Pubdate: Tue, 23 Jan 2007
Source: Star, The (South Africa)
Copyright: Independent Newspapers 2007
Contact:  http://www.thestar.co.za/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/423
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

A LETHAL INJECTION

If international warnings are a good gauge of things to come, our 
streets could soon be awash with more heroin than they have ever 
seen, cheaper than it has ever traded and purer than even the worst 
addict could hope for.

And all because Afghanistan is harvesting record amounts of opium 
that are saturating world markets. Last year's bumper harvest 
accounted for 92% of global illicit opium production and more than 
half of Afghanistan's GDP. Indicators suggest 2007 could yield an 
even greater harvest.

None of this bodes well for South Africa, where heroin abuse is 
already on the rise. And with more of the narcotic on the way, the 
short-term concern is that heroin-related problems will also rise. 
Evidence shows that easy availability of the drug adds an additional 
dimension to the spread of HIV and Aids when the number of 
intravenous users becomes more widespread. The startling incidence of 
the pandemic in South Africa hardly needs to be exacerbated.

Compounding the problem is not only the low price but the high purity 
level of Afghan heroin. The fear this brings with it is that it will 
encourage addicts to take a fatal risk, the results of which will be 
borne out in an increased number of overdoses.

If the authorities do not waken up to the devastation that's waiting 
to unfold, the human toll could be tragic.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman