Medications from Untrusted Sources

For how many years, illegal drugs have been one of the hindrances to a country’s
success because these drugs do not only affect the economy of a country, but they also affect
its citizens through their effects on humans. To avoid these negative effects of illegal drugs,
different countries imposed a law regarding the use of illegal drugs like the Republic Act No.
9165 or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002 of the Philippine Constitution. With
the continuous study of different scientists around the globe, positive effects of illegal drugs
start to be recognized such as its use as a medicine for various benign diseases that are very
difficult to cure.

Illegal drugs are in the process of scientific study to prove if they are safe to be taken
as a medicine. For example, two cannabinoids of a marijuana plant, the THC or
Tetrahydrocannabinol which increases appetite, reduces nausea, and it decreases pain,
inflammation and muscle control problems, but its downside is that it makes people feel “high”
when overdosed, and the CBD or Cannabidiol which caught the interest of researchers. It was
discovered to have positive effects in curing childhood epilepsy, a disorder which causes a
child to have violent seizure. It is also useful as an anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, analgesic,
antipsychotic and anticonvulsant. Other than Marijuana, Cocaine is well-known as a stimulant,
and it is used as a topical anaesthetic of some tribal groups in South America. It can also be
used as a treatment for intestinal diseases, and to reduce headaches. Next to Cocaine is the
Heroin which is popularly used as a pain killer for severe physical injury, surgical pain, heart
attack and other painful effects of severe diseases and is used against Opiate addiction. Other
kinds of illegal drugs used as medicine include Magic Mushrooms which are said to cure
severe depression, OCD or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and anxiety, Ketamine or Special
K for bipolar disorder, MDMA or Ecstasy for PSTD or post-traumatic stress disorder and LSD
or acid for treating alcoholism.

Researchers and scientists must study and observe well the effects of these drugs to
humans, especially if they have the plans of using it as a medication. If these researchers are
doing their best, users must too. They must know and take the exact dosage that the doctor
has given them, or else, they might feel the negative effects of these drugs. Law enforcement
groups must do their part too by ensuring that a certain area has no illegal drug plantation, and
as much as possible, the area must be free from illegal drug transactions. International and
national nongovernment and government groups must help each other to make sure that the
world will soon be free from illegal drugs, and it will become a place for healthy people.