SCHOOLS NOT PULLING THEIR WEIGHT IN WAR ON TIK, WARNS SANCA

With tik abuse more than doubling in the Wsetern Cape in the past
year and 80% of its users being under 21, it is disturbing that only
7% of referrals to clinics are made by schools, the SA National
Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (Sanca) has said.

More than half of those needing drug or alcohol rehabilitation are
referred to clinics by their families or check themselves in.

Data on drug and alcohol abuse during the past year, gathered from
the six Sanca treatment centres in Cape Town and that in George, were
released yesterday.

The Cape Town centres, employing 22 dedicated social workers who
treat about 100 outpatients a month, are in Athlone, Atlantis,
Khayelitsha, Mitchell's Plain, Paarl and Tygerberg.

In George, the council employs only one full-time social worker, who
deals with about 20 outpatients a month.

The Western Cape has the third-highest number of patients, with 12.5%
of all Sanca patients being treated here. Most of the patients are
blacks (39%), followed by whites (34%), coloureds (20%) and Asians
(7%), and 82% of all patients are male.

Sanca regional director David Fourie said about 53% of local drug
users abused tik (methamphetamine), a staggering 150% increase from
this time last year. Most distressing was that tik had now eclipsed
alcohol as the main substance of abuse, said Fourie.

About 19% of Sanca's patients abuse alcohol, 12% abuse dagga and 7%
are addicted to heroin, a 4% increase from a year ago.

"It must, however, be added that the recorded numbers may have
increased in the past year because the Department of Social Services
sponsored an extra three posts, allowing us to reach more people.

"We were disappointed to hear that the department decided against
renewing these contracts."

Instead the department, in co-operation with the province, last week
launched a three-year programme to train 1 000 unemployed and
unskilled to go into communities and facilitate early intervention in
drug abuse.

"This will help us to identify abusers, but our greatest need is for
educated and experienced social workers who have the appropriate
skills to treat patients," said Fourie.

National Sanca spokeswoman Elizabeth Robinson said a third of
patients nationally were 21 years and younger, one third between 22
and 35 years, and the rest 36 years and older.

"It is alarming to note that 18% of the patients were younger than 18
years," she said.

Close to 40% of patients are employed, full-or part-time, 25% are at
school or university, and 26% are unemployed.

"It is distressing to note that less than 10% of referrals to clinics
are from schools, considering that (a quarter) of all patients are at
school," said Robinson.

In the Western Cape, about 55% of patients check themselves in or are
referred by relatives, 12% are referred by employers, 7% by schools
and about 3% by churches.