By Henrylito D. Tacio
“Drug abuse has ruined many lives,” declares Dr. Willie T. Ong, an internist-cardiologist and consultant at the Manila Doctors Hospital and Makati Medical Center. “The threat of illegal drugs is real, and it’s closer than we think. In the Philippines, the drug-abuse situation has actually increased over the years.”
Drug addiction spares no one: famous and notorious, beautiful and ugly, employed or jobless, young and old, rich and poor. “Illegal drugs can easily destroy a whole generation,” said Senator Alan Peter S. Cayetano. Cayetano adds that, in many cases of heinous crimes in the country, the suspects are usually confirmed users of shabu. He cited a technical brief by the UN World Health Organization (WHO), which showed that the dependence and chronic usage of amphetamine-type stimulants is associated with psychosis and causes cognitive impairment, aggression and violence. “The Filipinos have witnessed how the use of illegal drugs like methamphetamine led to violence and destroyed the lives of many,” Cayetano pointed out. He further averred that young people are the most vulnerable to the temptation and evils of prohibited drugs.
The website of Bridges of Hope gives us these scary statistics:
· One in two drugs users in the country started experimenting with illegal drugs at the ages of 15 to 19;
· One in four students in the 12th grade has experimented with illegal drugs;
· Two in five teenagers who abuse prescription drugs take them from their parents’ medicine cabinet; and
· One in three students in the 12th grade experienced using marijuana.
Drugs 101
A drug is defined as “any substance intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, relief, treatment, or prevention of disease, or intended to affect the structure or function of the body.” A simpler but workable definition of a drug is any chemical substance that affects the body and its processes.
“By law, drugs are divided into two categories: prescription drugs and non-prescription drugs,” explains The Merck Manual of Medical Information. “Prescription drugs—those considered safe for use only under medical supervision—may be dispensed only with a prescription from a licensed professional with governmental privileges to prescribe.”
Nonprescription drugs, on the other hand, are those considered safe for use without any medical supervision (like paracetamol, for instance). Oftentimes, these drugs are sold over-the counter.
To some people, the word “drug” means a substance that alters the brain’s function in ways considered pleasurable—a mind-altering substance. These are what the Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) defines as “dangerous drugs” or “illegal drugs.”
“Drug abuse exists when a person continually uses a drug other than its intended purpose,” the DDB explains on its web site. “This continued use can lead to drug dependence, a state of physical and psychological dependence or both on a dangerous drug.”
The National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens listed the following as the top 6 illicit drugs used by teenagers: marijuana/hashish, synthetic cannabinoids-3, cocaine, MDMA (Ecstasy/Molly), inhalants, and heroin. The following prescription/over-the-counter drugs are also used by teenagers: adderall (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine), tranquilizers, opioids other than heroin, cough/cold medicine, sedatives, and Ritalin (methylphenidate).
In 2012, the Philippines was singled out to have “the highest abuse rate for shabu” in East Asia, according to the United Nations World Drug Report, which was posted on the web site of the US Embassy in Manila.
A Philippine Daily Inquirer report said that “2.1 percent of Filipinos aged 16 to 64 were using shabu,” and “domestic consumption of methamphetamine and marijuana continued to be the main drug threats in the Philippines.”
Drugs create problems
Even in small amounts, illegal drugs can create big problems, according to the booklet, The Truth About Drugs. “It is not always possible to predict how a drug will affect the user—or the user’s life,” it says.
Drug use can cause, the booklet claims, damage to health, trouble with the law, financial hardship and social difficulties. “While the specific physical and psychological effects of drug-use disorder tend to vary based on the particular substance involved, the general effects of a substance use disorder involving any drug can be devastating,” explains medicinenet.com. More than a health issue, drug users often end up with serious problems. Aside from those mentioned earlier, users may figure in a car accident (drugs can impair driving ability and make the driver less concerned about safety), commit crimes (robbery is often the only way to support an expensive habit) and build up tolerance (when users need more and more of a drug to get the same effect, they increase their risk of an overdose, which result in death).
Why teenagers take illegal drugs
But the question is: Why do some young people turn to drugs? There are many factors, but among those that cited are the following:
Curiosity: “Some young people think experimenting with drugs is harmless,” the booklet states. “It is not. Any time you use drugs, you raise your risk of physical injury. And there’s no telling how soon you could become addicted.”
Peer pressure: “In many cases,” the booklet explains, “young people start using drugs because their friends are using drugs. But being part of the group that uses drugs is asking for trouble.”
Problems: There are those who try to escape from feelings of loneliness, or from family problems. “But using drugs cuts you off from other people,” the booklet says. “The drug user ends up feeling more isolated and alone than before. Once the user is hooked, drugs become more important than anything else, including friendship and family.”
Aside from those mentioned above, the other reasons why teenagers use illicit drugs are: boredom, rebellion, instant gratification, stress and anxiety, social isolation, lack of confidence, escapism, weight loss, and influence of popular media.
Signs of drug abuse
In his book, Doctors’ Health Tips and Home Remedies, Dr. Ong gives some possible signs of drug abuse. “First, the person may associate with friends who are known drug users. Second, the person often needs money and sometimes steals things at home. Third, the person may exhibit some changes in behavior and mood.”
On the latter, he explains: “He or she may be irritable, discourteous and aggressive. [If the person is a student, he or she] may stop going to class and receive failing grades. There may be poor personal grooming and a general lack of interest in life. Take note, however, that these behavioral clues are not always present.”
The DDB portal further gives these signs: the suspected user asks to be left alone a lot, is always tired (or makes his or her tiredness an excuse to be left alone), is careless and often becomes involved in accidents, gets implicated in a lot of fights, suddenly manifests changes in appearance and conduct (red or puffy eyes, weight changes, constant complaints of headaches or stomach aches, shaking, incessant cough, brown stains on fingertips, stumbling or a constant runny nose), has a loss of interest in hobbies or sports, exhibits poor judgment, and finds it difficult to concentrate.
“If you suspect that a friend is using drugs, talk to him or her,” the DDB suggests. “Let your friend know that you care. Talk to your parents, teacher, school counselor, or another trusted adult. Offer to go with your friend to his parents or a counselor for help.”
Help someone who is addicted to drugs. “Drug addiction is considered a disease and needs comprehensive and prolonged treatment,” Dr. Ong reminds us in his book. “After being rehabilitated, the drug abuser should still be closely monitored so that he or she will not relapse again into using drugs.”
A word of advice: Don’t ever try to attempt to experiment with illegal drugs. Here’s a final thought from the booklet: “It doesn’t take months or years to become addicted to a drug. And once you are addicted, it can be extremely difficult and painful to stop.” – ###
