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.