Eastern Visayas State University

Carigara-Campus
Brgy. Barugohay Norte Carigara, Leyte

Group No.: 1. Subject and Schedule: GE EL 003

Members: M,T,W 4:00-5:00
Adrales , Leynard
Baronda , Marlon C,Y,S: BSED-SCIENCE 2-B
Claverol, Jessica Janine Instructor:
Grabador , Jhon Wilfred Dacoycoy, John Vincent N.
Lucabo , April
Pelipel, Reachel
Tañala , Ruby Lyn

THE DRUG PROBLEM

The Global Context

Growing plants to produce drugs
The cultivation of plants for drug production can be categorized into legal
pharmaceutical production and illegal drug cultivation.
 Plant-Based Drugs Sources
Plant-based drugs come from various parts of plants, including leaves,
flowers, roots, bark, seeds, and resin. These plant sources contain
bioactive compounds used in medicine or as psychoactive substances

1. Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum)

 A flowering plant that produces opium, used for medicinal and illicit
drug production. Contains alkaloids such as morphine and
codeine ,which are used to produce heroin, oxycodone, and
hydrocodone.
 Usage of Derived Drugs
•Medical use: Pain management, post-surgery relief, and palliative
care.
• Illegal use: Heroin is injected, snorted, or smoked for euphoria.
Effect on users:
• Short-term: Pain relief, drowsiness, euphoria.
• Long-term: Addiction, respiratory depression, overdose risks.
2. Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa)
A plant used for medicinal recreational, and industrial
purposes.Contains THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which causes
psychoactive effects, and CBD (cannabidiol), which has medicinal
benefits.
Usage of Derived Drugs
• Medical: Treats chronic pain, epilepsy, anxiety, and nausea from
chemotherapy.
• Recreational: Smoked, vaped, or ingested for relaxation and
euphoria.
Effects on Users
• Short-term: Relaxation, heightened senses, altered perception.
• Long-term: Impaired memory, cognitive decline, potential for
dependency.
3. Coca plant(Erythroxylum coca)
A shrub native to South America; leaves used traditionally as a
stimulant. Contains cocaine alkaloids. • Medical: Used as a local
anesthetic in surgery (cocaine).
Usage of Derived Drugs
• Illegal use: Cocaine is snorted, injected, or smoked.
Effects on Users
• Short-term: Intense energy, confidence, euphoria.
• Long-term: Heart problems, addiction, paranoia.
4. Ephedra plant(Ephedra viridis)
A shrub with medicinal properties used in traditional medicine.
Contains ephedrine, a stimulant used in making
methamphetamine and decongestants.
Usage of Derived Drugs
• Medical: Treats asthma, low blood pressure, and nasal
congestion.
• Illegal use: Ephedrine is used to manufacture methamphetamine.
Effects on Users
• Short-term: Increased energy, alertness, appetite suppression.
• Long-term: High blood pressure, heart risks, addiction (meth).
5. Peyote (Lophophora williamsii)
A small, spineless cactus known for its hallucinogenic
properties.Contains mescalin e, a psychede lic compound.
Usage of Derived Drugs
• Used in Native American spiritual and religious ceremonies.
Effects on Users
• Short-term: Intense hallucinations, altered perception.
• Long-term: Psychological discomfort in high doses.
6. Ayahuasca
A South American plant brew used for spiritual and healing
practices. Contains DMT (dimethyltryptamine), a potent
psychedelic.
Usage of Derived Drugs
• Used in shamanic rituals for self-discovery and healing.
Effects on Users
• Short-term: Intense visions, emotional experiences, vomiting.
• Long-term: Potential for psychological healing.
7. Psilocybin mushrooms
Fungi that produce hallucinogenic effects.Contains psilocybin ,
which converts to psilocin in the body.
Usage of Derived Drugs
• Used for spiritual and therapeutic experiences.
Effects on Users
• Short-term: Hallucinations, altered perception.
• Long-term: Potential treatment for depression.
Distribution and Illicit trafficking
Distribution and illicit trafficking refer to the unlawful production,
transportation, sale, or exchange of illegal goods, often involving drugs,
weapons, human trafficking, or counterfeit products.
Distribution refers to the process of supplying or delivering illicit goods
to different locations or individuals.
Illicit trafficking is the illegal trade or movement of prohibited items
across borders or within a country, often linked to organized crime.
 Global Drug Supply Chains
The global drug supply chain refers to the entire network involved in the
production, transportation, distribution, and sale of both legal and illegal
drugs worldwide. It includes pharmaceutical companies producing
legitimate medicines and criminal organizations trafficking illicit drugs like
cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.
 Organized Crime and Drug Cartels
Organized crime cartels are highly sophisticated criminal organizations
that control the illegal drug trade, human trafficking, extortion, and
money laundering.
o Mexican Drug Cartels- are the primary suppliers of cocaine,
methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl to the U.S. and
other countries. These organizations control drug routes, use
extreme violence, and often have influence over law
enforcement and politicians.
 Sinaloa Cartel
 Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG)
 Gulf Cartel & Los Zetas
o Colombian Drug Cartels
Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, with
cartels controlling cultivation and distribution.
 Medellín Cartel
 Cali Cartel
 Gulf Clan (Clan del Golfo)
○ Italian Mafia & European Drug Cartels
▪︎Sicilian Mafia (Cosa Nostra)
 ○ Chinese Triads & Asian Drug Syndicates
 Triads (Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Macau)
 Golden Triangle Cartels (Myanmar, Laos, Thailand)
● Major Drug Trafficking Routes
Global drug trafficking follows well-established smuggling routes, connecting
drug-producing regions to high-demand markets. These routes are controlled
by powerful drug cartels and criminal networks, using advanced smuggling
techniques to avoid law enforcement.
Main Cocaine Trafficking routes (2016-2020)
 Latin America to North America: Cocaine moves from South America
through Mexico and the Caribbean into the United States, the largest
cocaine consumer.
 Latin America to Europe: A significant portion is smuggled to West and
Central Europe via the Caribbean, West Africa, and North Africa. This is
one of the most heavily used routes, as shown by the thick red arrows.
 Latin America to Asia & Oceania: Cocaine is transported to East and
Southeast Asia, as well as Australia, often through transit points in Africa
and the Middle East
● Dark Web & Cyber Trafficking
The Dark Web has revolutionized drug trafficking by providing a secure,
anonymous marketplace for buyers and sellers, reducing the risks of street-
level dealing
How Drugs Are Sold on the Dark Web
 Darknet Markets (DNMs): Online black markets like the now-defunct Silk
Road, AlphaBay, and Hydra allow users to buy drugs using
cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Monero) for anonymity.
 Encrypted Communications: Dealers and buyers use Tor (The Onion
Router) and VPNs to hide their locations.
 Escrow Systems: Marketplaces hold funds until transactions are
completed, reducing scams.
 Money laundering is a critical part of the drug trade, enabling criminals
to disguise the origins of illicit profits and integrate them into the
legitimate financial system

● Money laundering
It is the process of making illegally obtained money appear legal by passing it
through various financial transactions. The goal is to obscure the money's
illegal origins.
Placement- Illicit cash is introduced into the financial system.
Methods:
• Cash Smuggling: Physically transporting cash across borders.
• Bank Deposits: Breaking large sums into smaller amounts
(structuring or smurfing) to avoid detection.
• Casinos & Gambling: Buying chips with illicit money and cashing
them out.
• Cryptocurrency Exchanges: Converting cash into Bitcoin or
Monero.

Consumption of drugs
Overview of Opium/Heroin and Coca/Cocaine