OTC)
are non-prescription medicines, which
may be purchased from any pharmacy
or drugstore without written
authorization from a doctor.
 What is “Self-Medication Syndrome”?

• The “self-medication” syndrome is found

in users and would be users of drugs
whose source of information are people
or literature other than doctors,
pharmacist and health workers.
DRUG ABUSE
- the use of drug contrary to its purpose
DRUG DEPENDENCE
- a state of psychic or physical dependence, or
both, in a dangerous drug, arising in a person
following administration or use of that drug on a
periodic or continuous bases
 KINDS OF DRUG DEPENDENCE
1) PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE an adaptive state
caused by repeated drug use that reveals itself
by developing intense physical symptoms when
the drug is stopped; formerly called addiction

2) PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPENDENCE an attachment

to drug use, which arises from a drug’s ability to
satisfy some emotional or personality need of an
individual; formerly called habituation
 Addiction vs. Habituation
• A habit can be summed up as a routine or
regular behavior that gets harder to give up
the longer that behavior goes on
• Addictions, on the other hand, are much more
powerful than habits. In these instances, for
the most part, people will make sacrifices to
their lives out of an obligation to pursue a
substance or practice.
DRUG EXPERIMENTER - one who illegally, wrongfully or
improperly uses any drugs for reason of curiosity, peer pressure
or other similar reasons
POLYDRUG USE - abuse by taking all sort of drugs
TOLERANCE- the increasing of dosage of drugs to maintain the
desired effect of the drugs
WITHDRAWAL PERIOD - refers to the period from the point of
drug dependence up to the point when the drug dependent is
totally or gradually deprived of the drug
TREATMENT- a medical service rendered to a client for the
effective management of his total condition related to drug
abuse
PHARMACOLOGY - the science of drug preparation, uses
• and effects
 PHARMACOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS
1) STIMULANTS- drugs which increase alertness and physical disposition
- also called “uppers”
- examples are: shabu, ecstacy, cocaine,
2) DEPRESSANTS
- drugs which decrease body functions and nerve activities
- also called “downers”
- examples are: barbiturates, alcohol
3) HALLUCINOGEN - also called psychedelics
- drugs that affect thinking, sensation, self-awareness and emotions
- produces hallucinations and delusion
- examples are: LSD, marijuana, mescaline, psylocybin, phenicyclidine(PCP)
4) NARCOTICS
- drugs that relieve pain and often induce sleep
- examples are: opium (derivatives are morphine, cocaine, heroin,
codeine)
 1. Stimulants
It is a class of drugs that speed up messages
travelling between the brain and body

• 1) natural - found in plants and animals

• 2) synthetic - artificially prepared with the use
of chemicals
 METHAMPHETAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE

• - more commonly called “shabu”

• - also called “poor man’s cocaine” because it is
cheaper than cocaine
• - first synthetic stimulant developed by the Japanese
• - originally called “kakuzeizai”,
• - white, colorless crystalline substance with a bitter,
numbing taste.
• - can be ingested, snorted or injected (intravenous or
intramuscular)
Immediate effects:

• 1) produces anxiety, irritability, irrational

behavior, talkativeness and loss of self-control

• 2) loss of appetite and inability to sleep

• 3) produces violent and destructive behavior
and recklessness
• 4) produces chest pain, irregularity of
heartbeat and hypertension
Long term effects:

• 1) psychosis
• 2) convulsion
• 3) death from cardiac arrest
 COCAINE
- its use is called “the king’s habit”because it is
expensive
- white, crystalline alkaloid found in the leaves
of the coca bush.
- medically used as a tropical local anesthetic
 Different forms of Cocaine:
a) cocaine hydrochloride – the most readily
available form; fine, white, crystal-like powder
that is medically known as anesthetic
b) street or rock – largest pieces of cocaine
hydrochloride
c) freebase – purified substance of rocks
d) coca paste – crude product smoked in South
America; more dangerous because it has
contaminants such as kerosene
 immediate effects:

1) dilated pupils
2) increased blood pressure, heart rate,
breathing rate, body temperature
3) euphoric effect/light feeling
4) feeling of being energetic and alert
5) loss of appetite
6) slurred speech
 long term effects:

• 1) psychosis
• 2) lung damage
• 3) runny nose and ulcerated mucous
membrane of the nose
• 4) confusion
 METHYLENE DIOXYMETHAMPHETAMINE
(MDMA)

- commonly referred to as ecstacy, “X” and party drug

- a designer drug
its immediate effects:
1) euphoria
2) feeling energetic and hyperactive
3) sense of well-being
its long term effects:
1) brain damage
2) heart complications
3) death
 2.DEPRESSANTS
A drug which causes the muscles to relax and
calms and soothes a person

ALCOHOL
• - considered a drug because of its depressing
effects in the body
 3.HALLUCINOGENS
It is a large and diverse class of psychoactive drugs that
can produce altered states of consciousness
characterized by major alterations in thought, mood, and
perception as well as other changes.

Ex. Canabis
Ecstacy
Ketamine
Mescaline
LSD
LYSERGIC ACID DIATHYLAMIDE (LSD)
- colorless and tasteless semi-synthetic alkaloid substance
extracted from a fungus which grown on rye, wheat and other
grains
- popular in the 1960’s and 1970’s at the height of the
hippie culture
MESCALINE
- primary ingredient of the peyote cactus, a plant known
as lophophoria williamsii lemaire
KETAMINE
- chemical name is ketamine hydrochloride
- common names include “special K” or “K”
- originally created for use as a human anaesthetic and is
still used as a general anaesthetic for children, persons of poor
health and in veterinary medicine.
 4. Narcotics
• A substance used to treat moderate to severe
pain
• comes with a variety of unwanted effects,
including drowsiness, inability to concentrate,
and apathy.
 The amount of drug in a dose can be described as:

• Minimal dose, the amount needed to treat or heal, that is,

the smallest amount of a drug that will produce a therapeutic
effect.
• Maximal dose, the largest amount of a drug that will produce
a desired therapeutic effect, without any accompanying
symptoms of toxicity.
• Toxic dose, the amount of drug that produces untoward
effects symptoms of poisoning
• Abusive dose, the amount needed to produce the side
effects and action desired by an individual who improperly
uses it.
• Lethal dose, the amount of drug that will cause death.
 How drugs is administered?
• Drugs are introduced into the body by
several routes. They may be. Taken by
mouth (orally) Given by injection into a
vein (intravenously, IV), into a muscle
(intramuscularly, IM), into the space
around the spinal cord (intrathecally), or
beneath the skin (subcutaneously, sc)
• Oral, this is the safest most convenient and economical
routewhenever possible.
• Injection, this form of drug administration offers a faster
response than the oral method.It makes use of a needle
or other device to deliver the drugs directly into the body
tissue and blood circulation.
• Topical, this refers to the application of drugs directly to a
body site such as the skin and the mucous membrane.
• Inhalation, this route makes use of gaseous and volatile
drugs, which are inhaled and absorbed rapidly through
the mucous of the respiratory tract.
• Iontophoresis, the introduction of drugs into the deeper
layers of the skin by the use of special type of electric
current for local effect.
 Concept of Toxicology

• Toxicology is commonly known as the science

of poison, their effects
and antidotes.
• Toxicology is the study of how natural or man-
made poisons cause undesirable effects in
living organisms. What are harmful or adverse
effects? Harmful or adverse effects are those
that are damaging to either the survival or
normal function of the individual.
Drugs dangerous effects because of any of the following:
• Overdose when too much of a drug is taken into the
physiological system of the human body, there may be an over
extension of its effects.
• Allergy some drugs cause the release of histamine giving rise to
allergic symptoms such as dermatitis, swelling, fall in blood
pressure, suffocation and death.
• Idiosyncrasy it refers to the individual reaction to a drug, food,
etc. for unexplained reasons.
- Morphine for example, which sedates all men, stimulates
and renders some women maniacal behavior.
• Poisonous Property drugs are chemicals and some of them have
the property of being general protoplasmic poisons.
• Side Effects some drugs are not receptors for one organ but
receptors of other organ as well. The effect in the other organs
may constitute a side effect, which are most of the time
unwanted.
The following are some of the many medical uses of drugs:
• Analgesics are drugs that relieve pain
• Antibiotics are drugs that combat or control infectious
organisms.
• Antipyretics those that can lower body temperature or
fever due to infection.
• Antihistamines those that control or combat allergic
reactions
• Contraceptives drugs that prevent the meeting of the egg
cell and sperm cell or prevent the ovary from releasing
egg cells.
• Decongestant those that relieve congestion of the nasal
passages.
• Expectorants those that can ease the
expulsion of mucus and phlegm from the
lungs and the throat.
• Laxatives those that stimulate defecation and
encourage bowel movement.
• Sedatives and Tranquilizers are those that can
calm and quiet the nerves and relieve anxiety
without causing depression and clouding of
the mind.
• Vitamins those substances necessary for
normal growth and development and proper
functioning of the body.
• Historians credited that marijuana (CANNABIS
SATIVA) as the world’s oldest cultivated plants as
source of fiber and intoxicant.
• Archeologist has found, originated in central and
southern Asia, started by the Incas of Peru.
Peruvian and Mexican Incas have also the
common practice to use the coca leaves during
religious offering ceremonies. It was also known
that marijuana was a ‘SACRED TREE’ in the belief
of the Assyrians being used during religious
rituals some 9,000 years B.C.
• Knowledge on the opium poppy plant
(PAPAVERSOMNIFERUM) goes back about 7000
years B.C cultivated and prepared by the Sumerians.
Even the ancient Greek physician
• Hippocrates, the father of medicine, prescribe the
juice of the white poppy plant as early as 5,000 B.C in
the belief that It can cure many illnesses both in the
internal and external use. The plant was first
harvested in Mesopotamia and its use spread
throughout the neighboring Mediterranean areas
then to Asian. From there, it was introduced to
Persia, India and china by theArad camel caravans
(dungo, 1988)
Morphine
• This was the first attempt to cure opium
addiction. Morphine addiction became
known as “SOLDIERS DISEASE”
Heroin
• It was called the “miracle drug” because
it is believed that it can cure both opium
and morphine addiction.
• In 1953, Republic Act no. 953 was
enacted witch provided for the
registration of collection, and the
imposition of fixed ad special taxes upon
all persons who produce, import,
manufacture, compound, deal-in,
dispense, sell, distribute, or give away
opium, marijuana, opium poppies, or
coca leaves or any synthetic drugs which
may declared as habit forming.
• President Ferdinand Marcos signed into
law Republic Act.no. 6425 known as the
“dangerous drug act of 1972” on March
30, 1972.this law which was amended by
President Decree no.44, dated November
9, 1972 placed under control not only
narcotics by also psychotropic
substances.
• On November 14, 1972, the Dangerous
Drug Board was organized to provide
leadership, direction and coordination in
the effective implementation of R.A
6425. By early 1974, addiction to opiates
and barbiturates had almost disappeared
among the native population.
 DDB
• 3 permanent members

• 17 members
• 12 ex 0fficio
• 2 regular members

• *NBI Director-permanent consultant

• The Philippines Drug Enforcement
Agency (PDEA) was created under
REPUBLIC ACT NO.9165 on June 7,
2002 creating distinct and separate
agency geared towards the
realization of a drug-free Philippines.
 PDEA
• Chief PNP with the rank of undersec.
• 2 assistant Deputy director gen.(operation and
administration) assistant secretary.
 DRUG TRAFFICKING: THE ILLICIT DRUG
TRADE
• Drug trafficking is also known as
illegal dug trade. It is a global black
market a activity consisting of
production, distribution, packaging
and sale of illegal psychoactive
substances.
 DRUG DISTRIBUTION PROCESS
1) THE GROWER
• - the one responsible for the planting, harvesting and
maintenance of the original plant from which the
drug is derived from
2) THE MANUFACTURER
• - the one responsible for the processing of the raw
materials supplied by thegrower
• - maintains a manufacturing laboratory
3) THE IMPORTER
• - the primary seller of the drugs
4) THE SMUGGLER
- has the task of smuggling the drug into the
designated area
5) THE DISTRIBUTOR
- the source of drugs in their respective areas the
smuggler has different distributors in different
geographical areas
6) THE DEALER
- most commonly called “PUSHERS”
- they make drugs easily available to users
7) THE CONSUMER
- the buyer and user of drugs
 The following are some techniques used by drug traders when
crossing borders:

• Borders checks, such as by small ships, small

aircraft, and through overland smuggling
routes.
• Border checks with the drugs hidden in vehicle
other merchandise In luggage in or under
clothes, inside the body.
• Off diplomats to smuggle drugs in diplomatic
mail luggage, to avoid boarder checks.
• Mule is a lower-echelon criminal
recruited by smuggling organization
to cross a border carrying drug, or
sometimes an unknowing person in
whose bag or vehicle the drugs are
planted, for the purpose of retrieving
them elsewhere.
There are two primary means of distribution:

• A hierarchy and a hub-and spoke layout.

A hierarchical arrangement includes the
manufacturer to uses his own men to
smuggle.
• A hub-and spoke layout. it takes an
vantage of local gangs and other
localized criminal organization.
• Drug syndicate is a group of people who
have a common goal in purchasing and
distributing drugs. Syndicates are usually
well organized in what and how they do
business, with a formal hierarchy of
organization set in illicit drug trade. It is
also known as a drug cartel. It is perhaps
one of the most important reasons why
international drug trafficking is hardly to
control because of their involvement In
the illicit drug trade.
• One of the known worlds notorious drug
syndicate is the Columbian Medellin
cartel, founded during the 1980s by
Columbian drug lord Pablo Escobar
Gaviria and drug bosses, Jose Gonzalo
Rodriguez Gacha and top aid cocaine
barons Juan David and the Ochoa
brothers.
• The Cali Cartel was another drug cartel base in
south part of Columbia around the city of Cali.
According to some estimates at its height the
Cali Cartel controlled 80% cocaine export from
Columbia to United States. Gelberto Rodriguez
Orejuela founded the Cali Cartel in the 1970s
with his brother Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela,
Jose Santa cruz Londono and Helmer
“Pacho”Herera.
• The Norte Del Cali cartel, or North Valley
Cartel, is a drug cartel which operated
principally in the North of the Valley del Cauca
region of Columbia. It rose to prominence
during the second half of the 1900’s, after the
Cali Cartel and the Medellin Cartel
fragmented, and became known as one of the
most powerful organizations involved in the
illegal drugs trade.
• The leading drug lords of the Norte del Valle
cartel included Diego Leon Montoya Sanchez,
alias “Don Diego”, Wilber Varela, alias “Jabon”
(“Soap”) and Hernando Gomez Bustamante,
alias “Rasguño” (“Scratch”). DeigoMontaya
was part of the list containing the FBI’s ten
most wanted fugitives.
 First Important Drug Traffic Route
Middle East
• Discovery, plantation, cultivation, harvest
Turkey
• Preparation for distribution
Europe
• Manufacture, synthesis, refine
United States
• Marketing, distribution
• It is noted that plants such as the opium
poppy, as sources of dangerous drugs are
cultivated and harvested mostly in the areas
of Middle East while Europe became the
center for drug manufacture and synthesis.
United States became the overall center for
drug marketing.
The Second Major Drug Traffic Route is also
illustrated below:
Drugs that originates from the Golden Triangle
*Thailand
*Laos
*Myanmar
• In Southeast Asia- the “Golden Triangle”
approximately produced 60% of opium in the
world and 90% of opium in the eastern part of
Asia. It is also the officially acknowledged source
of Southeast Asian Heroin. Heroin is produced in
the Golden Triangle and passes through nearby
countries in relatively small quantities through
air transport while in transit to the United States
and the European countries.
Golden Crescent
• Afghanistan
• Pakistan
• Iran
• India
• In Southwest Asia- the “Golden Crescent” is
the major supplier of opium poppy, MJ and
Heroin products in the western part Asia. It
produces at least 85% to 90% of all illicit
heroin channeled in the drug underworld
market.
• MIDDLE EAST, The Becka Valley of Lebanon is considered
to be the biggest producer of cannabis in the Middle East.
• Lebanon is also become the transit country for cocaine
from South America to European illicit drug markets.
• SPAIN is known as the major transshipment point for
international drug traffickers in Europe, became the
paradise of drug users in Europe.
• SOUTH AMERICA - Columbia, Peru, Uruguay, and Panama
are the principal sources of all cocaine supply in the world
due to robust production of the coca plants (source of the
cocaine drug)
• MOROCCO is known as the world’s number one producer
of marijuana. Mexico still remains as major producer of
marijuana too.
• PHILIPPINES second to Morocco as to the production
of marijuana, became the major transshipment point
for the worldwide distribution of illegal drugs
particularly Shabu and Cocaine from Taiwan and
South America, it is also noted that today it is known
as the drug paradise of drug abuser in Asia.
• INDIA is the center of the world’s drug map, leading
to rapid addiction among its people.
• INDONESIA- Northern Sumatra has traditionally
been the main cannabis growing area in Indonesia.
• Bali Indonesia is an important transit point for drugs
en route to Australia and New Zealand
• SINGAPORE, MALAYSIA, and THAILAND-is the most
favorite sites of drug distribution from “Golden
Triangle” and other parts of Asia.
• CHINA-is the transit route for heroin from the
“Golden Triangle” to Hong Kong., It also the country
where the “epedra” plant is cultivated (source of the
drug ephedrine), the principal chemical for producing
the drug shabu.
• HONG KONG- Is the world’s transshipment point of
all forms of heroin.
• JAPAN- became the major consumer of cocaine and
shabu from the United States and Europe.
Methamphetamine Hydrochloride “ SHABU” is
one of the common drug of choice in our
country that was imported from China, Hong
kong and Taiwan.
Philippines is a major producer and exporter of
“marijuana” and it is a popular drugs.
Cebu City has been identified community of
IDUs and most popular drugs for injecting is the
pharmaceutical analgesic “ Nubain” ( it is a
drugs that injected in the skin by the use of
needles and syringe that flow through the veins)
• At present in the Philippines, Large
Cultivation of Marijuana found in the
mountain areas of northern Luzon ,
Central and central Visayas , and
Southern and western Mindanao that
usually transported to Malaysia , Taiwan,
Australia, Japan , United States, and
Europe
Green Triangle of marijuana in the Philippines
• Benguet
• Kalinga Apayao
• Mountain Province.