The Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, will lead the commemoration of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking by holding an awareness raising campaign against the use of tik in Eersterust, near Pretoria.

Recently conducted community dialogues between Social Development social workers and the residents of Eersterust have revealed that tik is amongst illicit substances used extensively by community members in the area.

This drug typically resembles small fragments of glass or shiny blue-white rocks of various sizes.  It is the main cause of excessive sweating, panic, confusion, violence, increased energy and brain damage, among other symptoms.  According to community members, nyaope - a mixture of crystal meth, heroine and marijuana - is also a popular drug in the area.

The 2014 World Drug Report published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime states that South Africa is believed to be a major consumer drug market.  The report also states that the estimated prevalence of cocaine use in South Africa rose from 0.78 per cent of the general population in the 15-64 age bracket in 2008 to 1.02 per cent in 2011, confirming the continued existence of a sizeable and apparently expanding consumer market for cocaine.

With regards to illicit trafficking, South Africa is also said to be a major exporter in Africa of drug precursors or chemicals used in illicit manufacture of drugs such as cocaine, heroin, ecstasy or methamphetamines.

Besides being regarded as destroyer of people’s lives, drug abuse undermines sustainable human development and leads to various crimes within the communities.  Minister Dlamini will therefore use the Eersterust commemoration to highlight the dangers of drug abuse in the country and raise awareness of government services available to those affected by drugs.

More concerning is that, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), individual South Africans (15 years and older) consumed an average of 8.2 litres of pure alcohol per annum, well above the African continental average of 6.0 litres.

According to the University of Cape Town, in South Africa one of the most common causes of cirrhosis or liver disease is chronic (and excessive) alcohol consumption.  It is the 5th leading cause of death and kills approximately 25 000 people a year, whilst there are at least 500 000 South African's suffering from foetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Estimates made of the combined tangible and intangible costs of harmful use of alcohol to the South African economy reached nearly R300 billion or 10–12% of the 2009 gross domestic product.

This year’s International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is commemorated under the theme “Let’s Develop our Lives, Communities, our Identities without Drugs.”  This commemoration will also highlight the dangers of alcohol abuse.

Government has appointed an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Combating Alcohol and Substance Abuse.  The committee coordinates government’s collective national efforts from prevention, community mobilisation, treatment and law enforcement amongst others.

The National Drug Master Plan (2013-2017), which is driven by the Central Drug Authority (CDA), is also being fully implemented.  The National Drug Master Plan offers a roadmap on how the country can move forward together to coordinate and strengthen the work of government in the fight against the scourge of alcohol and substance abuse.

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the Commemoration of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, planned as follows:

Date: 02 July 2015
Time: 12h00
Venue: Eersterust Soccer Stadium, East of Pretoria – Gauteng Province

Media RSVP: please contact Mr Jaconia Kobue on 073 026 1111 or jaconiak@dsd.gov.za

Media Enquiries may be forwarded to Ms Lumka Oliphant or lumkao@dsd.gov.za

Issued by Government Communications (GCIS) on behalf of National Department of Social Development

01 July 2015