HUGE DROP IN DRUG USE

AMONG FILIPINO YOUTH

SURVEY
Source: http://www.rappler.com/nation/49915survey-filipino-youth-less-vices
MANILA, Philippines The results of a nationwide survey releases on Thursday,
February 6, showed a drop in vices, particularly drug abuse, among Filipino youth and
young adults in the last 11 years.
Nimfa Ogena of the University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI), one
of the two organizations that conducted the survey, said, Perhaps smoking, drinking,
and drug use have become too expensive for them, the youth has found other vices, or
they are just getting more responsible.
Since the study was done in 2013 the year sin tax was implemented higher
excise taxes might explain why young Filipinos who are still in high school or college, or
young professionals starting their career in the workforce, were discouraged from
smoking. (READ: A year of sin tax: Too early to assess public health impact)
The number of current alcohol drinkers, on the other hand, has declined
significantly from 41% to 37%.
The most substantial decline was found in drug use, with only 4% of young
Filipinos admitting to the act as compared to almost 11% in 2002.
Ogena said the initial findings should give adults less reason to worry about the
state of young people, although further analysis has yet to be done to explain the
pattern in these risk behaviors.
In 2013, the Department of Health launched Pilipinas Go4Health, a nationwide
health lifestyle movement that encourages Filipinos to go smoke-free and go slow sa
tagay (in drinking) to prevent chronic lifestyle-related noncommunicable diseases
(NCDs).
According to the World Health Organization, NCDs account for 60% of total
deaths globally, with 40 million deaths estimated every year. It also contributes to 40%
of universal disease burden annually. Rappler.com (Article by Jee Y. Geronimo)

EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE ON

TEENS
Source: https://casapalmera.com/the-effects-ofdrug-abuse-on-teens/
Drug abuse at any age can cause serious health effects, but teens who abuse drugs are
at particular risk for negative consequences.
* Emotional problems. Drug abuse can cause or mask emotional problems such as
anxiety, depression, mood swings, suicidal thoughts and schizophrenia. In fact, among
teens with major depression, 34.6 percent report using drugs. Unfortunately, drug use
can also increase the severity of these emotional problems. For example, teens that use
marijuana weekly double their risk of depression and anxiety.
* Behavioral problems. Teens who abuse drugs have an increased risk of social
problems, depression, suicidal thoughts and violence. According to a recent survey by
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, teens who abuse
drugs are more likely than teens who dont abuse drugs to engage in delinquent
behaviors such as fighting and stealing.
* Addiction and dependence. Studies prove that the younger a person is when they
begin using drugs the more likely they are to develop a substance abuse problem and
relapse later in life.
* Risky sex. Teens that use drugs are five times more likely to have sex than teens who
dont use drugs. Teens that use drugs are also more likely to have unprotected sex and
have sex with a stranger. This leads to higher risks of STDs, teen pregnancy and sexual
assault.
* Learning problems. Drug abuse damages short-term and long-term memory and can
lead to problems with learning and memory later in life.
* Diseases. Teens who abuse drugs with needles increase their risk of blood-borne
diseases like HIV, AIDS and Hepatitis B and C.
* Brain damage. Drug abuse among teens can result in serious mental disorders or
permanent, irreversible damage to the brain or nervous system. Brain damage among
teens who abuse drugs includes brain shrinkage; impaired learning abilities; amnesia
and memory problems; impaired reasoning, perception and intuition; increased or
decreased socialization; and changes in sexual desire.*

ADOLESCENT DRUG USE AND

PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH
Source: Jonathan Shedler and Jack Block
University of California Berkeley
Drug abuse among young people is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Almost
daily, we are besieged by media reports of drug-related tragedy, of shootings in our
schools, gang warfare, and overdose-related deaths. Many see the drug problem as
epidemic (Robins, 1984). As an increasing share of society's resources is diverted
toward coping with the drug problem and its consequences, the need for sound,
scientific information on the factors contributing to drug use is urgent.
Recognizing the crucial importance of prospective inquiry into the psychological
antecedents of drug use, a number of longitudinal studies of adolescent development
have been undertaken and have deepened our understanding of the interplay of
psychosocial forces during adolescence (e.g., Brook, Gordon, & Whiteman, 1985;
Brook, Whiteman, Gordon. & Cohen, 1986; Jessor & Jessor, 1977, 1978; Smith & Fogg,
1978; see Kandel, 1978, for a review). In general, however, these studies have also
been interpretively constrained because they have studied adolescents already well
along in years (subjects have rarely been younger than age 13) and because they have
tended to track these adolescents for no more than three or four years, from junior high
school into high school or from high school into college. Also, these studies have tended
to depend, perhaps too heavily, on self-administered, mailed, or impersonally offered
questionnaires.
To date, only two truly long-term investigations into the childhood antecedents of drug
use have appeared. The Woodlawn study of Kellam and his associates (Kellam,
Branch, Agrawal, & Ensminger, 1975; Kellam, Brown, Rubin, & Ensminger, 1983) traced
the development of a group of poor, Black, urban children beginning at ages 6 to 7. In
the Woodlawn study, Kellam et al. found that psychological characteristics assessed at
ages 6 to 7 foretold drug use at ages 16 to 17, a decade later. The longitudinal study
initiated by Jeanne and Jack Block (see J. H. Block & J. Block, 1980) followed a group
of San Francisco Bay area children from nursery school on and found numerous,
theoretically coherent relations between psychological characteristics assessed in
nursery school and subsequent drug use in early adolescence, at age 14 (Block, Block,
& Keyes, 1988). These studies converge in demonstrating the existence of important
psychological antecedents of drug use, antecedents dating to the earliest years of

childhood. Conjointly, they suggest that early psychological factors may be central to an
understanding of drug use, and they highlight the need for prospective research.

LAWS AND CASES ABOUT YOUTH

INVOLVEMENT IN DRUGS
Source: http://www.legal-infolegale.nb.ca/en/uploads/file/pdfs/Youth_Drugs_and_
the_Law_EN.pdf
What kinds of sentences do youth get when the court finds
them guilty of drug-related crimes?
When youth aged 12 to 17 are charged with crimes, a special law
called the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) applies to them. The
Criminal Code applies to both adults and youth. The YCJA,
however, is the law that deals with how we hold young people
accountable when they are accused of crimes. It contains rules,
guidelines and options for police, judges and others who deal with
youth crime. Under the YCJA, there are many sentencing options
available to the court which can be used alone or along with other
options when sentencing youth. Some of the options include:
Warnings Community service Conditional or absolute
discharge Probation for up to 2 years Payment of fine of up to
$1,000 Custody and supervision order To decide on an
appropriate sentence under the YCJA the judge must consider
such things as the character, attitude and maturity of the accused
young person, as well as any previous record, the circumstances
of the crime and the quantity of the drug involved.

DOH-NCR EMPOWERS YOUTH

AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS AND
SUBSTANCES
Source: http://www.gov.ph/2013/09/05/doh-ncrempowers-youth-against-illegal-drugs-andsubstances/
The Department of Health National Capital Region (DOH-NCR) today conducted
health education and advocacy campaign against the trafficking and use of dangerous
drugs and illegal substances to members of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), student
council leaders, and health program managers of local government units in Metro
Manila.
The conduct of the Orientation on the Illegal Use of Drugs, Abuse, Prevention and
Control of DOH-NCR aims to develop a more responsive promotion, education and
advocacy campaign against drug use, abuse, prevention and control among SK
Chairmen of targeted barangays, student councils of secondary schools in the region.
According to Janairo, they have targeted the youths because illegal drug use usually
peaks during late adolescence and early adulthood. They also have a wide network to
connect with. It is during these teenage years that we must guide and supervise them
through their physical, intellectual, emotional, and social development.
According to the 2008 Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and Department of Interior and
Local Government (DILG) Survey-Based Profile, there are 1,718,855 users of illegal
drugs and substances in the country. Age group ranges from 10-60 years old and
above.
Among the illegal drugs and substances that are used are methamphetamine
hydrochloride (shabu), cannabis (marijuana, brownies, seeds, hashish), and inhalants
(contact cement or rugby).
In a 2009 study conducted by DOH and Department of Education in Metro Manila and
Cebu, the average age of a confirmed user is 17 years old. Male to female ration is 9:1.
Substance of choice is marijuana. And age of users ranges from 13-21 years old.