MODULE SERIES IN

CRIMINOLOGY

A Flexible Learning Material

for

BS Criminology Students
(October 2021-Module 1)

FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
For 3rd year BS Criminology Students
 CHAPTER 4
DANGEROUS DRUGS
(19 Lessons)

Lessons: Examination of Dangerous Drugs, Examination of the Sample taken

from the Alleged Dangerous Drugs, Two Phases in the Examination of the
Alleged Dangerous Drugs, Examination of Urine Sample, Validity Test for Urine
Sample, Reasons for Conducting Validity Test, Instances when to allow
Unobserved Urine Specimen Collection: Different Types of Tampered Urine
Sample, Ways to Adulterate Urine Samples, Ways to Substitute a Urine Sample
and Ways to Dilute a Urine Specimen, Parameters for Validity Tests, Other
Methods for Confirmatory Validity Tests, Criteria in Determining Tampered Urine
Specimen

Drug- is a chemical substance that brings about physical, physiological, behavior and/or
psychological change in a person taking it.
A medicine or other substance which has a physiological effect when ingested or
otherwise introduced into the body. (Oxford Dictionary)

Discussion on Dangerous Drugs

Drug-is a chemical substance that brings about physical, physiological, behavioral and/ or
psychological change in a person taking it.

Medicinal drugs- a substance which when taken into a human body cures illness and/ or
relieves signs/symptoms of disease.
 Dangerous drugs- a substance affecting the central nervous system which when taken into
the human body brings about physical, emotional or behavioral changes in a person taking it.
 Drug abuse- any non-medical use of drugs that cause physical, psychological, legal;
economic, or social damage to the user or to people affected by the user’s behavior. abuse
usually refers to illegal drugs but may also be applicable to drugs that are available legally, such
as prescribed medications and certain over-the-counter medication.

Classification of Drugs
According to origin:
a. Natural drugs-are active ingredients, secondary metabolic products, of plants and other
living system that may be isolated by extraction. Examples: raw opium, marijuana, coca
bush.

b. Synthetic drugs- are artificially produced substances, synthesize in the laboratory, for the
illicit market, which are almost wholly manufactured from chemical compounds in illicit
laboratories. Examples: methamphetamine and barbiturates.

According to Legal Classification:

1. Republic Act #9165 Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002 (REPUBLIC ACT N
O. 9165 ] AN ACT INSTITUTING THE COMPREHENSIVE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT
 OF 2002, REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6425, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF 1972, AS AMENDED, PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES) -otherwise known as the Comprehensive
Drug Act of 2002, the term prohibited and regulated was change into dangerous drug
with the classification to:
a. Immediate precursors- a chemical substance used in the clandestine manufacturing
process becomes incorporated in full or part into the final molecules of a substance
under international control.
b. Essential chemicals-chemical substance used as reagent or solvent in the illegal;
manufacture of controlled precursor.
c. Narcotic, psychotropic and designer.
2. Presidential Decree #1619 Volatile Substance

MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 1619

PENALIZING THE USE OR POSSESSION OR THE UNAUTHORIZED SALE TO MINORS OF VOLATILE SUBSTANCES FOR THE
PURPOSE OF INDUCING INTOXICATION OR IN ANY MANNER CHANGING, DISTORTING OR DISTURBING THE
AUDITORY, VISUAL OR MENTAL PROCESS.

WHEREAS, reports from law enforcement agencies reveal that certain substances which are openly sold to the public are
being availed of by drug dependents as substitutes for dangerous drugs;

WHEREAS, medical research and studies show that the use of such substitutes could cause death, physiological damage
to the liver, kidneys, heart, blood and nervous system, induce dependency, self-destructive and anti-social acts while
under the influence thereof, and lead to the use of other drugs;

WHEREAS, it is imperative to stop the use of such substances as substitutes for dangerous drugs.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers
vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby decree and order as follows:

Section 1. Volatile substances as used in this Decree shall mean and include any liquid, solid or mixed substance having
the property of releasing toxic vapors or fumes containing one or more of the following chemical compounds: methanol,
ethanol, isopropanol, ethyl acetate, n-propyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl butyl ketone,
benzene, toluene, xylene, stryene, naphtalene, n-pentane, n-hexane, n-heptane, methylene chloride, trichloroenthylene,
tetrachloroenthylene, nitrous oxide, dichlorodifluoromethane, chlorodifluoromethane, isoamyl nitrate, ether or chloroform
or any other chemical substance which when sniffed, smelled, inhaled, or introduced into the physiological system of the
body produces or induces a condition of intoxication, inebriation, excitement, stupefaction, dulling of the brain or nervous
system, depression, giddiness, paralysis, or irrational behaviour or in any manner changing, distorting or disturbing the
auditory, visual or mental processes.

Section 2.  The use or possession of volatile substances for the purpose of inhalation to induce or produce intoxication or
any of the conditions described in the preceding section shall be punishable by imprisonment ranging from six months
and one day to four years and a fine ranging from six hundred to four thousand, pesos: Provided, however, That the
provisions of Article VI, entitled “Rehabilitative Confinement and Suspension of Sentence”, of Republic Act No. 6425, as
amended (otherwise known as the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972), shall, whenever appropriate, apply to the cases arising
hereunder.

Section 3.  The penalty of imprisonment ranging from four years and one day to eight years and a fine ranging from four
thousand to eight thousand pesos shall be imposed upon any person who sells, administers, delivers, or gives away to
another, on any terms whatsoever, or distributes, dispatches in transit or transports or who acts as a broker in any of
such transactions, any substance or mixture of substances containing one or more of the chemical compounds mentioned
in Section one hereof for the purpose of inhalation to induce or produce intoxication or any of the conditions described
therein.
 Section 4. The penalty of imprisonment ranging from four years and one month to eight years and a fine ranging from
four thousand to eight thousand pesos shall be imposed upon any person, or group of persons who shall maintain a den,
dive or resort where any substance or mixture of substances containing one or more of the chemical compounds
mentioned in Section one hereof is used for the purpose of inhalation to induce or produce intoxication or any of the
conditions described therein.

Section 5.  The sale of, and offer to sell, volatile substances to minors without requiring the written consent of their
parents or guardians as a condition for such sale or offer to sell shall be punishable by imprisonment ranging from six
months and one day to four years and a fine ranging from six hundred to four thousand pesos: Provided, That when the
minor is eighteen years or over and is duly licensed to drive a motor vehicle, such written consent shall not be necessary
when the volatile substance sold or offered for sale is gasoline or any other motive fuel for motor vehicles.

Section 6.  The sale of, and offer to sell, to minors of liquors or beverages containing an alcoholic content of thirty per
centum or above (60 proof or above) is hereby prohibited and shall be punishable by imprisonment ranging from six
months and one day to four years and a fine ranging from six hundred to four thousand pesos.

Section 7.  The Dangerous Drugs Board is hereby empowered to issue rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of
this decree, including the treatment and rehabilitation of dependents on volatile substances and their confinement in
rehabilitation or commercial products containing one or more of the chemical compounds mentioned in Section one
hereof, and the publication, whenever the need arises, in a newspaper of general circulation, a list of the mentioned
industrial or commercial products the sale of which is restricted or prohibited under the preceding sections.

Section 8.  This Decree shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 23rd day of July, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-nine.

3. (Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS

By the President:

(Sgd.) JACOBO C. CLAVE

Presidential Executive Assistant

Source: Malacañang Records Office

4. Republic Act #6425 Classification of:

a. Prohibited-includes opium and its active components and derivatives, such as heroin
and morphine; coca leaf and derivatives, principally cocaine; alpha and beta eucaine;
hallucinogenic drugs, such as mescaline, lysergic diethylamide (LSD) and other
substances producing similar effects; Indian hemp and its derivatives; all
preparations made from any of the foregoing; and other drugs and chemical
preparations, whether natural or synthetic, with psychophysiological effects of a
narcotic or a hallucinogenic drug; or amended by B.P.179 dated March 2, 1982.
b. Regulated- which includes self-inducing sedatives, such as secobarbital,
phenobarbital, pentobarbital, barbital, amobarbital and any other drug which contains
a salt or derivative of a salt of barbituric acid; any salt, isomer or salt of an isomer, of
amphetamine, such as Benzedrine or Dexedrine, or any other which produces a
physiological action similar to amphetamine; and hypnotic drugs, such as
methaqualone, nitrazepam or any other compound producing similar physiological
effects; as amended by PD no. 1683 dated March 14, 1980.
c. Dangerous drugs are a substance affecting the central nervous system which when
taken into the human body brings about the physical, emotional or behavior changes
in person taking it. A substance which when taken into the human body alters mood,
perception, feelings and behavior.
 REPUBLIC ACT No. 6425 April 4, 1972

THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF 1972

Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known and cited as "The Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972."

ARTICLE I
Definition of terms

Section 2. Definitions. As used in this Act, the term:

(a) "Administer" refers to the act of introducing any dangerous drug into the body of any person, with or without his
knowledge, by injection, ingestion or other means or of committing any act of indispensable assistance to a person in
administering a dangerous drug to himself;

(b) "Board" refers to the Dangerous Drugs Board created under Section 35, Article VIII of this Act;

(c) "Centers" refers to any of the treatment and rehabilitation centers for drug dependents referred to in Section 34, Article
VII of this Act;

(d) "Cultivate or culture" means the act of knowingly planting, growing, raising or permitting the planting, growing or
raising of any plant which is the source of a prohibited drug;

(e) "Dangerous drugs" refers to either:

(1) "Prohibited drug," which includes opium and its active components and derivatives, such as heroin and morphine;
coca leaf and its derivatives, principally cocaine; alpha and beta eucaine; hallucinogenic drugs, such as mescaline,
lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and other substances producing similar effects; Indian hemp and its derivates; all
preparations made from any of the foregoing; and other drugs, whether natural or synthetic, with the physiological effects
of a narcotic drug; or

(2) "Regulated drug," which includes self-inducing sedatives, such as secobarbital, phenobarbital, pentobarbital, barbital,
amobarbital and any other drug which contains a salt or a derivative of a salt of barbituric acid; any salt, isomer or salt of
an isomer, of amphetamine, such as benzedrine or dexedrine, or any drug which produces a physiological action similar
to amphetamine; and hypnotic drugs, such as methaqualone or any other compound producing similar physiological
effects;

(f) "Deliver" refers to a person's act of knowingly passing a dangerous drug to another, personally or otherwise, and by
any means, with or without consideration;

(g) "Drug dependence" means a state of psychic or physical dependence, or both, on a dangerous drug, arising in a
person following administration or use of that drug on a periodic or continuous basis;

(h) "Employee" of a prohibited drug den, dive or resort includes the caretaker, helper, watchman, lookout and other
persons employed by the operator of a prohibited drug den, dive or resort where any prohibited drug is administered,
delivered, distributed, sold or used, with or without compensation, in connection with the operation thereof;

(i) "Indian hemp," otherwise known as "Marijuana," embraces every kind and class of the plant cannabis sativa L. from
which the resin has not been extracted, including cannabis americana, hashish, bhang, guaza, churrus and ganjah, and
embraces every kind, class and character of Indian hemp, whether dried or fresh, flowering or fruiting tops of the pistillate
plant, and all its geographic varieties, whether as a reefer, resin, extract, tincture or in any form whatsoever;

(j) "Manufacture" means the production, preparation, compounding or processing of a dangerous drug either directly or
indirectly or by extraction from substances of natural origin, or independently by means of chemical synthesis or by a
combination of extraction and chemical synthesis, and shall include any packaging or repackaging of such substance or
labeling or relabelling of its container; except that such term does not include the preparation, compounding, packaging,
or labeling of a drug or other substance by a duly authorized practitioner as an incident to his administration or dispensing
of such drug or substance in the course of his professional practice;

(k) "Narcotic drug" refers to any drug which produces insensibility, stupor, melancholy or dullness of mind with delusions
and which may be habit-forming, and shall include opium, opium derivatives and synthetic opiates;
 (l) "Opium" refers to the coagulated juice of the opium poppy (papaver somniferum) and embraces every kind and class of
opium, whether crude or prepared; the ashes or refuse of the same; narcotic preparations thereof or therefrom; morphine
or any alkaloid of opium; preparations in which opium, morphine or any alkaloid of opium enters as an ingredient; opium
poppy straw; and leaves or wrappings of opium leaves, whether prepared for use or not;

(m) "Pusher" refers to any person who sells, administers, delivers, or gives away to another, on any terms whatsoever, or
distributes, dispatches in transit or transports any dangerous drug or who acts as a broker in any of such transactions, in
violation of this Act;

(n) "School" includes any university, college, or institution of learning, regardless of the course or courses it offers;

(o) "Sell" means the act of giving a dangerous drug, whether for money or any other material consideration;

(p) "Use" refers to the act of injecting, intravenously or intramuscularly, or of consuming, either by chewing, smoking,
sniffing, eating, swallowing, drinking, or otherwise introducing into the physiological system of the body, any of the
dangerous drugs.

According to Pharmacological classification

1. Stimulants-are drugs which increase alertness of physical disposition.
Examples: a. Amphetamine (street names: eye opener, lid popper, pep pills, uppers,
hearts), b. Shabu (Methamphetamine Hydrochoride) street names: poor man’s cocaine,
shabs, ubas, siopao, sha, ice, S.

2. Hallucinogens-are drugs which affect sensation, self-awareness and emotion.

Examples: a. Ecstacy (street names: XTC, adam, essence, E, herbals. B. LSD (Lysergic
Diethylamide) street names: Lucy in the sky with diamonds, wedding bells, acid, white
sugar, lightning, cubes, brain eaters. C. Marijuana (street names: maryjane, flower,
pampapogi, brownies, damo, pot, tea, joint, dope.
3. Depressants-are drugs which depress or lower the functions of the central nervous
system.
Types of Depressants:
a. Narcotics- a drug which induces sleep (hypnotics) or stupor and relieve pain
(analgesics)
b. Tranquilizers- a substance that reduces anxiety, ease tension and relax muscle.
c. Sedatives and hypnotics-calm the nerves, reduce tension and induce sleep.
Examples: barbiturates and alcohol

4. Inhalants-these are any liquid, solid or mixed substance that has the property of
releasing toxic vapors or fumes. Examples: solvent, glue, gasoline, kerosene,
naphthalene paint, thinner.