April Motaung
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have been very vocal about their demands for a national public health response to substance abuse and drug problems, including decriminalisation, and state-funded rehabilitation centres.
This lines up with our broader push for policy initiatives that consider the needs and welfare of the disadvantaged and neglected communities. This call by the EFF for a response that addresses drug abuse by a more humane, health-focused approach is consistent with our proposed systemic change on how the country deals with this persistent crisis.
Alcohol, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and tik are, according to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), some of the most commonly abused drugs in the country. While there's hardly any magic pill to cure substance abuse and addiction, patients and their families can access support and treatment options.
Professionals in the drug treatment field highlight that there is a need for education around the pitfalls of substance abuse and the treatments available especially in light of statistics on substance abuse in our country. However, the lack of regular representative surveys of substance misuse in South Africa makes it hard to get a comprehensive understanding of the challenge.
According to the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), almost 20% of South Africans (1 person out of five adult persons) abuse mind-altering substances, among which alcohol, painkillers (codeine), and marijuana are the worst offenders.
Furthermore, as found by the SA National Youth Risk Behaviour Survey (YRBS), 15% of school learners admitted to using over-the-counter drugs to experience euphoria. An estimated 11.5% of pupils had tried at least one drug, such as heroin, Mandrax, sugars (a mix of residual cocaine and heroin), or tik.
The influx of illicit substances, with South Africa becoming central to many drug routes, has led to greater availability, driving prices down and making drugs more accessible, particularly to vulnerable communities. South Africa has emerged as both a transit hub and a growing consumer market over the years. Local dealers have capitalised on this trade, either by purchasing from traffickers or stealing shipments.
However, supply alone does not account for South Africa’s escalating drug crisis. Many turn to substance abuse as a means of coping with emotional and economic distress, a reality exacerbated by high unemployment and widespread poverty. Studies indicate that unemployed individuals are significantly more likely to use drugs than those with stable employment, highlighting the socio-economic roots of addiction.
Yet, despite the severity of the problem, the government’s response remains inadequate, with weak enforcement and poor implementation of drug prevention policies. Addressing drug abuse in South Africa requires not only tightening border security and disrupting trafficking networks but also tackling the underlying issues of economic hardship and social despair that drive people toward substance dependence.
The fight against drugs must be part of a broader struggle for economic freedom and justice, ensuring that communities are uplifted and given opportunities to escape the cycle of addiction and poverty.
Research has additionally shown that students who use drugs are prone to engage in many different criminal activities, including violent acts and bullying, while a link has been made between substance abuse and several mental health disorders depending on the substance used. Furthermore, substance can also lead to unsafe sexual behaviours resulting in STDs.
Problems in the classroom, such as hostility and challenges in school discipline, have been related to drug use in the educational setting; as a result, drug users have poor scholastic performance, including the risk of dropping out of school, and inability to achieve their intended educational goals. This is what makes substance abuse an epidemic, as it hinders the future of many young learners.
The EFF views addiction as not something that can be solved only through punitive action, instead, we believe the state should take the lead with solutions that emphasise healthcare rather than prison for such matters.
Portugal’s approach, like a few other countries that have taken this approach, to drug policy reform has demonstrated the effectiveness of decriminalisation in addressing substance abuse. Since decriminalising the possession and use of drugs in 2001, the country has seen a significant reduction in drug-related deaths, with a rate of just 6 deaths per million people aged 15-64—far below the EU average of 23.7 per million and dramatically lower than Scotland’s staggering 315 deaths per million.
The shift in policy also led to a major decline in drug-related incarcerations, with the proportion of prisoners sentenced for drug offences dropping from 40% to just 15%. Despite fears that decriminalisation would encourage drug use, rates of consumption have remained consistently below average.
By treating drug addiction as a public health issue rather than a criminal offence, Portugal has successfully reduced the harms associated with drug abuse, proving that punitive policies are not the solution to the global drug crisis.
Therefore, the EFF calls for a nationwide, coordinated response to the escalating drug crisis which regards substance abuse as a public health issue rather than a criminal one. One such initiative will be the crafting of a national plan to address addiction and its access, to education, and prevention resources.
Secondly, decriminalising drug possession for personal use is the core of the EFF's stance. When we criminalise drug use, addiction is likely to be subjected to disapprobation among the general community and hence persons will be less likely to seek treatment and enter drug programs. The EFF, therefore, advocates harm-reduction measures including needle exchange programs, safe consumption spaces, and public education about drug dangers, switching from criminalisation to a health-oriented approach.
Thirdly, the EFF demands state-funded rehabilitation centres to provide free or low-cost addiction treatment for all South Africans. This would certainly mean that people fighting drug addiction will be presented with the opportunity to gain access to proper care without consideration of economic status. These centres will provide a holistic approach to long-term recovery that includes mental health support, therapy, job training, and community reintegration programs.
Lastly, the EFF strongly emphasises prevention programs whereby the youth are educated on the consequences of substance abuse, reaching out to individuals before consumption, and equipping communities with tools and knowledge to resist the pressures of drug use. In line with our principles of justice and accountability, EFF intends to engage community leaders, local organisms, and experts in the policy and service provision that will address the distinct needs of affected communities. That way, programs would be sensitive to and effective in cultural interpretation.
* April Motaung is a Member of the EFF Central Command Team.
** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.