A voluntary, non-profit organization motivated to address chemical dependence and other addictions in South Africa - through offering a prevention program, free of charge, and therefore making an impact in our country's future. Established over a decade ago, our members are from all walks of life. They have gone through the horror of drug or alcohol abuse and other addictions, have come free and now live fulfilled lives.
Heroin is an extract from the Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). In 3400 BC the Opium poppy was cultivated by Sumerians in lower Mesopotamia and was referred to as Hul Gil (joy plant). It has a long history across the globe.
Distribution:
The three main cultivation areas in the world are:
1. Latin America (Mexico, Guyana, Columbia),
2. The Golden crescent (Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan) and
3. The Golden triangle (Burma, Loas, Thailand).
It is said to be the second largest industry in the world, South Africa being on one of the major drug trafficking routes and dealers are targeting lower income groups in townships.
According to Inspector Sander from the Durban Crime Prevention unit (SAPS) it is reported by the FBI that Durban is the second rerouter of Heroin in the world. He also said that there has been a major growth pattern in the drug. It is mainly controlled by Nigerian and Tanzanian syndicates and It is easily accessible, always available and selling for between R30 and R50 a “hit”. Sold as: Hit, straw, foil, bag, loop.
Slang:
Smack, Mud, Junk, China white, H, brown sugar, Thai White, Horse, Slag, Sugars, Nyaope.
Form:
A white, off- white or brown powder you can snort, smoke, swallow or inject. In SA it is mainly smoked. Often sold as a concoction of different drugs or chemicals. It is called “Sugars” in the Chatsworth/ Durban area and “Nyaope” in Pretoria. More and more black teenagers are getting hooked on Heroin, because it has become an easy path from Dagga to Heroin, often mixed and smoked together. Other South African street names include "Plazana" and "Kwape".
Effects: * Heroin is a powerful painkiller, which depresses the nervous system and prevents the brain and body from feeling all sorts of pain. * Most of the effects of Heroin are due to it being changed into Morphine in the brain. * Small doses give the user a sense of warmth and wellbeing. Larger doses can make them drowsy, content, safe and relaxed.
Duration:
physical effects last 4-8 hours
Risks: * Its highly addictive (psychological & physical) and long-term effects include a loss of energy and a lack of desire for life. * Addiction can lead to the person needing more and more to get high and to prevent them feeling ill due to withdrawal symptoms similar to that of flu. * Many who are addicted tend to lead chaotic lives that revolve around getting hold of the drug and various ways of getting money to buy it – prostitution and stealing. * Injection carries many life-threatening risks, including the risk of overdosing and passing on or getting HIV and other infections. * Overdose can result in death from respiratory depression.
Law:
It is illegal to use or be in possession of Heroin.
Heroin Statistics:
In the last 10 years (2007), the amount of users seeking help at rehabs in SA has multiplied by seven.
Sugars is a drug found in the Durban area. Originally it contained a mixture of heroin and cocaine. Nowadays, only Heroin(according to SAPS/Forensics) and other chemicals it s cut with. "Cut" is the term used for the process of adding other powders (sometimes toxic) to make it more.
WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOM from Heroin addiction...
There are five stages of withdrawal from Heroin:
1. Anxiety and craving 4 hours after last use. 2. 8 Hours after: yawning; gooseflesh; stretching of muscles; runny nose; sweating; teary eyes. 3. 12 Hours after: Hot and cold flushes; muscle cramps; irritability; lack of energy; tremors; loss of appetite. 4. 18 – 24 Hours: nausea; increased blood pressure and pulse rate; fever; rapid deep breathes; sleepless and restless. 5. 24 – 36 Hours: abnormal pain; curled up in foetal position; vomiting; diarrhoea; severe dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhoea, may cause death to the person; possible delirium and hallucinations; hypoglyceaemia (low bloodsugar, lack of energy); drastic weight loss, as much as 2 kgs per day.
Buprenorphine (Subutex) & Methadone:
* These were designed to help people reduce the terrible symptoms of withdrawal from heroin - Detoxification (detox).
* They should be given ONLY under strict medical supervision and ONLY for the time of withdrawal.
* Sadly many addicts become addicted to these substances, replacing Heroin with yet another drug addiction (This is exactly what harm reduction does).
* Methadone and Subutex are also addictive drugs and can also kill - even at moderate doses.
HARM REDUCTION VS DRUG PREVENTION:
HARM REDUCTION can include: 1) Needle exchange programs (government supplying needles), 2) Shooting galleries (injection sites for intravenous drug users), 3) Drug legalization & decriminalization (allowing use or possession of drugs), and 4) Heroin maintenance programs (supplying addicts with the drug or a prescription of pharmaceutical heroin).
Harm reduction assumes that people, including children, are going to use illegal drugs and therefore, rather than teaching people not to use illegal drugs, we should teach them how to use illegal drugs in a "responsible" and "safe" manner. It also gives the message that there is no hope for existing addicts, therefor, rather help them in their addiction.
Studies of past harm reduction programs have shown that they encourage drug use and that many are like acts of violence against drug addicts/users. Enabling and/or encouraging continued drug use leaves the addict/user trapped in the enslavement that drugs impose on them.
One example: In Switzerland a needle exchange program increased from 300 needles per day to 12 000 needles per day in only 4 years.
But what is the alternative?
In contrast, DRUG PREVENTION and intervention are like lifelines to the addicted. TNT has been involved with this type of program for over a decade. The chief aim of these approaches is to prevent people from drug abuse, through different means, like talks, literature, etc.
Intervention is helping those who have already been caught in the dangerous web of addiction to get out. According to SA Social Welfare minister our goal mentioned in his opening statement in the National Drug Master Plan is to “create a drug-free society”, not a “less harmful” drug society. Because we have 25 members who have been set free from addiction, TNT share this goal and will continue to work towards it in 2009.
This educator showed a TNT team visiting their school some drugs that was confiscated from a learner at their school in Brits. Dagga, some tablets (possibly Mandrax) and what was believed to be Nyaope (Heroin).
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