Drug abuse‚ of both illegal and over-the-counter medications‚ is seemingly growing in South Africa and needs to be dealt with some degree of urgency.

That’s according to the South African Medical Association (SAMA)‚ which it says is the reason it is called on all South Africans‚ including all healthcare workers‚ to observe and support SANCA’s Drug Awareness Week from June 24 – 28.

The South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA) is a non-governmental organisation focusing on the prevention and treatment of alcohol and drug dependence. The Drug Awareness week in June is aimed at increasing public awareness of the dangers of dependence-producing drugs which include illicit and legal drugs. The theme of this year’s week is “Kick the Habit!”

“Drug dependency‚ in all its forms‚ is a massive problem that creates serious health‚ social‚ legal‚ and economic problems for our country. We need to stand together to deal with this and say ‘enough is enough’‚” said Dr Mzukisi Grootboom‚ chairperson of SAMA.

The list of addictive psychoactive drugs used in South Africa is long and complex. According to statistics‚ the most commonly used drugs are alcohol‚ dagga‚ cocaine and Mandrax.

The recognition of South Africa by the United Nations as the regional hub for drug trafficking‚ and the largest transit zone for illicit drugs in Southern Africa‚ is unsettling‚ SAMA says.

It points out that South Africa is battling not only the scourge of certain uniquely South African illicit ‘street drugs’ such as Nyaope‚ but also the increasing abuse of legal medications such as ARVs‚ pain killers‚ and cough syrup‚ leading to what has been called “silent addictions”.

“Add to that the highest fetal alcohol syndrome in the world‚ rampant teenage drug abuse‚ unemployment‚ and culture of violence; the result is a country buckling under a heavy drug burden above much of the world.”

 Recently Nyaope (also called Whoonga)‚ which is a mix of some scheduled drugs and antiretroviral medication‚ has experienced dramatic popularity in South African townships. In addition‚ studies put the rate of alcohol use among South Africans at nearly 40%. The prevalence of tobacco use is at about 30% while dagga is at about 8%.

The South African National Youth Risk Behaviour Survey (YRBS) found 15% of learners admitting to having used over-the-counter drugs “to get high”. The same study found that 11.5% of learners had taken at least one drug such as heroin‚ Mandrax‚ sugars (cocaine) or tik before.

Statistics from the South African Police Service show that drug abuse accounts for 60% of all crimes.

“Many illicit drugs contain a lot of harmful chemicals including carcinogens. The health effects of drug abuse include heart problems‚ kidney failure‚ seizures‚ mental illnesses‚ impotence‚ seizures‚ and death‚” SAMA says.

According to the YRBS‚ of all patients seen at specialist treatment facilities‚ 50% had cannabis as the primary substance of abuse; for heroin the proportion was 8%-23%.

“We recognize that the abuse of all forms of drugs is a huge problem that needs urgent attention‚ and we applaud SANCA’s efforts to deal with it.

“We encourage all South Africans – especially parents – to join the fight and kick a habit for the duration of the awareness week‚ to discourage their children from experimentation.

“Health workers‚ educators‚ religious leaders‚ and other members of society‚ should encourage drug users to have access to advice‚ counseling‚ treatment‚ rehabilitation and after care services‚” said Grootboom.