Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Cape Town (Agenzia Fides) - There is growing concern in South Africa for the spread of synthetic drugs even more popular than Crack, the dangerous by-product of cocaine. The phenomenon is also because criminal gangs of Chinese origin specialise in Crystal Methamphetamine smuggling, have taken the place of Nigerian criminals responsible for the diffusion of cocaine and Crack in South Africa.
The Chinese gangs prevailed over those of Indian and Pakistani origin for control of the local methamphetamine market. In fact 90% of this substance at the world level is produced in Asia, and ephedrine, the basic substance for the production of methamphetamines, is not easy to find in South Africa making the local production of synthetic drugs almost impossible.
The revolution in the market of illegal drugs in the Cape Town area triggered conflict between street gangs, in charge of selling drugs in which several people were killed.
In the past 4 years the use of methamphetamine in the Cape Town province has rocketed. In 2003 only 2.3 % of the persons in rehabilitation centres for drug addicts declared the use of this substance. In the first half of 2007 the percentage had risen to 37 %. In 2001 the police had investigated only 12 cases connected with methamphetamine peddling, at the end of 2005 almost 3,000 police investigation concerned methamphetamine.
From the toxicological point of view, methamphetamines have taken the place of Crack because its effects are similar but last 3 -to 4 hours longer, and this had made them popular quickly. Besides methamphetamine, Heroin, also from Asian countries, ever more widely used.
Crystal Methamphetamine is a danger both to health and social integrity. In relation to health, the drug destroys the properties in the brain responsible for making a person feel happy, stable and balanced. It also causes paranoia and aggression. Long-term users risk being afflicted with Parkinson’s Disease, which affects speech and the coordination of the muscles. With regard to social integrity, the users of tik have quite clearly proven to be prone to violence after using this drug. They are also likely to engage in other anti-social behaviour, such as lying, stealing, robbing, raping and killing. Some members of the police service in Mannenburg lamented that communities are falling part due to Crystal Methamphetamine. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 19/12/2006 righe 42 parole 468)
