South Africans consumed up to 80% of the world’s Mandrax, a report by the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (UDCCP) revealed on Wednesday.
”Estimates vary, but it is believed that between 70% and 80% of the world’s consumption of Mandrax occurs within South Africa’s borders,” the body’s southern African representative Rob Boone said in Pretoria.
South Africa also accounted for the second largest quantity of cannabis seized anywhere in the world — about 718 metric tons annually.
”It is surpassed only by Mexico,” Boone said at the unveiling of the report, entitled: ”Global Illicit Drug Trends 2002”.
The document states that more and more South Africans were getting hooked on heroin.
At least 47% and 31% of heroin patients in Cape Town and Gauteng respectively had injection marks, it says.
”South Africa is now also starting to witness heroin use among the poor in township areas.”
While no official prevalence figures existed for drug use in South Africa, cannabis (dagga) and mandrax were seen as the most commonly used narcotics, Boone said.
The 283-page report, compiled by the UDCCP, was released in Pretoria together with the launch of a Gauteng pilot drug awareness campaign called Ke Moja ”No thanks, I’m fine”.
The awareness campaign was aimed at reducing drug abuse and trafficking, while curbing the spread of HIV/Aids through the sharing of needles.
”The fact that this initiative is launched on the same day we are commemorating the International Day Against Drug Abuse is a significant step,” Boone said.
The campaign is a joint partnership between the Central Drug Authority (CDA), the UCDDP and the departments of Safety and Security, Health, and Education.
It seeks to teach teenagers to refuse when pressured into taking drugs. The success of the pilot programme would ensure a national roll-out later in the year.
CDA chairman Frank Khan said the emphasis should not be limited to drug abuse, as alcohol was a major cause of crime, violence and moral decay in South Africa.
”Between 65% and 70% of violent crimes in Cape Town can be attributed to the intake of alcohol. Alcohol is costing South Africa about R10,6-billion annually, while narcotics set us up back about R2,5-billion a year,” he said. – Sapa