Question NW778 to the Minister of Health
04 June 2020 - NW778
Waters, Mr M to ask the Minister of Health
What (a) number of persons are in need of rehabilitation due to an addiction problem and (b) are the top 10 addictions in the Republic?
Reply:
(a) Treatment demand data from the South African Medical Research Council collected through the South African Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (SACENDU) and reported once in six months shows that the number of persons admitted for treatment across 84 treatment centres/programmes between July and December 2018 were 8,486. Between January and June 2019, 9,268 persons were admitted for treatment.
(b) The data from the SACENDU Project shows that the primary substances of use for all persons seeking treatment for substance use problems were the following:
- Cannabis;
- Alcohol;
- Heroin/Nyaope;
- Methamphetamine;
- Mandrax;
- Cocaine;
- CAT;
- Over the Counter and Prescription Medication (OCT-PRE);
- Cannabis/Mandrax (White pipe); and
- Inhalants.
END.