A worrying trend of drug and substance abuse among South African youth was exposed during Drug Awareness Week.
The week is commemorated from 24 to 28 June globally.
Also read: It’s never too late to quit drugs
In a statement, Life Mental Health said research shows that while 15 per cent of citizens has a drug problem, 27 per cent of adolescents has used drugs like cannabis (dagga), 35 per cent of them drink alcohol and 29 per cent engage in binge drinking. The agency said this proves our youth are part of a global drug epidemic.
The agency identified other commonly used drugs as:
- Flakka: A white or pink crystal which is snorted, eaten, injected or vaped
- Blow, coke or charlie: Cocaine which is usually snorted or rubbed on gums
- Rocks, freebase: A cheap and deadly form of cocaine taken as smokeable ‘rocks’
- XTC, e, Adam, MDMA, Molly: An ecstasy rave or party drug that enables users to dance all night
- Whites, buttons: Mandrax or methaqualone tablets usually powdered and smoked
- Acid: An odourless and colourless drug available as paper stamps impregnated with LSD or micro-tablets
- Nyaope, whoonga, wunga: One of the most lethal drug concoctions in the world containing rat poison, soap powder and antiretrovirals (ARVs).
- Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Lacoste: A white ecstasy-based pill, with a piece of metal wire hidden inside.
Also, the agency noted the increasing abuse of legal medications like ARVs, painkillers and cough syrup resulting in what is referred to as ‘silent addictions’.
Details: www.lifehealthcare.co.za
