Prevention of Alcohol and

Drug Abuse in Maritime

Sector

PADAMS
 What are DRUGS?
• Substances intended for use in the
diagnosis, cure, mitigation and
treatment or prevention of disease in
man or animals.

• Substances that have effects upon the

mind and the body.
 USES OF DRUGS
• Relieve pain • Reduce nervous
• Prevent and correct tension
deformities • Decrease or increase
• Give protection appetite
against disease • Alter moods
• Detect diseases • Facilitate learning
• Fight infection • Induce sleep
• Restore and maintain • Prevent conception
normal body functions
 TERMINOLOGIES

• ABUSE – use of natural or synthetic

substances to an excessive degree.

• ILLEGAL – prohibited by law; against the

law.
 TERMINOLOGIES

• ILLICIT DRUGS – not allowed; improper

• PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS – mind altering

drugs; used to alter moods, emotions,
perception or thought process
 TERMINOLOGIES

• DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE –

repeated or episodic self – administration
to the extent of experiencing harm to its
effects.
 TERMINOLOGIES

• DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE –

depending on drugs and alcohol for
support or survival.
EFFECTS OF DRUG MISUSE

• Delay in proper medical attention and

the condition is beginning to aggravate
or become more serious.

• Overdose of underdose
 EFFECTS OF DRUG MISUSE

• Damage to some body organs

• Serious mental disorder

• DEATH
 CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO
ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE
AMONG SEAFARERS
• Pressure/stress • Job fatigue
• Boredom and • Shift work
repetition • Heat, cold and noise
• Too much time away • Climate variations
from home
• Type of vessel
• Long hours of work
 CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO
ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE
AMONG SEAFARERS

• Different • Access to supply

nationalities market
• Different cultures of • Financial reasons
shipmates
 The JOB ENVIRONMENT,
PERSONAL HABITS as well
as the VALUES and
BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS of
the Seafarer make him
vulnerable to substance
abuse .
FORMS OF DRUG DEPENDENCE

• Physical Addiction

• Psychological Addiction

• Environmental Addiction
 Classification of Drugs
Classifications Effects Signs and Symptoms

Stimulants (“uppers”), Nervousness, excessive

Alertness, awareness,
amphetamines, perspiration,
relief from fatigue,
caffeine and dilated pupils,
feeling of well – being
cocaine aggressiveness.

Impaired judgment and

memory, irritable and
confused, time and Pupils dilated, pulse
space distorted, walk rate increased,
Hallucinogens
unsteady, eyesight blood pressure
(marijuana, LSD)
fuzzy, intensified increased, excessive
sensory perception sweating.
(LSD), possible serious
mental changes (LSD)
 Classification of Drugs
Sweating, dizziness,
Reduction of tension and
nausea and
anxiety, decrease in
vomiting,
activity, quieting of
constipation, if
tension and anxiety,
Narcotics (“opium”, severe – coma,
promotion of sleep,
morphine, heroine) respiratory failure,
decrease in breathing
profuse sweating,
and pulse rate,
pupils pinpoint,
reduction of hunger
drop in
and thirst
temperature.
Inhalants (volatile
substances: fast
Drunkenness,
drying glue or
unsteadiness, initial
cement paints,
excitement, irritation
thinners and
of respiratory
removers, gasoline,
passages.
nail polish and
remover)
 CARDINAL SIGNS OF DRUG
DEPENDENCE
1. The substance is taken in large amount or
over longer period of time than originally
intended.

2. Attempts to reduce use of the substance

are made, but they are unsuccessful.

3. Considerable time is spent in activities that

are necessary to acquire the drug.
 CARDINAL SIGNS OF DRUG
DEPENDENCE
4. Intoxication withdrawal symptoms occur during
times when they are hazardous or when they
interfere with everyday responsibilities.

5. Important activities are given up in order to obtain

and use drugs.

6. Drugs use continues despite the development of

psychological, social or physical problems that are
cause or aggravated by the drug use.
 CARDINAL SIGNS OF DRUG
DEPENDENCE
7. Tolerance occurs and greater amounts the
drugs are taken to achieve the same effect.

8. Withdrawal symptoms occur upon abrupt

discontinuation of the drug.

9. The person resumes regular drug use, even

after stopping the drug and having
experienced serious adverse
consequences as a result of its use.
Uses of Psychoactive Drugs

1. Medical

2. Recreational
 Ways on How to Prevent Drug
Abuse

1. Maintain good physical and mental

health.

2. Use drugs properly. Most drugs are

beneficial when under medical advice.

3. Understand your own self. Accept

and respect yourself for what you are.
 Ways on How to Prevent Drug
Abuse
4. Develop your potentials. Engage in
wholesome, productive and fulfilling
activities.

5. Learn to relate effectively with others. Have

somebody to whom you can communicate
your problems freely.

6. Learn to cope with your problems and other

stresses without the use of drugs.
 Ways on How to Prevent Drug
Abuse

7. Seek professional help if you feel you

cannot cope with your problems.

8. Develop strong moral and spiritual

foundations.
 ALTERNATIVES FOR DRUG
ABUSE
1. Maintain good physical and mental health.

2. Use drugs properly; most drugs are

beneficial when under medical advice.

3. Understand your own self; accept and

respect yourself for what you are.

4. Develop potentials. Engage in wholesome,

productive and fulfilling activities.
 ALTERNATIVES FOR DRUG
ABUSE
5. Learn to relate effectively with others,
have somebody to whom you can
communicate your problems freely.

6. Learn to cope with your problems and

other stresses without the use of
drugs.
 ALTERNATIVES FOR DRUG
ABUSE

8. Seek professional help if you feel you

cannot cope with your problems

9. Develop strong moral and spiritual

foundations.
POEA Memorandum Circular No. 20
Series of 1992
To: All Manning Agencies, Ship owners and Filipino Seafarers
Re: Repeated Warning Against Involvement of Filipino Seafarers in illegal
Drugs

Reports reached this Administration that a certain vessel manned by Filipino crew
was recently held in Japanese port after a thorough search yielded evidence of
some crew smoking Marijuana on board.
As a consequence, the vessel was reportedly off – hired and the guilty seamen were
arrested, jailed and finally deported. A more serious repercussion of such incident,
however, was the imposition of stricter sanctions such as restriction on board with n
shore liberty for all crew while said vessel was in Japan.
In this connection, the strict warning to seamen against the use of illegal drugs is
reiterated. Agencies/ship owners concerned are enjoined to inculcate in the minds
of departing seamen the dangers and repercussions of involvement in prohibited
drugs. All manning agencies and ship owners are likewise encouraged to institute
their own internal controls to prevent similar incidents from happening not only in
Japan but in other ports as well. The full cooperation of everyone concerned is
utmost so as not to tarnish the good image of the Filipino seamen in general.
For your information and guidance.
JOSE N. SARMIENTO
Adminstrator
March 12, 1992
ALCOHOLISM IN THE
MARITIME SECTOR
Alcohol

• A natural chemical that is usually made

by the fermentation of grains or fruits.

• It is a depressant and a mood

intensifier.

• The technical name of the drug in

alcoholic beverages is ETHANOL or
ETHYL ALCOHOL.
Alcoholism – the habitual
excessive drinking of alcoholic
liquor.

Alcoholic – a person suffering

from alcoholism.
 WHY DO PEOPLE DRINK?
1. To relax inhibitions and help people talk
more freely at parties and get together.

2. People drink with meals to complement

food.

3. People drink to relax with friends or family

after a busy day.

4. Simply for enjoyment.

 WHY DO PEOPLE BECOME
ALCOHOLIC?
1. Alcoholism can stem from emotional
immaturity.

2. Insecurity

3. Nervous tension

4. Loneliness

5. Depression
Effects of Alcohol in the Body

– IT RAPIDLY ENTERS THE BLOODSTREAM

– THE MAIN EFFECT IS ON THE BRAIN

– THE BODY BURNS ALCOHOL

 STAGES OF INTOXICATION
1st – “Happy”
• talkative, sociable, relaxed, fewer inhibitions
and worries, some loss of judgment and
efficiency.

2nd – “Excited”
• emotional, erratic behavior, thinking is
impaired, reactions slowed, poor
judgment, loss of control, over reactions
STAGES OF INTOXICATION
3rd – “Confused”
• staggering, disoriented, moody, exaggerated
fear or anger, slurred speech, “double vision”.

4th – “in a stupor”

• unable to stand or walk, barely conscious,
vomiting, loss of bladder control.
STAGES OF INTOXICATION
5th – “in a coma”

• completely unconscious, few or no

reflexes, may end in death from
respiratory paralysis.
 Effects of Alcoholism
Physical Emotional and Social

 Cirrhosis of the liver.  Alcoholics suffer

There is no cure for increasingly from
this most common anxiety, depression,
disease associated remorse and phobic fear.
with alcoholism.
 Other disease –  Obsession with drinks
alcoholics commonly overrides all importance
develop kidney in life and the need for
trouble, heart disease drink increase as
and ulcers which fail tolerance grows.
to response to normal
treatment.
 Effects of Alcoholism

 Frequent  Disruption or
appearance of breakdown for family
bruises and cuts and persistent
resulting from fall marital problems
and bumping into
things.
 Persistent vague  Loss of friends and
physical interest in alcoholics
complaints with seek the company of
no apparent cause others like
like headaches themselves.
and stomach
upset.
 Effects of Alcoholism

 Coarse  Frequent
inexplicable absenteeism from
trembling of the work and repeated
hands, sweating job changes with a
loss of efficiency and
reliability that can
lead to job loss

 Loss of appetite  Lack of

and insomia concentration and
loss of memory
 Effects of Alcoholism

Pins and needles Behavior and social

in hands and feet adjustment lower
than previously
experienced.

Delirium Shabby
Tremens – appearance, poor
sometimes hygiene,
accompanied by surreptitious
frightening gulping of drinks
hallucinations
TREATMENT FOR ALCOHOLISM
1. Individual and Group Counseling

2. Recreational and Occupational Therapy

3. Psychotherapy

4. Drug Therapy

5. Strengthening of the spiritual life.

 Assessment tools

• Audit WHO Alcohol Use Disorder

Identification Test

• The CAGE Questionnaire

• The MAST Questionnaire

 LEVELS OF PREVENTION

• Primary Prevention – intended for those

without alcohol and drug problems. To
KEEP THE GREEN PEOPLE GREEN,
education and training programmes are
designed and implemented aimed at
providing the Seafarers with information
 LEVELS OF PREVENTION

• Secondary Prevention – early detection

of alcohol ad drug problems among
seafarers and providing them
assistance will facilitate their RETURN
FROM THE AMBER ZONE BACK TO
THE GREEN ZONE.
 LEVELS OF PREVENTION

• Tertiary Prevention – people in need of

treatment or rehabilitation are the
target beneficiaries of this program,
which are designated in an effort to
bring the life of an alcoholic or drug
addict back to normal.
 ROLES OF SECTORS/ENTITIES
INVOLVED

1. Government

• Regulations on the provisions of

Employees’ Assistance Programmes
on substance abuse to ensure that
certain basic rights are respected
 ROLES OF SECTORS/ENTITIES
INVOLVED
2. Seafarers’ Union

• Optimizes the work environment for employees and

thus contribute to higher productivity.

• Responsible for protecting the rights of employees

by contributing to the definition of company policy
on dealing with drug/alcohol related problems in
the workplace.
 ROLES OF SECTORS/ENTITIES
INVOLVED
2. Seafarers’ Union

• Policy document must be made

known to everyone in the organization
an it is essential in the training of
supervisors, safety delegates and
occupational health staff to ensure
that the rules laid down for the
programme are respected.
 ROLES OF SECTORS/ENTITIES
INVOLVED
3. Shipping Companies

 Responsible for ensuring that their vessels are

manned by healthy, productive and highly
competent officers and ratings on board.

 Responsible in establishing programs on drug and

alcohol prevention. Ideally, they should be actively
participating in the training course.
 ROLES OF SECTORS/ENTITIES
INVOLVED
3. Shipping Companies

 They should ensure that the person responsible

for the prevention program has the best possible
working conditions and they should insist on a
continuous evaluation of activities and results.

 Managers should be aware of the conditions

imposed by insurance companies ion
compensation for work accidents.
 ROLES OF SECTORS/ENTITIES
INVOLVED
4. Manning Agencies

• Ensuring of getting the right man to do the

right job on board.

• Conduct of Pre – Departure Orientation

Seminar (PDOS).
 ROLES OF SECTORS/ENTITIES
INVOLVED
4. Manning Agencies

• Conduct of short course on the prevention

of substance abuse using available
resources or it may be integrated into
general orientation session to reach a
broader audience.
 ROLES OF SECTORS/ENTITIES
INVOLVED
5. Senior and Junior Officers
6. Ratings

 Preventive measures such as

shipboard training on awareness
conducted by them.
 Policies and Programs on
Alcohol and Drugs in the
Maritime Sector

1. Importance of the Policy: describes a

rationale for views or action of an
organization.
 Policies and Programs on
Alcohol and Drugs in the
Maritime Sector
2. Main Components of an Alcohol and Drug Policy

– Control component – describes the code of

conduct to be observed by all Seafarers.

– Assistance component – describes the

organization’s positive attitude towards substance
abuse problems.