PDEA reminds public on newly-classified dangerous drugs

MANILA, Oct. 23 — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Friday reminded the public on the inclusion of additional substances in the list of Dangerous Drugs based on regulations issued by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

PDEA Director General and Senior Undersecretary Dionisio R. Santiago said that DDB Regulation No. 6, series of 2007 dated Nov. 13, 2007, classified toluene-based contact cement products (TBCCPs) without at least 5 percent mustard oil content as dangerous drugs.

“This measure was adopted by the Board to address the long-standing problem on so-called rugby boys who are very visible in the streets. The addition of at least 5 percent mustard oil to the TBCCPs is meant to make these products foul smelling and to discourage people from sniffing their harmful fumes,” Santiago said.

Meanwhile, DDB Board Regulation No. 1, series of 2008, was passed by the Board to include oripavine in the list of dangerous drugs. It is an opiate (opium-based) drug that has a potential for abuse and is not clinically used due to its severe toxicity effects.

Oripavine is a major metabolite of thebaine and is easily convertible into morphine, a highly addictive dangerous drug which is used by doctors for managing extreme pain, as in those experienced by cancer patients.

Santiago also cited DDB Resolution No. 2, series of 2008, which was passed to include amineptine in the list of dangerous drugs.

Amineptine is an anti-depressant drug which has limited therapeutic usefulness, but high potential for abuse.

The reclassification of oripavine and amineptine was based on the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) through Declarations 50/1 and 46/1, respectively, of the CND.

The PDEA chief said that based on the foregoing DDB Regulations, PDEA, as the lead anti-drug agency in partnership with the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Customs (BOC) and other law enforcement organizations, will include these substances in their close monitoring and will apprehend violators of the law. (PNA) scs/JCA

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