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Thesis
Thesis
To the Subject
Prepared By:
Ma.Vctoria C. Ma ebo
A.Y.: 2016-2017
The main purpose of this research paper is to provide information on how drugs affect the
brain and body of a person. Reports of drug related crime are common in the Philippines media mainly on
news reports. The main concern tends to be towards Shabu or Methamphetamine which gets the most
media attention.
One of the most abused drugs in the Philippines is a local type of methamphetamine mixed with caffeine
known as Shabu. This is a powerfully addictive drug that can cause people to have intense hallucinations
and become extremely paranoid. This stimulant is believed to be the drug of choice for 90% of the
Philippines illegal substance users. Methamphetamine causes feelings of euphoria and the user feels full
of energy. Some users of this drug have even jumped off high rise buildings because they believed they
could fly. Shabu didnt arrive in the Philippines until the mid eighties, but it soon became hugely popular
It does seem that illegal drug use is on the rise, and this has worrying implications for the future. There is
an urgent need to educate young people as to the dangers of drug use, and there is also a great need to
help those who are already addicted to escape their misery. Failure to do this could mean there will be
Addiction can develop very easily and the consequences of substance abuse can cause serious problems in
a persons life also harming the lives of their loved ones. Unfortunately when a persons addicted to drugs
or alcohol attaining a clean and sober lifestyle isnt nearly as easy to achieve as some may think.
Looking back on the history of the locally named Shabu, it is said to be discovered in
Japan in 1919. Shabu is a slang term for the drug methamphetamine used in Japan, Hong Kong,
During World War II, methamphetamine is widely used as stimulants to keep the fighting men going. And
after World War II, when military surplus became available to the public, methamphetamine abuse
became epidemic. In the 1950s, legally manufactured tablets of methamphetamine became readily
available and were used non-medically by college students, truck drivers, and athletes. As use of
methamphetamine spread, so did their abuse. Methamphetamine became a cure-all for such things as
weight control to treating mild depression. In the 1960s, the route and degree of abuse changed
In the 1980s, the smokable form of methamphetamine, "ice," became available. Like crack cocaine, it is
smoked in glass pipes, emitting no odor, with effects lasting for 12 hours or more. Shabu, a powerfully
addictive meth stimulant, easily accessible and affordable, is the drug of choice of over 90% of Filipino
drug users. A single "pingi" or 0.1 gm costs P100. One mongo-sized "gram" costs P1,000 2,000. Street
meth is never pure, cut with a miscellany of substances, including talc or heroin.
The National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention Center gives a conservative estimate of at least
250,000 drug abusers, possibly over half a million. Another conservative estimate puts the number of
is produced in the nerve cells of the ventral tegmental area and is concerned with pleasure regulation in
the brain. Upon entering the nerve cell, meth stimulates release of dopamine which then binds to
Short-term effects include: heightened attention and energy, excessive talking, euphoria, decreased
fatigue, increased activity, increased sexuality, decreased appetite, increased respiration, hyperthermia
occasionally leading to convulsions and lethal levels. The effects last up to - 4 to 16 hours.
Long-term effects include: dependence, anxiety, confusion, insomnia, addiction psychosis, paranoia,
hallucinations - visual and auditory, mood disturbances, repetitive motor activity, stroke, weight loss,
violent behavior, homicidal or suicidal thoughts, crank bugs, disturbed sleep patterns, decreased sleep
needs, disinterest in usual social interactions sex & food, cardiovascular inflammation of the heart
Meth users will have oral-dental problem wherein normal white teeth can change in a few months into
Meth induces hypersexual behavior, and especially with anal intercourse, HIV / viral transmission
concerns are raised and unprotected users are put in greater risk.
Weve shown in this paper that addiction is prevalent in our country, affecting millions of
people. Incidents are extremely high in cases of addiction. Not to mention that globally it is a very
common issue. The effects I mentioned before might not be familiar with you. To sum it up the effects
might be wondrous for a moment but not for long it will damage your body, risking your life.
Drug addiction should be taken as a serious problem. People going through this kind of situation should
not be taken for granted. They should be guided and be surrounded of the people they love and love them.
Like other illnesses, drug addiction should be given attention especially those who are really trying their
best to overcome such addiction, and for those who are still in the stage of addiction or being confused on
what to do. Always remember that you are not alone. There are certain people and agencies that you can
lean on to, they would help you. Don't lose hope, there is always hope for those who strive hard and