DANGEROUS DRUGS

What is a drug?
 It is any substance (with the exception of food and water) which, when taken into the body, alters the
body’s function either physically and/or psychologically.

Two general classifications of drugs

Natural - plant leaves, flowering tops, hashish, opium and marijuana.
Synthetic – drugs that are products by laboratories
a. Herbal Drugs - Are plant substances that have drug effects and whose use is not generally regulated
by the law.
b. Unrecognized Drugs - Are commercial products that have a psychoactive drug effects but are not
usually considered drugs. E.g. Tobacco; Alcohol
c. Illicit Drugs - These are drugs whose sale, purchase or use is generally prohibited by law.

How does DRUGS work?

- Drugs interfere with the way neurons send, receive, and process signals via neurotransmitters. Some
drugs can activate neurons because their chemical structure mimics that of a natural
neurotransmitter in the body. This allows the drugs to attach onto and activate the neurons. Although
these drugs mimic the brain's own chemicals, they don't activate neurons in the same way as a
natural neurotransmitter, and they lead to abnormal messages being sent through the network.
- Depending on the drug, how it functions will affect everyone differently depending on a person’s (size,
gender, mood, and expectations), what environment the drug is used in, and the drug (amount used,
strength, purity).

Are all drugs harmful?

 Any drug may be harmful when abused. The fact that many drugs will produce beneficial results has
led some people to feel that drugs solve all problems. Drugs that can affect the mind can have subtle
or obvious side effects which can be immediate or may only become evident after continuous use.
There are drugs that are taken as medicines. But certain drugs are taken not as medicines but to
satisfy a craving or a strong desire and taking them becomes an ingrained habit.

Medicinal drugs / Medicine

 a substance which when taken into the human body cures illness and/or relieves signs/symptoms of
disease.
 Prescriptive drugs - drugs requiring written authorization from a doctor before they
can be purchased.
 Over- the – Counter drugs (OTC’s) - are non-prescription medicines, which may be
purchased form only any pharmacy or drugstore without written authorization from a
doctor.
Different types of Medicine
a. Analgesics – these are drugs that relieve pain. However, they may produce the opposite effects on
somebody who suffers from peptic ulcer or gastric irritation.
b. Antibiotics – drugs that combat or control infectious organisms. Ingesting the same antibiotics for a
long time can result to allergic reactions and cause resistance to the drug.
c. Antipyretics – those drugs that can lower body temperature or fever due to infection.
d. Antihistamines – those drug that control or combat allergic reactions.
e. Contraceptives – these are drugs that prevent the meeting of the egg cell and sperm cell or prevent
the ovary from releasing egg cells.
f. Decongestants – drugs that relieve congestion of nasal passages.
g. Expectorants – they can ease the expulsion of mucus and phlegm from the lungs and throat.
h. Laxatives – drugs that stimulates defecation and encourage bowel movement
i. Sedatives and tranquilizers – these are drugs that can calm and quite the nerves and relieve anxiety
without causing depression and clouding of the mind.
j. Vitamins – those substances necessary for normal growth and development and proper functioning of
the body.

Dosage/Dose
 it is the amount of drug taken at one time
Type of Dosage
a. Minimal – it refers to the amount needed to treat or heal, that is, the smallest amount of drug that will
produce a therapeutic effect.
b. Maximal – it pertains to the largest amount of drug that will produce a desired therapeutic effect,
without any accompanying symptoms of toxicity.
c. Toxic - it is the amount of drug that produces untoward effects or symptoms of poisoning.
d. Abusive – the amount needed to produce the side effects and action desired by an individual who
improperly uses it.
e. Lethal– the amount of drug that will cause death.

Toxicology
- the science of poisons, their effects and antidotes.
Toxic effects a drugs may caused
a. Overdose – when too much of a drug is taken into the physiological system of the human body, there
may be an extension of its effects.
b. Allergy – some drugs cause the release of histamines giving rise to allergic symptoms such as
dermatitis, swelling, falls in blood pressure, suffocation and death.
c. Idiosyncrasy – it refers to the individual reaction to a drug, food, etc. for unexplained reason.
d. Poisonous property – drugs are chemicals and some of them have the property of being general
protoplasmic poisons.
e. Side effects – some drugs are not receptors for one organ but receptors of other organ as well. The
effects in the other organs may constitute a side effect, which are most of the time unwanted.

Ways of administering Drugs

 Orally
 Inhalation
 Injection
- Subcutaneous
- Intramuscular
- Intravenous
 Snorting/insufflations
 Buccal
 Suppositories
 Topical

Dangerous drugs
 These are drugs that are attended by risk and therefore unsafe, perilous, and hazardous to people
using it.
 These are strictly prohibited that possession of them is punishable.

Pharmacology
 simply means as the study of how a drug affects the body.

Pharmacological classification of dangerous drugs

 Narcotics
 Stimulants (uppers)
 Depressants (downers)
 Hallucinogens

NARCOTICS (aka opioids)

 substances that dulled the senses and relieved pain.
 drugs relieve pain and produce profound sleep or stupor. Medically, they are potent painkillers, cough
depressants, and as an active component of anti-diarrheal preparations.

Opium poppy (papaver somniferum)

Opium
 It is extracted from the coagulated juice poppy plant
 Meconic Acid is the active ingredient and analgesic property of Opium.
Derivatives of Opium
 Morphine – principal derivative of opium
 Heroin – second derivative and the most addicting opium derivative
 Codeine - A derivative of morphine commonly available in cough preparations

STIMULANTS (UPPERS)
 These are drugs that produce excitation, alertness, and wakefulness, intense feeling of “highness” and
in some cases, a temporary rise in blood pressure and respiration.
 It works by increasing the activity of the brain chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine. Dopamine is
involved in the reinforcement of rewarding behaviors. Norepinephrine affects blood vessels, blood
pressure and heart rate, blood sugar, and breathing.
 Cocaine, Amphetamines, Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, Flakka, Caffeine

DEPRESSANTS (DOWNERS)
 These are drugs which suppress vital body functions especially those of the brain or central nervous
system with the resulting impairment of judgment, hearing, speech, and muscular coordination.
 They dull the minds, slow down body reactions to such an extent that accidental deaths/or suicides,
usually happen.
 Barbiturates, Methaqualone, Mandrax, Tranquilizers

Alcohol - It is considered as the ‘king’ of all drugs and most extensively legalized drugs throughout the world
Inhalants - The inhalation of solvent fumes from glue, gasoline, and paint thinner and lighter fluid will
produce a form of intoxication.
HALLUCINOGENS (PSYCHEDELIC)
 A variety or mind- altering drugs which distort reality, thinking and perception of time, sound, space
and sensation. It usually affects the user by Hallucination, Illusion and Delusion.
 Hallucinogens interfere with the action of the brain chemical serotonin, which regulates mood,
sensory, and perception.
 Cannabis Sativa / Marijuana, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), Mescaline, Psilocybin, Ecstasy,
Phencyclidine (PCP)

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - It is the most important psycho-active ingredient of Cannabis

Synesthesia
 experiencing one of your senses through another. e.i. hear colors or see sounds.

Laws related on dangerous drugs in the Philippines

RA 6425 – The Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972
PD 1619 - Penalizing the Use or Possession or the Unauthorized Sale to Minors of Volatile Substances
RA 9165 – The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002
RA 10640 - An Act to Further Strengthen the Anti-Drug Campaign of the Government

Sec. 21 par 2 of RA9165

(2) Within twenty-four (24) hours upon confiscation/seizure of dangerous drugs, plant sources of
dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals, as well as instruments/paraphernalia
and/or laboratory equipment, the same shall be submitted to the PDEA Forensic Laboratory for a qualitative
and quantitative examination;

par 3 (as amended by RA10640)

"(3) A certification of the forensic laboratory examination results, which shall be done by the forensic
laboratory examiner, shall be issued immediately upon the receipt of the subject item/s: Provided, That when
the volume of dangerous drugs, plant sources of dangerous drugs, and controlled precursors and essential
chemicals does not allow the completion of testing within the time frame, a partial laboratory examination
report shall be provisionally issued stating therein the quantities of dangerous drugs still to be examined by
the forensic laboratory: Provided, however, That a final certification shall be issued immediately upon
completion of the said examination and certification;