Covid-19 lockdown exposes East London youth’s drug habits to their parents

Buffalo City Metro is battling a rising substance abuse crisis.

This is according to SA national council on alcoholism and drug dependence (Sanca) Eastern Cape director Roger Weimann, who says more and more people, especially teenagers, are abusing drugs.

He told the Dispatch Sanca has seen an increase in the number of young users of tik — crystal methamphetamine, a highly addictive substance that results in a high incidence of psychotic episodes — and cannibis, also known as dagga and weed.

“The youth are experimenting with all manner of drugs and substances. Availability is essential here as many of these drugs are easy to get, and relatively inexpensive.

“We have experienced a steady increase in the number of service users under the age of 18 seeking treatment for substance abuse in the past two years.

“During the Covid-19 lockdown, we saw an increase in the number of parents who had become aware that their children were using drugs, perhaps due to the fact that the families were spending more time together than before,” Weimann said.

“Actual statistics are not available as so much of this activity goes unnoticed. At present, here at Sanca, we are seeing a spike in the number of tik users seeking treatment.

“Dagga remains a drug that is used regularly. Confusion still surrounds the new regulations regarding the personal use of dagga.”

In September 2018 the Constitutional Court decriminalised possession and cultivation of cannabis in private by adults for personal private consumption, but not commercial trade of the plant. Regulations stemming from the ruling are still to come.

A 19-year old matric candidate said he was introduced to drugs in 2019.

“I have been battling to quit this whole year. Mostly I smoke dagga and tik. Sometimes I go for days without smoking till I relapse.

“Drugs are easily accessible in East London and many young people are hooked because of the social issues we face in our families and communities.”

According to a report published this year by Siphokazi Dada, a senior scientist with the alcohol, tobacco and other drugs research unit at the SA Medical Research Council, only 475 people were treated for drug abuse in six specialist treatment centres across the Eastern Cape from January to June last year.

The report found that most people admitted themselves to special drug centres or were referred by friends and family.

“Patients who were younger than 20 comprised 25% of the treatment population and significantly increased compared to the previous period.

A slight decrease in patients between the ages of 20 and 24 years was noticed during this period from 21% to 15%.”

Her report revealed the most common primary substances of use were alcohol at 26%, weed at 23%, methamphetamine at 21% and heroin at 18%.

She said 66% of people in treatment centres used their substance daily. Men dominated the list of users.

“The overall age of the patients in treatment during this period remains at 30 years.

“Patients who were treated for over-the-counter or prescribed medication, alcohol, crack and cocaine were on average older than those treated for other substances.”

Most users seen at substance use treatment centres came from the two metros, she said.