CHAPTER III

CONCEPT OF DRUG ABUSE

DRUG ABUSE
■ most often refers to the use of a drug with such frequency that it causes
physical or mental harm to the user or impairs social functioning.
Although the term seems to imply that users abuse the drugs they take, in
fact, it is themselves or others they abuse by using drugs.
■ Traditionally, referred to the use of any drug prohibited by law,
regardless of whether it was actually harmful or not. This meant that any
use of Marijuana, for example, even if it occurred only once in a while,
would constitute abuse, while the same level of alcohol consumption
would not.
DRUG ABUSE JARGONS
■ “Opiate” - Narcotic
■ “On-the-Nod/ “Nodding”- the state produced by
opiates like being suspended on the edge of sleep.
■ “Mainline’/ “to shoot” - injecting a drug into the
vein
■ “A Hit” - the street slang for injection of drugs
■ “Work” - an apparatus for injecting a drug
■ “A Fix” - one injection of opiate
■ “Juni” - heroin
■ “Junkie” - an opiate addict
■ “Skin popping” - to inject a drug under the skin
■ “A Bag” - a pocket of drug
■ “Cold Turkey” - the withdrawal effect that occurs after a repeated opiate
use
■ “Track” - scars on the skin left from the repeated injection of opiate
■ “Overdose” - death occurs because the part of the brain that controls
breathing becomes paralyzed.
■ “Speed” - amphetamines
■ “Speed Freaks” - amphetamine addicts
■ “Uppers” - street slang for amphetamines
■ “Rush” - the beginning of a high
■ “High” - under the influence of drugs
■ “Coke” - street slang for cocaine
■ “Flashback” - user can be thrown back into the drug
experience months after the original use of drug.
■ “Acid” - slang term for LSD
■ “Acid Head” - LSD user
■ “Drop” - taking drug orally
■ “Joint” - an MJ Cigar
■ “Roach” - butt end of a joint
■ “Stoned” - the intoxicating effect of a drug
■ “Trip” - the name for the reaction that is caused by drugs
■ “Head” - drug user
■ “Downer” - street slang for depressant
 WHAT ARE THE GROUP
CLASSIFICATION OF DRUG ABUSERS?
1. Situational Users – those who use drugs to keep them awake or
for additional energy to perform an important work. Such
individual may or may not exhibit psychological dependence.
2. Spree Users – school age users who take drugs for “kicks’, an
adventurous daring experience, or as a means of fun. There may
be some degree of psychological dependence but little physical
dependence due to the mixed pattern of use.
3. Hard Core Addicts – those, whose activities revolve almost
entirely around the drug experience and securing supplies. They
show strong psychological dependence on the drug.
4. Hippies – those who are addicted to drugs believing that drug is
an integral part of life.
The 7 Deadly Sins – Primary Causes of Drug Abuse
1. Pride – excessive feeling of self-worth or self-esteem, sense of self-
importance.
2. Anger - unexpressed, deep-seated anger against himself, his family, his
friends or the society in general.
3. Lust – burning sexual desire can distort the human mind to drug abuse.
4. Gluttony – “food trip” in the lingo of junkies
5. Greed – wealth, fame, recognition as exemplified by people under pressure
in their work of art, such as musicians, actors, athletes who indulge in drug
abuse.
6. Envy – to get attention from someone: as a sign of protest envy is a major
cause of drug abuse.
7. Laziness –“ I can’t syndrome”, incapacity to achieve – the breeding ground
of drug abuse. Boredom coupled with poor self-image.
Underlying Causes/ Influences of Drug Abuse
■ The drug addict or abuser is generally an emotionally unstable
person before he acquires the habit. He can not face painful
situations without help, he has less will power and self control.
He has not adjusted himself to his emotional reaction. Due to
this, drug addicts have low capacities for dealing with
frustrations, anxieties and stress.
■ Drug abuse is a multi-faceted problem exists in our locality and
countryside, there is usually more than one reason why this
problem exists. Any of the following factors may influence
people to abuse drugs.
A. Biological Factors
 Individual ‘s general health – there are several diseases that easily make
a person become a drug abuser. Examples are fatigue, chronic cough,
insomnia, and discomfort.
 It is believe that drug has the special power to prevent or to increase
sexual capacity.
■ One specific genetic theory proposes that there is an inherited
defect in the production of endorphin, similar to morphine. A
deficiency of the substance leads to bodily discomfort. With
the use of the morphine, this feeling is induced. According to
theory, a person who uses morphine has the physiological
abnormality where endorphin production is less. The drugs
when we use the body cells work actively.
B. Common Causation of Drug Abuse

■ Children of broken home easily join peer groups as substitutes to their

lost family solidarity.
■ To strike and over protectiveness of parents.
■ For curiosity – eagerness to know what they have not experienced.
■ To assert their independence.
■ To rebel from parental authority.
■ To prove their guts.
■ To escape problems.
■ Peer pressure and for the sake of PAKIKISAMA.
■ They believe that drug can give deeper insights.
■ The belief that medicines can magically solve problems.
■ The easy access to drug or various sort in an affluent society.
■ The enjoyment of euphoria or excitement induced by drugs.
■ The search for sharpened perception and high perception and
creativity, which some people believe they obtained from drugs.
■ The beliefs that they are just taking it like alcohol.
■ The dissatisfaction or disillusion of lost of faith in the prevailing system.
■ The tendency of persons with psychological problems to seed easily
solution with chemicals.
■ The statement of proselytizers who proclaim the goodness of drugs.
■ Slum condition - the most critical is that the slum dweller are often
deprived of emotional support.
 C. Factors in Youthful Drug Abuse
(Psychological, mental health, family conditions)
1. Motives and Attitudes
Psychologically speaking, in terms of motives and function of drug
use, some of which may not be recognized by users themselves.
The more a drug is used, the more it tends to satisfy more than one
motive or need.
Recent surveys of college drug use have induces the students
reasons for drug use.
In one study smaller or larger groups mentioned all of the
following motives:

1. To feel more courageous.

2. To find out more about oneself.
3. To have a religious experience to come close to God.
4. To satisfy a strong craving or compulsion.
5. To increase or reduce appetite.
6. To feel less dull or sluggish, improve sex.
7. To reduce sexual desire and keep from being panicked or crazy.
8. To improve intelligence or learning, prepare stress.
9. To feel less depress of sad, relieve tension or nervousness
10.To make good moral mood last longer, relieve anger or irritation
2. Personality and Pathology

1. Chronic, low-grade depression.

2. Smoldering, tense and restlessness.
3. A sense of not being taken seriously.
4. Narcissism or egocentricity.
5. Preoccupation with issues or identity, autonomy, and freedom of
expression.
6. Repeated dwelling on drug taking and its effects.
7. Difficulty in interpersonal relations.
3. Family Background
■ The kinds of personality disturbances found in some young
addicts and heads cannot, in the current state of knowledge, be
identified as brain damage or schizophrenia. It is more in the
manner of character disorder. And the behavior may be the result
of inadequate socialization, condition of child rearing and family
interaction. The few available facts about families of young
abuser lend credence to this idea.
4. The Psycho-Social Factors

1. Personality Disorder - Drug abuse is a manifestation of an underlying

character of personality disorder. Thus majority of the drug users are
fundamentally immature, emotionally childish, insecure or are suffering
from problems of adolescence.
2. Social Disorder - A sign or symptom of family problem involving
parent – child relationship, peer pressures, unethical values.
5. Other Factors

1. Ignorance, curiosity.
2. Laxity of government and other authorities
3. Mass media influence
4. Nature of society resulting in the increased violent behavior for
youth.
Identification of Drug Abusers
1. Change in interest – they lose interest in their studies and in their work.
They fail in school, shift from one course to another, transfer of school of
lower standard until eventually drop out.
2. Frequent shifting of mood – they are euphoric, elated and sometimes even
ecstatic when under the influence of drugs. They would be indifferent,
irritable and even hostile when the effect of drug is waning from the system.
3. Changes in behavior – they usually spend a lot. They are usually in the
company of known drug users in the community. They come home late; they
become disrespectful and would sell personal or family valuables.
4. Changes in physical appearance – if they can be seen while still under the
influence of drugs the following can be noted:
■ They know the lingo of the abusers, i.e. OMAD. Chongki, Bitin,
etc.
■ Presence of linear scar in the arms, forearms and abdomen.
■ Lobule of left ear punctured and some of the males even wear
earrings.
Process of Detecting Drug
Abusers
1. Observation

■ Observations of the signs and symptoms of drug abuse may take

relatively a long period of time. Good sensory equipment and a
high degree of objectivity are two requirements for a good
observer. To be an effective observer, the observer should not let
his own personal judgements and reactions affect his
observations. He should exercise care in his observation such
that the suspected drug abuser is not made aware of being
observed.
Detecting a drug user is not an easy task. The signs
and symptoms of drug abuse, especially in the
beginning stages can be identical to those produced
by conditions having nothing whatsoever to do with
drugs.
It is always necessary to exercise certain prudence before
drawing conclusions. Some judgments may only hurt the
individual; if he is innocent and one may lose his love and
trust. Only after observing calmly and patiently his
behavior, appearance and associations, may one pass
judgment and act.
To detect a drug abuser one should observe
the following:

1. neglect of personal appearance

2. diminished drive, lack of ambition
3. reduced attention span
4. poor quality of school work
5. impaired communication skills
6. less care for the feeling of others, lessening of accustomed
family warmth
7. pale face, red eyes, dilation or constricted pupils, wearing
sunglasses at wrong places
8. change from active to passive and withdrawn behavior
9. secretive about money, disappearance of money and other
valuables from the house
10.friends refusing to identify themselves or hang up when you answer the
phone
11.overreaction to mild conditions
12.smell of marijuana, sweetish odor, like a burned rope in the clothes or
room, etc.
13.symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, muscular aches,
insomnia and convulsions, etc.
14. presence of :

a. butt from marijuana joint

b. holders (i.e. pipe clips) for the joint
c. presence of leaves, seeds in pockets or lining
d. rolling paper, pipes, “bong” in closet or pocket
e. cough syrup bottles, capsules, syringes, etc.
f. visines or Eye-Mo bottles to treat red eyes
g. devices for hiding drugs like trash cans, soft drinks bottles
h. presence of other pills like valium, artane, other tranquilizers
i. presence of physician’s prescription pad in blank form
2. History Taking

A. Collateral Information (Interview with information)

The best information is from the patient himself, but collateral
information is necessary. Ideally, a parent or close relative or a
close friend should be present to furnish useful details as to the
different changes observed in the patient that made them suspect
the subject is abusing drugs. These changes may be in his
appearance, behavior, mood, or interest.
Added information:
■ If subject’s “barkadas” are also known drug abusers in the
community.
■ He knows the language of drug dependents.
■ Seeing in his room, books or in his belongings or in his
possession empty bottles of cough syrups, empty medicine
foils, MJ sticks or rolling paper.
B. Interview with patient
Inquire regarding the drugs being abused, onset of his drug taking activity,
reason for abusing drugs, how he supports his vice, etc.
 3. Laboratory Examination

Accurate laboratory examinations cannot be performed by any

ordinary chemist since detection of dangerous drugs requires
sophisticated equipment and apparatus, special chemical reagents
and most of all, the specialized technical know-how.
 4. Psychological Examination
■ This phase of drug detection requires the expertise of trained
psychologists. Teachers therefore are not in a position to
administer psychological examinations among their students.
Psychological examination findings will correspond to the
general findings of a drug prone individual:
- drowsy or lethargic appearance accompanied by scratching and
without alcoholic breath, tendency to giggle excessively at things
which others don’t consider funny, and over-active and over
talkative.
 Psychological Tests
a. Intelligence Test – the test is designed to cover a wide variety of mental functions with
special emphasis on adjustment comprehension and reasoning.
b. Personality Test – this type of test is used to evaluate the character and personality
traits of an individual such as his emotional adjustment, interpersonal relation, motivation
and attitude.
c. Aptitude Test – this test is to measure the readiness with which the individual
increases his knowledge and improves skills when given the necessary opportunity and
training.
d. Interest Test – this is designed to reveal the field of interest that a client will be
interested in.
e. Psychiatric Evaluation – it is a process whereby a team of professionals composed of
psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric social workers conduct an examination to
determine whether or not a patient is suffering from psychiatric disorder.
END OF CHAPTER 3