Drug situation in the Philippines
• Operations conducted by different law enforcing agencies like the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Bureau of Customs and other law enforcers have helped arrest local and international drug syndicate members, traffickers, and destroy secret laboratories and warehouses.
• Strict implementation of policies under the “Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002” like the compulsory drug test for application of driver’s license, entrance to military service, application for firearms licensing, and others.
• Actualization of the Dangerous Drugs Board’s programs and projects in partnership with other agencies like the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other local government units (LGU) and non-government organizations (NGO). These are positive efforts bearing fruits and achievements; however, the government does not rest on its laurels but rather creates more productive programs and projects to make the country a drug-resistant society. Profile of Filipino Drug Users Profile Findings Ratio of
Users (male to female): 10:1 Mean Age: 28 years old Civil Status: Single (58.2%) Employment Status:
Unemployed Educational Attainment: High School Level Average Monthly Household Income: Php 16,290.80 Duration of Drug Use: 6 years and more Residence: Urban areas Nature of Drug Use: Poly-drug use (multiple drug use) Common Drugs of Abuse Used: Shabu (1st) Marijuana (2nd) Inhalants (3rd).
Common Concepts in Drug Education
The definition of drug and addictive behavior is related to other basic terms. The first involves distinguishing between the use and abuse of a substance. We understand drug use to be drug consumption that does not negatively impact health. Drug consumption becomes abusive at the appearance of dependence, which is defined as the set of physiological, behavioral and cognitive manifestations in which the use of a drug is a priority for the individual. This term is usually linked to tolerance, or the need to consume more of a substance to achieve the effects of previous consumption. When a dependent person does not consume, withdrawal syndrome appears. It is a cluster of symptoms that affect an individual who is suddenly deprived of any toxin or drug on which he/she is physically dependent and which previously had been consumed on a regular basis. The quantity of symptoms, as well as their intensity and duration will depend on the type of drug, the length of time the person has consumed the substance and his/her physical and psychological state at the time of withdrawal. Physical dependence is a state of adaptation of the organism to the presence of the drug and is manifested by the appearance of intense physical discomfort (tremors, chills, insomnia, vomiting, pain in the muscles and bones, etc.) when consumption of the substance is stopped. This same physical discomfort occurs when the substance´s action on the organism is influenced by drugs designed to block its effects. Psychological dependence refers to the situation in which a person feels an emotional need and urge to consume a drug on a regular basis in order to feel good, be satisfied (obtain pleasure or avoid discomfort) although he/she does not need the substance physiologically. This may be associated with different contexts or social interactions. Addictions go beyond substance use. There are the so-called non-toxic addictions which involve dependency behavior with an evident syndrome of psychological withdrawal. There is, for example, addiction to gambling or pathological gambling and others such as technological addictions (internet, mobile, and video games), addiction to shopping, exercise or sex. These addictive behaviors share, if not all, some of the characteristics mentioned so far, with the peculiarity that there is not a mediating substance that produces physical changes in the subject.
The following are the usual words you will encounter in studying substance use and abuse:
• Drugs are any substances or chemicals which when taken into the body either though nasal, oral, transdermal or intravenous way have psychological, emotional and behavioral effects on a person.
• Drugs of abuse are drugs commonly abused by users. In the Philippines the three drugs of abuse are shabu, marijuana and inhalants.
• Drug dependence is a cluster of physiological, behavioral and cognitive phenomena of variable intensity in which the use of a drug takes on a high priority thereby creating a strong desire to take the substance.
• Drug misuse is the use of a substance incoherent or inconsistent with the prescribed dosage or frequency of use.
• Drug Abuse is the use of a substance for non-medicinal purposes. Abuse leads to organ damage like brain damage and liver damage, addiction and troubled behavioral patterns.
• Drug Tolerance is the condition of the body to adapt to the effects of substances to the body thus requiring an even larger amount of the substance to experience the same physiological and mental effect experienced when taking the smaller dosage.
How Drugs Enter the Body
• Oral Administration - substance is ingested through the mouth - digested and absorbed in gastrointestinal tract - passes through liver - carried to the brain through the circulatory system. o Most absorption occurs in 5 to 30 minutes, but is not completed for up to 6 to 8 hours.
o Slowest method
• Injection - bypasses the digestive tract. o Intravenous -injected directly into a vein drug arrives in the brain within 15 seconds; effect are irreversible
o Intramuscular - injected into a large muscle group, slower absorption o Subcutaneous - injected under the skin, slowest absorption
• Absorption Through Membranes o Intranasal-absorption through mucous membranes in the nose o Sublingual - absorption occurs under the tongue o Transdermal - absorption occurs through the skin
Dominant Drugs in the Philippine Market
Drug user profile
indicates that majority of drug dependents in the country are poly-drug users
or users who use several types of illegal drugs. More often than not, the abuse
is done mainly for pleasure. There are also cases where illegal drugs are used
by individuals to cope with the demands of their work, like those working in
graveyard shifts, or working for long hours and the like. The availability of
illegal drugs encourages them to take illicit drugs. Methamphetamine
hydrochloride or shabu remains to be the most abused drug in the country,
followed by marijuana or cannabis sativa and methylenedioxymethamphetamine
(MDMA) or ecstasy. Ecstasy, well known for being a “party drug,” which is
commonly used in parties and nightlife, is considered as the most expensive
drug in the market. Solvents and other inhalants are also a preference and are
usually abused by street children.
Drug Trafficking Trends
Illegal drug trafficking is the most prevalent and by far the most pervasive illegal drug activity in the Philippines. It is subdivided into 4 activities, namely: transportation of dangerous drugs and controlled precursors and essential chemicals (CPECs), manufacture, distribution, and use thereof. Street-level pushing is still the most widespread distribution activity. This is the way drug syndicates bring dangerous drugs to clients at the barangay level. At the street level, drugs are retailed to make them affordable. Drug traffickers never cease to find various ways to hide their illegal transactions. Bank-to-bank transactions or wireless transfer is the preferred mode of payment in illicit transactions. There is a noted use of package deposit counters in grocery stores and hotel lobbies as well as jail and prison facilities as venues for drug transaction. The use of recreation centers and other similar establishments still prevails due to the convenience of such locations for drug transactions and moneylaundering activities. Furthermore, there is an alarming increase in the use of minors as couriers, runners and drug peddlers. It also appears that drug traffickers are targeting children of considerably younger age bracket. In fact, there was one incident in 2012 where a one-year-old baby was used to conceal shabu being trafficked. Drug-manufacturing syndicates establish multiple kitchen-type laboratories in various locations for different phases in the production of illegal drugs. Each location is designed and intended for one phase of production to avoid detection from authorities. African Drug Syndicates (ADS) continuously utilize displaced Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and willing individuals who posed as tourists to be couriers of illegal drugs. This trend is likely to continue because people are easily enticed by the huge amount of money involved.
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