How to combat drug addiction

Media

Part of The Cross

Title: How to combat drug addiction
Language: English
Year: 1972
Rights
Fulltext: DRUG ADDICTION WE’VE ALL heard the fright ening stories about how drug abuse has spread into even the most unlikely communities, and how dope is making the rounds in every school. No family, or neighborhood is immune from the threat. It’s hard not to feel helpless about this nationwide menace that most of us under stand hardly at all. What can any one individual do? National and state programs against drug abuse are beginning to work, but the real need for action is on the local front right now. The fact is, more and more parents and community leaders are learning that they can do something about drugs. Their experience suggests action you can take in your town. You might start by looking into the problem on your own, but it’s wise to get others involved soon— friends and neighbors, or a club you belong to. You can also join existing anti-drug programs if there are some good ones in your town. Whatever your approach, here are some effective actions to take: 1. FACE THE PROBLEM. Despite vast evidence that drug abuse goes on almost everywhere, many people don’t want to look in their own back yards. You need hard facts to con vince skeptics, that your town is in deed vulnerable—and perhaps in se rious trouble. Because illicit drug traffic is an underground activity, the facts aren’t easy to come by. Start by talk ing with your police department, school and hospital officials, doc tors, pharmacists, clergy, local serv ice agencies. You might also set up a survey to send to doctors, school officials, and other people who may be alert to the problem. Get some one who knows about research meth ods to help you design the survey. 2. KNOW WHAT YOU’RE TALK ING ABOUT. Learn as much as you can about the different kinds of drug abuse, and what the appeals and dangers are. It’s easier to stimulate action when you’re up on your facts. You’ll also get better answers from the youngsters. Try to understand the drug culture and how young people think today—and be prepared to discuss adult abuse of medicines, alcohol and tobacco. 3. FIND OUT WHAT YOUR TOWN IS ALREADY DOING. BePage 14 How To Combat Drug Addiction fore starting any program yourself (or with a club), you should inves tigate what can be done with exist ing facilities. You will avoid dupli cating efforts, and you may find the right niche for your particular in terests. Volunteers are welcome in many operations; often you’ll re ceive special training. 4. DRAFT FOR FUND-RAISING. Typically, anti-drug programs start out with private donations and some local government support. Find out what’s available in your town. Existing agencies, both private and public, probably have some mo ney channels open already. Look into how these could be expanded, but tread lightly. There’s no issue more sensitive than how money is distrib uted. 4. KEEP THE MEDIA IN VOLVED. One splashy TV program or a single open meeting will not stop drug abuse. You must make ev eryone in town aware of the con tinuing menace—and keep them up to date on what you’re doing. Coop eration from the media is a neces sity. Make such publicity the fulltime concern of at least one member of your coordinating committee. 6. GET YOUNGSTERS IN VOLVED. "Peer pressure is a prime mover in drug abuse,” according to CODAC’s director, Donald Jackson. "When you can get youngsters to in fluence other youngsters about not using drugs, you’ve got a fine pre ventive program going.” When young people can throw their energy and ingenuity into helping other kids, they’re using themselves constructively. Among other things, this activity counters the boredom that leads so many youngsters into drugs. Furthermore, the kids know what their friends will and won’t listen to; teen-age advis ors on any community program can save considerable time and money. SOME COLD, HARD PACTS ABOUT DRUGS Maybe sometime soon you might have to talk to some teenagers about drugs. We hope not. But if you have to, this page is intended to give you something to start talking about, in terms they understand. Please get through to them—about the evils of it all. THE OPIATES This group of drugs is what peo ple generally refer to when they say "narcotics". Opiates can be used medically as pain killers. Outside medical circles, they can cause pain for the user and society in general. Proliferation of the use of these drugs—opium, morphine and heroin —has stemmed here largely from Tondo, regarded as the hotbed of lo cal addiction. The Tondo addicts have coined their own words and phrases for the so-called "habit.” Opium The white powder is extracted from the unripe seeds of the poppy plant. It can be eaten, but generally is smoked in a pipe. Morphine A derivative of opium, it is one of the strongest medically used pain killers—and is strongly addictive. Doctors use it to relieve pain and induce sleep. In large doses, it can bring on a coma, and even death. Heroin This is the ultimate in a threestage preparation that begins with opium. Unlike the second stage, morphine, it is banned from medical use because of its higher rate of addiction. It is the most commonly used drug among aUdicts in most parts of the world—through sniffing or injection either under the skin or into a vein. Related Slang "Gamot"—the term local addicts use to refer to the three opiates. Mainline or "saksak”—injecting a drug into a vein. May-June, 1972 Paraphernalia or "gamit"—the ap paratus for drug injection, including a syringe, platter and spoon with which to inject a powdered drug. Fix or "kasa"—an injection of opiates, usually heroin. Junkie or “magkakasa"—an opiate addict Packet "balot" or "papelito"— amount of drugs being peddled to ad dicts. “Cold Turkey”—the method of curing a drug addict by taking him off drugs without a tapering-off pe riod. (Experience here has shown that this method has been only one per cent effective in the country’s lone rehabilitation center in Tagaytay, Cavite.) The main problem in discontinuing opiate use is not get ting off the stuff but staying off it. Pusher or “may patinda”—a main source of the drugs. Some Tondo pushers reportedly have elaborate setups, using third parties in ped dling their wares.) High or “sagad”—the state of in mental dislocation. (A Manila po lice report refers to this as “per secution complex — amphetamine style.”) A person suffering this us ually loses contact with reality. Complete cure is not assured by the withdrawal of a victim. Cocaine This stimulant, in powdered form or liquified for "mainlining,” is de rived from the leaves of the coca plant. While not necessarily addic tive, it does produce a strong psy chological craving. Related Slang Crashing or “basag”—withdrawal from amphetamines, marked by a sudden fit of depression. PSYCHEDELICS OR HALLUCINOGENS These are drugs which create hal lucinations or other mind-altering experiences. Manila police criminal blotters have recorded accidents or der or liquid form. Its effects last from two to six hours. Mescaline Derived from the peyote cactus, this drug is the most recent in the hallucinogenic field in this country. Though milder than LSD, its effects are the same—vivid visual impres sions that can last from 10 to 12 hours. Peyote Also from the peyote cactus, this is a less concentrated form of 'mes caline. STP or DOM This is a synthetic chemical re lated to mescaline and ampheta mines and is reported to be mind distorting but less so than LSD. It has not yet found a market here, but the National Bureau of Investigation has been alerted about its eventual entry. Marijuana Derived from the crushed and Parents and community leaders can be potent factors in the fight against the drug menace. Their influence in the home and community can bolster existing anti-drug programs. near unconsciousness experienced by an addict as the result of a mild overdose. (An overdose is the main cause of death among addicts, para lyzing the victim’s brain.) THE STIMULANTS These drugs stimulate the body system, prodding its user into exces sive activity, excitability, talkative ness, extreme nervousness, irritabi lity and an argumentative disposi tion. Although not physically addic tive like opiates, they can produce a psychological dependence or crav ing. Amphetamines These are the main group of sti mulants which can be taken in tab let or capsule* form, or by injection into the bloodstream (by "speed freaks”). The most widely used in this country is Benzedrine (ben nies). Others classified under this category are Dexedrine ("dex” or "dexies”), Methedrine ("speed”) and Biphetamine (“foot-balls”). A major danger from ampheta mine use is the overdose, resulting May-June, 1972 rape cases in which those involved allegedly had taken such drugs. LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide) The most potent hallucinogenic drug, it comes in the form of pow der in a capsule, small white pills or a colorless, tasteless liquid. A pill no larger than the point-of a pin can launch its user into mind-stag gering experiences, marked by dislo cation in time and space, eeriness, fear, panic and even psychosis. It is also referred to as "acid," "cubes.” "Pearly Gates" or "heavenly blue.” DMT (Dimethyltryptamine) A powerful psychedelic, it prod uces effects similar to those of LSD, when taken in large doses. It comes in powdered or liquid form, and is usually injected into the vein or smoked along with marijuana or in cigarets. Its effects last generally an hour or two. Psilocybin This psychedelic comes from a mushroom and is less potent than LSD. It is supplied in crystal, powchopped leaves and flowers of the Indian hemp plant, Cannabis Sativa, it is either smoked in a cigaret or in a pipe. It causes a giddy feeling and moodiness. Though found not to be physically habit-forming, it none theless can serve as a springboard to the "harder stuff.” (Also known as "pot," “tea," "grass,” "Mary Jan e,” "loco weed,” "flower,” "straw” and "vipers weed.’’) Hashish More powerful than marijuana, this drug also comes from the flow ering top of the Indian hemp plant, and can be taken either orally or as a smoke. It is also referred to as "hash.”) Related Slang Acid head or tripper—a frequent LSD user. Barrels—a package of LSD tablets of not less than six. Flashback—a risk taken by LSD users in which they undergo the same experiences as when they took the drug months before. Other risks: Page 15 possible brain damage and chromo some breakage. Drops—LSD taken orally, usually dissolved in water and placed on a sugar cube. Reefers—marijuana cigarets also called "joints” and "sticks.” "Roach” is the butt end of a "joint.” DEPRESSANTS This category of drugs depresses the functions of the brain. Some ad dicts use depressants with stimu lants to achieve a "see-saw" effect. When combined with alcohol, the re sults can be fatal. Prolonged use could lead to impaired judgment and sluggish thought. Its most common effects are slow movement, sljirred speech, dilated pupils of the eyes and symptoms similar to those of alcohol intoxication. Barbiturates These drugs—taken in tablet or capsule form—are called "sedativesmedicines” and are aimed at causing sleepiness. They are highly addic tive, and repeated use results in physical withdrawal. The most popu lar here are Seconal, Mandrax, Nem butal, Amutal, Luminal or Tuinal. Related Slang S e c o n a 1—"red devils," "pula" (red), "bala” (bullet) and "balatong" (mongo beans). Mandrax — "Mx,” "Blue Max," "Puti" white), "M" and "bala.” FAMILY PLANNING The Moral and Theological Aspects of Family Planning Morality means responsibility. When we deal with responsibility in conception control, two problems confront us which are distinct but not unrelated. They are the prob lems of the (1) Development of Fam ily Life, and (2) the Control of Po pulation. I shall deal with these two problems separately. These two are not mutually exclusive; in at tending to one, the other is not ne cessarily neglected. And yet not any solution of one, e.g. Population Control, will automatically guaran tee the authentic solution of the other, Development of Family Life. Of the two, the more fundamental is the problem of the authentic dev elopment of Family Life. In the fi nal analysis, the basic problem con fronting us is the problem of dev elopment; and the crucial target of development is not material resour ces, but the spiritual quality of our human resources. Let us then examine the problem of responsibility in the development of family life particularly in the exercise of parenthood. Areas of Responsibility The area of our responsibility, in general, expands as the area over which we exercise conscious control, expands. Thus in the area of parent hood, responsibility was exercised, in our long history, only after new life came to birth; Man had no control over the process of gestation of life in the womb; much less, oVef the moment of its conception. It is only in fairly recent times that this res ponsibility was extended to pre-naPage 16 tai care with the advances in medi cal science. And in our own days, when the time and frequency of con ception have finally come-, into our power, these two now become mat ters for responsible deliberation The day may not be too far off when the determination of even the sex of some future child will be added to matters of parental responsibility. Responsibility Over Conception Control Responsibility over the control of conception is peculiarly critical in our times because of the changed conditions in our life. New demands of a medical, economic, social, eu genic and cultural character have been created, and they have imposed themselves as needs for human life in the societies of today. Responsi bility dictates that parents take these into their reckonings, if the children they are to raise are not to become socially handicapped in their world. I need not dwell on this; it has been sufficiently treated. I just want to note that the newness of this responsibility over conception control is catching many parents by surprise, and has consequently found them unprepared. It will be our task to prepare them for this. There are two qualities that the exercise of this responsibility calls for:’ 1) a personal, and 2) flexible exercise. No Imposed Decisions Responsibility can not be exercised by any other than the person upon whom that responsibility rests; it can not be imposed by another. Thus, in decisions involving the exercise of parenthood, the responsibility for such decisions must rest with the parents or parents-to-be themselves. And that, jointly. No other person or institution can substitute for them —not their own parents, nor pub lic authority, nor their pastor. To opt for a limitation or expansion of the size of their family belongs ex clusively to the couple, as an exer cise of an inalienable right. This principle is upheld by both Vaticah II and the United Nations. The role of interested agencies is to help cou ples to develop as to be able by them selves to arrive at responsible deci sions in this matter. Our role is es sentially educational. This is why the primary orientation of our Prog ram is towards Education, a forma tion in Responsibility. No Irreversible Measures No decision that parents make can truly be responsible, if made irrevo cably, once and for all. For the de cision affecting the exercise of pa renthood is conditioned by the hu man situation; and since human sit uations are ever changing, decisions must be open to revisions necessary to meet the changes. Can we say that a couple is truly responsive to their vocation to mar riage when from the very beginning of their married life, they have al ready determined for 'che entirety of that life what the number of theii children is to be? Marriage is a vocation to a love whose creativity is an ever present challenge. What that challenge calls for, can be res ponsibly determined only from mo ment to moment; it is conditioned by variables: the medical condition of spouses or of the children, their fiMay—June, 1972