One has to bear in mind that drugs play a major role in the healthcare of people in South Africa. The intention in the manufacture and use of drugs was to help people to cope. Our bodies need assistance from time to time to cope with the stress and other disorders that form part of our daily lives. This is what is termed as responsible drug use under medical and psychiatric supervision with the view to heal the patient.

Unfortunately drugs did not escape the greed and evil intentions of man. This form of medication and good intentions has become a major health ,psychiatric and social problem through the abuse of drugs. The abuse of drugs is the taking of a psychoactive or a performance enhancing drug for a non-therapeutic or a non-medical effect. Drugs most associated with this are Amphetamines ,Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, Cocaine, Methaqualone and Alcohol.

As pointed out drug abuse leads to serious health problems both medical and psychological. The abuse of drugs over a long term cause serious problems to the vital organs like the liver, kidneys, pancreas and heart. It causes mental disorders in the brain of the abuser that can cause permanent damage to the brain. Drug abuse leads to dependency on drugs by the abuser. Early signs of addiction are when an individual persist in the use of drugs despite recurrent problems caused by his abuse of drugs.

The light in the dark tunnel is that South Africa has outstanding drug rehabilitation clinics that can help heal drug abusers and rid them of their addiction