Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Motorists stoned along Cape road

Motorists passing through Cape Town's Du Noon were stoned on Tuesday morning, allegedly by protesting taxi drivers, Western Cape police said.

Spokesperson Inspector Daphne Dell said police had to intervene and stop them from stoning motorists using Potsdam Road.

She said similar incidents had been reported in other suburbs around Cape Town.

Nobody was injured nor arrested and police believe they had the situation under control.

Local radio station 567 Cape Talk reported that the incidents were related to the introduction of the government's Bus Rapid Transit system. - Sapa

Friday, November 28, 2008

Cannabis known to man for 2700 years

Researchers say they have located the world's oldest stash of marijuana, in a tomb in a remote part of China. (from the Toronto Sun)

The cache of cannabis is about 2,700 years old and was clearly "cultivated for psychoactive purposes," rather than as fibre for clothing or as food, says a research paper in the Journal of Experimental Botany.

The 789 grams of dried cannabis was buried alongside a light-haired, blue-eyed Caucasian man, likely a shaman of the Gushi culture, near Turpan in northwestern China.

The extremely dry conditions and alkaline soil acted as preservatives, allowing a team of scientists to carefully analyze the stash, which still looked green though it had lost its distinctive odour.

"To our knowledge, these investigations provide the oldest documentation of cannabis as a pharmacologically active agent," says the newly published paper, whose lead author was American neurologist Dr. Ethan B. Russo.

Remnants of cannabis have been found in ancient Egypt and other sites, and the substance has been referred to by authors such as the Greek historian Herodotus. But the tomb stash is the oldest so far that could be thoroughly tested for its properties.

The 18 researchers, most of them based in China, subjected the cannabis to a battery of tests, including carbon dating and genetic analysis. Scientists also tried to germinate 100 of the seeds found in the cache, without success.

The marijuana was found to have a relatively high content of THC, the main active ingredient in cannabis, but the sample was too old to determine a precise percentage.

Researchers also could not determine whether the cannabis was smoked or ingested, as there were no pipes or other clues in the tomb of the shaman, who was about 45 years old.

The large cache was contained in a leather basket and in a wooden bowl, and was likely meant to be used by the shaman in the afterlife.

"This materially is unequivocally cannabis, and no material has previously had this degree of analysis possible," Russo said in an interview from Missoula, Mont.

"It was common practice in burials to provide materials needed for the afterlife. No hemp or seeds were provided for fabric or food. Rather, cannabis as medicine or for visionary purposes was supplied."

"It certainly does indicate that cannabis has been used by man for a variety of purposes for thousands of years.

Grandma Ganja - killed by cannabis aged 120


A 120-year-old woman, said to be one of the oldest women in India, died at her home in Orissa, her family said on Saturday 18th November 2006.

Fulla Nayak, a resident of Kanarpur village in the coastal district of Kendrapada, died of old age complications on Saturday.

Fulla's voter photo identity card issued by the government in 1995 shows she was 120 years old.

Fulla was known for her love of smoking ganja and cigars and palm juice. She also loved steaming hot tea.

She had never suffered any debilitating ailment throughout her life. Except for her weak eyesight, Fulla maintained good health and used to walk without support. (From DNA India)

Fulla Nayak - (Ganja Granny from the Sun)

Thursday, November 27, 2008

The DrugAlyzer has landed....

The DrugAlyzer has landed.... with a bang

About 30 percent of motorists tested in Mitchells Plain, Hout Bay and Sea Point tested positive for drugs in the field study using the drugalyser, launched officially on Tuesday. (from IOL)

In Sea Point, 59 percent of drivers stopped tested positive for alcohol, 35 percent for drugs, and 33 percent for both. In Hout Bay, 83 percent tested positive for alcohol, 33 percent for drugs, and 33 percent for both.

In Brackenfell, 70 percent tested positive for alcohol and 15 percent for drugs, and in Mitchell's Plain, 14 percent for liquor, 33 percent for tik, and 7 percent for both.

"The highest percentages of positive cases for the drug screens were (50 percent), recorded in central Cape Town."

These numbers cannot be believed.

The study with the DrugAlyzer was supposed to be random. This means that the high numbers are a function of police profiling. The Metropolitan Police put up a roadblock, walk down the row and pick out who they think "should be tested". This would include anyone 18-25 coloured, anyone looking inebriated, looking nervous? What do the numbers mean if the test was not random? What kind of study was this? What did it set out to prove? Whatever the aim might have been it wasn't to find out what "percentage" of people are driving under the influence...

What is the chain of evidence for the Drugwipe once the test has been started? Who looks after the Drugwipe once it is put in the horizontal position? A Metropolitan Policeman? I wouldn't trust a Metro Cop to do the security at a 5 year old's birthday party!

What steps are the operator expected to take to ensure that there is no cross contamination in subsequent tests?

Is this test not an invasion of one's right to privacy? Why have the police chosen to NOT inform the public that they have the right to not participate.

What compounds is the DrugAlyzer looking for as an indication that a person has consumed a drug?

What independent tests have been performed on DrugAlyzer to ensure that it will not identify an across the counter medication or prescription medication as one of the illicit drugs it is testing for?

How to say no....

Metropolitan Police officer: "Please swab this in your mouth"

You: "I decline to participate in your experiment. You do not have my consent to take a sample. Give me the number of the regulation, together with the number and date of the Government Gazette in terms of which are operating this machine. No law - No sample"

Sunday, November 23, 2008

How dangerous is Cannabis? NOT VERY

Doctors pronounce that Cannabis is NOT a major killer. (from News24)

"I don't think it (cannabis) contributes very much to people dying. It's not in the league of alcohol or tobacco", says Dr Stephen Sidney, an associate director of clinical research with the Kaiser Permanente health plan who has studied the effects of cannabis use on life span.

A study of 65 171 men and women enrolled in the Kaiser Permanente health plan found that, with the exception of Aids patients, cannabis users were not more likely than others to die over a 10-year period.

In a Swedish study, researchers found no link between cannabis use among more than 45 000 male military conscripts, aged 18 to 20, and their death rates over the next 15 years.

What to do? There are common-sense measures about using cannabis, Sidney suggests. It should be discouraged in teenagers. Young teenagers getting involved in drugs are going to have more of a problem with it. And people ought not to be driving around in cars and operating dangerous machinery when they're intoxicated. (Doing a backflip off the top rope while blazed and wrestling in the WWE is ok though..!)

Anyone wishing to dispute the safety of cannabis should please bring bodies and names. Evidence, not say so.

Here is some EVIDENCE - Real evidence... can you find any deaths from cannabis here?
Or of all the important people who have died... Can you find any deaths among them...?

Drugging and driving... the new evil?

The Cape Town Metro police are planning on testing drivers suspected of being under the influence of drugs at roadblocks.

Yet questions have been raised as to whether this is a feasible, or realistic, task. While crime statistics indicate that illegal drug use in the country is on the increase – the most common are dagga and cocaine/crack - will this be enough to convince the authorities of the necessity to do this testing? And how will it be carried out? (from News24)

Many experts believe that the biggest problem with this type of testing is that although it is a good idea, there are too many obstacles which need to be overcome first.

“There are certain ways to test for drugs, such as through urine or hair, but it is not feasible to carry such tests out on the side of the road for many reasons, says Sarah Fischer, Executive Director of the Substance Misuse Advocacy, Research and Training (Smart) group. “These problems include how one would actually go about testing, the chance of contamination, expense and of course the fact that if a person had taken legal medication, this could show up as a positive in a drug test.”

“Unless there is a protocol set up, this kind of system will not work. It is very different from testing for alcohol – as alcohol is a legal substance and the test is non-invasive.”

Trimega Diagnostics (PTY) Limited is the company chosen to deliver South Africa’s first ever roadside drug testing pilot programme. The company is a joint venture between UK-based Trimega Laboratories and Real World Diagnostics. The DrugAlyzer alcohol key ring range is available at selected Alpha Pharmacy outlets to include Alpha Pharmacies branded version of the drug test.

How it works
To use the DrugAlyzer test, one takes a sample of an individual’s saliva or sweat to determine if they are driving under the influence of a drug (illegal under Section 65 of the Road Traffic Act).

According to Uys and Lasarow, the strength of the test is that it's so non-invasive. At the roadblocks, they said, most people were willing to co-operate. (also from News24)

No mention of how reliable the Drugalyzer is... Would anyone wanting to rely on this technology base their reputation that will not produce any false positives? Judges? OK test all judges before work. Metropolitan Police Officers? No reason to not have a weekly test. Politicians? These folks have the most responsible jobs in the country. Surely they would have absolutely NO PROBLEM in submitting to a test once a week? Driving the country under the influence? I am not saying that is what is happening, but it could explain a thing or two?

Cape Town No1 in Drugged Driving

15% of Cape Town drivers screened for drugs have been found to be driving drunk, high, stoned and tripping!!! On average every eighth car you pass on the is driven by an OFFENDER!!! Every EIGHTH CAR....

Shocking details about South African motorists’ use of illegal drugs have emerged for the first time.

A pilot roadside drug testing study of drivers at 22 roadblocks over eight months in Gauteng and the Western Cape found 14% of them to be under the influence.

The technology detects cocaine, dagga, ecstasy, opiates (heroin), methamphetamines (tik) and amphetamine (speed) within minutes of swiping a strip across the driver’s tongue. (from the Times)

The intention of the pilot was only to screen for drugs and not to prosecute, as test results from the equipment are not yet admissible in court.

53 people were arrested in Mitchellsplain for drinking and driving.... I wonder if this is now old technology or new technology?

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Drug mules intercepted at Cape Town International

A woman was arrested at Cape Town International Airport on Thursday after cocaine was found in her possession (from IOL...)

"She had approximately half a kilogram hidden in her private parts and 52 bullets which she had swallowed, [also] presumed to contain cocaine. Further test are still being conducted, "said Captain Dennis Adriao.

Three hours later, a 33-year-old Zambian woman was arrested after she was found with 3,5 kilograms of tik to the street value of over a million rand.

An hour and a half later, a 28-year-old Somalian man was arrested when found with 28 kilograms of Cat.

"Its street value is R33 000. We picked him up through profiling," said Adriao. (Profiling.... relying on stereotypes to investigate and catch people which in turn reinforces those stereotypes)

Thursday, November 20, 2008

World Mayors called to think rationally

Ik vraag me af of de World Mayor zal instemmen met de andere wereld burgemeesters ...?:

"De markt voor drugs is een mondiale markt,"
"Dus we kunnen niet onze liberale beleid in isolement."

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Zero Tolerance for Smugglers

Zero tolarance will be shown to smugglers. This was the message from Inspector Nkonikho Mzuku, police spokesman in the Ocean View area. (From the Cape Son)
Mzuku said that they would do their best to get rid of all the shebeens in Ocean View and Masipumelele.
Mzuku warned that the cops wold raid the shebeens at any given time. (Given in advance to the shebeens?) He promised that the police would have no mercy of these people.
The past weekend the cops from Ocean View arrested 33 suspects on several charges.
Riotous behaviour 19
Cannabis possession 15
House Breaking 3
Possession of tik 2
(other suspects were arrested for assault, drugs and domestic violence BUT no arrests for illegal sale of alcohol!!!!) The new draft legislation concerning the liquor act makes it possible for all the cops in and around the Peninsula to follow a policy of zero tolerance when it comes to illegal shebeens. Last week Cape Son reported on an illegal shebeen in Hanover Park that was raided for the umpteenth time. (Zero tolerance - umpteen raids - no meaningful effect?)

Crackdown in M'Plain - THUNDERSTRUCK!

Traffic cops were out in full force at the weekend to tackle drunk drivers in Mitchells Plain.
Merle Lourense, the traffic department's spokeswoman, said 53 motorists were arrested for drunken driving in the area.
"We also made 211 drunk driving arrests throughout the peninsula over the past weekend."
Michael Jacobs of the Mitchells Plain Community Police Forum told Cape Son:"Mitchells Plain roads are unsafe and no traffic cops man the area. We are pleased the traffic department is now coming into Mitchells Plain, which will definitely see a drop in road accidents here."

Metro Police Superintendent GA Africa told Cape Son:"We will now come into Mitchells Plain regularly because of the high accident rate there."

Lourens said they were concerned about the festive season, when road accident rates rise.
She said:"More than 4000 fines were issued buy officers in all operational unit. Highest speeds were 171km/h in a 60km/h."
"We are getting strict regarding drunken driving"
"The Western Cape has a 34% average of youth binge drinking."

Eddie Meyer, a traffic consultant contracted by the Cape Town traffic department, told Cape Son: "I invented an instrument which can detect alcohol intake as well as drug consumption.

"I call this invention the Thunder Stick."

(from the Cape Son - by Fu'ad Rahman)

Snuffed out by his Mommy

A drunken snooze claimed baby's life (from the Cape Son - by Basil Davids)
Worcester - She had a lekker party. Got drunk with friends, then went and passed out - on her baby. The mother Jonise Smith, would get up again. But it was the last sleep for little Alexander, her baby of 10 months. His mother lay on his and squashed him.

A friend of the drunken mother pulled Alexander from under Smith who was deeply asleep. Paulse said Alexander's arms were hanging limply at his sides. Paulse said she screamed and knew the child was dead.

Smith lives alone with her children Denolson and Wilmarie and formerly little Alexander.

She was in a happy mood at the weekend and just enjoyed herself. (By getting blind drunk?)

"I know it was wrong to drink and not to look after my child properly"

An inquest into the death of the child is in progress.

The Epicentre.... Cape Town

"Cape Town is the epicentre of two significant public health epidemics - methamphetamine abuse and increasing HIV incidence," Charles Parry, director of the MRC's alcohol and drug abuse research unit, said on Monday. (Amazing that neither FAS nor XDR-TB get a mention!)"There is a greater risk of methamphetamine users contracting and spreading HIV than other drug users." (From IOL)

Methamphetamine, more commonly known as tik, is a cheap, highly addictive, and long-acting stimulant widely known to heighten libido. It has been linked to an increase in risky sexual behaviour.

There were more than 120 000 methamphetamine users in Cape Town, Parry said. He estimated that for every one tik user receiving treatment in Cape Town, there were 100 who were not.

"It is outrageous that the health sector has not become more involved in addressing drug issues and that the Department of Health plays second fiddle to the Department of Social Development in the treatment of substance abuse."(Is it more outrageous that the Department of Health is responsible for all drugs EXCEPT alcohol which is the responsibility of the Department of Trade and Industry?)

"The issue should be combined between the two departments to prevent people falling through the cracks. It is a health problem with social consequences and causes." (Best to create a massive crack between two departments for the issue to fall into with no one taking responsibility)

Tik users are more likely to have sex while under the influence of alcohol and other drugs and also more likely to have sex at a younger age. Tik users are more likely to have multiple sexual partners and to trade sex for drugs.

Where do tik addicts come from?

This excellent question is posed on IOL...

According to the Medical Research Council, Cape Town is the tik (methamphetamine) capital of South Africa, with 98 percent of methamphetamine patients seen in all the provinces coming from Cape Town. (The answer is that Tik addicts come from Cape Town!!)

Methamphetamine, also known as speed, ice, crank, crystal straws and tjoef, is highly addictive and especially popular with children. The highest user levels are among those under 19.

Professor Solomon Rataemane plans to use the four-day conference to launch the South African Society for Addicted Medicine. He said the society would provide training to medical practitioners and social workers to help control substance abuse.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Five People bust for SUPER DAGGA!!

Five people were arrested in Milnerton, Cape Town on Thursday for growing potent dagga to export to the United Kingdom and Europe, the SAPS Crime Intelligence and Interpol division said. (from News24)

Superintendent Tummi Golding said three men and two women were arrested in two separate laboratories in Milnerton around 15:15 on Thursday and approximately R60 000 worth of dagga was confiscated.

The laboratories were used to cultivate dagga which would then be harvested, compressed and exported to the UK and Europe.

The seeds to grow the dagga were imported from the UK.

No respite for the unborn - Momma needs a drink

The Western Cape Liquor Bill makes no provision for the restriction of consumption of alcohol by pregnant women - even if MEC Garth Strachan says it does - or wishes it did. (from IOL)


UCT Public Health consultant Joanne Corrigall said there was nothing in the bill to stop liquor outlets from selling alcohol to pregnant women. "It would not be practical to implement because one can't always tell when a women is pregnant and can't hold tavern owners liable," (Well thanks for engaging your brain woman!! The clause could read "Anyone who KNOWLINGLY supplies a woman who is pregnant is guilty of an offence punishable. by...")

Including it in the bill had been considered but rejected.

Corrigall said the provincial standing committee had decided that tavern owners be asked to voluntarily abide by a code of ethics that discouraged alcohol sales to pregnant women.

"I fully agree that pregnant women should not drink, but I don't think the government has the constitutional right to do so (prevent it)...the bill does not deal with it, but we all know what serious damage alcohol does to the unborn child." Democratic Alliance spokesperson on the Western Cape Liquor Bill, Alan Winde (Fucking hot air more like it!!!! Eh - so the unborn child has no rights? Not true! Hence RESTRICTIONS on abortions... I don't think... who needs a spokesperson to THINK for them?)

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Shebeens staring down the barrel?

The Western Cape legislature has approved a bill aimed at shutting down about 20 000 illegal shebeens across the province to curb alcohol abuse and its impact on communities. (from IOL)(Is this a bad time to point out that there are approximately 30 000 shebeens - not 20 000?)

"Alcohol is a major factor in all types of crime, including crimes of violence against women and children," the MEC for finance, economic development and tourism Garth Strachan said.

"A whopping 67 percent of domestic violence cases in the Cape Town metropole are alcohol-related."

  • On average, 60 percent of homicides in Cape Town were associated with alcohol abuse.

  • More than 70 percent of non-fatal and 50 percent of fatal violent injuries in urban areas were alcohol-related.

  • More than 50 percent of drivers and passengers and more than 70 percent of the 3 000 adult pedestrians a year who died in accidents were found to have been drinking.

  • Six in 10 drivers who died in accidents had dangerously high alcohol levels in their blood.

  • About 50 percent of truck drivers and 30 percent of taxi drivers drank while driving.

  • Adopt a Cop comes to the Mother City

    The City of Cape Town will allow the adoption of it's Metro police from December. The public (as in desirable companies and associations but NOT individuals) are being asked to donate R90 000 per annum to pay the policeman's salary.

    The chair of the city's safety and security portfolio committee, J P Smith, said the policy had been adopted about six months ago.

    "It took a long time for people to know. (Perhaps he means to say that the City has chosen not to discuss privatising it's security function in the form of the police with the public - AT ALL)

    "This should be up and running by December." (Story from IOL)

    The public does not seem to have been consulted, nor were the consequences thought through. Does it matter who pays the police? Of course it does as "he who pays the piper calls the tune" Nothing can convince me that we won't end up in a society where we have unequal policing afforded to those who pay relative to those who don't. Who would not go the extra mile to protect the hand which feeds it? Logically this means "less" policing for those who do not pay - or in the case of individuals those who are not allowed to pay. The distinction between natural and juristic persons ignores that businesses and organisations are created and controlled by individuals. The "scheme" seeks legitimacy and gravity by pandering to the idea that large businesses and organisations are "better suited" to having some leverage over the police? The average person would say that Pick 'n Pay is suited, but a Taxi Association probably not. What of an insurance company? Old Mutual? Outsurance? Mutual and Federal? Prudential? Fedsure? Would Arthur J Brown (- the thief of food from the mouths of orphans and pensions from the poor) be the kind of person the city has in mind. He was the king of the world but a short time ago!

    If the a business or association coughs up R90 000 per annum what can they expect in return? A pat on the back? An adoption certificate? Or should donors expect something more concrete? Preferential treatment? I can't wait to see what other public goods are going to be come quasi-privatised? Surely it's not too much to think that Justice could be next . Congratulations Cape Town for a terrible idea which has been poorly executed.

    Monday, November 10, 2008

    Alcohol still the curse of the Cape

    The growing scourge of tik (methamphetamine) in the Western Cape has grabbed attention in the past few years, but the province still has a massive alcohol problem with almost 60 percent of violent deaths linked to drunkenness.

    Alcohol is by far the most widely abused substance in the province and also accounts for 57 percent of road accidents, far higher than the rest of the country.

    These figures were part of a collaborative report by the Medical Research Council, the Humans Sciences Research Council, and the University of Cape Town on substance abuse trends in the Western Cape, which reviewed studies conducted since 2000.

    Professor Charles Parry of the MRC said Friday urgent intervention was needed to curb the misuse of alcohol.

    "We need to counter advertising by the industry. Alcohol ads have to be restricted to late night when children are not watching TV! There must be signage at the point of sale on the harm caused by abusing alcohol, communities need to enforce the closure times of outlets in their areas, including shebeens, and there should be an absolute ban on novice drivers drinking and driving for at least three years."

    SAFER CIA would like restrictions on adverts:
    • No Alcohol adverts which do not have an adult consuming the product
    • No Alcohol advertising / or electronic sponsorship of sports including 2010 (Children watch these games)
    • NO misrepresentation of the alcoholic product (e.g. Kilpdrift is Tea)
    • Warnings Labels on the product - Will Cause FAS
    • With the stats available it is clear the majority of the social problems are caused by alcohol. Producers should stop claiming they support "Safe Consumption"
    Parry said the trauma units should steer drunken patients to intervention programmes.

    He also wants to see the establishment of an alcohol health promotion foundation, to be funded by the liquor industry.

    It could send messages on the harmful effects of alcohol misuse, offer alternative enterprises to shebeen owners, and run intervention programmes in communities.

    The collaborative report was presented recently at a substance-abuse conference hosted in Cape Town by the provincial departments of health and social development.

    It showed that alcohol remained a significant substance of abuse in the province but was not often a key focal point for prevention and treatment services.

    This was despite the fact that alcohol abuse placed a tremendous burden on the health and social welfare sectors in both urban and rural areas.

    Studies, including an HSRC household survey, pointed to higher levels of problem drinking among coloured communities. The research council said 18 percent of coloureds abuse alcohol compared to 11 percent of blacks, 7 percent of whites and 1 percent of Indians.

    Cape Town has more alcohol-related violent deaths than other metros in the country, according to the latest National Injury Mortality Surveillance System report. Drunkenness was responsible for 59 percent of violent deaths in the city, compared to 47 percent of violent deaths in Durban and Johannesburg, and 51 percent in Pretoria.

    Cape Town also has the dubious distinction of being the city with the highest number of alcohol-related road deaths. A staggering 59 percent of road accidents were due to alcohol, compared to 47 percent of road deaths in both Durban and Pretoria.

    According to the report, alcohol use is also strongly associated with risky sexual risk behaviour. The outcomes of studies conducted on HIV prevalence, substance abuse and associated high-risk practices over the past eight years, all echo the same concerns: the need for interventions to address the growing substance abuse problem and its links to risky sexual behaviour.

    The report says there are not enough treatment centres for women, blacks, rural dwellers and poor people.

    "With increasing pressure to treat young methamphetamine-using clients, it is highly likely that access to treatment for older alcohol-dependent persons has become increasingly difficult in the Western Cape," the reports says.

    The Demographic and Health Survey reported that binge drinking at weekends was higher among women than men, but 25 percent of men and 6 percent of women in the Western Cape consumed alcohol in a "hazardous or harmful manner".

    The Western Cape has one of the highest rates of foetal alcohol syndrome in the world.

    - Saturday Argus

    Friday, November 7, 2008

    Who ya gonna call?

    Drug Busters.... (from IOL)

    The City of Cape Town's substance abuse unit, nicknamed the "Drug Busters" headed up by Glen Kleinsmith, a councillor, said the "Drug Busters" had conducted about 20 operations a month, closed 15 shebeens and arrested 48 suspected drug dealers since its inception in July.

    "In this time we inspected 84 premises for by-law contraventions, issued more than R28 000 in fines and filed complaints that will result in 778 court cases," Kleinsmith said. (Unintended consequence = backed up court rolls... people waiting forever in custody because they can't afford bail? Aren't the prisons full?)

    Kleinsmith urged residents to immediately inform either the police, Metro Police or their local housing office when they suspect drug dealing or other illegal activities on council property.

    Addresses, names and vehicle registration details could be passed on by residents, he said. (No need to worry about people's constitutional right to privacy... if you have nothing to hide then you really shouldn't have a problem with the neighbours peeking through your curtains... right?)

    "All leads are followed up. Once sufficient proof has been gathered, the city first has to write to the tenants, ordering them to cease the illegal activity."(Great strategy by the city here - no need for a tip off... Here comes A LETTER!!!!!)

    "The Drug Busters put their lives at risk every time they go out on raids because one can never tell what is behind the gates of suspected drug houses which are secured like fortresses with thick steel doors and heavy gates. But they are a very dedicated people. They have received specialised training," Kleinsmith said.(Amazing the alterations they allow people to make without permission to property they have leased!! )

    Wednesday, November 5, 2008

    WLCB - Finally time to act against Shebeens?

    Thousands of illegal shebeens will face the full might of the law before the festive season as the Western Cape Liquor Bill is expected to be signed into law before then. (from IOL)

    "We expect it to be before the festive season. The bill will really put a sharp weapon into the hands of the police. Our appeal to the liquor industry is to stop supplying alcohol to illegal shebeens. They are the scourge of our society," Finance, Economic Development and Tourism MEC Garth Strachan said.

    Community Safety MEC Patrick McKenzie said his department knew the location of legal and illegal shebeens in all townships and that the police were ready to shut down illegal traders as soon as the bill became law. (Admission of guilt? Says nothing about doing something about the situation using the existing laws? If the shebeens are selling alcohol illegally then what is stopping the police from stopping them)

    "We hope that shebeen owners start realising the fact that they are going to lose thousands of rand as their illegal businesses are going to grind to a halt. Liquor confiscated will become state property. They could even see their houses confiscated because there is a law against accumulating wealth through illegal means.

    "Shebeens have a disastrous impact on the lives of residents and our call is 'stop now or we will do it for you'. We are going to hit them hard irrespective of their size," Mckenzie said. (Words, words and more words.... )

    "The people of the province, specifically disadvantaged communities, have borne the brunt of the negative effects of liquor. In the Western Cape, our foetal alcohol syndrome figures are the highest in the world.

    "When you close down shebeens in residential areas, their owners may decide to move their operations to commercial areas.

    "If they can run their businesses there properly, it can be economically successful for them. This is what we want," he said. (Eh???? Make up your mind? What do you want? More alcohol or less - that is the question)

    Saturday, November 1, 2008

    Jacob Zuma smokes zol.... but it's not cannabis!!!!

    ANC president Jacob Zuma did smoke "zol" with the late activist Billy Nair - but it was not dagga; just tobacco rolled in paper, the ruling party said today.

    "The African National Congress has noted reports in a number of newspapers today [Friday] suggesting that ANC President Jacob Zuma and the late Billy Nair smoked dagga," said spokeswoman Jessie Duarte.

    "Speaking yesterday [Thursday] at the funeral service of struggle veteran Billy Nair, Zuma said that the two used to smoke ’zol’ together.

    "He was talking about tobacco rolled in paper, often referred to on Robben Island as ’zol’," Duarte said in a statement.

    She added however that the "ANC understands how Zuma’s statement could have been misunderstood."

    "For the record, Zuma and Nair did not smoke dagga together," concluded Duarte.

    Lies Lies and more Lies.... Funny how Jacob Zuma is not able to speak for himself? If you believe what is said he is set to be our next president. I hope that Jacob Zuma did smoke some cannabis with Billy Nair - at least that means he knows how to share!!!

    Saturday, October 25, 2008

    Bystander shot dead at Drug Arrest

    Cape Town metro police shot and killed a man and arrested another for being in possession of drugs in Philippi on Thursday. (IOL)

    The 28-year-old man was arrested after he ran from police when they tried to search him in Heinz Park shortly before 11am, Captain Ntomboxolo Sitshitshi said in a statement.

    In the bag he was carrying they found 35 mandrax tablets and three drinking straws filled with "tik", with a total value of around R6 000.

    During the man's arrest local residents began throwing stones at metro police. A Heinz Park man allegedly fired a shot at them. Metro police fired back, killing him.

    A .38 special firearm found in the dead man's possession was confiscated. A 25-year-old man from the area was arrested for malicious damage to property after he allegedly damaged a police vehicle during the stone-throwing.

    You just have to love the locals who start stoning the police....

    Death Clock for Tobacco....

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) and anti-smoking activists unveiled a "death clock" tracking how many people will die from tobacco use to mark a new campaign against the illicit tobacco trade. (Illicit tobacco trade???? Eh?)

    The WHO said it expects tobacco to kill more than 5 million people this year. (No word on the Cannabis Death Clock...? Hardly ever moves....?)


    Monday, October 20, 2008

    Cape Town drivers face "random" drug tests

    South Africa has followed the example of Australia and is introducing "random" drug tests at roadblocks.

    "Most of the young people who die on the city's roads, died because they they were on some kind of drug," said Community Safety MEC Patrick McKenzie. Of course not to point a finger at any drug IN PARTICULAR.... let's pick on them all.

    The apparatus would be launched as part of the city's Safer Festive Season programme and the city's campaign against unruly road users.

    The question stands. What happens when a member of the public tests positive? Asked whether test results could stand up in court, McKenzie said consultation with prosecution authorities was under way.

    "We are having our legal department check up on this for us," and then he saluted policemen and women for their efforts in fighting crime and lamented a situation where sterling work by detectives came to nought, because prosecutors failed to do a proper job.... unlike politicians who don't do their jobs properly and think things through?

    What a total and absolute FARCE. The department will deploy this new technology without having checked out the legality of trying to rely on test for a conviction. So the first driver to get pulled over will be...? Put in the back of the van? Then what? The unintended consequences of this "policy" are going to be laughable... There is no point using the test unless you are going to be able to rely on it in court - and there is no way that some little cellphone sized gadget is going to be totally accurate. In fact - before this test is foisted on the public I think that all parlaimentarians should be forced to take it before sitting in session.... Driving the Country drunk and drugged? I wonder what we'll find?

    What are the consequences of a false positive test? The first person "caught" in Australia was INNOCENT... and the poor guy has had his name dragged through papers....

    Police raid shebeens - spitting in the ocean

    Police have been raiding illegal shebeens in informal settlements in Athlone, resulting in the closure of some operations.

    This is like spittin' in the ocean - there are 30 000 shebeens in Cape Town and the police are only closing "some operations". Any follow up on where the illegal alcohol came from? Of course not....

    Sunday, October 19, 2008

    Smoking Cigarettes makes you stupid!

    Smoking kills.... and smokers face a speedier decline in several measures of cognitive function by middle age compared with their non-smoking peers, new research shows.

    If you are stupid enough to smoke then you are destined to be stupid in old age as well.... thanks tobacco...

    Huge Bust in Cape Town - 4kg's of Heroin!

    Three men were arrested in connection with drugs worth R4,6-million in Bishop Lavis and Athlone in Cape Town, Western Cape police said on Saturday.

    During a search police confiscated four kilograms of heroin, three kilograms of Tik, 2 000 Mandrax tablets and one kilogram of Ephedrine found in two rooms and a bathroom on the premises.

    Thursday, October 16, 2008

    Free foetal alcohol syndrome tests

    In an attempt to help curb the spread of foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), the City of Cape Town is expanding its free testing, screening and growth monitoring services to all city clinics.

    The strategy also known as "Closing the stable door after the horse has bolted" was announced on Wednesday, South Africa's National FAS Day, by Deputy Mayor Grant Haskin.

    "FAS is completely preventable if only both parents of unborn children, particularly the moms-to-be, understood the damage they are doing to their babies and made the informed decision to abstain from alcohol for the duration of the pregnancy," Haskin said.

    "It's a lifelong and irreversible disability."

    The Western Cape has one of the highest rate of babies born with FAS in the world. The syndrome affects 24 000 South African babies every year.

    And out of every 1 000 children in the Western Cape, 88 are living with FAS, while in the Northern Cape the figure per 1 000 is 122. In the United States the figure is fewer than one child in every 1 000.

    The syndrome is caused by the mother's consumption of alcohol while pregnant, preventing the brain of the foetus from developing properly.

    The physical and mental damage can include attention deficit disorder, low IQ level, facial deformities, immune system malfunctioning, memory loss and low birth weight.

    At any given time, 500 000 South Africans suffer from FAS disorders.

    "The Western Cape has the highest level of youth binge drinking, 34 percent, where the national average is 23 percent," Haskin said. Cape Town has a 24/7 toll free Alcohol and Drug helpline: 0800435748.

    - Cape Times

    Sunday, October 12, 2008

    Are Shebeens SAFER for young drinkers ?

    An age-gap war has broken out at shebeens in some Cape Town townships and owners are turning young people away because they often become violent, noisy or rude.

    The friction turned tragic when two teenage boys were stoned to death, possibly by an angry mob of drinkers, after trying to force their way into a shebeen in Khayelitsha last Sunday.

    Anele Kholisa, 18, and Banele Montile, 17, started arguing with the owner, demanding to be let inside, and the situation became nasty.

    When police arrived they found the bodies of the two teenagers lying covered in blood with a concrete slab nearby. Nobody has yet been arrested in connection with the double murder.

    Superintendent Andre Traut said police regarded the stoning incident "as an isolated matter, rather than a trend in the townships".

    "Alcohol abuse is a contributing factor to violence and therefore contributes to serious assaults and murders."

    But the owner of another shebeen in Langa, who asked to remain anonymous, said shebeen owners definitely preferred older patrons and some had even banned young people.

    "I have been running my business for a long time so I have come to know my customers very well. I prefer the older folks because they want to enjoy their drinks, listen to music, braai and talk about sport.

    "The young ones like to pick fights, they want to argue over nothing once they have had one too many drinks."

    The owner said she understood the problem of young people drinking too much but she also needed to earn a living.

    "I have a trading licence, I can't afford to lose it, which is why I try to sell responsibly. I allow them to buy if they are of legal age but they (young people) know that they are not allowed to drink here."

    A regular at the shebeen added: "How can we hang out with our children? Even if we know that they drink, we can't hang out at the same spot. They must find their own drinking place."

    "It is also about cultural values; my culture does not allow me to drink with my children because we see that as a sign of disrespect."

    Another patron at the shebeen, Buti Ngalo, said young people tended to think they were "cool" when they drank and because they wanted to fit in with their peers, they succumbed to pressure and ended up abusing alcohol.

    An owner at another Langa shebeen, who also asked not to be named, said it was important to keep to regular trading hours, know the young people in the area and respect other residents' space.

    "As you can see my shebeen is not far from a school so I do not trade during school hours. I would not want a situation where schoolkids bunk classes and come to drink at my place so I am strict about the way I operate my shebeen."

    He said he was a community leader and therefore understood the rules that needed to be followed.

    "I have heard about incidents where young people have either stabbed each other or fought over a girl; that is why security is one of the priorities in my shebeen." - Cape Argus

    Wednesday, July 16, 2008

    'Unga' joins tik as Cape drug of choice

    "Unga", a highly addictive heroin-based drug, has reached a tipping point across communities of the Western Cape, and is now a major drug of choice on the Cape Flats.

    According to Grant Jardine, director of the Cape Town Drug Counselling Centres, the build-up of unga in low-income communities has been a gradual one, but this year has marked the turning point.

    "For the first few months of this year," he says, "heroin was our number one presenting drug for the first time.

    "This indicates that heroin use is definitely on the increase amongst people in the disadvantaged areas that we serve, but the attention has all landed on tik which has masked the rise of heroin."

    'Five years ago, heroin was found mainly in the middle class'
    According to Andreas Pluddemann, a senior scientist at the Medical Research Council's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Unit, "Five years ago, heroin was found mainly in the middle class".

    "But that has all changed, and it is now highly prevalent in lower socio-economic groups in the form of unga."

    At the same time, the age at which people are experimenting with drugs is younger, says Jardine, and while the percentage of youngsters trying drugs is also higher, the type of drugs they are using has also changed to harder, more addictive ones like heroin.

    Lara Foot-Newton, who directed Addicted to Life - an interactive theatre production aimed at school learners in high-risk communities, says that during every performance of her play, when the narrator says that it is not just about tik because in years to come, there will be something to replace it, the learners in the audience shout out "unga".

    But, she adds, the name of a specific drug "gets hype just like a brand name, and the word spreads really quickly, but the real problem here is the general culture of substance and alcohol abuse".

    '...the street value of a unit of unga is just R30 or R40'
    Jardine says that, as a result, "just targeting tik is ineffective because in a few years, it is going to be something else and then something else."

    Lionel Newton, who was instrumental in the field research for the script of Addicted to Life, says that "one of the reasons it is flooding the market is because of the war in Afghanistan where the heroin comes from, and this in turn means that unga is far more readily available and cheaper".

    Pluddemann says it is also cheaper because it is sold in smaller units, and is less concentrated and of a poor quality.

    "The price difference between tik and unga is now relatively small," he says, "and the street value of a unit of unga is just R30 or R40."

    The two drugs, however, are not competing for a market but are in fact exacerbating the use of each other.

    Says Pluddemann, "Unga is marketed as a good agent to accompany tik because it has the opposite effect.

    "Tik keeps you on a high and awake for hours, so people need something to bring them down and help them sleep. And so heroine too becomes more popular."

    Jardine says such combinations of substance use are highly common.

    "It is extremely rare that someone with a substance abuse problem uses only one drug. One often has a 'drug of choice' but it is rare that that will be the only drug she or he is using."

    Cape Flats rapper "Hoppie", who was once an addict but now uses his music to speak out against substance abuse, says he was part of the Cape Flats drug culture for seven consecutive years, and that during that time, he never just used one type of drug.

    "I was part of a world where dagga, mandrax, ecstasy, rocks, tik and heroin were nothing unusual, an during that time I did so many things I am not comfortable with and which I now regret." - Cape Argus


    Wednesday, May 21, 2008

    Anything goes for these preteens

    Children as young as 10 at a primary school in Cape Town have admitted to smoking anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs, headache tablets and other over-the-counter medicines to get high, a study shows.

    This comes after a report to a parliamentary portfolio committee meeting of the department of social development two weeks ago which said special attention needed to be focused on this new trend.

    Now an impact study by an after-school care project has shown that pupils from Andile Public Primary School in New Crossroads have admitted to buying and smoking drugs used in the treatment of HIV/Aids patients, as well as other pharmaceuticals.

    Ncediswa Bolotina, a member of Partners with After Care School Projects (Pascap), produced the report which said that in addition to smoking ARVs, children were smoking over-the-counter painkillers.

    In a bid to counter this, Pascap has started a drug awareness programme for pupils at schools in disadvantaged areas.

    About 884 boys and 754 girls have participated in the pro-gramme which extends across New Crossroads, Langa, Khayelitsha, Paarl and George.

    The report said that during assessment sessions, 55 percent of the boys and 20 percent of the girls reported they had tried cigarettes and alcohol with friends.

    Liquor

    A programme facilitator, Nthabiseng Lebitsa of the Centre for Drug Action in Khayelitsha, said about five pupils had admitted to smoking ARVs.

    She said she believed the people who sold the ARVs usually did so to buy liquor.

    The pupils reported having smoked the drugs, which they laced either with dagga or Tik.

    She said facilitators could only provide guidance to children and advise them not to smoke ARVs.

    "We don't know yet what it does to the brain. The children said they've 'seen' things and usually hallucinate," she said.

    Prof Linda-Gail Bekker of the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre in Gugulethu said she had heard ARVs were being used as a recreational drug.

    Last week, New Crossroads ward councillor Elese Depoutch said he believed stolen ARVs had been sold to buy Tik. - Daily News

    Saturday, May 17, 2008

    That's a lot of weed...

    Three and a half tons of dagga worth around R3,4-million were seized by Beaufort West police in one week, Western Cape police said on Friday.

    Spokesperson Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe said that in all three cases vehicles were stopped while heading for Cape Town.

    The first incident occurred at 6.30pm on Sunday on the N1 highway. Police received a tip-off and arrested 26-year-old Lucky Ntshangase in possession of 240kg of dagga, worth around R240 000.

    Ntshangase appeared in the Beaufort West Magistrate's Court. His postponement date has not been received from the court. He would remain in custody.

    The second incident occurred at 11pm on Monday when police received another tip-off and found 2,2 tons of dagga dumped on a cliff about 100 metres from the N1 highway.

    Myezo Mgushelo, aged 44, was arrested in connection with the dagga seized.

    He appeared before the Beaufort West Magistrate's Court and his case was postponed to May 22 for bail application.

    On Thursday police followed information received from the public and stopped a Volvo truck. Inside police found dagga weighing approximately a ton.

    A 45-year-old man was arrested and would appear before the Beaufort West Magistrate's Court on Monday, Mangqwengqwe said. - Sapa

    Wednesday, April 23, 2008

    Proof that dagga persecution is ridiculous

    Call in the sea Rescue! Because the lights are out...

    Ridiculous!

    In a wild attempt to escape the law, a man sitting on rocks at Sea Point allegedly threw a bag containing drugs into the water, then swam 300 metres out to sea to evade the two police reservists he had spotted.

    A member of the public who saw what was happening jumped in and swam after the suspect to try and capture him.

    And, to add to the mayhem, a power outage meant the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) in Bakoven was unable to send rescue boats out immediately to catch the suspect or to help the man swimming after him.

    The Metro Red Cross rescue helicopter had to be sent to pluck them from the water instead.

    On Tuesday, hours after the incident, police spokesperson Bernadine Steyn said the suspect was in hospital under police guard and faced a charge of possession of dagga.

    She said reservists from the Sea Point police station were on patrol when they saw a man sitting on rocks near the Sea Point swimming pool.

    When the man saw the reservists, he threw a black bag into the water and then jumped in after it, Steyn said.

    Police divers rushed to the scene and the suspect was airlifted from the water and the black bag retrieved.

    Two "stops" of dagga were also confiscated.

    The suspect was taken to hospital as he had apparently been exhausted by the swim.

    It appeared the man who swam after him did not need medical attention.

    The rescue helicopter's spokesperson, Vanessa Horn, said the suspect and swimmer had been picked up from the water and airlifted to dry land.

    "Once there the suspect was placed in police custody."

    The Bakoven NSRI had received a call about a swimmer who was at least 300m from the Sea Point Pavilion, the station's commander, Mark Thompson, said.

    "But because there was load-shedding we couldn't launch," he said.

    NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said that because of the power outage in Bakoven, the Table Bay station had also been alerted.

    Lambinon said, however, that no vessels from either station had gone to the scene as the suspect and member of the public had by then been hoisted out of the water. - Cape Times

    Sunday, April 20, 2008

    Drugs pour into South Africa

    Drugs worth millions of rands are being smuggled into South Africa through the country's "unchecked" fishing harbours every day.

    And authorities, while aware of the problem, seem to be doing very little about it.

    Local and foreign drug dealers and syndicates are believed to be using small open sea ports and fishing harbours to import drugs, illegal goods and counterfeit merchandise.

    Mandrax is the most popular drug being imported from China
    Police say mandrax is the most popular drug being imported from China, followed by cocaine from South America.

    But the national narcotics head for organised crime, Senior Superintendent Deven Naicker, says there are just too many containers entering the harbours and it was difficult to have every container checked.

    He said about 2,5-million containers entered the country's harbours every year.

    "We have thousands of staff members and security, but there are just so many containers. We've had a lot of successes, but we need container scanners at every harbour."

    Presently Durban is the only harbour with a container scanner.

    'Nothing is being done to monitor who enters and exits the harbour'
    Knysna residents say private and commercial yachts and vessels pass and enter the small harbour every day without being searched or checked.

    A resident who lives close to the harbour, and asked not to be named, said if incoming boats (private and commercial) were checked regularly the drug supply problem would be halved.

    She said it was "open sea" in Knysna and the community was suffering because of it.

    Drugs and counterfeit goods are also said to be much cheaper and freely available in the Garden Route town. "The drugs only pass through one or two hands here before they get to the client and that's why it's much cheaper," she said.

    Knysna harbour master Herbie Kostens confirmed that not all boats and fishing vessels were checked and searched - they were checked only if the authorities had had a tip-off. "There is no policing of fishing vessels and boats here," he said.

    Kostens said setting up a dedicated policing unit was not the answer. "If the police do check every boat, it will only last for about three weeks and then they'll stop and the problem continues."

    Hout Bay harbour is another of the country's many unchecked ports.

    Owner of the Harbour Master B&B, Ron van Nijkerk, said people were often arrested for being out at sea illegally, especially at night.

    He told Weekend Argus drug smuggling was rampant.

    "Nothing is being done to monitor who enters and exits the harbour," said Van Nijkerk. "People go out to sea at night for other things. Poaching is also still rife."

    Hout Bay's acting harbour mistress, who refused to give her name, simply referred all questions to Marine and Coastal Management.

    But MCM spokesperson Carol Moses said their responsibility was to protect marine resources and not to apprehend drug smugglers. Harbour masters were fully responsible for their own harbours.

    In his 2005 paper entitled "Drug smuggling and border control at Johannesburg International Airport and Durban Harbour", author Jonny Steinberg described the relationship between border control agencies and drug smugglers as a "simple cat-and-mouse game".

    "Indeed, it is fair to say that a mouse who gets caught is either ill-equipped to evade detection or unlucky," he said.

    "Across the world, border control agents only search a small fraction of cargo and passengers. At Durban harbour, less than 1 percent of cargo containers are searched. At Johannesburg International Airport, the official figure is 3-5 percent of incoming cargo."

    Meanwhile National Ports Authority spokesperson Pieter Smit said all seven South African commercial ports - Richards Bay, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Mossel Bay, Cape Town and Saldanha - were compliant with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code.

    The code ensures vessels are checked and inspected regularly, that all port security operational procedures are followed, and that crime prevention strategies are implemented.

    In November, it was reported that 90 percent of drugs came into the country undetected, while just 10 percent were seized by police. - Cape Argus

    Tuesday, March 11, 2008

    Stellenbosch lies...

    The heavy handed actions of the South African Police in Stellenbosch has caused quite a stir. The bust was a joint operation by the police intervention unit, the local police and local fire brigade, supported by the police legal division.

    So the Police charge the pub and let off a shot... clear to see on the video if you care to look



    Not so according to Police Commissioner Dirk Mentoor who denied that live ammunition or rubber bullets were used. About a bullet hole in the club's roof, he said: "It could have taken place later. We have a bunch of hostile owners who might want to prove the opposite." Oh really?

    The raid was however touted as a success.

    Police found only a small plastic bank bag and two joints of dagga and three grams of hashish, at the clubs.

    This was later upgraded by Police spokesperson Elliot Sinyangana who said the drug busts, at about 01:00, yielded six pieces of hashish, 150g dagga and some cocaine.

    This increase in what was found is interesting. Of course no one is to be charged with possession and it will just fade away.... the question does stand... "Where did the additional drugs come from?" Perhaps Dirk Mentoor could explain that one? It's another convenient lie to "excuse the police actions"

    About allegations that the police did not want to handle complaints about the incident over the weekend, Mentoor said it was decided to rather look at the matter collectively on Monday. He said there was no "flood" of complaints after the bust. By late on Monday four charges of assault had been filed with the police. Perhaps he should talk to George de Beer of Honey Attorneys who said he was consulting with several students and their parents and expected to have about 200 statements by the end of the week.Oh really Dirk - you should watch the video! Shame on you for lying to the public like that. Talk about a quick way to undermine confidence in what you are saying.

    If the police actions were all in accordance with the Police Act and the CPA then there is no problem. If not? Then resign!




    Wednesday, March 5, 2008

    Cannabis is SAFER than alcohol....

    Cannabis is safer than alcohol... isn't it time we treated it that way?

    No one has EVER died from an overdose of cannabis. Alcohol causes 2,500 deaths per annum in Cape Town alone.

    The Minister of Health can promote a healthy lifestyle all she wants, but her true feelings toward other people can be found in her utterances:

    "You have the right to kill yourself if you want to," she said.

    Oh really? What kind of healthy lifestyle is that? What does an inclination to kill oneself indicate? A health lifestyle? Of course not. She seems to be implying that people are being willful when they drink too much, but she conveniently ignores the fact that people are just exercising their free choice and choosing alcohol over and above all others as it is one of only a few drugs which are legally available.

    "I was healthy before I got sick and I am healthy now. If promoting a healthy lifestyle is hypocritical, then I don't know what hypocrisy is."

    Perhaps we can rephrase this to read: "I was healthy once... I drank too much... I damaged my liver... I drank in the hospital... I had a transplant... I drink now too... Don't listen to me.. I am hypocrital and a poor example for the whole country... I lie and evade when it suits me so don't expect me to actually do anything constructive.... for example... I haven't even admitted to my past mistakes"

    Asked if she would consider an outright ban on alcohol to eliminate alcohol abuse instead of simply increasing prices, she said such a ban was against the Constitution. You have to love people relying on the Constitution without even backing it up with which rights would be infringed upon. In fact there is no right to kill oneself in the Constitution so even there she is incorrect in her assertion that you have the right to kill yourself.

    The problem is that you have the right to kill yourself! Cannabis never killed anyone and therefore it is excluded. Any sane rational person would choose cannabis over and above alcohol - excluding the law for a second. Why then is the state against it? Perhaps they want the people to kill each other and die?

    Cannabis reduces violence and violent tendencies. This fact in itself is a compelling argument for the release of cannabis from the yolk of prohibition to counter act the negative effects of alcohol.

    Monday, February 18, 2008

    Underage pupils 'drink until drunk'

    Excessive underage drinking and taking over-the-counter medications as a narcotic are just some of the "ever increasing numbers of risk behaviours" that some city pupils engage in.

    Girls, particularly, are also becoming more and more at risk as higher numbers take to experimentation and binge-drinking.

    The findings are from a study conducted last year by researcher Saahier Parker into youth perceptions, practices and risky behaviour, among other things.

    Surveys were conducted at eight city schools among a sample group of 475 pupils, between Grade 8 and Grade 10.

    The average age was 15,2 years old in the sample group that ranged between 13 and 21 years.

    The in-depth study indicated that while the majority of pupils (77 percent) had not had a drink within the 30 days before the study was conducted, the figure in terms of multiple drinks of those who had done so (67 percent) - was far greater than the national figure of 49,1 percent and more than double the province's average of 33,9 percent.

    According to Parker, the findings seemed to indicate a "dramatic shift in patterns of binge-drinking", with girls in Grade 9 showing a particular prevalence toward multiple alcoholic drinks.

    "Though underage alcohol consumption is harmful, illegal and cannot be justified, it is the act of drinking excessively (until drunk) that poses a high risk to youth as this impairs judgment, releases inhibitions and increases the risk of unplanned sexual contact...

    "The correlation between grade level and reported probability to drink until drunk is a cause for concern as it indicates a damaging social norm among youth that promotes this drinking behaviour as acceptable, wherein at Grade 10 level nearly 40 percent of learners indicate that they usually do or may drink until drunk in the following 12-month period."

    Ciders were cited as being the most popular drink, followed by beer, spirits and wine.

    There was further concern raised in terms of the propensity of Grade 9 girls to drink heavily as they reported a higher level of finding underage drinking acceptable. "This may be attributable to females reaching puberty earlier than males and therefore expressing an earlier eagerness to partake in adult behaviours."

    In terms of substance abuse, the current trend was the use of "over-the-counter" medication.

    "These are things such as cold and flu or cough medications that are cheap, available and without any prescription and in large amounts would produce a similar effect as the narcotically induced 'trip' or 'high' produced by street drugs.

    "Almost 50 percent of all pupils surveyed indicated that some or most of their friends used drugs, which 'heightened the risk for personal involvement in substance use and abuse'."

    Parker said while youth reported being well-informed regarding risk behaviours and exposure to them, they were still reporting high rates of involvement in these activities. "Within this lies the danger to young people in that they are not empowered to convert awareness into positive behavioural shifts ... a large majority actively participate in risk practices," he said. - Cape Times

    Thursday, January 17, 2008

    What is Safer?

    The safety of all drugs differ. Some drugs are dangerous, some drugs are less dangerous while some drugs are safe. Your decision to take a drug or not should be informed by how safe a drug is. The evidence speaks for itself. Demand safer alternatives!

    Tuesday, January 15, 2008

    Premature births linked to tik?

    Health officials say there's been an increase in the number of pregnant women in Cape Town who are hooked on tik.

    Johan Smit, a neonatalogist at Tygerberg Hospital, said staff at the neonatal unit had seen a "year-on-year rise" for the last six years in premature births which could be related to the increased number of pregnant women using tik.

    "Babies exposed to tik have a higher risk of brain haemorrhage... depending on the severity it will impact on the long-term development of the child," said Smit.

    A 2006 study at Tygerberg Hospital showed that out of 100 pregnant mothers surveyed, 10 admitted to using tik.

    Smit said tik also affected the development of the gut and doctors had difficulty feeding premature babies via tubes to the stomach.

    "Babies (of tik-addicted mothers) tend to be smaller and lighter than similar premature babies," said Smit.

    He said the Medical Research Council (MRC) was best equipped to conduct epidemiological research into tik and its effect on mother and child.

    Bronwyn Myers, a senior MRC researcher, said there was a "definite increase" in the numbers of young pregnant women using tik.

    She said there was also a strong correlation between drug abuse on the Cape Flats and increased risky sexual behaviour.

    "They are less likely to use condoms, more likely to have multiple sexual partners and less likely to negotiate condom usage with their partners," said Myers.

    Lucy Linley, head of the neonatal unit at the Mowbray Maternity Hospital, said there was a "massive problem of denial" among pregnant women admitted to the hospital who displayed clear signs of abusing tik.

    Linley said there had been no "decent" study into the effects of tik abuse on new-born babies although there was general consensus on its harmful impact.

    A nurse, who spoke on condition that her name was not published, said it was very difficult to get information about drug abuse from pregnant women.

    Greg Gonsalves of the Aids and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa said tik, like most recreational drugs, increased risky behaviours among users, exacerbating HIV-infection rates.

    Cape Town's executive director for city health, Ivan Toms, said HIV data in Mitchells Plain, which has a high record of tik users, was constantly fluctuating.

    He said it was difficult to get anti-drug messages across to mothers abusing tik. - Cape Times