2006 anti- drug festival was held in Kaohsiung County. Chien chun- sheng, (簡俊生) the Director General of NBCD gave remarks in the opening ceremony.

By Ma Kang-yao
Supplments Writer
Photos Courtesy of DOH

National Bureau of Controlled Drugs said, since 1980s, a variety of Amphetamine drugs pose a serious threat to Taiwanese. In a study of 2005 done by the Department of Health, 19,000 out of 21,000 drug abusers are Amphetamine users and the number of cases reported on quitting Amphetamine in medical institutions has surged as four times in this decade. NBCD also finds that the newly emerging drugs usually mixed with other drugs and those drugs' components vastly differ. What most worrying is the sharing of needles, tubes or fluid, through which hepatitis and AIDS could be easily transmitted.

According to a survey conducted by National Health Research Institutes, National Bureau of Controlled Drugs and Bureau of Health Promotion, Taiwan's rate of drug abuse is 1.2 % of the total population; males make up 1.76% and females 0.62 %.
Although Taiwan's rate of drug abuse from age 15 to 64 is lower than that of the world, the emerging drugs are posing a serious threat to the task of preventing drug abuse. (See Chart)

This year, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has selected "Drugs are Not Child's Play" as the theme for its 2006 international campaign, in an effort to increase public awareness about the destructive power of drugs and society's responsibility to care for the well- being of children. Latest estimates show that 200 million people, or 5 per cent of the global population ages 15-64, have consumed illicit drugs at least once in the last 12 months.

But for children between ages 4 to 10, although they are seldom the object of national and international studies, children of all ages are affected by drug abuse and illicit trafficking. Street children, working and living in dire conditions, are vulnerable, as are boys and girls whose family members buy or sell illicit substances. At school, the situation may not be any better. Teenagers and peers may be pressuring kids to smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol, at first, and then to try marijuana. Other types of drugs may follow.

UNODC's anti-drugs campaign urges adults to protect children. Parents, siblings and other family members can ensure that a child's home is a safe environment and that children are aware of the dangers associated with drug abuse. Teachers and social workers also have a role to play by watching out for warning signs and taking measures to address any drug-related problems.

For drug addicts, the living example of their families is their most important support to quit drugs. The tale of Sun Wei-yao (孫煒堯) restates this point. He used to be a heavy drugs abuser for more than ten years, which cost him friendship, health and wealth. When he realized his live should not end up like this, he faced a more critical challenge. His dependence on the drugs made it almost an impossible mission to quit. Transferred from one medical institution to another, finally, with his mother's care, love and efforts. He finally succeeded. His experience told us the danger of drugs and the power of family's love.

Drug abuse harms the brain
The most serious drugs abused in Taiwan can be categorized into anaesthetic and nerve-affecting substances.

The anaesthetic includes opium, synthesized heroin, morphine, codeine, pentazocine, Pethidine, Tramadol and Methadone. Other anesthetic drugs include cocaine and marijuana.

The nerve-affecting substances can be divided into hallucinogens of the central nervous system such as LSD, PCP, Psilocybine, stimulants of the central nervous system such as cocaine, amphetamine, MDMA and inhibitors of the central nervous system such as organic solvents, glue, Ketamine GHB etc.

Ecstasy is the common effect produced by these drugs and that generates a sense of psychological dependence.

Dependence results from Tolerance-the body's ability to adapt itself to the use of medicines. That a body can tolerate more medicines also means it needs to take more to have the same effect as before.

Once a person's have dependence on the drugs, a decreased amount of intake will lead to withdrawal syndrome. It is a syndrome as a person develops physical and emotional problems when after having strong dependency on the substance, that person suddenly stops or drastically reduces its intake. The withdrawal syndrome sags the drugs addicts' will to quit. But if the drugs user keeps on increasing the amount, an overdose will leads to a lethal acute intoxication.

Drugs can be harmful in many ways, both through immediate effects and through harm to health over time. The occasional use of marijuana could also affect short-term memory. Besides, the effects of drugs on perception, reaction and coordination of movements could lead to accidents.

Hallucinogens like LSD distort the body's perceptions, alter heart rate and blood pressure. In the long term, neurological disorders, depressions, anxiety, visual hallucinations and flashbacks could happen. Cocaine and amphetamines cause tremors, headaches, hypertension and irregular heart beat. Long-term effects include nausea, insomnia, loss of weight, convulsions and depression. Heroin first causes nausea, slow respiration, dry skin, itchiness, slow speech and reflexes. Over the long term there is a serious risk of developing physical and psychological dependence as stated above and this could result in death due to respiratory depression.

Some drugs such as Ecstasy or cannabis have been presented as having little or no side effects, but studies show that its use alters brain functions and do damage to the liver and other body organs. Some drugs like inhalants though not regarded as illicit are widely abused, especially by the youth. Volatile substances such as glue, paint, gasoline and cleaning fluids, will directly damage the liver, kidney or heart, or give rise to progressive brain degeneration.

No illicit drug is safe. In one way or another, the use of drugs changes the normal functioning of the human body, and in the long run they cause serious damage.

Illegal drugs hidden in diet pills

From 2003 to April 2004, the Department of Health and the police had found 18 diet pills that contain Clobenzorex. When Clobenzorex enters the human body, it will metabolize into amphetamine, stimulating the central nervous system.

In March 2005, the police tracked down 120,000 diet pills. After examination, all of those pills were tested positive to contain the components of Amphetamine. Those who take pills containing such components will have a feeling of ecstasy, have less appetite, thirst, palpitations, headaches, high blood pressure and insomnia. In most serious cases, they will have abnormal behavior and do serious damage to their mental health. In the long run, these drugs will cause addiction.

Many cases show that some manufacturers mix Clobenzorex, caffeine or even Diazepam, a fourth-class sleeping pill with diet pills. Out of concern for everyone's safety, the Department of Health appeals to everyone not to take any drugs without official authorization.

NBCD takes action

Based on the Enforcement Rules for Controlled Drugs, the Department of Justice and the police are in charge of drugs inspection while the Ministry of Education takes charge of anti-drugs education. The National Bureau of Controlled Drugs is responsible for the supervision of legal drugs. Below are their policies:

1. Reinforcing the management of controlled drugs.
By the Enforcement Rules for Controlled Drugs, the National Bureau of Controlled Drugs set up procedures to license drugs and a system to monitor their circulation.

2. Cooperating with the local health bureaus to strengthen the inspection of drugs and prevent their illegal importation or smuggling.

3. To effectively combat the illegal selling of fake drugs on the Internet, the Department of Health formed a team to collect information and hand this over to the Criminal Investigation Bureau.

4. Teaming up with the Ministry of Education to promote the anti-drugs education.
To carry on the anti-drugs campaign, especially against emerging drugs, the National Bureau of Controlled Drugs targets different groups of different ages. They create video games, animations and title cards of famous personalities to transform the rigid methods of anti-drugs campaigns and to integrate education into games.

5.Anti-drugs advertisements will be published in schools, media, businesses and governmental organizations, especially during the summer and winter vacations. Education in law is another focal point.

6. Supporting the Ministry of Education's efforts to train anti-drugs teachers. The Ministry of Education plans to work with pharmacists associations to train teachers and medication personnel to turn community drugstores into community's medication information centers.