{"id":96707,"date":"2015-08-25T19:30:01","date_gmt":"2015-08-25T17:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=96707"},"modified":"2015-08-27T11:53:32","modified_gmt":"2015-08-27T09:53:32","slug":"96707","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/lifestyle\/96707\/96707\/","title":{"rendered":"The most used illegal drugs in South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2014 World Drug report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime profiles drug use in South Africa – including those illegal substances most in use by the population.<\/p>\n

According to the UN, in 2012 around 243 million people had used illicit drugs, mainly belonging to the cannabis, opioid, cocaine or amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) group of narcotics.<\/p>\n

This is slightly up from the estimated 240 million drug users in 2011.<\/p>\n

Global “problematic” drug use by regular drug users with disorders or dependencies has remained stable in 2014, with between 16 million and 39 million estimated to fall into the category.<\/p>\n

This figure represents the number of people who are actively seeking treatment for various drug disorders.<\/p>\n

Drugs in South Africa<\/h3>\n

According to the UN report, drug use in South Africa is still largely centred around cannabis use, where almost 4% of the population are considered frequent users.<\/p>\n

Despite it being the most popular drug in the country, South Africa still ranks rather favourably compared to other nations (100th, overall) – but fares much worse with cocaine and prescription opioid use.<\/p>\n

The prevalence of cocaine use in the country has risen from 0.8% of the population in 2009, to over 1.02% in 2011, confirming a sizeable – and expanding – consumer market for the drug.<\/p>\n

Read:\u00a0The worst drug crime hot spots in South Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

South Africa is also believed to be a major consumer market for heroin, deriving its supply from Asia, East Africa and the Middle East.<\/p>\n

South Africa has also been linked to global cocaine drug trafficking. In Africa, South Africa is the main exporter of licit precursor materials and chemicals.<\/p>\n

On the positive side, while the country has seen the use of quaaludes such as Mandrax become increasingly concentrated in the country, usage has declined since the 90s.<\/p>\n

South Africa’s drug profile<\/h3>\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
#<\/th>\nDrug group<\/th>\nEstimated % of population<\/th>\nGlobal rank<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nCannabis<\/td>\n3.65%<\/td>\n100th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nCocaine<\/td>\n1.02%<\/td>\n32nd<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nATS (excluding ecstasy)<\/td>\n1.02%<\/td>\n27th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nOpioids<\/td>\n0.50%<\/td>\n62nd<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nOpiates<\/td>\n0.41%<\/td>\n34th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nEcstasy<\/td>\n0.40%<\/td>\n71st<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nPrescription opioids<\/td>\n0.09%<\/td>\n27th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The tables below outline the top 10 countries for drug use (expressed as the estimated percentage of the population that peruse the substances) across the eight categories covered by the United Nations report.<\/p>\n

The estimated population represented is the “best estimation” by the UN, excluding the the highest and lowest estimates presented in the report.<\/p>\n

Cannabis<\/h3>\n

\"Marijuana\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Cannabis is a type of flowering plant that, once cultivated and processed can be used for hemp fibre, medicinal use, and also as a recreational drug.<\/p>\n

The plant produces tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which causes the high, along with 483 other compounds present in the plant.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
#<\/th>\nCountry<\/th>\nEstimated % of population<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nIceland<\/td>\n18.30%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nZambia<\/td>\n17.70%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nUnited States of America<\/td>\n14.80%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nItaly<\/td>\n14.60%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nNew Zealand<\/td>\n14.60%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nNigeria<\/td>\n14.30%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nCanada<\/td>\n12.20%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nBermuda<\/td>\n10.90%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nSpain<\/td>\n10.60%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nAustralia<\/td>\n10.60%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Cocaine<\/h3>\n

\"Cocaine\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Cocaine is a strong stimulant, derived from the coca plant, often used as a recreational drug and also as a numbing agent in some medical practices.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
#<\/th>\nCountry<\/th>\nEstimated % of population<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nSpain<\/td>\n2.70%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nScotland<\/td>\n2.70%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nChile<\/td>\n2.40%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nUnited States of America<\/td>\n2.30%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nEngland and Wales<\/td>\n2.20%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nUruguay<\/td>\n2.10%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nItaly<\/td>\n2.10%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nAustralia<\/td>\n2.10%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nNorthern Ireland<\/td>\n1.90%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nMalta<\/td>\n1.78%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

ATS (excluding ecstasy)<\/h3>\n

\"ATS\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Amphetamine-type stimulants refer to a group of drugs whose principal members include amphetamine (used to treat ADHD) and methamphetamine (meth), as well as other drug types such as Cat (methcathinone), and MDMA\/ecstacy.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
#<\/th>\nCountry<\/th>\nEstimated % of population<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nEl Salvador<\/td>\n3.28%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nAustralia<\/td>\n2.70%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nNew Zealand<\/td>\n2.30%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nPhilippines<\/td>\n2.13%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nUnited States of America<\/td>\n1.90%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nPoland<\/td>\n1.90%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nNigeria<\/td>\n1.40%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nThailand<\/td>\n1.40%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nLaos<\/td>\n1.39%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nBelize<\/td>\n1.35%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Ecstasy<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Ecstasy\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Ecstasy is singled out from the other amphetamine-type stimulants for its prevalence, particularly in rave and club culture.<\/p>\n

The class of drug is often also mixed with hallucinogens for added effect. MDMA-class drugs also include related drugs such as MDPV and designer drugs called “bath salts”.<\/p>\n

Hallucinogens refer to any class of drug that creates psychological or sensory experiences that alter thinking and perception. This includes Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD, or “acid”), Psilocybin – found in “magic mushrooms” – or phencyclidine (PCP).<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
#<\/th>\nCountry<\/th>\nEstimated % of population<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nAustralia<\/td>\n4.20%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nNew Zealand<\/td>\n2.60%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nScotland<\/td>\n2.40%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nCzech Republic<\/td>\n2.20%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nNorthern Ireland<\/td>\n1.80%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nGeorgia<\/td>\n1.72%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nEstonia<\/td>\n1.70%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nSlovakia<\/td>\n1.60%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nLatvia<\/td>\n1.50%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nPoland<\/td>\n1.50%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Opiates<\/h3>\n

\"Opiate\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Opiates are “natural” substances derived from the poppy plant, which contains opium. Common opiates include morphine and codeine, both made directly from poppy plants.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
#<\/th>\nCountry<\/th>\nEstimated % of population<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nAfghanistan<\/td>\n2.65%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nSeychelles<\/td>\n2.30%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nIran<\/td>\n2.27%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nRussian Federation<\/td>\n1.64%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nAzerbaijan<\/td>\n1.50%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nMaldives<\/td>\n1.34%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nUkraine<\/td>\n1.16%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nPuerto Rico<\/td>\n1.15%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nChina<\/td>\n1.12%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nPakistan<\/td>\n1.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Opioids<\/h3>\n

\"Heroin\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Opioids are substances that are synthetic or partly synthetic, that act like opiates due to similar chemical composition. Heroin is a type of Opioid, derived from morphine.<\/p>\n

Opioids are also commonly found in prescription medicines such as Vicodin.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
#<\/th>\nCountry<\/th>\nEstimated % of population<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nUnited States of America<\/td>\n6.10%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nNorway<\/td>\n4.60%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nAustralia<\/td>\n3.40%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nAfghanistan<\/td>\n2.92%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nCosta Rica<\/td>\n2.80%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nPakistan<\/td>\n2.40%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nSeychelles<\/td>\n2.30%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nRussian Federation<\/td>\n2.29%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nIran<\/td>\n2.27%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nMauritius<\/td>\n1.95%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Prescription opioids<\/h3>\n

\"Prescription<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
#<\/th>\nCountry<\/th>\nEstimated % of population<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nUnited States of America<\/td>\n5.70%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nAustralia<\/td>\n3.10%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nCosta Rica<\/td>\n2.80%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nPakistan<\/td>\n1.50%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nMauritius<\/td>\n1.04%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nCanada<\/td>\n1.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nNew Zealand<\/td>\n1.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nEstonia<\/td>\n0.71%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nAfghanistan<\/td>\n0.55%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nBrazil<\/td>\n0.50%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Prescription stimulants<\/h3>\n

\"Prescription<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
#<\/th>\nCountry<\/th>\nEstimated % of population<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nEl Salvador<\/td>\n3.28%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nUnited States of America<\/td>\n1.60%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nCosta Rica<\/td>\n1.30%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nCanada<\/td>\n0.70%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nBrazil<\/td>\n0.70%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nIndonesia<\/td>\n0.51%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nNew Zealand<\/td>\n0.50%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nVenezuela<\/td>\n0.37%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nUruguay<\/td>\n0.30%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nChile<\/td>\n0.14%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

More on crime<\/h3>\n

The worst crime hot spots in South Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

South Africa is one of the most violent and unsafe countries in the world<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

11 things businesses hate about South Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

How corrupt is South Africa?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Why the death penalty won\u2019t solve SA\u2019s crime problem<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 2014 World Drug report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime profiles drug use in South Africa – including which illegal substances are most used by the population.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":96741,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9876],"tags":[6777,26,853,2983],"class_list":["post-96707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","tag-drugs","tag-headline","tag-south-africa","tag-united-nations"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96707","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=96707"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96707\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":96905,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96707\/revisions\/96905"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/96741"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=96707"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=96707"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=96707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}