South Africa

[palmspringsbum]

Almost 30% of SA have 'an alcohol problem'

The Independent Online
January 23, 2008
By Dominique Herman

South Africans abuse opiates (heroin, morphine, opium) a fraction of a percent less than the global norm, but in every other drug category including cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines and legitimate pharmaceutical drugs, the average number of users here is higher and sometimes double the global norm.

And almost a third of the population have "an alcohol problem" or are at risk of developing one.

According to the Central Drug Authority (CDA), whose secretariat is located in the department of social development, 8.4 percent of the South African population use cannabis while 4 percent is the global norm. While "risk drinking" during weekdays involved an average 7.5 percent of the population, "binge drinking" at the weekend affected 31.5 percent of those aged between 25 and 54.

According to the revised National Drug Master Plan 2006-2011, a binge drinker is one who consumes nine tots of spirits, a bottle or more of wine or more than two litres of beer a day. The average person in this country drinks 20 litres of alcohol a year, one of the highest consumption rates in the world.

The global production of cannabis is estimated at 40 000 metric tons with South Africa producing 3 000 tons.

"Our focus needs to be on prevention," said the MEC for Social Development, Koleka Mqulwana, at the De Novo Rehabilitation Centre in Kraaifontein yesterday, during a workshop devoted to the drafting of a mini drug master plan for the province.

She quoted statistics from the World Drug Report of 2006, combined with recent research from the Medical Research Council, that estimate 2.2 million people in South Africa use cannabis or dagga as it is known colloquially.

Sharon Nqadini of the department of social development said the mini drug plans were supported so far by the health, education, agriculture, community safety, transport and public works departments.

The CDA is made up of representatives from 15 government departments and 12 organisations in the private sector that are expert in substance abuse.

dominique.herman@inl.co.za