DRUG

ABUSE
WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW ABOUT…

WHAT YOU SHOULD

KNOW ABOUT…
INHALAN
T ABUSE
MARIJUAN
A

SHABU
WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW ABOUT…

WHAT YOU SHOULD

KNOW ABOUT…
WHAT IS A DRUG?
A chemical substance, such as a narcotic or
hallucinogen that affects the central nervous system,
causing changes in behavior and often addiction

WHEN ARE DRUGS HARMFUL?

Any drug may be harmful when taken in excess. Some
drugs can also be harmful if taken in dangerous
combinations or by hypersensitive (allergic) person in
ordinary or even small amounts.

ARE PRODUCTS OTHER THAN DRUGS EVER

ABUSED?
Yes, substances like glue, paint, thinners, gasoline and
other volatile (breathable) solvents contain a variety of
dangerous chemicals. They should be sold and used with
caution.

WHAT IS DRUG ABUSE?

Drug abuse is the use of any chemical substance, licit
or illicit, which results in the individual’s physical, mental,
or social impairment.

Drug abuse also leads to other public health problems,

such as:
 drunk and drugged driving
 violence
 familial stress
 child abuse
Intravenous drug users, who inject drugs, are also at risk of
contracting and spreading infectious diseases, such as HIV,
AIDS, and hepatitis.

Addiction involves many social and biological factors, but

treatment is available. The most successful way to stop
drug abuse is through prevention and education

WHAT DRUGS ARE COMMONLY ABUSED?

a. Alcohol- people drink to socialize, celebrate, and
relax. Alcohol often has a strong effect on people—and
throughout history, people have struggled to
understand and manage alcohol’s power.

b.Stimulants- such as Methylphenidate and

amphetamines are commonly prescribed for attention-
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy—
uncontrollable episodes of deep sleep. Prescription
stimulants increase alertness, attention, and energy.
Stimulants enhance the effects of certain
neurotransmitters in the brain, such as norepinephrine
and dopamine.
c. Sedative- or tranquilliser is a substance that
induces sedation by reducing irritability or
excitement. ... Doses of sedatives such as
benzodiazepines, when used as a hypnotic to induce
sleep, tend to be higher than amounts used to relieve
anxiety, whereas only low doses are needed to provide
a peaceful effect.

d. Narcotics- is an addictive drug that reduces pain,

induces sleep and may alter mood or behaviour. In US
legal context, narcotic refers to opium, opium
derivatives, and their semi-synthetic or fully synthetic
substitutes as well as cocaine and coca leaves, which
although classified as "narcotics" in the U.S
HOW CAN YOU TELL WHEN SOMEONE IS
ABUSING DRUGS?
A lot of changes – in behavior, in appearance and in
mood occur in a person who is abusing drugs. Sudden
changes occur in the person’s disposition from pleasant to
unpleasant. Thus he or she:
 is often associated with known drug abusers
 is irritable, discourteous, defiant and aggressive
 is untrustworthy and lacks self –confidence
 is unhealthy and unconcerned with good grooming
 has low frustration tolerance
 lacks interest in his studies or work
 blames everybody but not himself for his problems
 prefers his peers where he feels accepted
 frequently peers to odd places to take drugs
 unusual borrowing of money and at times stealing
various items
 develop changes in normal capabilities in school or
work
WHAT CAN A PERSON DO TO PREVENT DRUG
ABUSE?
 Maintain physical wellness and mental health.
 Use drugs properly. Most drugs are beneficial when
used per medical advice.
 Understand yourself. Accept and respect yourself for
what you are.
 Develop your potentials. Engage in wholesome,
productive and fulfilling activities.
 Learn to relate effectively to whom you can
communicate your problems freely.
 Learn to cope with your problems and other stresses
without the use of drugs.
 Seek professional help if you feel cannot cope with
your problems.
 Develop strong moral and spiritual foundations.
 WHAT IS INHALANT ABUSE?

Inhalant abuse is the deliberate inhalation of

volatile chemical substances that contain psychoactive
(mind or mood altering) vapors to produce a state of
intoxication.

WHY IS INHALANT ABUSE DANGEROUS?

 It can cause permanent damage to the brain and may
result to “Sudden Sniffing Death”.
 Abusers under the influence of inhalants are prone to
accidents, drowning, and falling from building among
others. Abusers can also become violent.
 Inhalant abuse produces psychological dependence.
Once the habit is formed, the dose has to increase
gradually to produce the same effect.

IMMEDIATE EFFECTS
 Confusion and disorientation
 Distorted perception of time and distance
 Aggressive behavior and violence
 Hallucinations
 Delusions
 Nausea and vomiting
 Drowsiness and weight loss

DELAYED EFFECTS
 Loss of memory
 Inability to think
 Muscle cramps and weakness
 Numbness in limbs
 Abdominal pains
 Damage to the central nervous system, kidneys,
liver and bone marrow.
WHY DO YOUNG PEOPLE ABUSE INHALANTS?
  Curiosity
 Boredom
 Frustration (from personal issues and problems in
the family, in school or at work)
 Poor self-image
 Weak personality (inability to cope with stress and
conflict)
 Lack of parental guidance

HOW TO DEAL WITH “PEER PRESSURE”

The desire to fit in and feel like you are part of a group
is normal, and most people feel this way sometimes,
especially in the teen and young adult years. Peer
pressure, that feeling that you have to do something to fit
in, be accepted, or be respected, can be tough to deal with.
It can be overt (friends telling you to do something) or less
direct (friends joking around about your not doing what
they are doing, seeing others at a party doing shots and
feeling left out if you don't, knowing a friend tried LSD and
feeling curious about it).
While peer pressure can be helpful at times
(recognizing that your friends are studying more than you
are as a motivator for you to work harder, noticing that
your drinking is more extreme than your friends' and
deciding to cut back), it can also cause you to do things
you may not be sure about, or even things that you don't
really think are right for you. Dealing with this pressure can
be challenging, but it’s important to reflect on your own
personal values and preferences and make decisions based
on those rather than on peer pressure.

HOW CAN I AVOID INHALANT ABUSE?

 Learn to say ‘NO’ and ask for help. Close friends
are important but you don’t have to do everything your
friends do to remain friends. Real friends will accept you
whwther you take drugs or not.
Learn to talk to people about your problems. Don’t
bottle things up inside. It’s okay to cry, shout, laugh, feel
sad about your problems.
Learn to relax. Give time for:
 Physical exercises and sports relaxation
 Meditation
 Using music to relax
 Bodily relaxation techniques like yoga
 Learn to find new interest. Find out what like doing,
what other people like doing. Meet new people. Go
to new places, put yourself in new situations

WHAT IS MARIJUANA?
Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems,
and seeds from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica
plant. The plant contains the mind-altering chemical THC
and other similar compounds. Extracts can also be made
from the cannabis plant.

A hybrid cannabis strain (White Widow)

coated with trichomes, which contain
more THC than any other

WHAT IS THE PRINCIPAL PYSCHOACTIVE

COMPONENT OF MARIJUANA?
Marijuana contains the mind
Altering component
Delta-9-tetrahydro-cannabinol
(also referred as delta-9-THC)

WHY DO PEOPLE USE MARIJUANA?

 Curiosity
 Boredom
  Frustration (from personal issues and problems in
the family, in school or at work)
 Poor self-image
 Weak personality (inability to cope with stress and
conflict)
 Lack of parental guidance

HOW CAN YOU SAY ‘NO’ TO MARIJUANA

Be Direct
Sometimes saying, “No thanks,” is all that is needed. Be
firm when you say it, and if you’re pressured further,
repeat your response.
Give a Reason
If you choose the direct approach but still feel nervous,
back up “no thanks” with a reason. You might say, “No
thanks. I have a game later,” or, “No thanks, I have to be
up early in the morning.”
Don’t be afraid to mention a bad experience you’ve had.
You might say, “No thanks. I got caught last time,” or, “No
thanks. I didn’t like what it did to me last time.”
Turn It Around
Peer pressure is rough. When someone pushes you to
smoke weed, turn the pressure back on them. You could
ask them, “What do you care if I do or don’t smoke?”
Remember, it’s your choice to accept or decline marijuana.
All you need is confidence in your decision and your
response.

Be Proactive
You can be proactive by anticipating who, when, and
where. Then, act to avoid these situations by leaving
before they arise or by staying away completely.
WHY YOU SHOULD SAY ‘NO’ TO MARIJUANA?
Keep your reasons simple and honest. You don’t have
to explain why you don’t have to use drugs.
Be polite but firm
Remember, it is your right to say ‘NO’ to drugs

GENERAL FACTS
Methamphetamine hydro-
chloride, a type of amphetamine
is also known as ‘poor man’s
cocaine’.Commonly known as ‘shabu’
SOURCE
This chemical substance is being smuggled into the
country by drug traffickers, and syndicates. It has been
reported that there are clandestine laboratories in the
Philippines suspected of manufacturing this substance.

ADVERSE EFFECTS
 Produces anxiety, tension, irritability, irrational
behavior, talkativeness and loss self-control
 Results in loss of appetite and inability to sleep.
 Euphoria, elation

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
Includes chest pain, irregularity of heart beat, elevated
or lowered blood pressure, evidence of weight loss,
convulsion and death from cardiac arrest.

LONG TERM EFECTS

Long-term methamphetamine abuse has many
negative consequences, including addiction. Addiction is a
chronic, relapsing disease, characterized by compulsive
drug seeking and use and accompanied by functional and
molecular changes in the brain.

As is the case with many drugs, tolerance to

methamphetamine’s pleasurable effects develops when it
is taken repeatedly. Abusers often need to take higher
doses of the drug, take it more frequently, or change how
they take it in an effort to get the desired effect. Chronic
methamphetamine abusers may develop difficulty feeling
any pleasure other than that provided by the drug, fueling
further abuse. Withdrawal from methamphetamine occurs
when a chronic abuser stops taking the drug; symptoms of
withdrawal include depression, anxiety, fatigue, and an
intense craving for the drug.43
In addition to being addicted to methamphetamine, chronic
abusers may exhibit symptoms that can include significant
anxiety, confusion, insomnia, mood disturbances, and
violent behavior. They also may display a number of
psychotic features, including paranoia, visual and auditory
hallucinations, and delusions (for example, the sensation of
insects creeping under the skin). Psychotic symptoms can
sometimes last for months or years after a person has quit
abusing methamphetamine, and stress has been shown to
precipitate spontaneous recurrence of methamphetamine
psychosis in formerly psychotic methamphetamine
abusers.

TOLERANCE

Abusers who frequently take the substance require higher

doses to achieve the desired effects. Tolerance sets in after
few weeks of regular use