Detection of Drug Abusers

Lesson 1: Detection of Drug Abusers

• Situational users use drugs to maintain wakefulness or energy for important tasks and may or may not show psychological dependence.
• Spree users, often school-aged, use drugs for "kicks" or as a means of fun and may exhibit some psychological dependence but little physical dependence.
• Hard core addicts' lives revolve around drug use and obtaining supplies, showing strong psychological dependence.
• Hippies are addicted to drugs and see it as an integral part of life.
• Personal appearance neglect is a sign of drug abuse.
• A diminished drive or lack of ambition can indicate drug abuse.
• Reduced attention span is a sign of drug abuse.
• Poor quality of school work suggests drug abuse.
• Impaired communication skills could indicate drug abuse.
• Lessened care for others' feelings and reduced family warmth can be a sign.
• Pale face, red eyes, dilated or constricted pupils, and wearing sunglasses inappropriately can be signs of drug abuse.
• Changes from active to passive, withdrawn behavior can indicate drug abuse.
• Secretiveness about money and its disappearance, along with other valuables, is a sign of drug abuse.
• Overreaction to mild conditions can indicate drug abuse.
• A sweetish smell like burned rope on clothes or in a room could be marijuana.
• Symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, muscular aches, insomnia, and convulsions can be signs.
• A loss of interest in studies and work, leading to failing grades and dropping out of school are signs of potential drug abuse.
• Frequent mood shifts, from euphoric to indifferent and hostile, can be indicators of drug use.
• Changes in behavior such as spending habits, associating with known drug users, coming home late, disrespect, and selling valuables are behaviors linked to drug use.
• Obvious physical appearance changes when under the influence can be telling.

Lesson 2: The Global Drug Situation

• The first most important drug traffic route involves Middle East >> Turkey >> Europe >> US for drug passage.
• Drugs from the Golden Triangle is a primary drug route.
• Drugs from the Golden Crescent is also a primary drug route.

World's Drug Scene

• Southeast Asia's "Golden Triangle" produces about 60% of the world's opium and serves as the source of Southeast Asian Heroin.
• Southwest Asia's "Golden Crescent" supplies opium poppy, MJ, and Heroin, producing 85-90% of illicit heroin.
• The Becka Valley in Lebanon is the largest cannabis producer in the Middle East and acts as a transit country for cocaine to Europe.
• Spain is a major transshipment point for drug traffickers in Europe.
• Columbia, Peru, Uruguay, and Panama are sources of all cocaine supply worldwide.
• Morocco is a top cannabis producer.
• The Philippines is a major transshipment point for shabu and cocaine, and a secondary MJ supplier.
• India is a central point in the world's drug map, facing rapid addiction issues.
• Northern Sumatra in Indonesia has historically been a main cannabis growing region.
• Bali, Indonesia is a key transit point for drugs heading to Australia and New Zealand.
• Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand are favorite drug distribution sites from the "Golden Triangle" and other Asian regions.
• China serves as a transit route for heroin from the "Golden Triangle" to Hong Kong.
• Hong Kong is a world transshipment point for all forms of heroin.
• Japan is a major consumer of cocaine and shabu from primarily the U.S. and Europe.

Organized Crime Groups Behind the Global Drug Scene

• The Columbian Medellin Cartel, founded by figures like Pablo Escobar Gaviria, was responsible for organizing the global drug trafficking network but was dismantled by Colombian government.
• The Cali Cartel emerged after the Medellin Cartel's downfall, becoming a powerful cocaine monopoly led by Gilberto Rodriquez Orajuela.
• The Sinaloa cartel, led by Joaquín Guzmán Loera ("El Chapo"), became one of the world's most powerful drug cartels in the 21st century, controlling majority of illegal drugs in the U.S.
• The Chinese Triad, also called the Chinese Mafia, is considered to be the oldest and largest criminal organization, allegedly controlling the "Golden Triangle".
• The Binondo-based Chinese syndicate is identified as the nucleus of the Triad Society, including the Bamboo gang from Taiwan and the 14K from Hong Kong.
• Drug syndicates pose as fishermen to drop shabu loads to members along the northern Luzon shoreline and are involved in marijuana cultivation and drug manufacture.

Lesson 3: The Dangerous Drugs

• Depressants suppress vital body functions, especially in the brain and central nervous system, leading to impaired judgment, hearing, speech, and muscular coordination.
• They dull minds and slow body reactions, increasing the risk of accidental deaths or suicides.
• Opium is derived from the poppy plant and causes euphoria, relaxation, and reduce pain with side effects like slowed breathing, lower heart rate, and appetite loss.
• Morphine, a potent opiate, is an effective painkiller with a high dependence potential, characterized by analgesia, drowsiness, mood changes, and mental clouding.
• Heroin is a powerful morphine derivative that rapidly leads to addiction, typically injected and leads to addiction within 14 days.
• Codeine, an opium derivative in cough preparations, is abused by young people when hard narcotics are not easily available.
• Withdrawal symptoms from codeine are less severe than those of other drugs.
• Paregoric, a tincture of opium with camphor, is a household remedy for diarrhea and abdominal pain.
• Demerol and Methadone are synthetic drugs with morphine-like effects, wherein Demerol is a painkiller for childbirth, and methadone is a drug of choice for heroin withdrawal treatment.
• Barbiturates induce sleep and treat anxiety, stress, insomnia, epilepsy, and hypertension.
• Seconal is commonly used among hospitality girls, and its withdrawal can cause severe convulsions.
• Tranquilizers calm, relax, and diminish anxiety without inducing sleep.
• Volatile Solvents, or "gas," include plastic glues, hair spray, nail polish, and are inhaled using plastic bags or rags.
• Alcohol, a widely used and socially accepted drug, serves as a disinfectant in medicine and as a preservative for pharmaceutical preparations.
• Stimulants produce increased mental alertness, wakefulness, and reduce hunger while providing a feeling of well-being.
• Amphetamines are used for weight loss in obesity, relieving mild depression, and treating "highness".
• Cocaine, taken orally, injected, or sniffed, induces euphoria and intense feelings with effects.
• Caffeine, found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and some pills, is used for mental alertness, migraine relief, and athletic enhancement.
• Shabu/ (methamphetamine), is a central nervous system stimulant that can be taken orally, inhaled, or injected.
• Nicotine in tobacco stimulates the central nervous system, creating a temporary feeling of well-being and relaxation.
• Hallucinogens consist of mind-altering drugs that distort reality, thinking, and perceptions.
• Marijuana causes relaxation and euphoria.
• Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) is the most powerful psychedelic derived from ergot and causes intense perceptual changes and hallucinations.
• Mescaline, from the peyote cactus or synthesized, produces hallucinations and sensory distortions.
• Serenity, Tranquillity and Peace (STP) is a mescaline derivative claimed to produce more violent and longer effects.
• Psilocybin from Mexican mushrooms produces hallucinations and mood changes.
• Morning Glory Seeds produce hallucinations when ground and ingested.

The Effects of Drug Abuse

• Malnutrition occurs as addiction takes over life, leading to missed meals and appetite loss.
• Skin infections and rashes result from poor hygiene and the use of unsterilized needles.
• Low resistance to diseases and possible infection of HIV/AIDS. Drug dependence can occur from arthritis.
• Psychological effects include deterioration of personality, impaired mental function, loss of drive, psychosis, depression, loss of interest, boredom, irritability, and forgetfulness.
• Social effects involve deteriorated relationships, conflict, crime, and social maladjustment.
• Regular drug use decreases brain activity, leading to changes in behavior.
• Drug dependents lose the ability to control their actions.
• Personal difficulties are masked.
• Constructive goals will be lost.
• Economic effects will occur as the ability to hold stable jobs is impossible as time is spent on doing drugs.
• Accidents become more prone in industry as dullness of the mind takes over along with the loss of concentration.