INTRODUCTION TO DRUG EDUCATION

AND VICE CONTROL

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Drug/s

 A chemical substance used as a medicine or in making medicines, which affects the body
and mind and have potential for abuse.
 Derived from the 14th century French word drogue, meaning a dry substance- most
medicines at that time were prepared from dried herbs.

Vice

 An immoral or evil habit or practice.

Drug Education

 A process by which a person is educated about aspects of drugs specifically those which
are known as dangerous.

Vice Control

 A process of preventing, managing and regulating the use and exploitation of drugs.

GENERAL HISTORY OF DRUGS

How Old?

Drug use and abuse is as old as mankind itself. Human beings have always had a desire to eat or
drink substances that make them feel relaxed, stimulated, or euphoric.

Man’s use of chemical substances, which alter his consciousness and biological functioning, may
be traced back some two million years ago, during the Old Stone Age.

How Were These Drugs Discovered?

Home Remedies
These discoveries were to alleviate aches, pains and other ailments. Most of these preparations
were herbs, roots, mushrooms or fungi.

How Are They Administered?

            They have to be eaten, drunk, rubbed on the skin, or inhaled to achieve the desired effect.

1. Holy Bible

The Book of Judges of the Old Testament revealed that the mighty Samson was put to sleep by
Delilah by means of a drug-laced wine before cutting his hair, and subsequently gouged his eyes.

Well before the beginning of the Christian era, opium as known to the Greeks and Romans as a
drug on indulgence as well as poison capable of use in acts of suicide and murder. Neither the
Greeks nor the Romans, however, viewed the drugs as an article with potential for international
trade and commerce.

History of Known Drugs

1. Marijuana

                  The world’s oldest cultivated plant which was started by the Inca’s of          Peru.  
The Assyrians regard Marijuana as a “sacred tree” used in religious rituals           some 9,000 BC.

 Spread of Marijuana

            The first reference of introduction was in Northern Iran as an Intoxicant.       From there it
spread throughout India by Hindus used for religious rituals in          the      belief that it is a
source of happiness and “laughter provoker”.  The so-called “drug sub-culture” is not at all a
new phenomenon. It has been said that         primitive people used a variety of drugs to induce
states of intoxication during   religious rites, or as in the case of the hashish, to prepare warriors
for battle. As             early as 2700 (2737) B. C., MJ was known to the Chinese Emperor Cheng
Neng,    and it appeared to have been recommended for a number of ailments,   including gout,
constipation and “absent-mindedness.”

 “Hashis” (resin)
            Derived from the name Hasan or Hashasin, the Muslim cult leader who fed             his
disciples a preparation made from the resin of the female hemp plant as a            reward for their
successful activities in assassinations.

2. Opium

            Knowledge on the opium poppy plant (Papaver Somniferum) goes back   about 7000
years BC (4000-3000 years BC) cultivated and prepared by the         Sumerians.

 Hippocrates (Father of medicine)

                  Prescribed juice of the white poppy plant as early as 5,000 BC in the belief            
that it can cure many illnesses.

 Spread of Opium

            First harvested in Mesopotamia and its used spread throughout the neighboring
Mediterranean areas, then to Asia. From there, it was introduced to Persia, India and China by
the Arab caravans.

            It was an ideal item of merchandise: valuable, compact and easily preserved, that it could
be carried many thousands of miles without difficulty. 

It was during this period that the Arab was generally thought to have introduced opium into
China. Chinese literatures of the tenth century refer to the drug both in medical terms and as a
drug indulgence.

            As early as the 18th century opium was known and used in the American colonies by a
number of physicians as part of their medical treatment in connection with disease, cancer
gallstone and dysentery. Although opium had by this time gained widespread medical approval,
it appeared that the   addictive qualities thesis originating from the University of Pennsylvania in
1791             compared the effect of opium to that of certain intoxicating liquors.

            The British took over the trade from the Portuguese and established the Opium Trade
Monopoly through the British East Indies Company.

 Opium War (1839-42)

            In an attempt to stop the extremely high rate of opium addiction in China, Emperor Yung
Chen prohibited the smoking of opium and attempted to close ports for its importation. This
triggered the opium war which induced China to accept the British sponsored opium trade and
forced to sign a treaty permitting the importation of opium into China after her defeat.

            By this time, a number of prominent Englishmen were voicing a certain degree of
concern over the moral implication of the trade, so much so that on 3        Dec 1842; London
Times took the position in a strong editorial: “We think it of the highest moment that the Gov. of
Great Britain should wash its hands once and for all. Not only of all diplomatic, but of all moral
and practical responsibility for this traffic that we may ceases to be mixed up with it, to foster it,
or to make it a source of Indian revenue. *** We owe some moral compensation to China for
pillaging the towns and slaughtering her citizens in a quarrel which never could have arisen if we
had not been guilty of this national crime.”

 Second Opium War (1856)

                        The British, with the help from the French, extend their powers to distribute
opium in China.


o Opium Cure (Morphine)

            It was in 1806 that a German pharmacist Friedrich W. Serturner discovered Morphine,
the first derivative of opium. He called this new drug as “Morphium”            and later changed to
Morphine after the Greek god of dream, Morpheus. First attempt to cure opium addiction.

            Morphine addictive properties came to prominence during the American Civil War vast
numbers of American Soldiers became addicted to the drug-so much so that morphine addiction
became known as “soldiers’ disease”.


o Heroin

            The second attempt of treating opium and morphine addiction started in 1896 when
Heroin (Diacetylmorphine), synthesized from the drug morphine, was discovered by a British
chemist in the name of Alder Wright.

            It was called the “miracle drug” because it is believed that it can cure both opium and
morphine addiction. It was named after the word “hero” due to its impressive power.

            Physicians began to use heroin but it became a substitution of one addiction to another. It
turns out later that heroin is the most addictive of all drugs.
 


o Codeine

            Meanwhile, codeine, the third derivative of opium was discovered in France while in the
process of discovering other drugs that could cure opium, morphine and heroin addiction but it
also ended in the same tragic result.

See also https://www.addictioncenter.com/opiates/codeine/

PHILIPPINE SETTING

            Very little is known about drugs in the Philippines during the pre-Spanish era.

Fermented alcoholic beverages and “nga-nga” were the preferred drugs. Narcotics, including
marijuana, were not in the list of vices in the country at that time.

 Spanish Era, 1780 - The use of opium by the Filipinos is prohibited except for the
Chinese who are allowed to use opium to sustain their vice.

 American Regime
o 1901 - Americans took over the Philippine Government and established Civil
Government. A systematic survey on drug abuse was conducted and found out
that there were 190 joints (users of drugs) but the habit had not yet gained
foothold among Filipinos.   
o 1906 - Partial legislation allowed Chinese addicts to obtain a license to use opium
in their homes for a fee of P5.00.
o 1908 - Total ban of opium was effected.

 Japanese Stay
o             1946 - All suppliers of opium were cut and during this period, the number
of drug addicts was probably the lowest in Asia.
o 1947 - Syndicates/Gangs in the Philippines
 The first is the Binondo Based Chinese Gang known as the Bamboo Gang
which is based in Taiwan.
  The second is the 14K Gang which is also based in Hong Kong are
operating in the Philippines.
 The third is the Filipino-Chinese Syndicate that is responsible in
smuggling shabu in the country using Taiwan and Hong Kong as
embarkation point to the Philippines

 In 1953 – R.A. 953 (Narcotics Law of 1953) was enacted which provided for the
registration of collection, and the imposition of fixed and special taxes upon all persons
who produce, import, manufacture, compound, etc. marijuana, opium poppies, or coca
leaves or any synthetic drugs which are declared as habit forming.

The law also declared as a matter of national policy, the prohibition of the      cultivation of
marijuana and opium poppy.

The Philippines has been relatively drug heroin-free until the early 60’s when small heroin
laboratories opened in Manila. In 1963, new trends appeared. There was a waning of opium
addiction among the Chinese but a concurrent increase among the Filipinos, just the latter
contributed 63% of the total arrests from drug offenses.

 1960s - The Philippines through its government restrictions ban of opium trade and
creation of RA 953, was declared as Heroin Free but for a short time. However, a small
heroin laboratory was raided in Manila.

 1972, Promulgation of RA No. 6425 – This law is otherwise known as the Dangerous

Drugs Act of 1972 was signed into law by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos on March
30, 1972. This law strengthens the prohibition of cultivation, possession and use of
Marijuana as well as other dangerous drugs and essential precursors and chemicals.

  PD No. 44, A Drug Law - is one of the decrees issued by President Ferdinand E. Marcos
in 1970s that amends certain provisions of RA No. 6425.

 Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) - On November 14, 1972, the DDB was organized to
provide leadership, direction and coordination in the effective implementation of R.A.
6425. 

 
  1975-1980, The increase of Marijuana Cultivation - The cultivation of Marijuana
increased and became geographically widespread in the Philippines.

 May 1984, Coca plant cultivation – Coca plant was cultivated in San Rafael, Ilo-Ilo,
Philippines which was later on discovered by authorities (Martinez, 2011).

 1990s, Marijuana is No. 1 Drug Choice - According to the DDB’s report, Marijuana is
number 1 drug choice of drug abusers in the country due to its cheap price and
accessibility. The production of Marijuana increased but with inflation in the illicit
market, making the demand slows down.

 September 4, 1996, Promulgation of RA No. 8203 - It is hereby the policy of the State to
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instils health consciousness
among them as provided in Section 15 Article 11 of the Constitution, thereby creating
this law that prohibits counterfeit drugs and penalizes violations thereof.

 20th Century, Methamphetamine Hydrocholoride (Shabu) - Based on latest statistics of

report and arrests, Shabu replaced marijuana as the number one drug choice.

 June 7, 2002, Signing of RA No. 9165 – otherwise known as the Comprehensive

Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 was signed into law by President Gloria M. Arroyo and
took effect on July 1, 2002. This new and existing law on drugs in the country made the
penalties higher as well as the quantities of dangerous drugs. The highest penalty under
this law is Death (now it is life imprisonment because of RA 9346 of 2006).