“DRUG ABUSE; IT’S EFFECTS AND

SYMPTOMS”
A Short Lecture For Senior High and College Students

Hyman Jay H. Blanco, RCrim, MSCrim*,JD*

OIC/Coordinator-Office of Student Affairs

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 DRUGS- any substance other than food that when put into body, change the
way the body works or the way the person thinks or feels.

ILLEGAL/PROHIBITED DRUGS- a drug that is forbidden by law to use, possess,

buy or sell.

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 Commonly used Prohibited Drugs

Marijuana- is usually rolled up in cigarette called a joint or

a nail. It can also be brewed as a tea or mixed with food, or
smoked through a water pipe called a bong.
Cannabis* is number three of the five substances which accounts
for admission to drug treatment facilities in the United states, at
16%.
According to National Household Survey on Drug Abuse,
kids who frequently use marijuana are almost four times more
likely to act violently or damaged property. They are five times
more likely to steal than those who not use drug.
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 Marijuana is often more potent today than it used to be.
Growing techniques and selective use of seeds have produced a
more powerful drug. As a result, there has been a sharp increase
in the number of marijuana-related emergency room visits by
young pot smokers.
Because a tolerance builds up, marijuana can lead users to
consume stronger drugs to achieve the same high. When the
effects start to wear off, the person may turn to more potent
drugs to rid of the unwanted conditions that prompted him to
take marijuana in the first place.
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 Marijuana itself does not lead the person to the other drugs: people take drugs to get rid
of unwanted situations or feelings. The drug (marijuana) masks the problem for a time
(while the user is high). When “high” fades, the problem, unwanted condition or
situation return more intensely than before. The user may then turn to stronger drugs
since marijuana no longer “works.”

Short-term Effects:
Loss of coordination and distortions in the sense of time, vision and hearing,
sleepiness, reddening of the eyes, increased appetite and relaxed muscles. Heart can
speed up. In fact, in the first hour of smocking marijuana, a users risk of a heart attack
could increase fivefold. School performance is reduced through impaired memory and
lessened ability to solved problems.
Long-term Effects:
Long-term use can cause psychotic symptoms. It can also damaged the lungs and
the heart, worsen the symptoms of bronchitis and cause coughing and wheezing. It may
reduced the body’s ability to fight lung infections and illness.
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 Methamphetamine – Crystal meth and meth are inhaled, smoked or injected. Low
doses are in pill form.
Crystal meth is a form of methamphetamine that resembles small fragments of
glass or shiny blue-white rocks. On the street, it is known as “ice”, “crystal”, “glass” and
other names. It is a highly powerful and addictive man-made stimulant that causes
aggression and violent or psychotic behavior. Many users report getting hooked
(addicted) from the first time they use it. It is one of the hardest drugs to treat.

Short-term effects:
Negative effects can include disturbed sleep patterns, hyperactivity, nausea,
delusions of power, increased aggressiveness and irritability. Can caused decreased
hunger and bring weight loss. In higher doses has a greater “rush” followed by
increased and sometimes violence. Other effects can include insomnia, confusion,
hallucinations, anxiety and paranoia. Can cause convulsion leading to death.
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 Long-term effects:
Increase heart rate and blood pressure, damage to blood vessels in the brain,
leading to strokes or irregular heart beat or cardiovascular (involving the heart and
blood vessels)collapse or death. Can cause liver, kidney and lung damage. Users may
suffer brain damage, including memory impairment and an increasing inability to grasp
abstract thoughts. Those who recover are usually subject to memory gaps and extreme
mood swings.

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 “CAUSES OF DRUG ABUSE”
A Short Lecture For Senior High and College Students

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Drug abuse started from the innocence and curiosity of people in the proper
use of drugs, aggravated by the multi-faceted problems. Any or all of these
factors influences or aggravates these young and adult people to abuse
drugs:
1.) Innocence- lack of knowledge of the drugs or substances being abuse.
2.) curiosity – the ability to be able to try the effects of the drugs or
substances.

In addition to these, there are also factors that contribute and aggravates
the innocence and curiosity of individuals who are inclined on the abuse of
drugs.

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A. Family
1. Escaped from strict or domineering parents
2. Lack of communications between parents and children.
3. Parents are frequently quarrelling in the presence of children.
4. overprotective parents
5. rejected children
6. parents are busy in their work and no time for the children.
7. children prefer to be with their group because they feel nobody want
them at home.

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B. School
The school is the second home while teachers are the second parents of the students.
Both equally play an important factor in drug abuse.
1. no basic drug education on the proper use of drug in the school.
2. some schools are not giving the right basic education to the students.
3. teachers are not well trained, or have not acquired necessary teaching knowledge to
drug abuse.
4. teachers are not aware of personal conflicts of their students.
5. teachers are not sensitive to the needs of their students.
6. teachers are oftentimes concern only to the academic achievements of the child
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while their personality growth is neglected.
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C. Community
1. Drugs are easily available in the community
2. increasing numbers of pushers in the community.
3. no sports, recreational activities and facilities in the community
4. no vocational or skilled training for out-of-school youth to keep them gainfully
occupied.

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D. Media
1. Over - sensationalization of drugs are good to the body, thus media is promoting drug
abuse.
E. Biological Factors
1. individual health condition
-there are diseases or illness that easily make a person to be a drug abuser. For
example, there are drugs use to cure fatigue, chronic cough , insomnia and physical
distress.
2. A belief that a drug has the special action to prevent diseases and to increase sexual
capacity.
3. The use of drugs makes the body cells works actively. With the immediate
discontinuation of drug use, these active cells become tired and weak, resulting in the
feeling of fatigue, insomnia, stress and others. These feelings and symptoms are
relieved by used drugs again and again until dependency develops.
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F. Psychological Factors
There are number of psychological condition that could easily induce and
influence the innocent and curios individuals to abuse drugs. Some are;
1. Low self esteem and poor self-imagine contribute easily to drug abuse. Drugs
are believe to be used with a variety of life stresses as a relief.

2. need for acceptance and belongingness. To some individual, using drugs by

their friends and using drugs together is a way of winning friends’ acceptance who are
also drug users and also compensating for having no one to associate with.

3. feeling for more freedom and autonomy. Drug users feel that their freedom
and autonomy are very much suppressed. They want freedom and more autonomy in
making decisions. The more you prohibit, the more they do it.

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4. Escaped from reality. The drug users simply wants to get out and get away from
reality. Usually they build air castle and fantasy.

5. mental problems. Drug abuse has been associated with a variety of psychiatric
problem such as depression and anxiety. It is viewed as an expression of a personality
deficiency, or as a symptom of some underlying mental disturbances.
-anxiety- apprehension or uneasiness stemming from anticipation of danger, the
source of which is un recognized
-depression- it is an extreme sadness
6. attention-getting. Using a drug is a way to get attention of either their parents or love
ones. Thus, to become the center of attraction in their family.

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G. Parental Negligence
There are some un palatable relation that are critical to the basic foundation of
the children that resulted to a poor parent-children relationship.
1. over domineering parents
2. lack parental concern and closeness
3. parental permissiveness
4. rejection by parents
5. abuse by parents
6. family instability and disorganization
7. harsh physical punishments
8. childhood stress and trauma

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F. Sociological factors
Some of the sociological factors that influences drug use are as follows:

1. Availability of over-the-counter sale and prescription of drugs. The variety of drugs

available for different ailments encourages poly-drug use.

2. influence of media. Advertisement messages that all ailments can be cured through
the use of chemical substance. This message has help create a societal acceptance
towards drugs, not only the over-the-counter drugs, but also the use of illegal and
controlled drugs for non medical used.

3. impact of affluent lifestyle and high unemployment problem

4. effect of increase travel and exposure to different culture and societal values.
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5. Modelling of parents or key influencers are drug users. Young people often tend to
model the behavior that see at home.

6. societal pressure exerted by peer groups

7. collapse of religious values

8. feeling of powerlessness

9. lower value on academic achievement

10. corruption of public officials especially police operatives

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 “General signs and symptoms of
drug abusers”
A Short Lecture For Senior High and College Students

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1. Abrupt changes in school or work attendance, quality of work, grades in school,
discipline and work output.

2. unusual flare-ups or outbreak of temper in a small or little emotional provoking

situation.

3. withdrawal of responsibility.

4. general changes in the over all attitude

5. deterioration of physical appearance and grooming

6. furtive behavior regarding actions and possessions

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7. Wearing of sun glasses at inappropriate times to hide constricted pupils.

8. continual wearing of long sleeved clothing to hide injection marks and scars.

9. association with known drug users.

10. unusual barrowing of money from parents and friends

11. attempts to appear inconspicuous in manner or appearance to avoid attention or

suspicion.

12. stealing small items but later big items from home , school , or employer.

13. may frequent to odd places without cause as storage rooms, closets basements,
rooftops and other isolated or closed compartments as hidden places.
Note* signs and symptoms of drug abusers may vary as to the
type of drugs abused, such as inhalants, stimulants, depressant, WESTMEAD INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
narcotics, marijuana, LSD, or designer drugs.
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 “Effects or result of drug abuse”
A Short Lecture For Senior High and College Students

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 a. Effect to the person
-medical and physical deterioration

1. respiratory diseases – asthma, bronchitis, tuberculosis, lung

abscess, emphysema and lung cancer.

2. digestive system diseases- peptic ulcer, gastritis, hepatitis

3. infections

4. anaemia

5.physical condition- fatigue, muscle wasting, loss of weight,

weakness, insomnia, poor muscular coordination.

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 -Personality Deterioration

1. witty and manipulative

2. negative attitudes
3. selfish and demanding
4. low frustration tolerance
5. poor relation to parents and his siblings
6. non-trustworthy
7. usually depressed
8. self centered
9. absence of good manners and right conduct
10. association to drug users
11. losses of so many things at home and at times from neighbors at schools
and at work.
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-Mental Deterioration

1. lose of interest to any productive activities

2. no productive and gainful work
3. emotionally immature
4. no initiative for self improvement
5. inability to concentrate
6. low IQ and usually drop-out from the school and at work
7. easily forgets
8. suffering from withdrawal symptoms
9. nervous imbalance
10. irritable
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-Spiritual Deterioration

1. Drug Abusers are usually Godless

2. No spiritual belief and no spiritual obligation for religious responsibilities.

Note* Of course effects and result of drug abuse are not only prominent on
the abusers himself but also to the family, community, society, law enforcers,
economy, judiciary, national security, to the country and to the whole world.
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 New mandates on the
Student Handbook
A Short Lecture For Senior High and College Students

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-The following acts or omissions are included but not limited to the stated
major offenses in the student handbook, in accordance with R.A. 10627
also known as, Anti-Bullying Act of 2013,and R.A. 8049, also known as the
Anti-Hazing Law.

-Physical contact between the bully and the victim like punching,
pushing, shoving, slapping, tickling, headlocks, inflicting school pranks,
teasing, fighting and the use of available objects as weapons;

-Acts that causes damage to a victim’s psyche and/or emotional well-

being;

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-Any slanderous statement or accusation that causes the victim undue
emotional distress like directing foul language or profanity at the target,
name calling, tormenting and commenting negatively on victim’s looks,
clothes and body; and

-Cyber-bullying or any bullying done through the use of technology or

any electronic means;

-Any type of physical brutality such as whipping, beating, striking,

branding, shocking, or placing a harmful substance on the body of a
student;

-Any type of physical activity such as sleep deprivation, exposure to

weather, confinement in restricted areas, calisthenics or other
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-activity that subject the student to unreasonable risk of harm or that
adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student;

-Any activity involving consumption of alcoholic beverage, drug,

tobacco product or any other food, liquid, or substance that subject the
student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the
mental or physical health or safety of the student;

-Any activity that intimidates or threatens the student with ostracism,

that subjects the student to extreme mental stress, embarrassment,
shame, or humiliation, that adversely affects mental health or dignity of
the student or discourages the student from remaining in school;
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-Any activity which violates the state laws, (i.e. Rape, Sexual assault, etc.)
and/or death, mutilation, insanity, impotence, results therefrom;

-Any activity that causes or requires the student to perform a task that
involves a violation of a state or special law.

-
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-WIS is an educational community which creates a harmonious
relationship between students, faculty, staff, employees and
administrative officials. WIS adopts the “Loco Parentis Doctrine” stating
that members of the academic community such as faculty, staff,
employees and administrative officials are considered as the second
parents and/or guardians of the students and shall promote the general
welfare and a conducive learning community for the latter. As
prescribed in R.A. 7877 otherwise known as the Anti-Sexual Harassment
Act of 1995, sexual harassment can be incurred by the members of the
faculty, staff, employees and administrative officials by committing the
following acts;
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- In an education or training environment, sexual harassment is
committed:
Against one who is under the care, custody or supervision of the
offender;

Against one whose education, training, apprenticeship or tutorship is

entrusted to the offender;

-When the sexual favor is made a condition to the giving of a passing

grade, or the granting of honors and scholarships, or the payment of a
stipend, allowance or other benefits, privileges or considerations or;

-When the sexual advances result in an intimidating, hostile or offensive

environment for the student, trainee, or apprentice.
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 THANK YOU!

Hyman Jay H. Blanco, Rcrim, MSCrim*, JD*

Program Chair- Criminology
OIC/Coordinator- Student Affairs

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