ILL EFFECTS OF VICES

DRUG ABUSE AND

PREVENTION
A drug is any chemical substance which, when
taken into the body, produces a physical, mental,
emotional or behavioral change in the user.

Drugs are so important for human welfare. They

are prescribed by a physician for health purposes.
They can prevent, shorten. And cure illnesses.
They can save and prolong million of lives.

Drugs, however can be harmful. There is a

tendency for their misuse in our drug- oriented
society. For example, aspirins. Tranquilizers, anti-
depressants, caffeine (coffee or tea), and nicotine.
any of these drugs is subject to misuse and abuse.
Taking prescribed or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs for a
reason for which the drug was medically intended and
according to the directions is termed drug use. The use of a
drug for a reason other than that for which it was intended
is called drug misuse.

Drug abuse is the use of a drug for other that medicinal

purposes which results in the impaired, physical mental,
emotional or social well – being of the user.

Tolerance is a physical adaptation that causes certain drugs

to become less effective. Physical dependence involves
drug tolerance and the appearance of withdrawal
symptoms if drug use is suddenly stopped. Psychological
dependence is the emotional attachment to the drugs’
effect and even to the process of administering or taking a
substance.
 COMMONLY ABUSED DRUGS
1. Hallucinogens or Psychedelics are drugs which distort a person’s
concept of reality and thinking as well as his perception of time,
space, and sensation. Hallucinogens produce hallucinations,
depression, and can lead to mental changes, psychotic
manifestations, suicidal or homocidal tendencies. Drugs that are
considered hallucinogens include the following : marijuana,
lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), mescaline, Psilocybin,
phencyclidine (PCP) and morning glory seeds.

2. Stimulants or Uppers drugs that produce physiological and

mental arousal. Specifically, they can decrease fatigue, increase
talkativeness and physical activity, enhance endurance, diminish
appetites, produce a state of alertness and for a time elevate
mood, often to the point euphoria. The stimulant drugs are
generally swallowed (as pills or liquid). They can be injected into a
vein at regular time intervals. Amphetamine, cocaine,
methamphetanines (shabu), caffeine and nicotine are stimulants.
Depressants or downers drugs that act on the central nervous system to reduce pain, tension and anxiety; to relax, and disinhibit; and to
3.

slow down intellectual and motor activity. The major depressants are sedatives such as babituates, tranquilizers, such as librium and valuim;
narcotics, such as opium, morphine, codeine, heroin and alcohol.

4. Inhalants are drugs inhaled through nose. Sometimes called “snorting”. Strictly speaking, tobacco, cocaine, and marijuana could be
inhalants.but the term inhalant more commonly refer to three categories of products: solvents, aerosols and anesthetics. Inhalants are
sometimes legal drugs, which may be over the counter or prescription drugs such as anesthetics – nitrous oxide ,ether, and chloroform;
aerosols,shoeshine, etc.
 WHY DO PEOPLE TURN TO
DRUGS?
1.The precipitating factor. Are the situations or conditions in the individual’s conscious world that initially draw him to try drugs.
Curiosity
Boredom- pleasure
To establish their identity as members of a peer group
To express dissatisfaction
2. Family Factors
Authoritarian upbringing.
Overprotective parents
Reduced child-parent contact
Separation of wife and husband
 Permissive atmosphere in the home
 Desire for social acceptance
3. Peer Group Factors.
 To get the attention and approval of his
“barkadas”
 To establish their identity as members of a
peer group
4. Neighborhood or Community
 Hostility of community members
 Unemployment
 Anomie or normless social env’t
5. School Factors.
 Authoritative and unreasonable teachers
 In availability of recreational facilities in which
the students could release their energies.
 Poor concept of drugs and their effects
6. The Economic Establishment and Factor
 Easy access of the drug because of the
uncontrollable number of drugstores and sari-
sari stores selling drugs without prescriptions.
7. The Recreational Center Factor
- Unsupervised sports centers which become places
where players or athletes indulge in drugs to
improve athletic performance
 The Filipino Values Factors
8.

Pakikisama
Gaya Gaya
Utang Na Loob
Bahala na Attitude
Machochismo
 ILL EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE ON THE
INDIVIDUAL
PHYSICAL EFFECTS
Malnutrition. The life of a drug dependent revolves around
drugs such that he neglects food and develops anorexia,
and eventually malnutrition.
Dependency. Almost all drugs can be habit-forming while
others lead to dependency.
Skin infections and rashes. More often, the misusers utilize
unsterilized needles and syringes, which may cause skin
infections like rashes, abscesses, ulcers, or even allergic
reactions to drugs. These conditions are common among
drug dependents.
Other Diseases. Diseases like TB, bronchitis, bronchial
asthma, and viral hepatitis may result to drug abuse.
Marijuana smoking can produce chronic and asthma.
Damage to vital organs. Neglect of personal
hygiene due to drugs might eventually end
up in kidney failure, hepatitis, drastic
weight loss, and physical complications
affecting vital body organs.
Sensory distortion. Drugs disrupt normal
sensory perception. Hearing and sense of
touch maybe impaired.
 SOCIAL EFFECTS
Community Hazard. People who have “good
or bad” trips become social hazards because
their behavior is unpredictable.
Criminal Involvement. Experimentation
with dangerous drugs could lead to a life of
crime.
Inadequacy of communication with others.
Intoxicated and cranky, the drug abuser
finds it difficult to communicate with other
people.
 MENTAL EFFECTS
Adverse effects on the central nervous system.
Regular us or ingestion of large doses of a
substance reduces the activity of the brain and
depresses the central nervous system.
Deterioration of the mind. The dependent is a
“mental invalid” in the sense that drugs can
manipulate him, make him lose his power, and
prod him to behave contrary to what he usually
thinks is right. Drugs can reduce or accelerate
activity to create indifference, depressive mood, or
carelessness. As a result, the abuser’s mind
deteriorates gradually.
 ECONOMIC EFFECTS
Inability to hold a stable job. it is impossible
for a drug abuser to hold a steady job since
he spends all his time and money on drugs.
Dependence on family resources. Instead of
contributing to the economic stability of
the family, a dependent becomes an
economic burden.
Accidents in Industry. Some factory workers
meet accidents in their work because of
their dependence on drugs.
DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION
The Dangerous Drug Board ( Ideas for Action,
1974) and Lefton and Valve (1985) suggest the
following:
The Person
1. understand, accept and respect himself;
2. Develop his potentials and engage in
wholesome, productive and satisfying
activities.
3. Learn to relate effectively with others and have
a confidant to whom he can communicate
personal problems freely;
4. Learn to cope with personal problems and
other stresses without the use of drugs.
5. Seek professional help for
problems he cannot cope with.
6. Develop strong moral and
spiritual values.
7. Learn about the effects of drug
use
8. Use an understanding of the
danger posed by drugs to help
other students avoid them.
The Parents
1. Create a warm and friendly atmosphere at
home;
2. Develop effective means of communication
with children.
3. Take time to be with the children no matter
how busy they are;
4. Strengthen moral and spiritual values – the
foundation of a strong and stable personality;
5. Help children to resist peer pressure to use
drugs by supervising their activities; and
6. Be knowledgeable about drugs and signs of
drug use. When symptoms are observed,
respond promptly.
The Teachers/ The Schools
The teachers can help prevent drug abuse if they:
Know their student’s strengths, weaknesses, needs and abilities;
Are sensitive to their students’ needs and problems;
Establish rapport with their students to gain their confidence;
 Encourage their students to
participate in co-curricular
activities which will further
enhance their mental health and
strengthen their moral and
spiritual values;
 Use teaching approaches and
 strategies that are effective and
stimulating to the students;
 Show models of good behavior
 The schools can help prevent drug abuse, if they;
 Determine the extent and character of drug use and
establish a means of monitoring that use a regularly;
 Establish clear and specific rules regarding drug use
that include strong , corrective actions;
 Enforce established policies against drug use fairly and
consistently; and implement security measures to
eliminate drugs on school premises.
 Implement a comprehensive drug prevention
curriculum; and
 Reach out to the community for support and assistance
in making the school’s anti – drug policy and program
work by developing collaborative arrangements.
The Community
1.Help schools fight drugs by providing them expertise and financial resources of community
groups and agencies;
2.Plan and implement social action programs involving young people, civic groups etc, to improve
community life.
3.Encourage and support the establishment of preventive centers such as community guidance
clinics;
 Help in the after-care and follow –up of discharged clients from residential
4.

rehabilitation centers;
5. Strengthen moral and spiritual values and
6. Coordinate with public and private agencies that could lend assistance to the drug
abuse prevention and control program.
The Church
1. Help in the campaign against drug abuse;
2. Organize programs on the prevention of drug
abuse in the form of lectures, forums, value
clarification exercises and other related
activities;
3. Help in the establishment of drug
rehabilitation centers;
4. Enjoin young people to become members of
religious organizations which provide civic and
recreational activities; and
5. Serve as models of exemplary character for the
youth.