In recent years, the Philippines has been doing well in the world market. The country has been blazing trails in industries such as Business Process Outsourcing, and the IT Industry. Today, more and more people are able to afford their own vehicles such as the widely popular Toyota Altis in the Philippines. But behind all that success in the world market, the Filipino people have been suffering the incompetence of corrupt government officials that are unfitting to manage the country.
The recently concluded Philippine Elections is a monumental change for the country. Corruption is a rampant plague that the country needs to address, which is why the newly elected president promises to execute criminals. But while the new leader promises to clean up the streets from drug pushers and drug users, what can be done about the adverse effects of narcotics to those behind the wheel? In this article, we shall discuss narcotics in general, why it is illegal, and its effects on responsible driving.
What Are Narcotics?
According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, narcotic is a “drug that produces analgesia (pain relief), narcosis (state of stupor or sleep), and addiction (physical dependence on the drug)”. In its basic and most useful sense, narcotics are drugs to dull the senses that are usually produced from an opium base, but the side effect is that the user may become highly dependent on it. Narcotics are commonly perceived as illegal, but in truth, there are legally prescribed narcotics in order to treat certain illnesses like terminal cancer and for people suffering great pain.
Why Are Certain Narcotics Illegal?
The term narcotic derives from the ancient Greek term narcosis, describing the effects of the drug being to sleep, to dull the senses, or to numb and treat pain. The oldest type of narcotic is opium, which was believed to be first used in Mesopotamia in the year 3400 BC more for recreational purposes than medical treatment. It was passed along throughout the Middle East, making its way across Egypt and Greece, and was finally cultivated for widespread distribution for medicinal purposes in China around 400 AD. Narcotics are today a widespread drug for medicinal purposes. Narcotics become illegal when it is misused in creating drugs such as heroin and opium. Prescribed narcotics are always in danger of being misused and so they must be highly regulated by powerful governing bodies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Effects of Narcotics on Responsibility
As previously defined, narcotics are drugs that will make the user sleepy, dizzy, and sedated, and at the same time decreases the body’s respiration and sense of pain. Individuals that are induced with narcotics should not be performing any activitie that require full alertness, especially when driving any sort of vehicle. The drug, even if it is prescribed, can impair the user’s senses and feeling and thus is likely to cloud his or her judgement and response speed behind the wheel. There is little report of narcotics such as heroin and opium being widespread in the Philippines, but there have been reports of opiates circling the nation.
As a responsible driver and adult, if you are aware that your friend or loved one is induced with a narcotic (whether legally or illegally obtained) make the necessary choices in ensuring that they remain out of danger and away from being a risk to others. All types of vehicles, including the Toyota Altis in the Philippines, are better driven by risk-free individuals that are not under the influence. Always remember to be a responsible driver!
