Vice and Drug Education and Control
Drug experimenter – one who illegally,
Terminology
1. Drug – is a chemical substance used as medicine
or in the making of medicines, which affects the
body and the mind and have potential for abuse.
2. Chemical – is any substance taken into the body
that alters the way and the mind and the body
work.
3. Chemical abuse – is an instance when the use of
chemical has produced negative or harmful
consequences.
4. Narcotic drug – refers to illegally used drugs or
dangerous drugs, which are either prohibited or
regulated drugs. It also refers to drugs that
produces sleep or stupor and relieves pain due to
its depressants.
- Greek word “narkotikos”. It is sometimes
known as “opiates”
5. Drug abuse – is the illegal, wrongful or improper
use of any drug.
6. Drug Addiction – refers to the state of periodic
or chronic intoxication produced by repeated
consumption of a drug.
7. Drug dependence – refers to the state of psychic
or physical dependence or both on dangerous
drugs following the administration or use of that
drug.
- Periodic, continuous, repeated
administration of drug.
8. Physical dependence – an adaptive state caused
by repeated drug use that reveals its self by
development of intense physical symptoms
when the drug is stopped. (withdrawal
syndrome).
9. Psychological dependence – an attachment to
drug use that arise from a drug ability to satisfy
some emotional or personality needs of an
individual.
10. Tolerance – is the increasing dosage of drugs to
maintain the same effect in the body.
11. Pusher – any person who sell, administer,
deliver, or give away to another, distribute,
transport any dangerous drugs.
12. Use – the act of injecting, consuming any
dangerous drugs. The means of introducing the
dangerous drug into the physiological system of
the body.
13. Administer – the act of introducing any
dangerous drug into the body of any person with
or without his knowledge.
14. Manufacture – the production, preparation,
compounding or processing a dangerous drug
either directly or indirectly or by extraction from
substances of natural origin or by chemical
synthesis.
15.
wrongfully, or improperly uses any narcotic
substances for reasons of curiosity, peer
pressure, or other similar reasons.
16. Drug syndicate – it is a network of illegal drug
operations operated and manned carefully by
groups of criminals who knowingly traffic
through nefarious trade for personal or group
profit.
DRUG ABUSE JARGONS
Opiate – narcotic
On the nod/ Nodding – the state produce by opiates like
being suspended on the edge of sleep.
Mainline/ to shoot – injecting a drug into a vein
A hit – the street slang for injecting a drug
A work – an apparatus for injecting a drug
A fix – one injection of opiate
Juni – heroin
Junkie – an opiate addict
Skin popping – to inject a drug under the skin
A bag – a pocket of drug
Cold turkey – the withdrawal effect that occurs after an
repeated opiate use
Track – scars on the skin left from the repeated
injections
Overdose – death occurs because the part of the brain
that controls the breathing becomes paralyzed
Speed – amphetamines
Speed freaks – amphetamine addicts
Uppers – street slang for amphetamines
Rush – the beginning of a high
High – under the influence of drugs
Coke – street slang for cocaine
Flashback – users can be thrown back into the drug
experience months after the original use of drug,
Acid – slang term for LSD
Acid head – an LSD user
Drop – taking drugs orally
Joint – an MJ cigar
Roach – butt end of a joint
Stoned – the intoxicating effect of a drug
Trip – the name of the reaction that is caused by drugs
Head – drug user
Downer – street slang for depressants
Prescriptive drugs – requiring written authorization from
a doctor to allow purchase.
Over-the-counter drugs – non-prescription medicines,
which may be purchased from any pharmacy or
drugstore without written authorization from a doctor.
- Treat minor and short-term illness
- Use for prevention and symptomatic relief
of minor ailments.
Self-medication syndrome – found in users and would be
users of drugs whose sources of information are people
or literature other than doctors.
Amount of drug in a dose
 1. Minimal dose – amount needed to treat or heal,
that is, the smallest amount of a drug that will
produce a therapeutic effect.
2. Maximal dose – largest amount of a drug that
will produce a desired therapeutic effect, without
any accompanying symptoms of toxicity.
3. Toxic dose – amount of drug that produces
untoward effects or symptoms of poisoning
4. Abusive dose – amount needed to produce the
said effect and action desired by an individual
who improperly uses it.
5. Lethal dose – amount of drug that will cause
death.
How drugs are administered
1. Oral – safest, most convenient and economical
route whenever possible.
2. Injection – offers faster response than oral
method. It makes use of a needle or other device
to deliver the drugs directly into the body tissue
and blood circulation.
3. Inhalation – this route makes use of gaseous and
volatile drugs, which are inhaled and absorbed
rapidly through the mucous of the respiratory
system.
4. Topical – application of drugs directly to a body
site such as skin and the mucous membrane.
5. Iontophoresis – introduction of drugs into the
deeper layers of the skin by the use of special
type of electric current for local effect.
The concept of Toxicology
1. Overdose –when too much of a drug is taken,
there may be an over extension of its effects.
2. Allergy – some drugs cause by histamine giving
rise to allergic symptoms such as dermatitis,
swelling, fall in blood pressure, suffocation and
death.
3. Idiosyncrasy – for unexplained reasons,
morphine, which sedates all men, stimulates and
renders some women some maniacal. CATTY
WOMAN
4. General protoplasmic poison property – drugs
are chemicals and some of them have the
property of being general protoplasmic poisons.
5. Side effects – some drugs are not receptors for
one organ but receptors of other organs as well.
The effect in the organ may constitute a side
effect, which is unwanted.
Types of medicines
1. Analgesics – relieves pain
2. Antibiotics – combats or control infectious
organisms
3. Antipyretics – lowers body temperature or fever
due to infection
4. Antihistamines – control or combat allergic
reaction.
5. Contraceptives – prevent the meeting of the egg
cell and the sperm cell or prevent the ovary from
releasing egg cells.
6. Decongestants – relieve congestion of the nasal
passage
7. Expectorants – ease the expulsion of mucus and
phlegm from the lungs and the throat.
8. Laxatives – stimulate defecation and encourage
bowel movements.
9. Sedatives and tranquilizer – calm and quiet the
nerves and relieve anxiety without causing
depression and clouding of the mind.
10. Vitamins – food substances necessary for
normal growth and development and proper
functioning of the body.
Concept of drug abuse
Drug abuse – use of a drug with such frequency that it
causes physical or mental harm to the user or impairs
social functioning.
- Use of any drug prohibited by law, whether
it was harmful or not.
Drug – commonly associated with substance that may be
purchased legally with prescription for medical use.
Concept of drug dependence
Drug dependence – the users continue to take a drug
over an extended period of time.
- The users find it difficult to stop using the
drug. They seem powerless to quit the drug
use.
- The user atop taking their drug – only if
their supply of the drug is cut off, or if they
are forced to quit for any reasons – the will
undergo painful physical or mental distress.
They experience of withdrawal distress,
called the withdrawal syndrome.
Concept of drug addiction
Drug addiction – is the state of mind in which a person
has lost the power of self-control in respect of a drug.
Attributes characterized drug addiction
1. Compulsion/uncontrollable craving – the addict
feels a compulsive craving to take drugs
repeatedly and tries to procure the same by any
means.
2. Tolerance – is the tendency to increase the dose
of the drug to produce the same effect as to that
of the original effect.
3. Addiction – addict is powerless to quit drug use.
4. Physical dependence – the addict’s physiological
functioning is altered. The body becomes sick,
inactive and incapable of carrying out useful
activity in the absence of drug.
5. Psychological dependence – emotional and
mental discomfort exist to the individual.
6. Withdrawal syndrome – the addict becomes
nervous and restless when he does not get the
drug.

UNDELYING CAUSES/INFLUENCES OF DRUG
ABUSE
The drug addict or abuser is generally an unstable person
before he acquires the habit. He cannot face painful
situations without help, he has less will power and self-
control. He has not adjusted himself to his emotional
reaction. Due to this, drug addicts have low capacities
for dealing with frustrations, anxieties and stress.
emotionally
Drug abuse is a multi-faceted problem exits in our
locality and countryside, there is usually more than one
reason why this problem exists. Any of the following
factors may influence people to abuse drugs.
A. Biological Factors
There are some reasons or pre-existing induced
biological abnormalities of chemicals, physiological or
structural in nature that induced a person to take drugs
The following are some to consider:
1. Individual's general health - there are several
diseases that easily make a person become a
drug abuser
Examples are fatigue, chronic cough, insomnia, and
discomfort.
2. It is believed that drug has the special power to
prevent or to increase sexual capacity.
3. One specific genetic theory proposes that there
is an inherited defect in the production of
endorphin, similar to morphine. A deficiency of
the substance leads to bodily discomfort. With
the use of the morphine, this feeling is induced.
According to theory, a person who uses
morphine has the physiological abnormality
where endorphin production is less. The drugs
when we use the body cells work actively.
B. Common Causation of Drug Abuse
1. Children of broken home easily join peer groups
as substitutes to their lost family solidarity.
2. To strike and over protectiveness of parents.
3. For curiosity - eagerness to know what they
have not experienced.
4. To assert their independence.
5. To rebel from parental authority.
6. To prove their guts.
7. To escape problems.
8. Peer pressure and for the sake of
PAKIKISAMA.
9. They believe that drug can give deeper insights.
10. The belief that medicines can magically solve
problems.
11. The easy access to drug or various sort in an
affluent society.
12. The enjoyment of euphoria or excitement
induced by drugs.
13. The search for sharpened perception and high
perception and creativity, which some people
believe they obtained from drugs.
14. The beliefs that they are just taking it like
alcohol.
15. The dissatisfaction or disillusion of loss of faith
in the prevailing system.
16. The tendency of persons with psychological
problems to seed easily solution with chemicals.
17. The statement of proselytizers who proclaim the
goodness of drugs.
18. Slum condition - the most critical is that the
slum dweller is often deprived of emotional
support.
C. Factors in Youthful Drug Abuse (Psychological,
mental health, family conditions)
1. Motives and Attitudes
1. To feel more courageous.
2. To find out more about oneself.
3. To have a religious experience to come close to God.
4. To satisfy a strong craving or compulsion.
5. To increase or reduce appetite.
6. To feel less dull or sluggish, improve sex.
7. To reduce sexual desire and keep from being panicked
or crazy.
8. To improve intelligence or learning, prepare stress.
9. To feel less depress of sad, relieve tension or
nervousness
10. To make good moral mood last longer, relieve anger
or irritation
2. Personality and Pathology
This psychology has been described as follows:
1. Chronic, low-grade depression.
2. Smoldering, tense and restlessness.
3. A sense of not being taken seriously. 4. Narcissism or
egocentricity.
5. Preoccupation with issues or identity, autonomy, and
freedom of expression.
6. Repeated dwelling on drug taking and its effects.
7. Difficulty in interpersonal relations.
3. Family Background
1. Absent or weak father
2. Overprotective, overindulgent and domineering
mother 3. Inconsistent standards of behavior, lack of
definition of limits
4. Hostility or conflict between parents
5. Unrealistic aspiration for children
D. The Psycho-Social Factors
1. Personality Disorder - Drug abuse is a manifestation
of an underlying character of personality disorder. Thus,
majority of the drug users are fundamentally or are
immature, emotionally childish, insecure suffering from
problems of adolescence.
2. Social Disorder - A sign or symptom of family
problem
involving parent - child relationship, peer pressures
unethical values.
Drugs use does not also occur in isolation of other
environmental factors but rather, is greatly influenced by
these factors. Some of the sociological factors also
influence drug use is as high toll.
a. Availability of over-the counter and prescription drug
variety of drugs available for different ailments.
b. Influence of media-advertisement message that al
ailment can be cured through the use of chemical
substances toward messages and help to create the
acceptance of drugs.
c. Impact of affluent lifestyle or of high employment. d.
Effect of increased travel and exposure to different
culture and social values
e. Modelling, if parents or key influence are drug user’s
young persons often tend to model the behavior they are
at home.
f. social pressures exerted by peers
g. Collapse of religious values
h. Alienation and enemies feeling of powerless i. Lower
value on academic achievement
E. Other Factors
1. Ignorance, curiosity
2. Laxity of government and other authorities
3. Mass media influence
4. Nature of society resulting in the increased violent
behavior for youth.
F. The 7 Deadly Sins - Primary Causes of Drug
Abuse
1. Pride excessive feeling of self-worth or self-esteem,
sense of self-importance.
2. Anger unexpressed, deep-seated anger against
himself, his family, his friends or the society in general.
3. Lust burning sexual desire can distort the human mind
to drug abuse.
4. Gluttony "food trip" in the lingo of junkies
5. Greed wealth, fame, recognition as exemplified by
people under pressure in their work of art, such as
musicians, actors, athletes who indulge in drug abuse.
6. Envy to get attention from someone: as a sign of
protest envy is a major cause of drug abuse.
7. Laziness" I can't syndrome", incapacity to achieve -
the breeding ground of drug abuse. Boredom coupled
with poor self-image.
How Addiction is acquired?
The drug habit is acquired in three ways:
1. Association
2. Experimentation
3. Inexperienced doctors
Likewise, addiction may be acquired through:
1. Habituation - closely related to euphoric effect, and
the relief of pain or emotional discomfort.
2. Toleration - the necessity to increase the dose to
obtain an effect equivalent to the original dose.
3. Dependence - the altered physiological state brought
about by the repeated administration of the drug, which
necessitates the continued use of the drug to avoid
withdrawal syndrome.
What are the Group Classifications of Drug Abusers?
1. Situational Users - those who use drugs to keep them
awake or for additional energy to perform an important
work. Such individual may or may not exhibit
psychological dependence.
2. Spree Users - school age users who take drugs for
"kicks', an adventurous daring experience, or as a means
of fun. There may be some degree of psychological
dependence but little physical dependence due to the
mixed pattern of use.
3. Hard Core Addicts - those, whose activities revolve
almost entirely around the drug experience and securing
supplies. They show strong psychological dependence
on the drug.
4. Hippies - those who are addicted to drugs believing
that drug is an integral part of life.
DETECTION OF DRUG ABUSERS
To detect a drug abuser, one should observe the
following:
1. neglect of personal appearance
2. diminished drive, lack of ambition
3. reduced attention span
4. poor quality of school work
5. impaired communication skills
6. less care for the feeling of others, lessening of
accustomed family warmth
7. pale face, red eyes, dilation or constricted pupils,
wearing sunglasses at wrong places
8. change from active to passive and withdrawn
behavior
9. secretive about money, disappearance of money
and other valuables from the house
10. friends refusing to identify themselves or hang
up when you answer the phone
11. over reaction to mild conditions
12. smell of marijuana, sweetish odor, like a burned
rope in the clothes or room, etc.
13. symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
tremors, muscular aches, insomnia and
convulsions, etc.
14. presence of:
a) butt from marijuana joint
b) holders (i.e., pipe clips) for the joint
c) presence of leaves, seeds in pockets or
lining
d) rolling paper, pipes, "bong" in closet or
pocket
 e) cough syrup bottles, capsules, syringes,
etc.
f) visines or Eye-Mo bottles to treat red
eyes
g) devices for hiding drugs like trash cans,
soft drinks bottles
h) presence of other pills like valium,
artane, other tranquilizers
i) presence of physician's prescription pad
in blank form
IDENTIFICATION OF DRUG ABUSER
The following markers can help in identifying them:
1. Change in interest - they lose interest in their
studies and in their work. They fail in school,
shift from one course to another, transfer of
school of lower standard until eventually drop
out.
2. Frequent shifting of mood - they are euphoric,
elated and sometimes even ecstatic when under
the influence of drugs. They would be
indifferent, irritable and eve hostile when the
effect of drug is waning from the system.
3. Changes in behavior - they usually spend a lot.
They are usually in the company of known drug
users in the community. They come home late;
they become disrespectful and would sell
personal or family valuables.
4. Changes in physical appearance - if they can be
seen while still under the influence of drugs the
following can be noted:
The following can also help in
identifying drug abusers
a) They know the lingo of the
abusers, i.e., OMAD Chongki,
Bitin, etc.
b) Presence of linear scar in the
arms, forearms and abdomen.
c) Lobule of left ear punctured and
some of the male even wear
earrings.
PROCESS OF DETECTING DRUG ABUSERS
The detection of drug abuse involves five processes
namely:
a) Observation
b) History taking
c) Laboratory examination
d) Psychological examination
e) Psychiatric evaluation
1) OBSERVATION
Observations of the signs and symptoms of drug
abuse may take relatively a long period of time.
Good sensory equipment and a high degree of
objectivity are two requirements for a good
observer. To be an effective observer, the
observer should not let his own personal
judgements and reactions affect his
observations. He should exercise care in his
observation such that the suspected drug abuser
is not made aware of being observed.
2) HISTORY TAKING
A. Collateral Information (Interview with
information)
The best information is from the patient
himself, but collateral information is necessary.
Ideally, a parent or close relative or a close
friend should be present to furnish useful details
as to the different changes observed in the
patient that made them suspect the subject is
abusing drugs. These changes may be in his
appearance, behavior, mood, or interest.
Added information
1. If subject's "barkadas" are also known drug
abusers in the community.
2. He knows the language of drug dependents.
3. Seeing in his room, books or in his belongings
or in his possession empty bottles of cough
syrups, empty medicine foils, MJ sticks or
rolling paper.
B. Interview with patient
Inquire regarding the drugs being abused, onset
of his drug taking activity, reason for abusing
drugs, how he supports his vice, etc.
3) LABORATORY EXAMINATION
Accurate laboratory examinations cannot be
performed by any ordinary chemist since
detection of dangerous drug requires
sophisticated equipment and apparatus, spec
chemical reagents and most of all, the
specialized technic know-how.
4) PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION
This phase of drug detection requires the
expertise of trained psychologists. Teachers
therefore are not in position to administer
psychological examinations among their
students. Psychological examination findings
with corresponds to the general findings of a
drug prone individual
 drowsy or lethargic appearance
accompanied scratching and without
alcoholic breath, tender to giggle
excessively at things which others don’t
consider funny, and over-active and
over talkative
5) PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS
a. Intelligence Test - the test is designed to
cover a wide variety of mental functions
with special emphasis on adjustment
comprehension and reasoning.
b. Personality Test - this type of test is used to
evaluate the character and personality traits
of an individual such as his emotional
 adjustment, interpersonal relation,
motivation and attitude.
c. Aptitude Test - this test is to measure the
readiness with which the individual
increases his knowledge an improves skills
when given the necessary opportunity and
training.
d. Interest Test - this is designed to reveal the
field of interest that a client will be
interested in.
e. Psychiatric Evaluation - it is a process
whereby a team of professionals composed
of psychiatrist, psychologists, psychiatric
social workers conduct an examination to
determine whether or not a suffering from
psychiatric disorder.
Practical Ways of Recognizing the Drug Addict
1. Presence of drug on the person - which he may
try to conceal.
2. Presence of equipment for smoking, drinking or
injection of drugs.
3. Presence of hypodermic needle marks or tracks
on arms and on various parts of the body.
4. Drug test on blood and Urinalysis
5. Drug intoxication in the absence of alcoholic
smell. It is indicated by:
a) dilation or contraction of the pupils
b) unsteady gait and incoherent speech
c) loose mental processes, drowsiness
and itching
d) tendency to laugh at trivial
e) Withdrawal symptoms
6. Nalline test indicates an opiate addict.
 A small dose (3 mg.) of nalline is
injected into the body of the suspect.
The size of the pupil of the suspect is
measured before and after the injection.
An addict will show appreciable
dilation of the pupil. The drug has
practically no effect on non addicts.
The General Profile of Drug Abusers
The data may help one in understanding drug
abusers in the Philippines.
AS TO: THE PROFILE
Age Mean age of 26 years old (since
1996),
27 yrs. (1999)
Sex Ratio of male to female remained
12:1
Civil Status Single (55.78%)
Married (32.58%)
Separated (4.43%)
Family Size Three to four siblings in the family
Occupation Worker/Employees (42.51%)
Unemployed (21.75%)
Self-Employed (12.58%)
Students (12.16%)
Out-of-School Youth (3.68%)
Educational High school level (27.77%)
Attainment College level (27.07%)
High School Graduate (22.77%)
Economic Average monthly income of P5,290
Status
Place of Urban
Residence
Duration of More than 2 years
Drug Taking
I.Q Average
Nature of Drug Monodrug use
Taking
Drugs of Abuse Shabu; Marijuana
Actual Outward Physical Signs/ Symptoms of Drug
Abusers:
The actual profile of an abuser of narcotic drugs
may show some of the following manifestations.
1. Admission of the addict himself.
2. Consistently wear long-sleeved shirt or blouses,
dark eyeglasses unlikely times to hide dilated or
constricted pupils of eyes.
3. Blood spots around elbow areas of blouses shirt or
pajamas.
4. Walk, talk and act as if under alcoholic influence.
5. Prolonged period of sleep or lethargy, abnormal
sleepless, nervous, jumpy and talkative.
6. School works deteriorates (grades and homeworks)
7. Work habits, become slip-shod, too many
emotional explosions, loss body weight., abnormal
bowel habits, blood-shot eyes.
8. Sloppy in dress and careless in bodily hygiene,
inordinate desire for consumption of sweets.
Unusual odor in the house or room (marijuana,
hash, or incense)
9. Develop defiant or contemptuous attitudes towards
authority (Parents, Teachers, Police, Etc.) constant
demand for ever-increasing amount of money.
10. Takes money from everyone and fails to repay,
steel and sells all possible items of value from
home or elsewhere when opportunity comes.
11. Receives or makes numerous phone calls to people
who are unknown in the house. Associates only
with people who have the reputation for playing
with using drugs.
12. Persistently lies when asked to explain in expected
knock on the door.
13. Unrealistic attitudes, having difficult of
concentration.
The Personality Profile of a Filipino Drug Abuser
1. They are of average or above average intelligence
2. They are witty and manipulative
3. They have negative attitude; they demonstrate
hostile feelings to the world or to anybody who
does not want to conform to what they want.
4. They are emotionally immature, selfish and
demanding.
5. They want immediate gratification of needs and
desires.
6. They have low frustration tolerance.
7. Their interest and aptitude are on dramatics,
persuasive and musical field in that order.
8. They are depressed and excessively dependent.
9. They are rebellious and have impulsive behavior.
10. They are pleasure seeker and pathologically liars
11. They like to join anti-social groups/ delinquent
groups.
12. They have difficulty in solving problems.