MLS 214 Module 9: Dangerous Drugs Law Reviewer

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key concepts, government agencies, laboratory classifications, legal requirements, and numbers under Republic Act No. 9165.

Republic Act No. 9165

The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which repealed R.A. 6425 to control and prevent the trafficking and use of dangerous drugs while preserving access for legitimate medical needs.

Cannabis

A dangerous drug also referred to as marijuana or Indian hemp, encompassing various forms and plant parts including dried or fresh plant material, flowering/fruiting tops, seeds, resin, extracts, and tinctures.

MDMA

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine; a dangerous drug commonly referred to as Ecstasy.

Methamphetamine hydrochloride

A dangerous drug commonly known by the street names Shabu, Ice, or Meth.

Opium

The coagulated juice of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), including crude or prepared opium, related preparations, morphine, and opium alkaloids.

Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB)

The policy-making and strategy-formulating body under the Office of the President responsible for planning and developing national drug abuse prevention and control strategies.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)

The implementing arm of the Dangerous Drugs Board responsible for the effective law enforcement of provisions involving dangerous drugs and controlled precursors/essential chemicals.

Department of Health (DOH)

The government agency responsible for licensing, accrediting, and monitoring drug testing laboratories, as well as accrediting physicians for drug dependency examination and after-care.

National Reference Laboratory (NRL)

The central facility that establishes and administers proficiency testing for confirmatory laboratory staff and serves as the reference laboratory for drug testing.

Screening test

A rapid analytical test used to detect a presumptive positive result and indicate the possible drug type present in a specimen.

Confirmatory test

A specific analytical test using a different chemical or physical principle to validate and confirm whether a presumptive screening result is truly positive.

Drug test certificate

An official document issued by an accredited drug testing center that remains valid for one year from the date of issue.

Institution-based laboratory

A drug testing laboratory that is located within and operates as an integral part of an institution, such as a hospital.

Freestanding laboratory

A drug testing laboratory that is located outside an institution and operates independently.

Screening drug testing laboratory (SDTL)

A laboratory with a minimum total floor area of $20\,\text{m}^2$ and working area of $10\,\text{m}^2$ whose service capability is limited to performing screening tests.

Confirmatory drug testing laboratory (CDTL)

A laboratory with a minimum total floor area of $60\,\text{m}^2$ and working area of $30\,\text{m}^2$ equipped to perform qualitative and quantitative confirmatory examinations of dangerous drugs.

Mandatory drug testing

Compulsory testing legally required for driver's and firearm license applicants, military and law enforcers, certain accused persons, public office candidates, and persons arrested under R.A. 9165.

Random drug testing

Unannounced testing permitted for secondary and tertiary school students, as well as officers and employees of domestic or overseas public and private workplaces.

Authorized Specimen Collector (ASC)

A designated individual with at least a high-school education who has completed training in specimen collection procedures, security, integrity, and chain of custody.

Chain of custody

The documented sequence of possession, handling, transfer, and storage of a specimen to ensure that the specimen tested matches the one collected without tampering.

Preventive suspension

A temporary suspension imposed on a drug testing laboratory by the Bureau upon discovering violations during monitoring, not exceeding a maximum of 60 days.

Laboratory accreditation renewal window

The 90-day period before certificate expiration during which an accredited laboratory must submit its renewal application.

Unchallenged specimen retention period

The 15-day timeframe following testing after which an unchallenged positive specimen may be discarded, unless extended retention of up to 1 year is requested.

Accreditation appeal period

The 15-day period within which an aggrieved laboratory or staff member may file an appeal to the Office of the Secretary after receiving an adverse decision.