CATANGAY, Kristen Althea R.
ABS 2-P
CWTS Module 1: Assessment
1. Discuss the four commonly abused drugs and their effect on one’s body.
a. Depressants are also known as downers and referred to as sedatives. It mostly
affects an individual's nervous system which slows down the messages between
the brain and the body. It can also affect one’s concentration and ability to
respond. Aside from mental and psychological effects, depressants are also
known to cause kidney or liver damage, or worse death.
b. Stimulants are the opposite of depressants for it speeds up the messages
between the body and the brain. The most common side effects of stimulants are
loss of appetite and trouble in sleeping. It can also cause increased heart rate,
interrupted sleeping patterns, elevated body temperature and blood pressure,
and hallucinations. Amphetamines, MDMA, cocaine, caffeine, and nicotine are
the different types of stimulants.
c. Hallucinogens might change the way people see, hear, taste, smell or feel. It
mainly causes hallucinations. The immediate effects of hallucinogens are blurred
vision, dizziness, increased breathing rate, heart rate, and blood pressure,
nausea, vomiting, numbness, paranoia, and hallucinations.
d. Narcotics are also known as opioids which are known for relieving pain. Nausea,
vomiting, constipation, dizziness, dry mouth, and sedation. It can also slow one’s
breathing and heart rate with higher doses. Continuous usage of narcotics might
lead to addiction.
2. Describe the manifestations of drug dependency in terms of the following:
- Physical: Physical signs of drug dependency or addiction include insomnia,
slurred speech, unusual body odors, more prone to illnesses, changes in one’s
appearance, and health conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure,
stroke, high cholesterol, and skin disorders. It also causes the inability of an
individual to quit the usage of drugs without anyone’s help.
- Psychological and Emotional: Dependency and addiction to drugs also lead to
emotional and psychological manifestations. Some of the few signs of this are
hallucinations and delusions wherein an individual loses its touch with reality.
Worse symptoms of mental illnesses are such as anxiety, depression, emotional
distress, and peer pressure, which is also a sign. People addicted to drugs will
also be in denial with their current condition. Drugs also have significant effects
with thinking processes and emotions.
- Behavioral: An individual's physical and psychological health can be affected by
drug addiction, so as the behavior. People who become too much dependent on
drugs become manipulative, easily irritated, fearful or paranoia, sudden mood
changes, neglectfulness with responsibilities in life, inability to focus, and drugs
just generally take over with their whole body and personality.
3. Explain why the youth must be educated on illegal drugs.
Youths nowadays are easily influenced by the use and abuse of illegal drugs. Not
having enough knowledge on how these drugs might affect one’s whole life will be
catastrophic. Not only will it damage one’s physical health, but also its psychological
and behavioral patterns. Generally, the use of these illegal substances will ruin one’s
life. Education about drug dependency and addiction is not only for an individual’s sake,
but everyone else. A student can pass his or her learnings to other youth and people
who do not have access to education, not only will it save his/her life, but the lives of
other people as well. It is always our responsibility to keep ourselves healthy, may it be
physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual so we should always be aware and as much
as possible knowledgeable on how to take care of our health and generally, ourselves.
