Have you ever wondered why certain medications can only be obtained by means of a prescription from a medical practitioner?
Or why there are instructions on over the counter medication with regard to how they should be used?
The answer is in fact quite obvious.
Medication can be very harmful to a person if it is not used exactly as prescribed.
Apart from the risk of becoming addicted, a person could also suffer serious health problems if medicine is used inappropriately or abused.
To me this principle is equally applicable to people using drugs such as dagga, CAT, cocaine, crack, heroin, etc. for recreational purposes.
The Drugs and Drugs Trafficking Act, No 140 of 1992 stipulates in Section 4(a)(b) that: “No person shall use or have in his possession any dependence-producing substance”.
The Act further states that a person should not be using any dependence-producing substance unless he is a patient who has acquired or bought any such substance from a medical practitioner, dentist or practitioner acting in his professional capacity and in accordance with the requirements of the Medicines Act.
Such substances may only be used for medicinal purposes under the care or treatment of the said medical practitioner, dentist or practitioner.
Recreational drug use is not legal for a number of reasons among which the damage it can do to one’s health is only but one.
It is very important to realise that recreational drug use has a far reaching effect.
Apart from the damage drug abuse causes the individual we also have to take into account the harm it causes to the family unit and consequently the bigger community.
Sanca National Directorate has released interesting statistics.
They report that according to statistics their clients are becoming younger.
Statistics shows that three percent of their clients were 13 years and younger.
It is also reported that there has been a 19 percent increase in the 14 to 17 year age group in the 2012/13 reporting year. This age group presents that 44 percent of all clients are treated for Dagga as the primary substance of abuse.
It is reported that male clients (9 242 individuals or 85 percent) continue to outnumber female clients (1 640 individuals or 15 percent), and it is of some concern that the number of male clients continues to increase.
Recently I heard a mother of two very young children say how her habit of using CAT has not had any effect on her ability to care for her children.
I beg to differ as I find it very hard to see how you can think rational enough to care and protect your children while being under the influence of a mind-altering substance such as CAT.
This is only one example of the laid back attitude many drug users have despite legislation prohibiting the use of drugs if not for medicinal purposes under the care of a registered and responsible medical practitioner.
Legislation is necessary to protect us and safeguard us from harm.
It is my wish that readers will receive this message and convey it to members in our community who do not have the insight to understand the harm that could come from them abusing drugs in a careless way.
SandriAppelgryn116@yahoo.co.uk
