UP embarks on pioneering study into ‘Rugby’ abuse

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Scientists from across the University of the Philippines (UP) are pioneering a first-of-its-kind multidisciplinary study into the chemical, physical, and psychological impacts of solvent abuse on the country’s thousands of so-called “Rugby boys and girls.”

One of the research questions that UP scientists are trying to answer is if and how social behaviors in animals are affected by addiction to toluene, the key ingredient in “Rugby” contact cement. The researchers will then look at translating these findings to humans. (PHOTO CREDIT: Dr. Rohani Cena-Navarro)

Novel Approaches to Treatment of Addiction and Depression using Animal Models is a three-year research program spearheaded by the UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UPM-NIH), the National Center for Mental Health, the UP College of Medicine, the UP Philippine General Hospital, and the UP Diliman College of Science Institute of Chemistry (UPD-CS IC). It is being supervised by internationally-renowned neurobehavioral scientist Dr. Gregory Quirk of the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine.

“Attempts to treat toluene or ‘Rugby’ addiction have been largely unsuccessful due to severe withdrawal and craving symptoms that trigger relapse. What is needed to help adolescents overcome their addictions are new treatments that reduce toluene withdrawal and craving,” said program leader Dr. Rohani Cena-Navarro of the UPM-NIH.

“Rodent models have been used to develop such pharmacological treatments for other addictive drugs, but no such model has been developed for toluene. This collaboration between scientists and clinicians hopes to address this societal problem using laboratory animals,” she added.

This research is being supported by the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD).

 

Origins of the nation’s thousands of ‘Rugby boys and girls’

The densely-populated urban streets of the Philippines are home and playground to as many as one million street children, many of whom are adolescents from the poorest families or even abandoned by parents. Left to fend for themselves, many turn to substance abuse to alleviate their hunger by inhaling toluene—an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent found in cheap and easily-obtainable contact cement, popularly sold under the “Rugby” brand name in local hardware stores.

Estimated to number in the thousands nationwide, these young people eventually develop a physiological addiction and resort to begging, scavenging, or stealing not only to quell their hunger but also to sustain their toluene addiction. Seeing groups of young boys—and girls!—running around the streets sniffing bags of glue has become so commonplace to the ordinary Filipino citizen, that the colloquial term “Rugby boys” is now a widely-used pejorative.

Substance abuse among street children is a long-standing societal issue that requires proper public health intervention. Acknowledging the need for local research to tackle inhalant abuse among adolescents will be very significant in providing recommendations and strengthening ongoing support systems, policies, and interventions.



Addressing social issues and sex differences

So where does science fit into this societal issue? This is exactly what this team of researchers hopes to achieve by developing the first Addiction Research Laboratory in the country, using animal models.

“In the years to come, it is our hope that the establishment of this Addiction Research Program will further open opportunities for research addressing the craving and withdrawal stages of addiction,” said UPD-CS IC’s Dr. Grace Gregorio, who is researching how toluene affects rats in an effort to understand the solvent’s effects on people.

She and her fellow researchers are also looking into sex differences in the effects of toluene exposure, which represents a novel approach that has never been done before. “I bring in my analytical chemistry expertise to this meaningful undertaking by measuring toluene levels in the blood of male and female rodents,” Dr. Gregorio said.

“There is much that we, as a society, don't know and understand about solvent abuse. One of our research specialists, Jariel Bacar, rightly points out that girls can be affected too—and in very different ways from boys. The project is looking into what these differences are,” she explained.



Developing tailored treatments for solvent-addicted adolescents

The first-ever model of its kind for toluene-based solvent addiction in the Philippines, this research is paving the way for new treatments for overcoming withdrawal and craving. The team hopes to translate their findings for use in human subjects as an attempt in addressing the pervasive drug addiction and chronic relapse in individuals. Such experimental treatments for toluene have not been deeply investigated anywhere else in the world, because inhalant abuse is not as rampant in more developed countries.

Now in its second year, the project has already completed its first two phases: identifying validated methods to quantify toluene in rodent blood and establishing the long-term effects of toluene after chronic exposure. Using validated methods, the team is investigating the effects of chronic exposure that last long after the drug has been stopped. These include increased craving for the drug, increased anxiety, and impaired social functioning, all of which increase the likelihood of relapse following treatment. Novel treatments will be tested to diminish these withdrawal symptoms and restore the brain to its pre-addiction state.

Ultimately, Novel Approaches to Treatment of Addiction and Depression using Animal Models aims to address one of the greatest challenges faced by today’s researchers: interweaving science into the fabric of a complex, busy, and highly diverse society to serve its well-intended purpose to the community that needs it the most. By the end of the project, the researchers hope to have developed tailored treatments for boys and girls who are addicted to toluene.

The research team behind the multidisciplinary research program, Novel Approaches to Treatment of Addiction and Depression using Animal Models. Top row (L-R): Ajina Carampel (MD-PhD Student), Richelle Manalo, Dr. Grace Gregorio (UPD-CS IC), Dr. Rohani C. Navarro (Program Leader), Dr. Gregory Quirk (Supervising Scientist), Jariel Bacar and Johanna Munar (Project Technical Specialists I). Bottom row (L-R): Joannes Luke Asis (MD-PhD Student), Noel Agrava (Lab Aide), Brett Castro (University Research Associate), Dr. Bryan Bulatao (Project Leader), Herbert Montalban (Lab Aide), and Arturo Bermejo III (Project Assistant). (PHOTO CREDIT: Ilona Janairo)

Free music lessons for aspiring keyboardists, composers, songwriters, and music lovers!

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In celebration of the 45th Anniversary of Concert at the Park, we invite everyone to spend the afternoon with us learning and appreciating the art of music making.

This PARKonversations Live! session titled "Crafting Your Signature Sound: Music Techniques for Composing and Songwriting" will be held at the Rizal Park Open Air Auditorium on 28 April 2023 (Friday), 2:30 p.m. Our guest speaker is Mr. Renor Sagun, Choirmaster and the Chair of the Music Center of the Immaculate Heart of Mary College, Inc. He took his bachelor’s degree from University of the East-Manila and has taught in various academic institutions throughout the years. In 2012, he created his own musical group, C Strings Music Ensemble (CSME).

No experience or instruments required to join this music workshop. But you may bring your own keyboards if you want to be mentored by Mr. Sagun himself! It only takes a visit in the park to learn something new about music! See you!

*Participants who will join the seminar and answer the evaluation form will receive a certificate.

Every day is Earth Day at of SM Supermalls!

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1700 children celebrate Earth Day at SM malls nationwide.

SM Supermalls, in collaboration with its corporate social responsibility arm, SM Cares, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), local government units and partner schools and organizations joined the rest of the world in celebrating Earth Day at SM malls nationwide on April 22, 2023.

With the theme "Invest In Our Planet, Invest In Our Youth," SM Supermalls and SM Cares lined up various activities that aimed to raise awareness among children and their families about the importance of coming together across various sectors to take care of the environment. SM malls nationwide simultaneously held relevant and impactful celebrations with activities such as Children’s Storytelling, Coloring, and Sustainability Tours, gathering 1700 children and 350 employee volunteers. These activities aimed to encourage everyone in the family, particularly the young ones, to protect and respect Mother Earth.

Earth Day is an annual celebration led by the Earth Day Network that puts the spotlight on issues that are affecting the environment. First held in 1970, Earth Day was the result of a need for a unified response against various environmental problems like pollution and resource depletion. Today, the event is considered the biggest environmental movement in the world, with millions joining celebrations every year.

 

Children learn about how to protect the environment individually and as a community through art, storytelling and a Sustainability tour around SM malls

“At SM, every day is Earth Day. However, today we are reminded of our responsibility to protect the planet we live in. We believe that we must all come together and take the necessary steps against this climate crisis and accelerate a greener and more equitable future for everyone,” shared Ms. Liza B. Silerio, SM Supermalls Vice President for Corporate Compliance and SM Cares Program Director for the Environment.

SM Supermalls featured the art of multi-awarded Filipino artist, sculptor and illustrator, Manuel Baldemor. His works depict the rich cultural aspects of the Philippines and can be found in multiple institutions worldwide. His drawings and Earth Day poem inspired the Earth Day program at SM, reflecting a long-time partnership on SM Cares programs for the environment, starting with his design of SM’s first eco bags in 2007.

The storytelling activity featured a special Earth Day story based on Baldemor’s artworks. The story reflected simple ways children can participate in living sustainably on their own and with their families. Meanwhile, kids and kids-at-heart were welcomed at the coloring activity section. Participants were given art materials and a selection of Baldemor's drawings to color in. Malls used recycled materials in designing the activity areas.

And to cap off the celebration, a sustainability tour was held wherein everyone participated in a guided tour to one or more of the mall’s eco-friendly facilities such as the EV charging stations, water recycling treatment plants, waste segregation bins, Plastic Waste Collection booths, E-waste Collection bins and various bicycle amenities.

Filipino artist Manuel Baldemor’s artistic contribution provide inspiration for the Earth Day program. Joining him at SM City Fairview were DENR NCR Director Mr. Manuel T. Escasura; Quezon City Vice Mayor, Honorable Gian Sotto; Ms. Andrea Villaroman, Head of the Quezon City Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department, Planet CORA’s Partnerships Director, Cat Trivino and SM Supermalls executives.

To highlight the role of collaborating with the public sector in driving environmental programs forward, SM City Fairview hosted the DENR Gawad Taga-ilog Awards photo exhibit, which recognized winning local government units who are leading in protecting Metro Manila’s waterways. The agency also further provided 800 tree seedlings to participants and customers through a DENR Community Pan-TREE to encourage at SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, SM City Fairview, SM City Novaliches, SM City Marikina, SM City East Ortigas and SM Southmall.

The Quezon City Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department also promoted the city’s Trash to Cashback program to encourage its citizens to be Eco Warriors and promote recycling.



Youth participants join forces with SM Supermalls for a sustainable future.


The Earth Day celebration is just one of the numerous ways that SM is promoting sustainable living among Filipinos, and the company has other programs aimed at helping care for the environment. These are the Trash to Cash Recycling Market held every first Friday and Saturday of the month; daily water recycling systems, and environmental campaigns such as the Green Film Festival, Green Retail Agenda, and the International Coastal Cleanup Drive, just to name a few.

SM Cares is the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, responsible for initiatives that promote sustainability and the development of the community. SM Cares’ advocacies include programs on Women and Breastfeeding Mothers, Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens, and Children and Youth, as well as the Bike-Friendly SM initiative, in addition to its Programs on Environment.

To learn more about these, visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares.