TAFELSIG NOW WESTERN CAPE DRUG CAPITAL

Tafelsig has overtaken Manenberg as the area in the province with the
highest drug consumption, says Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool.

Speaking at the opening of the country's first public opiate
detoxification unit at the Stikland Hospital yesterday, Rasool said
the administration had identified the 10 worst drug areas.

Tafelsig was in top position, followed by Manenberg. Other areas
include Belhar, Gugulethu, Khayelitsha and Paarl.

Tik was the drug of choice and the entry-level drug.

"Tik leads to heroin (abuse). Over 18 000 people in the Western Cape
are addicted to it. It is a frightening statistic. When tik cannot
satisfy them any more, they move on to heroin."

Quoting recent statistics by the Medical Research Council, Rasool
said 25% of those in drug treatment centres were under 20.

While dagga and Mandrax were still the most common illicit drugs, tik
had become the primary substance of abuse since last year.

The province was only at the start of putting together a drug master
plan, Rasool said. Such a plan should include the reduction of demand
by preventing youth experimenting with drugs; reducing the supply by
acting harshly against those selling drugs; and the rehabilitation of
those addicted to drugs.

"To kickstart the implementation of this plan, we have significantly
increased our anti-drug budget from R6.7 million to R15m this year.

"The impact of the financial investment will significantly increase
the treatment capacity of the public sector, which currently stands
at just under 300 patients."

Traditional methods of rehabilitation would not suffice. "We need to
shift from narrow in-patient care to community-based care.

'We are working through an appropriate model with the UN agency on
drugs. This has to be multisectoral and based on the training of
community members as rehabilitation workers.

"For this reason, 300 volunteers are being trained in the 10 worst areas."