MODULE 2 DANGEROUS DRUGS AND ITS CLASSIFICATIONS ACCORDING TO EFFECTS DANGEROUS DRUGS • It refers to the broad categories or classes of controlled substances. Controlled substances are generally grouped according to pharmacological classifications, effects and as to their legal criteria. • Under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Law in the Philippines (RA 9165), dangerous drugs includes those listed in the schedules annexed to the 1961 Single Convention in Narcotic Drugs. GENERAL DRUG CLASSIFICATION • According to Effects, the dangerous drugs are classified as: – Depressants – are group of drugs that has the effect of depressing the Central Nervous System. – Stimulants – are group of drugs having the effect of stimulating the Central Nervous System. – Hallucinogens – refers to the group of drugs that are considered to be mind altering drugs and give the general effect of mood distortion. B. ACCORDING TO MEDICAL PHARMACOLOGY, DANGEROUS DRUGS ARE CLASSIFIED AS: • Medical pharmacology is the study of impact of drugs and medicines on living organism, especially, human and how they work at cellular and molecular level. – DEPRESSANTS – NARCOTICS – TRANQUILIZERS – STIMULANTS – HALLUCINOGENS – SOLVENTS/INHALANTS ACCORDING TO LEGAL CATEGORIES. PERSUANT TO RA 6425, THE DANGEROUS ACT OF 1972, CLASSIFIED AS: • Prohibited Drugs – Narcotics – refers to the group of the drug opium and it derivatives, Morphine, Heroin, Codeine, etc. including synthetic opiates. – Stimulants – refers to the group of drug Cocaine, Alpha and Beta Eucaine, etc. – Hallucinogens – refers to the group of drugs like Marijuana, LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), mescaline, etc. REGULATED DRUGS • Barbiturates – refers to the group of depressant drug known as “Veronal” like luminal, amytal, Nembutal, surital, butisol, penthontal, seconal, etc. • Hypnotics – are group of drugs such as Mandrax, Quaalude, fadormir, and others. • Amphetamines – are group of stimulant drugs like Benzedrine, Dexedrine, Methedrine, Preludin, etc. VOLATILE SUBSTANCES (P.D. 1619) • The group of liquid, solid or mixed substance having the property of releasing toxic vapors or fumes which when sniffed, smelled, inhaled, or introduced into the physiological system of the body produces or induces a condition of intoxication, dulling of the brain or nervous system, depression, paralysis, or irrational behaviour or in any manner changing, distorting or disturbing the auditory, visual or mental processes. CLASSIFICATIONS OF DANGEROUS DRUGS ACCORDING TO EFFECTS DEPRESSANTS (DOWNERS) – Drugs which suppress vital body functions especially those of the brain or central nervous system with the resulting impairment of judgment, hearing, speech and muscular coordination. – Most widely used drugs in the world. It leads to symptoms such as drowsiness, relaxation, decreased inhibition, anesthesia, sleep, coma, and even death. Many depressants also have the potential to be addictive. NARCOTICS • an addictive drug that reduces pain, induces sleep and may alter mood or behaviour. • Medically, they are potent painkillers, cough depressants and as an active component of anti-diarrhea preparations. • Ex. Opium and it derivatives like morphine, codeine and heroin. OPIUM • a depressant drug, which means it slows down the messages travelling between your brain and body. • Derived from the poppy (Papaver somniferum), it was traditionally cultivated in the Mediterranean and Asia. • The Opium Poppy is one of the oldest plants in recorded history, with information dating back to 5,000 BCE. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? • Opium is a sticky dark-brown gum with a strong odor. It can also be manufactured into a liquid, powder, or solid resin. HOW IS OPIUM USED? • Opium is commonly smoked, but can also be injected, swallowed or drunk.8 Raw opium has a bitter taste due to the alkaloid levels. • Ingesting and injecting opium may increase the chance of overdose. • Some of the most common ways to take opium are to smoke it via a bong or a pipe or take it in the form of a pill. EFFECTS OF OPIUM • The main effects of opium are exerted by its collection of alkaloids collectively known as ‘opiates’. Opiates predominately affect the functioning of the brain and spinal cord. The levels and potency of alkaloids in opium can be difficult to measure, as they vary between batches, area of growth and growing techniques. • It last for two-to-three hours, though this is dependent on individual characteristics of the batch. Tolerance to the effects of opium increases quickly. OVERDOSE • The alkaloids present in opium are well known to cause respiratory and cardiac suppression.15 Ingestion at high levels has been reported to cause severe suppression of heart function, coma and death. • Symptoms of opium overdose: • slow breathing • seizure • dizziness • weakness • loss of consciousness • coma • death. In the days after opium use, the following may be experienced: irritability depression. REGULAR USE OF OPIUM MAY CAUSE: • intense sadness • irregular periods and difficulty having children • loss of sex drive • constipation • damaged heart, lungs, liver and brain • damage to veins, skin, heart and lung infections from injecting • needing to use more to get the same effect • dependence on other opioids • financial, work or social problems WITHDRAWAL • Withdrawal symptoms usually start within six to 24 hours after the last dose and can last for about a week – days one to three will be when the worst withdrawal symptoms are experienced. These symptoms can include: • cravings for opium • restlessness and irritability • depression and crying • diarrhea • restless sleep and yawning • stomach and leg cramps • vomiting and no appetite • goosebumps • runny nose and fast heartbeat MORPHINE • This medication is used to help relieve moderate to severe pain. Morphine belongs to a class of drugs known as opioid (narcotic) analgesics. It works in the brain to change how your body feels and responds to pain. • Effective as a painkiller six times potent than opium. MORPHINE • Common Uses – Pain – Fibromyalgia – Breakthrough pain – Kidney Stone – Pain in lower back SIDE EFFECTS • Constipations • Seizures • Drowsiness or excessive sleepiness • Nausea • Anxiety, nervousness or restlessness • Mood Changes • Fever - HEROIN • Heroin is an opioid drug made from morphine, a natural substance taken from the seed pod of the various opium poppy plants grown in Southeast and Southwest Asia, Mexico, and Colombia. • Heroin can be a white or brown powder, or a black sticky substance known as black tar heroin. Other common names for heroin include big H, horse, hell dust, and smack. • Five times more powerful than morphine. HOW DO PEOPLE USE HEROIN? EFFECTS • dry mouth • heavy feeling in the arms and legs • nausea and vomiting • severe itching • clouded mental functioning • going "on the nod," a back-and- forth state of being conscious and semiconscious CODEINE • Codeine is a prescription drug used to treat mild to moderately severe pain. It comes in a tablet. • It’s also sometimes used in some cough syrups to treat cough. Like other opiates, codeine is a strong and highly addictive drug. EFFECTS • Codeine can slow or stop your breathing, and may be habit-forming. MISUSE OF THIS MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. • noisy breathing, sighing, shallow breathing; • a slow heart rate or weak pulse; • a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out; • confusion, agitation, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior; • feelings of extreme happiness or sadness; • seizure (convulsions); • problems with urination; or • low cortisol levels--nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, worsening tiredness or weakness. SYMPTOMS OF WITHDRAWAL • Early symptoms of withdrawal may include: Later symptoms may include: • feeling irritable or anxious •loss of appetite • trouble sleeping •nausea and vomiting • teary eyes • runny nose • sweating •stomach cramps •diarrhea • yawning •enlarged pupils • muscle aches •chills or goosebumps • faster heartbeat PAREGORIC • A tincture of opium in combination with camphor. It is used to relieve diarrhea. It decreases stomach and intestinal movement in the digestive system. DEMEROL • a pain medication with opium content. Widely used as a painkiller in childbirth. METHADONE • treatment for an addiction to heroin or narcotic painkillers. It relieves the physical craving for heroin. BARBITURATES • Barbiturates are central nervous depressants. They reduce the activity of nerves causing muscle relaxation. They can reduce heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. • Drug used for inducing sleep in persons plagued with anxiety, mental stress, and insomnia. SECONAL • Treatment of epilepsy • Temporary treatment of insomnia • Use as a preoperative medication to produce anaesthesia and anxiolysis in short surgical, diagnostic, or therapeutic procedures which are minimally painful. TRANQUILIZERS • Drugs that calm and relax and diminish anxiety. • They are used in the treatment of nervous states and some mental disorders without producing sleep. VOLATILE SOLVENTS • These organic solvents can be inhaled for psychoactive effects and are present in many domestic and industrial products such as glue, aerosol, paints, industrial solvents, lacquer thinners, gasoline, and cleaning fluids. SIGNS OF INTOXICATION • include aggressiveness • lethargy • impaired movement • Euphoria • impaired judgement • dizziness • rapid involuntary movement of the eyes • blurred vision or double vision (diplopia) • slurred speech • unsteady gait • muscle weakness ALCOHOL • The KING OF ALL DRUGS with potential for abuse. • Considered the most widely used, socially accepted and most extensively legalized drug throughout the world. STIMULANT DRUGS STIMULANTS • Stimulants are a group of drugs that result in increased activity in the body. Sometimes referred to as “uppers,” these drugs are frequently abused due to their performance-enhancing and euphoric effects. Generally, those who abuse stimulants experience heightened energy levels and enhanced focus. EXAMPLES OF STIMULANT DRUGS AMPHETAMINES • Amphetamine is a central nervous stimulant. Its use results in an increase in certain types of brain activity, resulting in a feeling of higher energy, focus, confidence, and in a dosedependent manner, can elicit a rewarding euphoria. • treat a variety of conditions, from alcohol hangovers to weight loss. • It was also used to treat two conditions for which it is still known today: – hyperactivity in young people (including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) – narcolepsy, a condition in which people fall asleep suddenly. Occasionally, it is used to treat depression. SIGNS OF AMPHETAMINE ABUSE • Increased heart rate and blood pressure • Decreased appetite and weight loss • Insomnia • Digestive upset • Mood swings • Aggression • Paranoia and anxiety • Visual, auditory, or tactile hallucinations • Inability to keep up with work, school, or home responsibilities COCAINE • Cocaine is one of the most well-known stimulants in the world. A highly addictive drug, it is made from and named for the South American coca bush plant (Erythroxylon Coca). • Cocaine usually comes in the form of a fine white powder, though the popular “crack” form comes as crystallized rocks. • Cocaine and crack cocaine can be used via a multitude of methods; the most common form of ingestion for powdered cocaine is snorting the drug, and the most common method for crack cocaine is to smoke it. SIGNS OF COCAINE USE INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: • Nosebleeds • Dilated pupils • Runny nose • Weight loss CAFFEINE • Caffeine is a natural stimulant most commonly found in tea, coffee, cacao plants or chocolate, and cola drinks. • It works by stimulating the brain and central nervous system, helping you to stay alert and preventing the onset of tiredness. SHABU / “POOR MAN’S COCAINE” • Shabu is another name for methamphetamine hydrochloride, also known as crystal meth. Meth is a highly addictive stimulant that causes its user irreversible harm, physically and mentally. • Usually, the drug is used to create a sense of euphoria, increase wakefulness, and physical activity. In addition, it suppresses appetite. Shabu can be snorted, smoked, injected and dissolved in water. EFFECTS OF THE USE OF THIS DRUG • Faster Breathing and Heart Rate • Crystal meth effects speed up the central nervous system to cause faster breathing and heart rate. In addition to being faster, the heart rate may also be erratic and irregular. A fast or irregular heart rate is known as arrhythmia, which can lead to complications including heart failure, cardiac arrest, stroke, and dementia when left untreated. • High Body Temperature • Crystal meth affects the body’s metabolism and heat-regulating mechanisms. This can cause high body temperature or hyperthermia. • This results range of unpleasant symptoms including nausea, vomiting, muscle spasms, and delirium. Hyperthermia can often be life-threatening and lead to death in meth users. SKIN DAMAGE • Crystal meth users develop acne and large, open, red sores as a result of picking at their skin. Crystal meth effects can make people feel as though bugs are crawling beneath their skin. Scratching at their skin’s surface relieves itching and related sensations. Loss of Appetite and Weight Loss • Crystal meth increases adrenaline, while speeding up the central nervous system. Due to this change, users experience a loss of appetite and overall weight. Many binge crystal meth users can go for long periods without eating food. This can result in the user facing malnutrition and dehydration. Both of which are risk factors for serious complications including organ failure and death. OVERDOSE • People who overdose on crystal meth can suffer a range of life- threatening health consequences including death. If you suspect that someone is suffering a crystal meth overdose, call emergency services immediately. • Here are the signs of a crystal meth overdose: • Irregular or rapid breathing • Irregular or rapid heart rate • Agitation • Chest pain • Seizures • Paranoia • Psychotic behavior NICOTINE • It is an addictive substance that is mainly taken in through the lungs through smoking tobacco products. The urge to continue smoking and the well-documented difficulties in quitting the habit come from nicotine dependence. WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS • cravings • moodiness and irritability • poor concentration • depressed mood • increased appetite • Insomnia • Diarrhea or constipation may also occur. HALLUCINOGEN DRUGS HALLUCINOGEN (PSYCHEDELIC) • These are group of drugs that consists of a variety of mind- altering drugs, which distort reality thinking and perceptions of time, sound, space and sensation. • Hallucinogens cause their effects by disrupting the interaction of nerve cells and the neurotransmitter serotonin. Distributed throughout the brain and spinal cord, the serotonin system is involved in the control of behavioral, perceptual, and regulatory systems, including mood, hunger, body temperature, sexual behavior, muscle control, and sensory perception. MARIJUANA • refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the sativa or Cannabis indica plant. Cannabis • The plant contains the mind-altering chemical Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC and other similar compounds. HOW DO PEOPLE USE MARIJUANA? • hand-rolled cigarettes (joints) or in pipes or water pipes (bongs). • To avoid inhaling smoke, some people are using vaporizers. These devices pull the active ingredients (including THC) from the marijuana and collect their vapor in a storage unit. A person then inhales the vapor, not the smoke. Some vaporizers use a liquid marijuana extract. HOW DOES MARIJUANA AFFECT THE BRAIN? • Marijuana over activates parts of the brain that contain the highest number of these receptors. This causes the "high" that people feel. Other effects include: • altered senses (for example, seeing brighter colors) • altered sense of time • changes in mood • impaired body movement • difficulty with thinking and problem-solving • impaired memory • hallucinations (when taken in high doses) • delusions (when taken in high doses) • psychosis (risk is highest with regular use of high potency marijuana) LYSERGIC ACID DIETHYLAMIDE (LSD) • LSD is one of the most potent psychedelics, mood-changing chemicals. It is manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in the ergot fungus that grows on rye and other grains. • It is 1,000 times more powerful than marijuana as supply. LSD'S EFFECTS ON YOUR BRAIN • LSD users call their hallucinogenic experiences "trips." Depending on how much you take and how your brain responds, a trip may be "good" or "bad.“ • A good trip may be stimulating and pleasurable and make you feel: – As if you are floating and disconnected from reality. – Joy (euphoria, or "rush") and less inhibition, similar to being drunk from alcohol use. – As if your thinking is extremely clear and that you have superhuman strength and are not afraid of anything. A BAD TRIP CAN BE VERY UNPLEASANT AND FRIGHTENING: • You may have terrifying thoughts. • You may have many emotions at once, or move quickly from feeling one emotion to feeling another. • Your senses may become distorted. Shapes and sizes of objects are altered. Or your senses may "cross over." You may feel or hear colors and see sounds. • Fears that you normally can control are out of control. For example, you may have doom and gloom thoughts, such as thoughts that you will soon die, or that you want to harm yourself or others. PEYOTE • It is derived from the surface part of a small gray brown cactus. • are usually dried and then chewed. • Common Side Effects: Peyote is known to cause nausea and vomiting, increased body temperature, hallucinations, altered perceptions of space and time, impaired motor coordination, euphoria, and anxiety. • This drug causes no physical dependence and therefore, no withdrawal symptoms; some cases of psychological dependence. MESCALINE (3,4,5-TRIMETHOXYPHENETHYLAMINE) • Peyote's principal active ingredient is mescaline, a psychedelic compound that can also be man-made through chemical synthesis. • It produces less nausea than peyote and shows effects resembling those of LSD although milder in nature. DOM (2,5-DIMETHOXY-4METHYLAMPHETAMINE) • DOM (2,5-Dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine) is a hallucinogen and substituted amphetamine of the phenethylamine class which appeared in the mid 1967s with the street name STP. STP stands for Serenity, Tranquility and Peace. • It is a chemical derivative of mescaline claimed to produce more violent and longer effects than mescaline dose. • It has a relatively intense body high that can manifest as a feeling of energy and tingling through the body. Because it’s a more stimulating psychedelic, it lends itself to physical activities. PSILOCYBIN • The mushrooms containing psilocybin are known as magic mushrooms. • These mushrooms induced nausea, muscular relaxation, mood changes with visions of bright colors and shapes. • The hallucinogenic effects of psilocybin usually occur within 30 minutes of ingestion and last between 4 and 6 hours. MORNING GLORY SEEDS • The black and brown seeds of the wild tropical morning glory used to produce hallucinations. • The seeds of many species of morning glory contain a naturally occurring tryptamine, lysergic acid amide (LSA), which is chemically similar to LSD and has similar effects. Seeds are used for their strong psychedelic or hallucinogenic mental effects. • Effects: Apart from the desired hallucinogenic effects, patients often exhibit dilated pupils, increased heart rate, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, numbness of the limbs, and muscle spasms.
