Herewith the information on the statistics captured by 29 SANCA centres throughout South Africa.
The statistics reflect the period 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017.
The following trends were identified:
Over the last 12 years, there has been an 35% increase of admissions reflecting the increase seen of substance abuse on a national level in South Africa. In the period 2005/6, SANCA centres admitted 8,733 service users and this amount increased annually to 13,376 service users for the period 2016/17.
There is an alarming conclusion drawn from the statistics on the various age groups, namely that the highest density (41%) of admissions is amongst 22-35 year old patients, almost half the addiction population. The second largest group is 14 – 17 year olds therefore individuals in high school Grade 8 – Grade 11.There is an increase for the age group between 4 and 13 years of age accounts for 3%.
The onset age is getting younger as there is an annual increase from age 4 to 35. This is significant in that it implies an earlier onset age of substance abuse.
A great concern for the medical field is that the brain only reaches maturity at 26 years of age and that the highest prevalence of admissions of a substance use disorder where below this age group. There could be permanent brin structural changes in the developing brain.
There is an decrease in alcohol submissions at the centres of the last year but an increase in admissions for cannabis admissions to the various centres;
When analysing the racial groups, 68% of the service users were African and second largest group is the coloured population at 17%; 12% of the clients treated during this period were white; and the Indian/Asian population was only 3%.
Over 41% of the clients are unemployed. The second largest group (31%) are school learners that are receiving treatment and 2,5% are students. Only 18% are employed or self employed on full time or 3% were part time employed. The rest of the clients (1%) were pensioners or receive disability grants and aid and it was interesting that 0,5% classified themselves as housewives.
It is clear that dagga is by far the drug of choice with 37% within the reported treatment community.
A high percentage of clients report that either dagga or alcohol was the first substance ever used, which again will be in line with the highest reporting ages.
Dagga is the substance that accounts for 37% of the admissions during this period but there is a 1% decrease in admissions from the last reporting year. Alcohol is the second substance of choice (21%); then heroin & opiates at 14% and the mixture of nyaope /whoonga /sugers/ pinch at 13% of all the admissions for this period.
The sharp increase of nyaope abuse is problematic as it is a mixture of cannabis and low grade heroin. The health concerns have arisen as service users are reporting now that they inject the nyaope as well as a technique called “blue toothing”.
When looking at the National footprint, Gauteng treats the most clients (45%) and this can be ascribed to the high population density with 77% of the service users being treated on an Outpatient basis and 23% are treated on an Inpatient basis.
30% of clients are self referred and 23% are referred by their families or friends. The school refer 19 % of all clients and then the employer at 8%. Only 5% are referred through the courts for diversion programmes. A small percentage of our clients are referred through the legal system.
