MODULE 3.

DRUG EDUCATION

Learning Outcomes:
1. Synthesize the comprehensive dangerous drug act ;
2. know about drugs and drugs abuse;
3. define prescription drugs;
4. discuss the meaning of Over-the Counter Drugs (OTC);
5. identify the pharmacological classifications of drugs;
6. identify and discuss the legal classification of drugs;
7. know the commonly abused drugs;
8. discuss drugs abuse and drugs dependency;
9. explain the different forms of drugs abuse;
10. determine the personality profile of the Filipino drug abuser;
11. discuss the factors that contribute to drugs abuse;
12. know the detection of drug abuser;
13. explain the process of detection of drugs abuser; and
14. value the importance of knowing the kinds of drugs and the evils of its abuse.

I. Learning Resources:
Projector, powerpoint, paper-pen, movie presentation, module in NSTP

II. Methodology:
Lecture discussion, Bingo, Focus Group Discussion, Think and Share, role play, creative
presentation, and brainstorming
1. Let the students fill-up the KWL table on “what they already know in drugs”, What they want
to know in Drugs” and “what they had learned in drugs”;
2. In groups of six, present to the class your assigned reports through: Group A : a rap, Group
B : a human poster, Group C : a dance Group D : a story Group E : a drama
Group F : a cheer

III. Learning Concepts:

Overview
In the year 2002, the government has made a clear headway in its initiative to suppress the problems posed
by dangerous drugs. On 30 May 2002, the Congress passed a landmark legislation, the Comprehensive Dangerous
Drugs Act of 2002 (R.A 9165), as an answer to the globally challenging problem on the proliferation of dangerous
drugs abuse and illicit traffic. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed this Act into law on 07 June 2002 and it took
effect on 04 July 2002.
The Law reconstituted the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) as the policy-making and strategy-formulating
body in the planning and formulation of policies and programs on drug abuse prevention and control and was vested
with increased powers and duties. Its membership was increased to seventeen (17) wherein three (3) of which are
Permanent Members, the other twelve (12) members are in an ex-officio capacity and the two (2) are regular
members, The same Law also paved the way for the creation of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to
serve as the implementing and operational arm of the DDB. The Law expanded the range of unlawful acts and
increased heavily the corresponding imposable penalties; as well as greatly reduced the threshold quantities of drugs
for non-bailable offenses.
The Act also maintained the existing DDB to be composed of four (4) Divisions, which shall provide an
efficient and effective administrative, technical support and workforce in order to carry out and orchestrate the
various national programs of government agencies and NGOs on drug prevention and control based on defined and
unified policies and strategies.

What is REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9165?

“AN ACT INSTITUTING THE COMPREHENSIVE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF 2002, REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT NO.
6425, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF 1972, AS AMENDED, PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

It is the policy of the State to safeguard the integrity of its territory and the well-being of its citizenry
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.
Toward this end, the government shall pursue an intensive and unrelenting campaign against the trafficking
and use of dangerous drugs and other similar substances through an integrated system of planning, implementation
and enforcement of anti-drug abuse policies, programs, and projects. The government shall however aim to achieve
a balance in the national drug control program so that people with legitimate medical needs are not prevented from
being treated with adequate amounts of appropriate medications, which include the use of dangerous drugs.
It is further declared the policy of the State to provide effective mechanisms or measures to re-integrate into
society individuals who have fallen victims to drug abuse or dangerous drug dependence through sustainable
programs of treatment and rehabilitation.

 Please read the full text on this site

http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2002/ra_9165_2002.html

Activity 1 : Fill out the KWL table below

KNOW WANT LEARN

( What I already know) ( What I want to know) ( What I have learned)
Activity 2: Creative Presentation
In groups of five, present to the class your assigned reports through:
Group A : a rap Group C : a human poster Group E : a dance
Group B : a story Group D : a drama Group F : a cheer

Group A

Introduction
Drug abuse is a losing game for it’s would be victims. It lurks or furtively waiting for willing victims. Victims
of ignorance and adventurism, enter to the new unknown world of social outcast, the menace of the society. Bereft
of social respect but lavish with neighbor’s grudge and hate, an addict does not only lose the trust of his friends,
family and loved ones, but also loses himself and his mind. Their dastardly acts make our place unsafe for living.
They may influence the innocent to be with them.

Drugs and Drugs Abuse

A drug is a chemical substance used as medicine or in making medicines, which affects the body and mind
and has potential for abuse. Without an advice or a prescription from a physician, drugs can be harmful.
There are two forms of drugs, natural and synthetic/artificial. The natural drugs include natural plant leaves,
flowering tops, resin, hashish, opium, and marijuana, while synthetic drugs are produced by clandestine laboratories
which include those drugs that are controlled by law because they are used in medical practice.

Drugs also help people’s bodies and minds function better during an illness. But drugs have to be taken
correctly and seriously in order to achieve the desired medical outcome. The wrong drug or the wrong amount of
the right one can worsen an illness; destroy blood cells, damage the body and may cause death. For this reason,
most drugs can be legally purchased only with doctor’s written order called a prescription. In prescription, the
physician indicates directions on how much medicine to take (dosage) and how often (duration).
The practice of taking drugs without proper medical supervision is called the non-medical use of drugs or
drug abuse.

Prescription drugs
These are drugs requiring written authorization from a doctor in order to allow a purchase. They are
prescribed according to the individual’s age, weight, height, condition and this should not be taken by anyone else.
It is a personal requirement and self-medication should be strictly avoided. The pharmacist therefore requires a
prescription from a doctor before any medication is sold.
Once again strict emphasis of following directions needs to be stated. In addition to dosage, the physician
indicates both when and for how long the medicine should be taken (the duration). These directions are intended
to safeguard the patient from needlessly treating himself after his illness has been brought under control or from
prematurely stopping medication because one thinks he is already well.
Since the chemistry of the body is subtle and variable, only a physician has the responsibility of prescribing
and directing the use of drugs in the treatment of illness. The prescriptive drugs may be classified into three: a) drug
with prescription, b) regulated drugs, and c) prohibited drugs.

Over-The-Counter Drugs (OTC)

These are nonprescription medicines, which may be purchased from any pharmacy or drugstore without
any prescription from a doctor. They are used to treat minor and short term illnesses. It should be strongly
emphasized that “Direction” be closely followed and all precautions necessarily taken to avoid complications.
OTC drugs are used for the prevention and symptomatic relief of minor ailments. The precautions that must
be observed when dispensing OTCs are the following:
 a. the correct drug with the correct drug content is given to the right patient in the correct dosage form;
b. the pharmacist must counsel the patient to make sure the he/she takes the drugs correctly, and
c. the pharmacist must be aware of and know about the possible toxicities possessed by the OTC drugs to
avoid food/drug incompatibilities and overdoses.

OTCs must be used discriminately

a. to avoid dispensing of OTC drugs to known identified habitual drug users;
b. to avoid complications. This is done by inquiring from the buyer of the drug as to the identity of the
patient, the patient’s age and other information such as pregnancy, hypertension, etc.
c. counseling the patient so as to avoid the “self-medication” syndrome by inquiring about the buyer’s
source of information about the drug.
Most drugs act within a cell, rather than on the surface of a cell or in the extracellular - fluids of the body.
Similar to normal body chemicals, a drug enters a cell and participates in a few steps of the normal sequence of a
cellular process. These drugs may later, interfere with or replace chemicals of normal cellular life, hopefully for the
betterment of the person.

Group B

The amount of drug in a dose can be described as:

- Minimal dose – amount needed to heal

- Maximal dose – largest amount of a drug a person can take without toxicity
- Toxic dose – produces untoward effects
- Abusive dose – it produces side effects
- Lethal dose – cause of death

The common methods of drug administration are the following:

- Oral – the safest, most convenient and economical route whenever possible
- Injection – offers a faster response than the oral method
- Inhalation – uses gaseous and volatile drugs which are inhaled and absorbed rapidly
- Topical – application of drugs directly to a body site such as the skin
- Iontophoresis – introduction of drugs into deeper layers of the skin by the use of electric current

A drug may cause effects because of any of the following:

- Overdose – when too much of a drug is taken there may be an over extension of each effects
- Allergy – some drugs cause release of histamine giving rise to allergic symptoms such as dermatitis,
swelling, fall in blood pressure, suffocation and death
- Idiosyncrasy– for some reason the effect is the opposite of what is expected of the drug
- General protoplasmic poison property – drugs are chemicals and some of them have their property of
being general protoplasmic poisons
- Side effects – some drugs are not receptors for one organ but receptors for other organs as well. The effect
in the other organ may constitute a side effect which is unwanted.

Group C
Pharmacological Classification
1. Depressants or sedatives (downers) – are also called downers. These are drugs, which suppress vital body
functions especially those of the brain or central nervous system with the resulting impairment of judgment,
hearing, speech and muscular coordination. They dull the minds, slow down body reactions to such extent that
accidental deaths and/ or suicides; usually happen. They include the narcotics, barbiturates, tranquilizers,
alcohol and other volatile solvents. They cause depressions, relieve pain, and induce sedation or sleep, and
suppress cough. These drugs can be dangerous when not taken according to the physician’s prescription.

Examples of depressants or sedatives are Seconal and Mandrax.

2. Stimulants (uppers) – they produce effects opposite to that of the depressants. Instead of bringing relaxation
and sleep, they produce increased mental alertness, wakefulness, reduce hunger and provide a feeling of well-
being. Their medical users include narcolepsy – a condition characterized by an overwhelming desire to sleep.
Abrupt withdrawal of the drug from the heavy abuser can result in a deep and suicidal depression. Ex.
Amphetamines, cocaine, caffeine, shabu, nicotine.

Nicotine is an active component of the tobacco that acts as powerful stimulants of the central nervous
system.
Cocaine is extracted from the coca bush or plant. The “high” of cocaine is so high that the user needs
another drug to bring him/her down. “Speed bal!” is a favorite combination of cocaine, which provides the “rush”
and prolongs the “kick”.
Caffeine vies with nicotine for dubious distinction of being the most popular and extensively used habit
forming drug. It is present in coffee, tea, cola drinks and some wake-up pills.
3. Hallucinogens (Psychedelic) – are drugs that consist of a variety of mind-altering drugs, which distort reality,
thinking and perceptions of time, sound, space and sensations. Hallucinogens are the only drugs that destroy
the individual’s concept of mass. A person under the influence of these drugs cannot tell the difference between
a five-peso coin from a one-peso coin.
Marijuana – its effect vary with the strength, the amount used, and the personality and expectations of the user.
When taken in large doses, the user imagines that he sees, hears and smells color and sounds, which
make him/her behave irrationally for 3 to 5 hours; thus the user feels lethargic and hungry,
especially for sweets.
LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide) is the most powerful of the psychedelics and is obtained from ergot, a fungus that
attacks ryekernels.
Peyote is derived from the surface part of a small gray-brown cactus. Mexican and American Indians eat the bottom
of the cactus, or dry, crush, and boil it in water as tea. Peyote emits a nauseating odor and its user would
suffer from nausea. This drug causes no physical dependence and therefore, no withdrawal symptoms;
although in some cases psychological dependence has been noted.

Mescaline is the alkaloid hallucinogen extracted from the peyote cactus and can also be synthesized in the
laboratory.

STP is a take-off on the motor oil additive. It is a chemical derivative of a mescaline claimed to produce more violent
and longer effects than the mescaline drug.

Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic alkaloid from small Mexican mushrooms used by Mexican Indians today. These
mushrooms induce nausea, muscular relaxation, and mood changes with visions bright colors and
shapes, and other hallucinogens.

1. Volatile Solvents – if a person sniffs toxic chemicals contained in glue and other volatile or
strong-smelling substances, he can experience serious mental confusion. Damage to vital
 organs may also be possible. The user to acquire a feeling of ecstacy and power of high feelings
sniff these substances that vaporize easily.
Example of volatile solvent are lighter fluid, gasoline, cleaning fluid, lacquer thinner/ paint thinner, rugby,
hair spray, aerosols, finger nail polish, acetone, oven cleaner, cement glue used in boat and airplane models and in
shoe making.

Group D

Legal Classification of Drugs

1. Prohibited Drugs include;

- Opium and its active components and derivative such as heroin and morphine.
- Coca leaves and its derivatives, principally cocaine, alpha and beta cocaine.
- Hallucinogenic drugs such as mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and other substances producing
similar effects.
- Indian Hemp and its derivatives
- All preparation made from any of the foregoing other drugs and chemical preparation, whether natural or
synthetic with the psychological effects of narcotics or hallucinogenic drugs.
- Ecstasy (amphetamine type stimulant) is called the “hug drug” or “love potion” because it lowers the user’s
inhibition and makes him or her crave for physical contact and audio-visual stimulation. Hence, synthesized
sounds or the so-called “trance music” and arrays of psychedelic lights dominate “rave parties”. Ecstasy use
can cause severe dehydration and can raise the user’s body temperature to as high as 108 degrees. It has
already resulted to thousands of overdoses that led to numerous deaths in the United States and Europe.
Warning signs of ecstasy are the unusual habits such as the usage of dark eye glasses even during night
time, playing music in unbearably loud volume and irregular sleeping habits and the big increase in the
expenditure.

2. Regulated Drugs are self-inducing sedatives such as:

- self-inducing sedatives such as secobarbital, Phenobarbital, barbital and amobarbital
- any other drug which contains salt derivative or derivative of salt isomer
- amphetamines such as Benzedrine or Dexedrine
- any drug that produces physiological actions similar to amphetamine
- Hypnotic drugs such as methaqualone, nitrazepam, or any other compound producing similar physiological
effects.
3. Additional Classification of Dangerous Drug Exempt Dangerous Drugs Preparation
It is any of dangerous drug preparation that is compounded in such a way that it represents none, or a
negligible risk of abuse. This dangerous drug preparation contains combination of drugs that cannot be recovered
by readily applicable processes or when its traces in the body are identified as not liable for abuse, so that the
preparation does not give rise to public health and social problem.

This has high therapeutic value, widely used for legitimate purpose, and is a much-needed medicine
thereof. The word “compounded” as herein used means the process of combining a controlled drug with a non-
controlled ingredient that is counteractive of the abuse liability of the controlled drug present.

Group E
Commonly Abused Drugs
Drugs that are commonly abused depending on their pharmacological effects may be classified into:

1. Sedatives – drugs which reduce anxiety and excitement such as barbiturates, non-barbiturates, tranquilizers.

2. Stimulants – drugs which increase alertness and activity such as amphetamines, cocaine and caffeine.

3. Hallucinogens (also called psychedelics)- drugs which affect sensation, thinking, self-awareness and emotion.
Changes in time and space perception, delusion (false beliefs) and hallucinations may be
mild or overwhelming, dispensing on dose and quality of the drug. This includes LSD,
mescaline and marijuana.

4. Narcotics – drugs that relieve pain and often induce sleep. The opiates, which are narcotics, include opium
and drugs derived from opium, such as morphine, codeine and heroin.

Drug Abuse and Drug Dependency

Drug abuse, as defined by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), is the deliberate use of medically useful drugs,
which have the capacity to alter mood and behavior without the benefits of prescription. It also refers to using drugs
and substances, which are not clinically dispensable but are indispensable in research. It also means the non-medical
use of drugs like taking amphetamines, sniffing rugby or acetone sporadically for “kick” or using drugs in excess of
their usual dosage.
Drug abuse means the use of any drug, medically speaking, to the point where it seriously interferes with
the health, economic status, or social functioning of the drug user or other affected by the drug user’s behavior.
Drug dependency, as defined by the Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) is a state of psychic (psychological) or
physical reliance or dependence on a dangerous drug following the administration or use of the drug on a periodic
or continuous basis. The World Health Organization (WHO) refers to it as a condition or state arising from repeated
administration of a drug periodically or continuously. Dependency is the adverse effect of all drugs and in this case,
drugs also include alcohol. Anyone can become dependent on any drug if he takes it too long at too high a dosage.

There are two types of dependence, namely:

1. Drug habituation or psychic dependence – is a condition resulting from repeated consumption of drug. Its
characteristics include:

a) A desire (but not compulsion) to continue taking the drug for the sense of improved well-being which it
engenders,
b) Little or no tendency to increase the dose,
c) Some degree of psychic dependence on the effect of the drug, but with absence of physical dependence and
hence absence of an abstinence syndrome, and
d) The drug user is more deleteriously affected with drug than is society or another person.

2. Drug Addiction of Physical Dependence – is a state of period or chronic intoxication produced by the repeated
consumption of a drug (whether natural or synthetic). Its characteristics include the following:
a) overpowering desire or need (compulsion) to continue taking the drug and to obtain it by any means,
b) a tendency to increase the dose (drug tolerance),
c) a psychic (psychological) and generally physical dependence on the effect of the drug,
d) a detrimental effects on the individual and society, and
e) when the drug is stopped, physical disturbance result (withdrawal or abstinence syndrome).
Different Forms of Drug Abuse
There are five form of drug abuse that may be singled out.
1. Overdose of the drug, causing acute poisoning or death.
2. Consumption over too long a period leads to tolerance and hence to the need for a larger quantity of
the substance to achieve the same effect.
3. Unsuitable dosage also plays a part in drug abuse.
4. Use of more than one psychotropic drug that may produce a dangerous cumulative or heightened effect.
5. Use of some substance prohibited for human use and sold illegally.

Group F

A drug abuser is a person who uses or administers to himself or allows others administer dangerous drugs to him
without medical approval.
They belong to three categories namely:
a) The experimenter – who out of curiosity, uses or administers to himself dangerous drugs and or dependence-
producing substance one or a few times,
b) The casual users who from time to time uses or administers drugs to himself in an attempt to refresh his mind
and body or as a form of a play, amusement or relaxation, and
c) The drug dependent who regularly consumers or administers dangerous drugs and/or dependence-producing
substance to himself and has acquired psychological and or physical dependence on the drugs which has gone
beyond a state of voluntary control.

Personality Profile of a Filipino Drug Abuser

1. Drug abusers are of average or above average intelligence.
2. They are witty and manipulative.
3. They have negative attitudes; they demonstrate hostile feelings to the world or to anybody who does
not want to conform to what they want.
4. They are emotionally immature, selfish and demanding.
5. They want immediate gratification of their needs and desires.
6. They have low frustration tolerance.
7. Their interest and aptitude are on dramatics, persuasive and musical fields in that order.
8. They are depressed.
9. They are excessively dependent.
10. They have impulsive behavior.
11. They are rebellious.
12. They are pleasure-seekers.
13. They are pathological liars.
14. They like to join delinquent groups (antisocial).
15. They have difficulty in solving problems by facing them or change and seek constructive action.

Factors That Contribute To Drug Abuse

A. Psychological Factors – misinformed, lack of knowledge, intellectual immaturity, confusion on right or
wrong, loneliness, self-pity, rebellious from authority, poor decision maker.
 B. Social Factors – irresponsible, tyrannical, autocratic overdoing parents, social indifference, “bahala ka sa
buhay mo and wala akong pakialam belief”, inconsistent social practices, palakasan and padrino system,
few accessible recreational facilities and few job opportunities.

Detection of Drug Abusers

Detecting a drug abuser is not an easy task. The signs and symptoms of drug abuse, especially in the
beginning stages can de identical to those produced by conditions having nothing whatsoever to do with drugs.
To detect a drug abuser one should observe the following:
 Neglect of personal appearance
 Diminished drive, lack of ambition
 Reduced attention span
 Poor quality of school work
 Impaired communication skills
 Less care for the feeling of others, lessening of accustomed family warmth
 Pale face, red eyes, dilation or constricted pupils, wearing sunglasses at wrong places
 Change from active to passive and withdrawn behavior
 Secretive about money, disappearance of money or valuable from the house
 Friends refusing to identify themselves, or hang up when you answer the phone
 Over action for mild criticism
 Smell of marijuana, sweetish odor, like a burned rope in the clothes or room, etc.
 Symptoms of nausea, vomiting diarrhea, tremors, muscular aches, insomnia, convulsion etc.
 Presence of: Butt from marijuana joint
 Holders for the joint
 Presence of leaves, seeds in pocket or lining
 Rolling papers, pipes “bong” in closet or pocket
 Cough syrup bottles, capsules, syringe, etc.
 Visines or Eye-Mo bottles to treat red eyes
 Devices for hiding drugs like trash cans, softdrink bottle
 Presence of other pills like valium, artane, other tranquilizers
 Presence of physician’s prescription pad in blank form

Activity 3: Listen to Facilitator’s Lecture

Process of Detection of Drug Abusers

The detection of drug abusers involves five processes, namely:
 Observation – signs and symptoms of drug abuse is observed carefully. Be sure the person being observed
is not aware that he is being observed.
 History taking – collateral information of the individual, his “barkadas”, his language and checking of his
personal belongings without him knowing it.
 Laboratory examination
 Psychological examination
 Psychiatric examination
Activity 4: In groups of 10, present a summary of the discussion through a graphic presentation.

Activity 5: KWL. Fill out the “ What I have Learned” column.

 KNOW WANT LEARN
( What I already know) ( What I want to know) ( What I have learned)

IV. SOURCES

Wagman, Richard J. Ed, (1989) The New Complete Medical and Health Encyclopedia,
J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago, U.S.A.

DISK (Drug Abuse Prevention Integrated in Scouting Kit)

Module 3. Answer Sheet

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