SA: High increase in illegal drug use

  1. Posted on Friday 17 July 2009 - 09:34
    Mernat
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    Mernat Mafirakurewa, AfricaNews reporter in Johannesburg, South Africa
    The number of people abusing dagga and cocaine has risen from 2,6 million in 2006 to 3,2 million last year, a United Nations World Drug Report has revealed. According to the report, illegal drug use in South Africa was twice the world average. The use of the drugs increased by at least 20 percent.
    drugs
    The head of the Central Drug Authority, Dr David Bayever, said: “The drug problem in SA remains very serious, with drug usage being twice the world norm in most cases.”

    The estimated number of cocaine users in SA increased from 240 000 in 2006 to 290 000 last year. Last year, half of all the Cape Town Drug Counseling Centre's 583 clients had started using drugs before the age of 13.

    On average, addicts spent more than R5 000 a month on their drug habit. While most were on mandrax, 15 percent were used cocaine. Drug habits are mainly financed by theft and prostitution. The use of heroin dropped 20 percent last year, the report added.

    “Where there is a problem of substance abuse, cost may not always be a factor ... users may change their drug of choice, or there may be an increase in crime to sustain their habits,” Bayever said.

    The UN’s Office on Drugs and Crime regional representative for southern Africa, Jonathan Lucas, said tackling organized crime was the key to resolving Africa’s drug problem.

    “You have the legislation, you have the investigation capacity, you have the prosecution capacity, and then you have the law enforcement capacity. SA is very well equipped to deal with the challenge it is facing, which is a global challenge,” Lucas said.

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