GRADE 9 SUBSTANCE USE AND ABUSE

Drugs are any substances or chemicals which when taken into the body either though nasal, oral, transdermal, or
intravenous way have psychological, emotional, and behavioral effects on a person.  Drugs of abuse are drugs commonly
abused by users. In the Philippines the three drugs of abuse are shabu, marijuana and inhalants.  Drug dependence is a cluster
of physiological, behavioral, and cognitive phenomena of variable intensity in which the use of a drug takes on a high priority
thereby creating a strong desire to take the substance.  Drug misuse is the use of a substance incoherent or inconsistent with
the prescribed dosage or frequency of use.  Drug Abuse is the use of a substance for non-medicinal purposes. Abuse leads to
organ damage like brain damage and liver damage, addiction, and troubled behavioral patterns.  Drug tolerance is the condition
of the body to adapt to the effects of substances to the body thus requiring an even larger amount of the substance to experience
the same physiological and mental effect experienced when taking the smaller dosage.

Gateway Drug Short-Term Effects Long-Term Effects

Alcohol - Headache and light headedness - Damage of organs like liver, heart, colon, and
- Slurred speech brain
- Slow body reflex, senses, and coordination - Cancer
- Overconfident - Cardiovascular diseases
- Mood swings (depression, high spirit, - Cirrhosis of the liver
aggressiveness) - Nausea (headache with vomiting) - Poor study and work performance
- Experience of blackout (loss of consciousness) - Paralysis and/ or loss of limb due to road
accidents and other tragic events
- Alcohol poisoning which leads to coma and
eventual death
Tobacco Stress - Development of asthma
- Rapid heart rate and pulse rate - Atherosclerosis
- Persistent cough - Thrombosis
- Difficulty in breathing - Cardiovascular diseases
- Halitosis or bad breath - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Sinusitis and otitis media - Cancer of the mouth, throat, skin, lungs, and
- Increased phlegm production other body parts
- Stomach problems - Hypertension or increased blood pressure
- Weak physical performance - Heart attack and stroke which leads to coma and
death
Depressants - Slow brain function which leads to temporary - Agitation and aggressive behaviors
memory loss - Depression leading to mental disorders
- Slow pulse rate and heart rate - Hypertension or high blood pressure -
- Below normal breathing pattern cardiovascular diseases
- Low blood pressure - Paralysis of the muscles and nerves
- Inability to concentrate and poor judgment - - Brain stroke
Confusion and irritability - Chronic liver disease
- Dizziness and lightheadedness - Renal or kidney failure
- Slurred speech - Cancer of the colon and other form of cancer -
- Loss of body balance and sluggishness Diabetes
- Depression - Coma and death
Stimulants - Increased heart rate and pulse rate - Paranoia
- Increased respiration (breathing) rate - Increased - Heart attack
digestive processes - Brain stroke
- Increased blood pressure - Brain damage
- Increased body temperature - Kidney damage
- Decreased appetite - Alert body responses - - Liver damage
Inability to sleep - Coma which leads to death
- Euphoria - Depression (the “down” that follows the
“up” sensation)
Narcotics Drowsiness Development of diseases like hepatitis, tetanus,
 - Euphoria and HIV-AIDS due to needle sharing.
- Loss of appetite - Overdose leading to coma and death
- Vomiting - Nausea
- Muscle cramps and pain
- Chills and shaking
- Weight loss
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Difficulty in breathing
- Inflammation of the veins - Panic attacks
Hallucinogens - Euphoria - Flashback (effects of the drug comes back after a
- Hallucinations (seeing things which are not there) - long time of not using it)
Poor judgment of time and distance - Increased blood pressure
- Inability to sleep - Brain damage
- Loss of appetite which lasts up to 10 hours - Psychosis (a mental disorder in which reality is
- Nausea distorted or twisted)
- Poor body coordination - Feeling of super strength - - Coma and death
Increased blood pressure and heart rate
- Aggressive behavior
- Memory loss
- Slurred speech
Inhalants - Slurred speech - Slurred speech
- Poor coordination - Poor coordination
- Euphoria - Euphoria
- Dizziness and nausea - Dizziness and nausea
- Feeling of lightheadedness - Feeling of lightheadedness
- Foul breath - Foul breath
- Hallucinations
- Delusions

Myths and Misconceptions Facts about Drugs of Abuse

Drugs of abuse improve memory. Drugs of abuse shut down proper brain functioning. Certain
drugs stimulate the brain but do not really help improve
memory. Most drug users claim they think better and clearly
after taking drugs but tests on performance and cognition have
proven that they have performed worst.

Drugs of abuse help in the digestion of food. Certain drugs of abuse stimulate the production of stomach
acids. Constant exposure to higher-than-normal acid level
damages stomach linings which can result to ulcers.

Drugs of abuse make a person bold and brave. Certain drugs of abuse remove shyness and inhibition. In
psychology, normal inhibition prohibits a person from doing
unacceptable things, thoughts, and desires. Normal inhibition
includes not taking other people’s things, not crossing a busy
street, and knowing what is right from wrong.

Drugs of abuse remove life’s problems and worries. Drugs of abuse are not the solution to problems and worries
people encounter. Some people believe that using drugs
eliminate one’s problems and worries in life. The truth is drugs
of abuse will only worsen the scenario and further add more
problems some of which are even harder to solve.

Drugs of abuse heat up the body. Drug users believe that certain drugs cause the blood to
become warmer which makes the body temperature rise. In
cold countries, drugs are used to heat the body. The truth about
this is far from reality. Drugs dilate blood vessels in the skin
which makes the blood to flow nearer to the skin which
enhances convection of heat from the body to the outside
environment.

Profile of a Drug Abuser

The Dangerous Drugs Board listed the following signs and symptoms of drug abuse. It is important to note that having
a few of these signs doesn’t immediately make a person a drug user. Therefore, observations of physical, mental, emotional, and
social behaviors must be carefully done to confirm if a person is a drug user.

Below are some of the signs and symptoms of drug use:

 Declining interest in studies and work
 Identification with known drug users
 Negative outlook in life
 Uncontrolled irritation
 Paranoia (fear that people always stalk and talk about him/her)
  Severe feeling of depression and loneliness
 Complains of over fatigue (psychological or physiological)
 Frequent involvement in petty fights and crimes
 Frequent changes of mood and extreme mood swings
 Lousy physical appearance
 Reddish eyes
 Sudden loss in weight
 Frequent complaints of headache and stomach pains
 Convulsions
 Frequent attacks of cough and runny nose
 Brown stains on fingertips
 Foul body smell
 Wearing of sunglasses even at night
 Loss of balance
 Loss of interest in sports and hobbies
 Poor judgment and loss of inhibition
 Loss of concentration

What is DDB and PDEA?

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is the implementing arm of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).
The DDB is the policymaking and strategy-formulating body in the planning and formulation of policies and programs on drug
prevention and control. PDEA and DDB are both under the supervision of the Office of the President of the Philippines.