Pubdate: Wed, 16 Feb 2005 Source: Cape Argus (South Africa) Copyright: 2005 Cape Argus Contact: http://capeargus.co.za/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2939 Author: Sarah Fisher Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) DRUGS AT THE ROOT OF THE VIOLENCE AFFLICTING US This week the Cape Argus has carried horrifying stories involving children being traumatised and, in one case, horribly killed. On February 14, headlines included: "I prayed, unaware my son was hostage-taker", "Boy who saw mom die hides in fear of his life" and "I did not plan to kill my nephew". They all have one scary common denominator - drugs. An 11-year-old was sodomised and killed by his uncle high on Mandrax, another eight-year-old (now 11) hides in fear of his life after watching his mother stabbed to death in a drug-connected killing. A 10-year-old watches as police shoot dead his hostage-taker, who was high on methamphetamine (tik) at the time. The hostage-taker himself was little more than a child - a 21-year-old who had no history of violence. Let us spare a thought for all these affected families, who must be in such intense pain. We need to prepare ourselves to see more of these horror stories unless this province takes some urgent action. Although going after the kingpins and dealers is an essential part of addressing the problem, it can only give us a partial solution - often they are drug-addicted themselves, and by the very nature of what they do, live in a culture of violence. When they are arrested and put in jail or, like the ones found with R4 million worth of the ingredients for methamphetamine, let out on bail, nothing changes. We know there are drugs in jail. The people who have become dependent on these drugs don't just spontaneously stop. In the case of methamphetamine, research by the Koch Crime Institute says that "because prolonged use causes changes in the brain, willpower alone will not cure meth addicts". The same research tells us that people who abuse methamphetamine suffer from "homicidal and suicidal thoughts" and "acute psychiatric and psychological symptoms that may lead to suicide or murder". These are the worst-case scenarios, but at best we can expect short-term cognitive impairment for casual users, and semi-permanent damage for those who use heavily. We also know that if people who are dependent on illegal drugs manage to stop, they often cross-addict to alcohol, and the Medical Research Council estimates that alcohol abuse alone costs this province at least R1 billion a year. We need a provincial plan that looks not only at supply reduction but at demand reduction too - and that means effective, affordable and accessible treatment and prevention strategies for users and their families. It costs us 10 times more to send someone through the justice system and to prison than it does to give them treatment. Having said that, there is very little treatment available and certainly not treatment that is affordable and accessible for most people. Families and individuals are in crisis, and that crisis will continue to worsen - children will lose their parents and parents their children unless something major happens. On February 25, the Western Cape Substance Abuse Forum is being launched. Representatives of all the government departments and everyone in the substance abuse arena will be there. This is our opportunity to begin developing a well-thought-out and carefully planned strategy for the province that is driven by research and best practice. If we do that, we can indeed make the Western Cape a home for all, but it will only be a safe home if we stop dwelling in the problem and start living in the solution. Sarah Fisher Somerset West - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin