The best way to prevent an addiction to an illegal
A drug is any substance (with the exception of
food and water) which, when taken into the body,
alters the bodys function either physically and/or
psychologically. Drugs may be legal (e.g. alcohol,
caffeine and tobacco) or illegal (e.g. cannabis,
ecstasy, cocaine and heroin). Psychoactive drugs
affect the central nervous system and alter a
person's mood, thinking and behaviour.
Psychoactive drugs may be divided into four
categories: depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens
and 'other'.
drug is not to take the drug at all.Use care when
taking an addictive prescription drug. Doctors
prescribe these medications at safe doses and
monitor their use so that you're not given too great
a dose or for too long a time. If you feel you need to
take more than the prescribed dose of a
medication, talk to your doctor. Preventing drug
abuse in children and teenagers
Take these steps to help prevent drug abuse in your
children and teenagers:
Communicate. Talk to your children about the risks
of drug use and abuse.
Listen. Be a good listener when your children talk
about peer pressure, and be supportive of their
efforts to resist it.
Set a good example. Don't abuse alcohol or
addictive drugs. Children of parents who abuse
drugs are at greater risk of drug addiction.
Strengthen the bond. Work on your relationship with
your children. A strong, stable bond between you
and your child will reduce your child's risk of using or
abusing drugs.

Once you've been addicted to a drug, you're at high
risk of falling back into a pattern of addiction. If you
do start using the drug, it's likely you'll lose control over
its use again even if you've had treatment and you
haven't used the drug for some time.
Stick with your treatment plan. Monitor your cravings. It
may seem like you've recovered and you don't need
to keep taking steps to stay drug-free. But your
chances of staying drug-free will be much higher if
you continue seeing your counselor, going to support
group meetings and taking prescribed medication.
Avoid high-risk situations. Don't go back to the
neighborhood where you used to get your drugs. And
stay away from your old drug crowd.
Get help immediately if you use the drug again. If you
start using the drug again, talk to your doctor, your
mental health provider or someone else who can help
you right away.
Reports of drug related crime are common in the
Philippines media. The main concern tends to be
towards Shabu which gets the most media
attention. It does seem that illegal drug use is on
the rise, and this has worrying implications for the
future. There is an urgent need to educate young
people as to the dangers of drug use, and there is
also a great need to help those who are already
addicted to escape their misery. Failure to do this
could mean there will be further deterioration
within many Filipino communities.
The most commonly abused drugs in the Philippines
include:
* Alcohol
* Marijuana
* Heroin
* Cocaine
* Methamphetamine (locally known as Shabu)
* Inhalants such as nitrates and gasoline. These can
be a cheap way for people to get high.
* Opium
* Ecstasy (MDMA)
Drug abuse leads to many problems such as:
* The individual does not have to be abusing a
substance like Shabu long before they become
addicted.
* Those individuals who become addicted can
become obsessed with their habit. This means that
everything else in their life will take second place.
* The individuals behavior will change. They may
become physically violent or engage in other types
of bad behavior.
* Those who abuse these drugs can struggle to keep
down a job. They may become unemployable.
* Young people who use these substances will be
unable to perform well in school or college. This
means that they will be limiting their future
opportunities.
* When drug users run out of money to feed their
habit they will be tempted to turn to crime. This may
mean stealing from family and friends or from
complete strangers.
* Many addicts fall into a life of crime and eventually
end up in prison or worse.
* If the drug addict is unable to escape this behavior
it is highly likely to lead to their death. This individual
will shorten their lifespan as a result of their behavior.
* Illegal drug users run the risk of overdose. It can be
difficult to assess the strength of illegal drugs, and it
can be similar to playing a game of Russian roulette
every time the addict uses these substances it is
even possible for people to die of an overdose after
only trying illegal drugs one time.
Most abused drugs directly or indirectly target the brain's reward
system by flooding the circuit with dopamine. Dopamine is a
neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate
movement, emotion, cognition, motivation, and feelings of
pleasure. When drugs enter the brain, they can actually change
how the brain performs its jobs. These changes are what lead to
compulsive drug use, the hallmark of addiction.
Injuries
More deaths, illnesses and disabilities stem from
substance abuse than from any other preventable
health condition. Today, one in four deaths is
attributable to illicit drug use.
Health Problems
The impact of drug abuse and dependence can be
far-reaching, affecting almost every organ in the
human body.
Effects On The Brain
Although initial drug use may be voluntary, drugs have
been shown to alter brain chemistry, which interferes
with an individual's ability to make decisions and can
lead to compulsive craving, seeking and use.
Behavioral Problems
Paranoia
Aggressiveness
Hallucinations
Addiction
Impaired Judgment
Birth Defects
Nearly 4 percent of pregnant women in the United
States use illicit drugs such as marijuana, cocaine,
Ecstasy and other amphetamines, and heroin1. These
and other illicit drugs may pose various risks for pregnant
women and their babies .
 The cost of drug addiction is high for the Philippines and
Drug use can hurt the people who take drugs AND the
it involves:
people around them, including families, kids, and
* A great deal of domestic violence is associated with
babies who aren't yet born.
drug abuse.
* A huge proportion of criminal acts are committed by
Drug use can hurt the body and the brain, sometimes
individuals who are trying to satisfy their drug habit.
forever.
* The economy suffers because drug users become less
productive in their jobs or they become unable to work
Drug use can also lead to addiction, a long-lasting
completely.
brain disease in which people can't stop taking drugs
* The government needs to spend large amounts of
on their own, even when they know that bad things
money on tackling drug problems. The resources used by
could happen if they keep using them. Learn more
law enforcement alone are a drain.
about:
* Money that could be spent to improve the life of a
family is wasted because one member is a drug addict.
It can lead to a situation where the rest of the family is
fighting and violence inside and outside the
living in poverty while one of them wastes thousands of
home
pesos each week on drugs.
money problems
trouble at school
trouble at work or losing a job
trouble in relationships
child abuse or neglect Treatment for Drug Addiction in the Philippines
driving crashes There are a number of treatment options available to
arrests and jail people in the Philippines who need help including:

* Narcotics Anonymous is a twelve step program that

supports the individual to escape their addictions. This
fellowship is not just focused on stopping the drug use
but also on building a life worth living.
* There are a number of drug rehabilitation facilities in
the Philippines including Serenity at the Quarry.
* It is becoming more common for Filipinos to go
abroad to seek the most effective treatment for their
addictions.
Depression / Social Disorders- Depression can prompt a person
to try drugs as a form of self-medicating. In addition, those with
social anxiety and stress-related disorders are more susceptible
to drugs, as they attempt to decrease their feelings of distress.
Most abused drugs produce feelings of euphoria and pleasure.

Genetics and Family Influence- Parents have a substantial role

in the development of their children. Children gain genetic
characteristics and influence from their parents. The NIDA
reports that genetic factors account for between 40 and 60
percent of a persons vulnerability to addiction. In addition,
children who have a poor example to follow, such as addicted
parents or older siblings, may be more prone to try drugs and
may view them as an acceptable outlet.

Peer Influence- Parents who allow their children too much

freedom may find it difficult to keep a tight rein on them in
their teen years and may have trouble keeping them from
the wrong crowd, which may lead the teen down a
destructive path. Academic failure and a poor self-image
may also contribute to drug abuse. Various resources are
available to help parents protect their children from the
many factors that could tempt them to try drugs.
Crack, also known as crack rocks, is the purest form of
Although marijuana is the most benign drug on this list, it
cocaine available and is smoked through a glass pipe.
certainly can cause changes in the brain to the point of
It causes the users brain to release large amounts of
addiction. Marijuana isnt seen as being physically or
dopamine, which results in intense feelings of pleasure
chemically addictive, but many health experts agree
and a burst of energy for about 10 minutes. Some users
that it can be psychologically addictive. Roughly 10
become addicted to crack the first time they try it.
percent of people who use marijuana will become
dependent on it, according to the National Institute on
Crack cocaine and powder cocaine have similar
Drug Abuse.
chemical compositions and effects, but crack causes a
stronger, faster high, albeit one that lasts for a shorter
As the most commonly used illicit substance, marijuana
amount of time. Crack abuse became a national crisis
is now legal in some states in the U.S., and its available
in the 1980s and early 90s, although crack users make
in many others via prescription. Marijuana addiction
up just a small percentage
can lead to mild withdrawal symptoms, such as
irritability, sleep difficulties, restlessness, physical
discomfort and decreased appetite. Long-term use of
marijuana has been found to decrease the volume of
grey matter in the brain, while a longitudinal study in
New Zealand found that teens who started and
continued using the drug regularly lost an average of 8
IQ points by mid-adulthood.
 Heroin users instantly get a rush, and after a time,
cannot experience any good feelings without using it.
Ecstasy, or the love drug was commonly used in the
1980s and is still part of the club scene. Users feel happy, Addicts get intense cravings while going through
withdrawal. Heroin is a semi-synthetic substance that is
loving, alert and focused, yet very relaxed when under
its influence. Some users can also do without sleep for extracted from the opium plant, making it a member of
the opioid class of drugs. Heroin is generally taken via
between 24-72 hours at a time. Ecstasy, also known as
needle injection, although pure forms of the drug can
E or X, is a very seductive type of addiction, and
many users have difficulty admitting that they would be smoked or snorted. Heroins addictive properties are
have trouble quitting it once they start using.Ecstasys right up there with the first item on this list, as more uses
active ingredient is MDMA, which is now popular in its of the drug literally causes the brain to crave it. Many
pure form, known as Molly. Ecstasy and Molly and are heroin users got their start by being prescribed a legal
commonly available as a capsule, tablet or powder. opioid painkiller and then craving a similar, likely
stronger effect once the prescription ran out.
Ecstasys side effects include muscle cramps, blurred
vision, increased heart rate, nausea, chills and
hallucinations. Someone who has become addicted
and experiences withdrawal symptoms may experience
panic attacks, insomnia, psychosis, depression and
paranoia.MDMA-related deaths do happen
occasionally, but they rarely follow an overdose on
ecstasy. Instead, moderate uses of the drug cause
some users to suffer a fatal heat stroke, and the
substance can amplify existing heart conditions for
some users to the point of death.
Methamphetamine affects the dopamine and
norepinephrine levels in the brain, making the user alert
and hyperactive. Meth releases massive amounts of
dopamine into the brain and suppresses norepinephrine
production. Users develop a tolerance quickly and
develop cravings for more of the substance.
Methamphetamine can be smoked, snorted or taken
orally. It can also be dissolved in water or alcohol and
then injected. Crystal meth is one of the most common
forms of the drug, and is often considered a club
drug. Meth usually suppresses the users appetite, and
the high doesnt wear off for 6 to 8 hours. Long-term
meth use can cause memory loss, psychotic behavior,
heart and brain damage, dangerous weight loss, tooth
decay and gum recession.
Downers like Xanax, Valium and Klonopin make users
feel calm and relaxed by increasing the brains nerve-
calming agent, called GABA. Its hard to get off this
drug once a tolerance starts to build up, which can
take place very quickly. More than 15 types of
benzodiazepines, aka benzos, are available via
prescription, although forms of the substance are
traded on the black market as well.
Benzodiazepines are considered a minor tranquilizer,
and they affect the user in the short term with side
effects such as impaired cognition, lethargy,
depression, altered vision, impaired motor function,
tremors, nausea and abdominal pain. Long-term use of
benzos can cause brain damage, and withdrawal
symptoms include body aches, muscle stiffness, sleep
disturbance, anxiety, seizures, irritability and memory
problems.

Methadone is an opioid that is commonly prescribed to
treat heroin or morphine addicts, as this pain reliever
helps the user come down from those harder
substances. Even though the risk of addiction is low
when used as directed by a doctor in a clinical setting,
many recreational users have been drawn to the
substance and subsequently become addicted.
Methadone generally comes in the form of tablets,
powder and liquid. It shares some of the same effects
as morphine, but is not quite as strong or addictive as
that opiate.
Methadone can slow or stop a users breathing,
especially when someone first starts using the drug.
Other short-term effects of methadone include
itchiness, severe sweating, constipation, nausea, sexual
dysfunction and even death. Long-term use can lead
to lung and respiration problems.
Bath salts are a synthetic drug that create a feeling of
euphoria and are taken by injecting, snorting or
smoking the substance. The effects can last for several
hours, but users often re-dose and may stay up for
several days. One of the main substances in bath salts,
MDPV, was found to be nearly as addictive as
methamphetamine.
Bath salts are considered a cheap alternative to
cocaine, ecstasy or methamphetamine. As a stimulant,
bath salts reached a high in usage in the mid- to late-
2000s. Bath salts often cause insomnia, agitation,
hallucinations and even violent behavior upon first use.
Long-term use can lead to kidney and liver damage, as
well as a breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue.

Cocaine, like many other drugs on this list, affects the
amount of dopamine in a persons brain and causes
intense cravings for more of the substance. Snorting
cocaine powder causes a rapid, intense high and
builds up a tolerance quickly. Coming down from a
cocaine high can cause depression, edginess and
irregular sleeping and eating patterns.
Cocaine use also carries the risk of heart attack, stroke,
seizure and respiratory failure. Long-term use can lead
to psychosis and hallucinations. Every month,
somewhere between 1 million and 2 million Americans
typically use cocaine.
Physical effects of drug addiction vary by drug but are
typically seen in all systems of the body. Some of the
primary physical effects of drug addiction take place in
the brain. Drug addiction changes the way the brain
functions and impacts how the body perceives
pleasure. These effects of drug addiction are because
the drug repeatedly floods the brain with the chemicals
dopamine and serotonin during drug use. The brain
adapts and comes to expect, and depend on, these
drug-induces highs.
Physical effects of drug addiction are also seen in
babies of drug abusers as well as in mortality statistics.
One effect of drug addiction is: children born to drug-
using mothers can be cognitively affected throughout
life. Regarding mortality, one-in-four deaths are due to
the effects of drug addiction.4 Other physical effects of
drug addiction include:
Contraction of HIV, hepatitis and other illnesses
Heart rate irregularities, heart attack
Respiratory problems such as lung cancer,
emphysema and breathing problems
Abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea
Kidney and liver damage
Seizures, stroke, brain damage
Changes in appetite, body temperature and
sleeping patterns
 Not to be confused with methamphetamine,
amphetamines (or uppers) create a rapid tolerance
and intense cravings in users. They make users feel
The psychological effects of drug addiction come from confident, energetic and euphoric, and they may be
the reason the user is addicted to drugs, as well as the attractive for their appetite-curbing traits.
changes that take place in the brain once a person Amphetamines are usually taken orally, but can be
becomes a drug addict. Initially, many people start snorted or injected. This substance is featured in some
using drugs to cope with stress or pain (read about: legal drugs such as Adderall and Dexedrine, although
what causes drug addiction) An effect of drug several street forms are also available.
addiction is creation of a cycle where anytime the user
encounters stress or pain, they feel the need to use the Amphetamines side effects include anxiety,
drug. This is one of the psychological effects of drug nervousness, dry mouth, decreased appetite,
addiction involved in "craving" of the drug. Craving is headaches and weight loss. Long-term use of
an effect of drug addiction whereby the addict is amphetamine can lead to panic attacks, psychotic
obsessed with obtaining and using the drug, to the episodes, acne or skin conditions, and convulsions.
exclusion of all else. One of the psychological effects of
addiction involved in craving is the belief the addict
cannot function or handle life without use of the drug.

Other psychological effects of drug addiction include:3

Wild mood swings, depression, anxiety, paranoia,

violence
Decrease in pleasure in everyday life
Complication of mental illness
Hallucinations
Confusion
Psychological tolerance to the drug's effects
creating a desire to do ever-increasing amounts
of the drug
Desire to engage in risky behavior