Addiction hurting South Africa

Officially known as the Republic of South Africa, South Africa has a colourful history. South Africa is separated into 9 provinces – The Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Kwazulu Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Northern Cape & the Western Cape. South Africa borders Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe & Swaziland. Lesotho lies completely surrounded by South Africa.

South Africa boasts one of the most multi-cultural populations on the planet. Eleven official languages are recognised within the country but many more are spoken. Over the last two decades cities and towns in South Africa have seen a huge surge in wealth and development.

With the rise in liquid assets and free time South Africa has also witnessed a dramatic rise in drug use and addiction. The alarming trend in South Africa of addiction is actually double per head compared to most other countries in the world. Street drugs in South Africa have also contributed to the epidemic. Previously South Africa was plagued by drugs as a result of being a great shipping route for smugglers from South America looking to move illicit substances to Europe through Africa. Now new street drugs are manufactured in home laboratories by amateur chemists, drugs such as Nyaope are an example of unique cheap street drugs in South Africa. Nyaope a mix of Cannabis (dagga), Heroin and other chemicals has plagued large areas of Northern South Africa. Reports suggest that as many as 80% of households in certain areas are directly affected by Nyaope addiction. It has also been reported that Nyaope has been sold merely as Cannabis to youth who then quicklty become addicted. Admission rates for under 16s to rehabilitation facilities for drug addiction has risen quickly over the last 5 years.  Some schools in South Africa are actually screening students for drug use with random testing.

Crystal Meth (tik) is another huge concern for the country that only 3 years ago hosted the football World Cup. Crystal Meth like Nyaope is also produced in home-made laboratories. Manufacturers are increasingly switching the ingredients to more toxic chemicals in order to make the process of production cheaper and the profits greater. Crystal Meth has caused devastation in the United States and it looks like the trend is having the same effects on South Africa. In 2009 half of all admission to drug and alcohol addiction treatments centres in the Western Cape were for Crystal Meth (tik) addiction. Crystal Meth prices vary but it is generally available for the same price of a packet of cigarettes. With prices at rock bottom and availability on the rise it is little surprise the problem is growing.

Crystal Meth leads us on to another drug that is almost unique to South Africa, Mandrax. Mandrax was initially used as muscle relaxant in the United States. It is now believed to be produced in home laboratories in South Africa. South Africa is by far the biggest user in the world of Mandrax. Mandrax is normally mixed with Cannabis (dagga) and smoked through a pipe. Often it is used to “bring down” the user from Crystal Meth.

Along with drugs South Africa also has some of the highest alcohol dependence rates in the world. South Africa has very strict licensing rules across its cities in relation to the sale of alcohol. The very latest bottle stores close at 9pm. These measures seem to have had mixed effects across South Africa with certain provinces seeing a decrease in the number of alcohol related admissions to rehab clinics and others seeing increases. Kwazulu Natal for example has seen a drop in alcohol related admission to addiction treatment centres but has seen a rise in Crystal Meth admissions. To me it seems to be six of one and half a dozen of the other. Whatever way you look at it addiction in South Africa is a problem, a very big problem.

With all the addiction South Africa has responded and now boasts some of the best addiction treatment centres across the world. People travel from all over the world for addiction treatment in South Africa. Price is a big factor for these people to travel for treatment in South Africa as it is typically allot cheaper than Rehab clinics in the Western World. Also the actual success rates of sustained abstinence from addiction after treatment in South Africa are allot higher than that of anywhere in the world besides the United States.

It also seems that medical insurance (medical aid) providers have realised that they can actually save money in the long run by sending there policy holders to rehab centres. Most providers now offer rehab within their plans. This no doubt saves them money in the long run by preventing numerous hospital admissions related to addiction. This also helps the health services in South Africa greatly. The strain addiction puts on a health service is dramatic and can prevent so many people receiving the treatment they need. The reality is rehabilitation is the answer to this problem as is education and a harder stance on illicit drug manufacturing.

Addiction does not just affect the addict. It is estimated every addicted person can impact on as many as 18 other lives. Relatives obviously suffer tremendously watching a loved one suffer from addiction but so does society. Crime rates in South Africa have risen in line with the rise in drug addiction. The Western Cape is often described as the drug province of South Africa. Statistics indicate that 48% of all drug related crimes were committed in the Western Cape.

The question really lies now with what authorities are going to do to try and stop the spread of these new street drugs. Nyaope is probably the scariest substance spreading across South Africa at the moment. Alarming amounts of children are already dependent on Nyaope and need treatment in rehab facilities. Will drug and alcohol destroy another beautiful country right before our eyes? I guess we will just have to wait and see.