Drug Education

Drug education is the planned provision of information, resources, and skills

relevant to living in a world where psychoactive substances are widely available and
commonly used for a variety of both medical and non-medical purposes, some of which
may lead to harms such as overdose, injury, infectious disease (such as HIV or hepatitis
C), or addiction. The definition of 'drugs' used by schools includes all over the counter
and prescription medicines, all legal drugs including tobacco, alcohol, volatile
substances and all illegal drugs.
The aim of drug education is to provide planned and structured learning
opportunities for pupils to develop their knowledge, skills and attitudes about all drugs
and appreciate the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, relating this to their own and others’
actions. Evidence demonstrates that effective drug education delivered by teachers
trained to use normative, life-skills based approaches, supported by parental and
community involvement contributes to reduced substance misuse and improved
outcomes.
Schools have an important role to play in tackling drug misuse, by providing
drug education and wider support to all pupils. Schools also have a role in identifying
pupils vulnerable to or affected by drug misuse so that those who need extra help either
receive it in school or through links to other services. Some pupils, including young
carers, may be affected by parental drug use.
All schools should provide drug education, delivered by trained teachers, within a
planned education curriculum which is developmental and appropriate to the age, ability
and needs of pupils. All schools should have a range of responses and procedures for
managing drug incidents. All schools should have a drug policy which sets out the
school’s role in relation to all drug matters – both the content and organization of drug
education, and the management of drugs within school boundaries.
The Department for Education has commissioned the Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency (PDEA), who have produced national quality standards for drug
education as well as other useful documents for schools and those that work with them.
Over the last 10 years there have been significant falls both locally and nationally in the
numbers of young people using drugs, as well as improvements in the number of
schools implementing drug policies.
Schools can play an important role, both inside and beyond the classroom, in
preventing alcohol and other drug harms. While providing drug education as part of the
curriculum is important, there is more that schools can do. Learning doesn’t happen
solely in the classroom. The culture of the school, and the experience that young people
have attending it, can also be important protective factors against the harms from
alcohol and other drugs.
 Why the school experience matters:
Attending school is a major part of a young person’s life. About a quarter of each
weekday is spent at school, more if someone participates in extra-curricular activities.
School is a place to meet new people, make friends and form social circles. Students
are introduced to hobbies and other activities. A positive school experience isn’t just
about receiving a high-quality academic education – it’s also about belonging to a
culture that is warm, inclusive and supportive.
A ‘whole of school’ approach refers to adopting a holistic view of the school
environment, recognizing that student health and wellbeing are the result of complex
and overlapping factors. Substantial social learning happens outside the classroom.
Having good relationships with peers, teachers, coaches and other staff, such as school
counsellors and nurses, can impact a young person’s development.
Feeling a sense of belonging and connection to school, and having positive
role models, can help to protect young people from experiencing harms from alcohol
and other drugs. A good school culture may also have other positive benefits, such as
reducing bullying and increasing physical activity. A whole of school approach can
include having policies and plans in place for the management of any alcohol or other
drug-related incidents. Establishing and promoting clear protocols ensures that
everyone understands roles and behavioral expectations, while emphasizing the
school’s commitment to preventing harm. This approach works alongside the provision
of evidence-based drug education in the classroom.

Drug Education in the classroom

Drug education usually focuses on influencing students’ values, attitudes,
knowledge and skills so they make healthier decisions about alcohol and other drugs.
However, all drug education is not created equal. There are 4 principles to guide best
practice drug education, which include recommending drug education to be:
1. appropriately timed, so that students receive accurate information and develop
skills before they need to use them
2. delivered by teachers who are provided with relevant professional development
opportunities to support their work
3. interactive and include developing skills such as decision-making and
assertiveness
4. accurate and relevant to real life, including information about how many young
people are actually using alcohol and other drugs. It’s important that young
people get the facts around drug use so that they don’t believe ‘everyone else is
doing it’. The truth is, they’re not.
 Lessons should also focus on the most commonly used drugs that young people
are more likely to be exposed to, which are alcohol, tobacco and cannabis. There are
also some education approaches that are NOT recommended, such as:
A. lecture-style lessons with little or no student engagement,
B. one-off presentations that aren’t linked with the curriculum,
C. scare tactics that make inaccurate statements or exaggerate potential harms.
Educators should also be cautious not to inadvertently glamourize or present
alcohol or drug use as exciting or an adventure – even a frightening one. Additionally,
educators should be careful to avoid using language or images that stigmatize people
who use drugs, such as describing people who use drugs as ‘dirty’ or showing extreme
images of people purported to have used drugs. Students may have a family member
who has experienced dependence or might need help and may consequently feel too
ashamed to ask for it. It should also be recognized that, while important, drug education
in schools is going to be limited in terms of the impact it can have.

The limits of Drug Education

Evidence-based drug education has a role to play in preventing or delaying the
use of alcohol and other drugs by young people. However, education alone CANNOT
be expected to overcome the influence of media, advertising, music, online influencers
and peer or social pressures. When it comes to alcohol, which is a legal drug, young
people are exposed to sophisticated advertising during sport, on social media, and
through outdoor billboards and transport ads.
Although drug education is unlikely to prevent every young person from ever
using alcohol or other drugs, the later in life that use happens and the less frequent it is,
the better the health outcomes are likely to be. So, delaying and reducing, as well as
outright preventing, drug use remains a worthwhile health goal. Although information is
not enough, it’s still important - and every young person has the right to know the facts.

Drug Use and Abuse

Despite the seemingly tamed and glamorized idea of drug use, it must be
remembered that it can still lead to abuse, addiction, legal offenses, serious health
problems, and even death. We must understand that there is no way to predict the
effect that a drug can have on a person, especially if it is the first time they try it, and
even regardless of dose and amount. Given that each person’s brain and body
chemistry are different, each person would also have a different tolerance for drugs.
Drugs are chemicals that affect a person in such a way as to bring about
physiological, emotional, or behavioral change.
 Dangerous drugs’ are those that have high tendency for abuse and
dependency, these substances may be organic or synthetic, and pose harm to those
who use them.

Drug abuse exists when a person continually uses a drug other than its intended
purpose. This continued use can lead to drug dependence, a state of physical and
psychological dependence or both on a dangerous drug.
Drug addiction is a complex, and often chronic, brain disease. It is characterized
by excessive drug craving, seeking, and use. Addiction is caused by brain changes
caused by constant drug use.

Dependency
This is the state of physical and psychological dependence, or both, on a
dangerous drug, or drugs, experienced by a person following the use of that substance
on a periodic or continuous basis. A person dependent on drugs will experience
withdrawal reactions (also known as “cold turkey”, symptoms that occur after long-term
use of a drug is reduced or stopped abruptly) after abstaining from drugs.

Drug Abuse: By the Numbers

Estimated Drug Users in the Philippines: 1.3 Million

Profile of Drug Users

Mean Age: 20-29 years old
Ratio of Male is to Female Users: 10:1
Civil Status: Married
Employment Status: Employed
Educational Attainment: High School Level
Nature of Drug Use: Poly drug use

Commonly Abused Substances:

(1) Methamphetamine Hydrochloride (Shabu)
(2) Cannabis (Marijuana)
(3) Inhalants (Contact Cement)
* Figure estimates from the 2012 Household Survey on the Nature and Extent of Drug
Abuse in the Philippines conducted by the DDB with the Philippine Normal University.

Most Commonly Abused Drugs and their Effects

Methamphetamine Hydrochloride (Shabu)
Methamphetamine hydrochloride is found to have harmful effects to the brain. It
changes how the brain functions. Studies have shown that methamphetamine abusers
have reduced motor skills and impaired verbal learning as a result of alterations in the
activity of the dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in reward, motivation, experience
of pleasure and motor function.
Street names: shabs, ice, meth, crystal, kristal, basura, tawas
Other adverse effects of methamphetamine:
1. Extreme weight loss
2. Severe dental problems (“meth mouth”)
3. Anxiety
4. Confusion
5. Insomnia
6. Mood disturbances
7. Violent behavior
Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana)
Marijuana use impairs a person's ability to form new memories and to shift focus.
Its active component, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) also disrupts coordination and
balance, posture, and reaction time (experience commonly referred to as “spacing out”).
Thus, chronic marijuana use significantly reduces a person’s capacity to learn, carry-out
complicated tasks, participate in sports, driving and operating other machineries.
Studies also show that marijuana use can lead to lung cancer and other problems in the
respiratory and immune systems.
Street names: weed, jutes, pot, grass, damo, chongke
Health problems that come with the use of marijuana include:
1. Problems with memory and learning
2. Distorted perception (sights, sounds, time, touch)
3. Trouble with thinking and problem solving
 4. Loss of motor coordination
5. Increased heart rate and palpitations
Inhalants
The effects of inhalants are similar to that of alcohol, including slurred speech,
lack of coordination, euphoria and dizziness. Inhalant abusers may also experience
lightheadedness, hallucinations, and delusions.
Harmful irreversible effects of inhalants include:
1. Hearing loss
2. Limb spasms
3. Central nervous system or brain damage
4. Bone marrow damage
5.
Signs of Drug Abuse
The following are common signs of drug revealed by individual using drugs. While
not all of these signs mean that one person is involved in drugs and there could be
some other physical or emotional problem that is causing these behaviors, there is high
chance that drug use may be a possibility:
1. declining interest in school or work
2. suddenly changes friends (hangs out with individuals known for their drug use)
3. becomes pessimistic, irritable and anxious all the time
4. asks to be left alone a lot
5. is always tired (or makes it as an excuse to be left alone)
6. becomes careless and often becomes involved in accidents
7. becomes implicated in a lot of fights
8. frequent mood swings
9. sudden change in appearance and conduct (red or puffy eyes, weight
changes, constant complaints of headaches or stomachaches, shaking,
incessant cough, brown stains on fingertips, stumbling, or a constant runny nose)
10. loss of interest in hobbies or sports
11. exhibits poor judgment
12. finds it difficult to concentrate

Helping Victims of Drug Abuse

1. If you suspect that a friend is using drugs, talk to him or her.
2. Let your friend know that you care.
3. Talk to your parents, teacher, school counselor, or another trusted adult.
4. Offer to go with your friend to his parents or a counselor for help. You alone
can't make your friend stop doing drugs. It takes professional help.
 5. Counseling, treatment and rehabilitation are among the interventions that
can help someone struggling with the compulsion to use drugs.
Words to Know
Addiction - A person has an addiction when he becomes dependent on or craves a
drug and believes he needs the drug to live. All an addicted drug user can think about is
getting the next dose after getting high.
Depressant - A depressant is a drug that slows a person down. Doctors prescribed
depressants to help people be less angry, anxious, or tense. Depressants relax muscles
and make people feel sleepy or like their head are stuffed.
Hallucinogen - A hallucinogen is a drug, such as LSD, that changes a person's mood
and makes him see, hear, or think things that aren't really there. Hallucinogens change
the way a person feels time, making it seem to slow down. As the name implies,
hallucinogens may cause hallucinations - this is when people think they see or hear
imaginary people or things.
High - A high is the feeling that drug users want to get when they take drugs. There are
many types of high, including a spacey feeling, euphoria, or a feeling that a person has
“special powers”, such as the ability to fly or see into the future.
Stimulant - A stimulant speeds up a person's body and brain. Stimulants, such as
methamphetamines, have the opposite effect of depressants. Usually stimulants make a
person high energetic. When the effects of a stimulant wear off, a person will feel tired
or sick.
Sources and References:
1. http://endoflifecare.tripod.com/kidsyoungadults/id36.html
2. http://www.justice.gov/dea/druginfo/factsheets.shtml
3. http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
4. http://vaden.stanford.edu/health_library/drugUse.html
5. http://dark.pozadia.org/images/wallpapers/2149696743_ecfce8cbc2_b-
266251.jpeg

Laws and Regulation in Drugs

Executive Order No. 218- STRENGTHENING THE SUPPORT MECHANISM FOR
THE PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
WHEREAS, by virtue of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002
( Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9165), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)
was created for the efficient and effective law enforcement of all the provisions on
dangerous drugs and/or precursors and essential chemicals as provided in R.A.
No.9165;
 WHEREAS, pursuant to R.A. No. 9165, the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) is
the policy-making and strategy-formulating body in the planning and formulation of
policies and programs on drug prevention and control.
[REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10640]- AN ACT TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE
ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN OF THE GOVERNMENT, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
SECTION 21 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9165, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“COMPREHENSIVE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF 2002″.

Philippine Government Agencies that Help Fight Drug Addiction

1. Drug Abuse Rehabilitation Network (DARN) Department of Health Treatment
and Rehabilitation Center – Bicutan, Taguig, National Capital Region. The DARN
is in charge for the rehabilitation and educational programs for drug abuse
victims. Drug Abuse Rehabilitation Network, Inc. later became the Department of
Health Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Bicutan.
2. National Bureau of Investigation – NBI (Pambansang Kawanihan ng
Pagsisiyasat)-This law enforcement agency initiates the treatment and
rehabilitation center for drug dependents.
3. Philippine National Police (Narcotics Group) (PNP – NG) Pambansang
Pulisya ng Pilipinas-This implementing body has the mission of strict
implementation of laws and policies in regards to illegal drugs and underground
groups.
4. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency - PDEA (Kawanihan ng Pilipinas
Laban sa Droga)-The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency implements the
efficient and effective enforcement of the provisions on dangerous drug and other
harmful substances. PDEA is the implementing arm of dangerous Drug Board.
They are both under the supervision of the Office of the President. PDEA also
has the responsibility of monitoring, surveillance and raid of suspected drug
nests. They coordinate with the local government unit, the Philippine National
Police, the DSWD when minors are involved, the anti-drug abuse council and the
Department of Interior and Local Government whenever they conduct raid and
buy-bust operations. PDEA has mobilized private contacts to provide raw
information about illicit drug deals in the immediate community. These assets are
compensated using the budget of OPERATION PRIVATE EYE, a program that
encourages private citizens to be a part of the global war against drug addiction.
5. Department of Health (DOH) in the Philippines (Kawanihan ng Kalusugan
sa Pilipinas)-The Department of Health monitors and supervises all government
drug rehabilitation centers, facilities, operations and programs in the country
including private drug rehabilitation centers.