Drug statistic of South African population causes controversy

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Universal Healthcare stated that 15 per cent of South Africans suffer from drug addiction. The figure was also repeated by the deputy chair of South Africa’s Central Drug Authority and University of Witwatersrand pharmacology lecturer David Bayever.

Bayever told Africa Check that the statistic is according to the drug authority and that the research was the responsibility of another member, namely Dr Ray Eberlain.

Eberlain referred the enquiry to the South African Community Epidemiology of Drug Use.

Sacendu scientist Siphokazi Dada stated that they do not have statistics on drug abuse in South Africa, but only the statistics on the number of people being treated at a number of government and private rehabilitation clinics.

However, according to researcher Vinayak Bhardwaj, of Africa Check, there has only been one study to determine the extent of alcohol and drug addiction and psychiatric disorders.

The verdict was that ultimately only 5.8 per cent of the population suffered from drug or alcohol addiction or from psychiatric disorders, and only 1.5 per cent of this figure was drug addiction.

Maria Gumede, the director of Horizon Clinic, in Boksburg, stated that the study can only be concluded if every rehabilitation clinic participates in the study.

Her comment on the debacle was that it will be extremely difficult to establish a correct statistic, especially considering that many people do not come forward with their drug addiction.

*Africa Check is a non-profit organisation dedicated to verifying facts within and for the media, and Universal Healthcare is a medical aid service with an estimated 700 000 members. The Universal Healthcare members are primarily part of either Tiger Brands, Compcare Wellness or the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) –

For the full article on the findings of the Africa Check research study visit their website  -@JohaneTurkie