CHAPTER II

DANGEROUS DRUG

INTRODUCTION

Drugs problem is a recognition problem confronting the world. In the PhilippineRepublic

act 6425 or the Dangerous Drug Act of 1972 was enacted specifically against this problem. The
Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) was created to coordinate the effort of the various government
and civic agencies. Anti-narcotic units were organized to enforce the provisions of this Act.
Because of the emerging trends in drug problems, on the Twelfth Congress during its first
Regular Session, INSTITUTING the congress of the Philippines passed a law repealing Republic
Act 9165 (AN ACT THE COMPREHENSIVE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF 2002
REPEALING ACT 6425 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF
1972, AS AMENDED, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES)
This law is more known today as the COMPREHENSIVE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF 2002 that
provides a separate body to enforce and act drug related problems and violation.

Under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Ac t of 2002, the Dangerous Drugs Board
shall be the policy-making and strategy-formulating body in the planning and formulation of
policies and programs on Drug prevention and control. It shall develop and adopt comprehensive
Integrated, unified and balanced national drug abuse prevention and control strategy. It shall be
under the Office of the President (Art. IX, Sec. 77); On the other hand, the Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency (PDEA) will carry out the provisions of RA 9165, and shall serve as the
implementing arm of the Board, and shall be responsible for the efficient and effective law
enforcement of all provisions on the dangerous drug and /or controlled precursor and essential
chemical provided on this act (Art. IX Sec. 82).

Though enforcement arm pertaining drugs problem was transferred from the Philippine
National Police and /or National Bureau of Investigation, still their crime laboratory (Crime Lab
of both PNP and NBI) conducts analysis of drugs seized, confiscated, or surrendered. The drugs
are received in various forms such as tablets, capsules, powders or morphine, crushed dried
leaves, cigarettes, and plants uprooted or in pots and improvised seedbeds. Paraphernalia’s like
smoking pipes, hypodermic syringes and needles and ashtrays are submitted for examination.
These may have been confiscated in the persons of suspects or discovered accidentally in false
bottom of languages. The manner of packaging various form hastily made paper wrapping to
heat sealed water plastic bags. Blood and urine of suspected drug users are also examined to
determine presence of drug(s) abuse.

DRUGS

Dangerous drugs evidence in connection with violation of R.A. 9165 comprehensive

Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 may be encounter in various forms, such as:

1 Tablets or Pills
2 Capsules or ampoules
1
3 Powder
4 Liquid
5 Plant or Plant Material

Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 R.A. 9165 dated June 7, 2002 took effect
on July 4, 2002 and its implementing rules and regulations became effective on Nov. 27 of the
same year.

Pursuant to R.A. 9165 otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of
2002” the Department of Health is mandated to oversee and monitor the integration, and
coordination and supervision of all drug rehabilitation, intervention, after-care and follow-up
programs, projects and activities as well as the establishment, operations, maintenance and
management of privately-owned drug treatment rehabilitation centers and drug testing network
and laboratories throughout the Bureau of Health Facilities and services (BHFS, formerly the
Bureau of licensing and Regulation) is tasked to license and accredit drug testing laboratories in
order to assure the quality competence and integrity in the conduct of drug testing.

The East Avenue Medical Center is designated as the national reference laboratory
(NRL) for environmental and occupational health, toxicology and micronutrient assay by virtue
of department order no. 393-E s. 2002. The NRL in coordination with BHFS shall assure the
competence, integrity and stability of drug testing centers nationwide.

What are considered Dangerous Drugs?

Dangerous Drug is a substance affecting the central nervous system which when taken
into the human body brings about physical, emotional or behavioral changes in a person
taking.

A substance which when taken into the human body alters mood, perception, feelings and
behavior.

Under Republic Act 6425, otherwise known as the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972,
dangerous drugs are classified into two (2) main categories, namely:

A. Prohibited Drugs
B. Regulated Drugs

Prohibited Drug, which includes opium and its active components and derivatives,
such as heroin and morphine; coca leaf and its derivates, principally cocaine; alpha
and beta eucaine; hallucinogenic drugs, such as mescaline, lysergic acid diethyl
amide (LSD) and other substances producing similar effects: Indian hemp and its
derivatives; all preparations made from any of the foregoing; and other drugs and
chemical preparations, whether natural or synthetic, with the physiological effects of

2
 a narcotic or a hallucinogenic drug; or (As amended by B.P. 179 dated March 2,
1982) Prohibited drug.

Regulated Drug, which includes self-inducing sedatives, such as secobarbital,

Phenobarbital, pentobarbital, barbital, amobarbital and any other drug which contains
a salt or a derivative of a salt of barbituric acid; any salt, isomer or salt of an isomer,
of amphetamine, such as Benzedrine or \dexedrine, or any drug which produces a
physiological action similar to amphetamine; and hypnotic drugs, such as
methaqualone, nitrazepam or any other compound producing similar physiological
effects; (As amended by PD No. 1683 dated March 14, 1980)

Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of
2002 gives a single definition between prohibited and regulated drugs. The old law
defines the term dangerous drugs as pertaining to either prohibited drug or regulated
drug.

METHODS OF EXAMINATION

1. Qualitative examination
2. Quantitative Examination
Steps common to qualitative and quantitative method

1. Selection of method to be used.

2. Physical test
3. Sampling
4. Sample preparation
5. Chemical test
6. Confirmatory examination
7. Calculation and interpretation of data
8. Drawing of conclusion and writing report
TWO PHASES IN THE EXAMINATION IN THE ALLEGED
DANGEROUS DRUGS

A. Screening test/Preliminary Test

The suspected drugs submitted are first physically examined to include weighing and
counting as appropriate. After which, preliminary tests are conducted to screen the
materials. These tests are based on reaction of the drugs with specific substances or
reagents, exhibiting color changes. They are quite simple to perform even by
investigators in the field. In fact, field test using these techniques are being taught in the
Narcotic Investigation Courses. Test kits are commercially available. Some of this test
and reactions noted for the common drugs are summarized below:

DRUGS TEST USED REACTIONS

NOTED
Opium a. Marquis -purple or violet

3
 color
b. Ferric Sulfate -brownish purple
c. Mecke -blue to green
d. Nitric acid -orange to red to
yellow
Heroin a. Nitric Acid -Yellow or Green
color
b. Mecke -blue to green
Morphine a. Nitric Acid -Red orange to
yellow
b. Marquis -violet to reddish
purple
Cocaine a. Cobalt Thiocyanate or ct -blue precipitate
test
b. Scott test or modified -blue
CT test
c. Wagner test -brown (specific
test for
cocaine)
Barbiturates Dille-kopanyi violet color
Amphetamines a. Marquis -red orange to dark
b. Mandelin brown
-green to reddish
brown
LSD Ehrlich -violet
Marijuana Duiquenois-Levine KN -violet color
-red bottom layer
Cannabis a. Duquenois-Levine -violet
b. Fast blue B salt -purple red
Diazepam a. Zimmerman test -Reddish purple or
b. Hydrochloric acid pink
c. Vitali-morin test -yellow
-yellow orange
Codeine a. Mecke -blue to green
b. Nitric acid -orange to yellow
Methamphetamine a. Simon test -blue
Hydrochloride b. Marquis test -orange to brown
Ecstacy Simon test -blue

Methaqualone and CT test -blue

Phencylidine

4
 Marquis test -orange
Mescaline Liebermann -black

NOTE:
Positive Result of these test are not conclusive. Confirmatory tests have to be
performed by the forensic Chemist/Chemical officer on case to establish the presence
and identification of dangerous drug.

B. Confirmatory test

There are several methods available to the chemist to confirm the result of the
preliminary tests. A technique much more specific than the color test is micro
crystalline examination. A small amount of the drug is dissolved in a few drops of
solvents on a slide. Then a reagent is added, forming crystals characteristic of the
drug. This is then observed under the microscope.
The ultraviolet (UV), infrared (IR) spectrophotometer, and the gas chromatograph
can also be used for positive identification of drugs. Another method employed is
thin layer chromatography (TLC) which is rapid, sensitive and easy to use and
expensive

A. Chromatography- the process of separating mixture and comparing the

migration of each component with standard. Some Chromatography technique
includes:

Gas chromatography
Thin layer chromatography
High Performance Liquid Chromatography

What is a gas Chromatography?

>it is a separatory technique
>The mobile phase is a gas
>Separation is based on the difference in migration rates among sample
components.

B. Spectroscopy- a confirmatory method whereby light is used to identify the

sample specimen

Types of spectroscopy
a. Fourier- Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
b. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy
c. Mass spectroscopy

B. Examination of the Urine specimen

5
 The rate of excretion from the body depends on the drug’s solubility in fat. Water
soluble drugs (such as cocaine) are excreted quickly, while fat soluble drugs (such as
marijuana) may take several weeks or months before excretion.

Drug test must be conducted to apprehended suspect(s) who are suspected to be

user; and to those who are charged with the offense of “illegal use of Dangerous drugs”

Validity test for urine specimen

Validity test is a test to determine the integrity of the samples.

Reasons For Conducting Validity Tests

1. In cases of unobserved urine collection

2. When there is suspicion that the urine specimen has been tampered

Instances when to allow Unobserved Urine Specimen Collection:

1. When donor is physically unable to go to the laboratory

2. Involve in crime scene
3. Involve in post-accident
4. Critically ill

Different types of tampered Urine Specimen

Adulterated- a specimen containing either a substance that is not a normal constituent
for that type of specimen or containing an endogenous substance at a
concentration that is not a normal physiological concentration.
Diluted- refers to a specimen with less than normal physiological constituents.
Substituted- a specimen which has been derived through switching or replacement of the
original sample.

Ways to adulterate urine samples

Addition of salt
Addition of juice
Addition of detergent
Addition of bleach and other oxidizing adulterants
Addition of illicit drugs

Ways to Substitute a Urine Sample

Urine from friends or other persons not using drugs may be used as substitute specimen
Replace sample with other substance similar in appearance.

Ways to dilute a urine specimen

6
 1. Internal Dilution
(e.g. Intake of plenty of water before collection or drinking of herbal tea, etc.)

2. External Dilution
(e.g. Addition of water to previously collected urine)

Parameters for validity test

Initial Validity Tests:

Physical characteristics such as color, odor, etc.

Volume
Temperature
PH
Specific gravity
Nitrites
Creatinine
Oxidizing agents

Confirmatory Validity Tests

Physical characteristics such as color, odor, etc.

Volume
Temperature
PH
Specific Gravity
Nitrites
Creatinine
Oxidizing Agents

Other methods for confirmatory validity tests

a. Physical characteristics-visually determined

b. Volume- same as physical characteristics
c. Temperature- using thermometer
d. pH- pH Meter calibrated with appropriate buffers
e. Specific gravity- use a refractometer

Criteria in determining tampered urine specimen

Adulterated

*pH: <3 or > 11

*Nitrite: >500.0 ugIL

7
 *Presence of endogenous/exogenous substances (e.g. oxidizing agents)

Diluted
*Sp. Gravity: < 1.003
*Creatitine: <1768.0 umol/ml

Substituted

*Sp. Gravity :< 1.003 or >1.020

*Creatitine: < 442.0 umo/L
*pH <2 or >9

When do we consider a urine specimen as invalid?

➢ Adulterated, substituted or diluted

➢ Improperly collected, handled and stored
➢ Improperly documented

Classification of Drugs

A] According to origin

a. Natural Drugs – the active ingredients are secondary metabolic products of plants and other
living systems that may be isolated by extraction. Example are raw Opium,
Marijuana and Coca bush.

b. Synthetic Drugs – are artificially produced substances, synthesized in the laboratory,

for the illicit market, which are almost wholly manufactured from chemical
compounds in illicit laboratories. Examples are Methamphetamine and Barbiturates.

B] According to legal classification

a. RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002)

1. Immediate precursors – is a chemical substance used in the clandestine
manufacturing process becomes incorporated in full or part into the final molecules
of a substance under international control.
2. Essential chemicals – chemical substance used as a reagent or solvent in the illegal
manufacture of controlled substance.
3. Narcotic, psychotropic and designer
b. PD 1619 (Volatile Substances)
c. RA 6425 (Classified as: Regulated and Prohibited)

C] According to international classification

8
 b. Narcotics substance
c. Psychotropic substance
d. Designer Drugs

D] According to pharmacological classification (effects)

a. Stimulants
b. Hallucinogens
c. Depressants
d. Inhalants

Stimulants – are drugs, which increase alertness of physical disposition..

Example 1. Amphetamine

Street Name: eye opener, lid poppers, pep pills, uppers, hearts
What it is: reduces appetite, relieves mental depression, and comfort fatigue and
Sleepiness.
How taken: orally as tablet or capsule
Effects: General – wakefulness, increased alertness
Toxic: from restlessness to coma and death
Dangers: dependence, overdose, violent/bizarre behavior

Example 2. Shabu (Methamphetamine Hydrochloride)

Street Name: Poor man’s cocaine, S shabs, ubas, siopao, sha, ice
What it is: white odorless crystal/crystalline powder with a bitter numbing taste
How taken: ingestion, inhalation (chasing the dragon), sniffing, and injection,
smoke
Effects: General – anxiety, irritability, irrational behavior
Long Term – psychosis similar to schizophrenia, difficulty in
concentrating, loss of interest in sex.
Physical – chest pain, irregular heartbeat, hypertension, convulsion,
death
Dangers: Injection from contaminated needles may lead to risk of infections,
Phlebitis, septicemia, AIDS, etc.

Hallucinogens – are drugs, which affect sensation, thinking, self-awareness and emotion.
Changes in time and space perception, delusions (false beliefs) and hallucinations may be
mild or overwhelming, depending on dose and quality of drugs.

Example 1. Ecstasy

Street Name : XTC, Adam, essence, E, herbals

9
 How taken: swallowing or inhalation
Effects: exaggerated emotions, makes HR and BP hike up, dry the mouth,
Stiffens arms, legs, & jaw; dilates pupils of the eyes, causes faintness,
Chills Sweating and nausea
Dangers: it can really kill

Example 2. LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethyl amide)

Street Name : Lucy in the sky with diamonds, wedding bells, acid, white sugar,
lightning, cubes, brain eaters
What it is : A semi-synthetic alkaloid substance extracted from fungus which
grows on rye, wheat, and other grains; odorless, tasteless, colorless
Effects: Psychological: vivid hallucinations, confusion, blurring and distinction
between conscious and unconscious thought, etc.
Dangers: May cause abnormal amount of breakage of chromos of WBCs that
carry genes, which ma result to miscarriages and birth defects.

Example 3. Marijuana

Street Name : Mary Jane, Flower, pampapogi, brownies, damo, pot, teat, joint,
Dope
What it is : Comes from Cannabis Sativa L. (Indian hemp); looks like fine, green
tobacco
How taken: Smoked in pipes/cigarettes: can be taken in food; made into candy;
sniffed in powder from; mixed with honey or butter
Effects: Immediate - faster heartbeats, bloodshot eyes, dry mouth
Long term - chest pain, temporary loss of fertility, cancer, marijuana
Burnout.

Dangers: Slows done user’s mental and psychomotor activities: long-term use
may lead to psychological dependence: may lead to cancer.

Depressants - are drugs, which depress or lower the functions of the Central Nervous
System

Types of Depressants:

1. Narcotics- a drug that induces sleep (Hypnotics) or stupor and relive pain
(Analgesics). Something that soothes, or causes a sensation of mental
numbness. This includes Opium, Opiates, Heroin, Morphine, and Codeine

2. Tranquilizers- a substance that reduces anxiety ease tension and induce sleep.

3. Sedatives and Hypnotics- calm the nerves, reduce tension and induce sleep.
Example: barbiturates, alcohol

10
Inhalants- these are any liquid, solid or mixed substance that has the property of
releasing toxic (psychoactive) vapors or fumes. Example: solvent, glue, gasoline,
kerosene, paint, thinner, naphthalene

Drug Dependence – means a state of psychic or physical dependence, or both, on a

dangerous drug, arising in a person following administration or use of that drug on a
periodic or continuous basis.

Characteristics of Drug Dependency

1. Physical dependence- the body’s physical system change until the body needs
that particular drug just in order to function.
2. Mental or psychological dependence- a need of drug just in order to feel good,
to get by or feel normal.
3. Idiosyncrasy or side effect

Use – refers to the act of injecting, intravenously or intramuscularly, or of consuming,

either by chewing, smoking, sniffing, eating, swallowing, drinking, or otherwise
introducing into the physiological system of the body, any of the dangerous drugs.

Sell – means the act of giving a dangerous drug, whether for money or any other
material consideration.

Question:

What happens to confiscated, seized and surrendered dangerous drugs, plant sources
of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals,
instruments/paraphernalia and/or laboratory equipment.

Answer:

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) shall have custody of all
dangerous drugs, plant sources of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and
essential chemicals as well as instruments/paraphernalia and/or laboratory equipment
that are confiscated, seized and/or surrendered.
The apprehending team and the group in custody of the confiscated drugs shall
immediately prepare an inventory and photograph the items in the presence of the
accused and his counsel, a representative from the media and the Department of
justice (doj) any elected public official. The items will then be submitted to the
PDEA forensic laboratory for examination. Within 24 hours after receipt of the
items, the forensic laboratory examiner shall issue a certification of the laboratory
results.
The court shall conduct an ocular inspection of the confiscated items 72 hours
after the filing of the criminal case. The PDEA shall then destroy or burn the items in

11
 the presence of the accused, representative from media and DOJ, civil society groups
and any elected official. However, a representative sample shall be retained.
After the judgment has been rendered in the criminal case, the trial prosecutor
shall inform the Dangerous Drugs Board that the case has been terminated and ask
permission from the court to turn over the representative sample to the PDEA.

Drug Identification – is a branch of Forensic Chemistry that deals with the scientific
examination of drugs and volatile substances.

Drug Identification – is usually conducted by a forensic chemist/chemical officer to

determine the presence of dangerous drug on submitted specimens. The forensic
chemist/ chemical officer also conducts drug test on body fluids of suspected drug
pushers and users to determine the presence of dangerous drug metabolites.
Paraphernalia like smoking pipes, totters and aluminum foils should also be submitted for
examination to determine the presence of dangerous drugs.

Collection, Packaging and Preservation of Drug Evidence

1. Weight evidence(.net weight, excluding the wrapper)

2. If tablets counts the number of tablets.
3. Package properly
4. Label the package
5. Preliminary test

12