EPISODE 17 - Substance abuse

We are all aware that South Africa has a high incidence of drug and alcohol related problems.  In Cape Town last year alone some 46% of patients seeking drug treatment were tik users compared to just 0.7% four years earlier.  Alcohol abuse is also widespread throughout our country. The associated risk-taking behaviour that substance abuse leads to contributes to the high rates of HIV infection in our communities. It also contributes to and compounds unemployment and poverty especially in our communities affected most by HIV and TB.

In this episode of Siyayinqoba Beat It! we explore the problem of substance abuse and all of its ramifications.  Joining the Support Group is Mandla Tshuma, a drug councellor from Johannesburg.  In the first of our segments we visit Khayelitsha in the Western Cape.  Our CJ, Vuyo, visits  Radio Zibonele in Khayelitsha to speak to Andile Madondile and Mama Bam about adherence. Andile speaks about his struggle with alcohol, safer sex and adherence - the three big areas where alcohol use places us at risk. They discuss the affect of alcohol on people taking ARVs.  Not only how it can lead to people forgetting to take their medication but also the health risks the mixing of the two can create.  We know that some people, once they start feeling better on their treatments, go back to old habits, like drinking. We hear Andile's story that recounts how he did this and how, thanks to counselling, he managed to break his drinking habits that adversely affected his ARV adherence.

Our next insert takes place in the Western Cape where we meet a young man, Elethu Berend whose drinking led to him engaging in unsafe sexual practices that led to him contracting HIV. After drinking at shebeens he would have sex with women he met without using condoms. Elethu, unfortunately still drinks enough to make him engage in risk-taking behaviour because even though he knows he shouldn't, when he is drunk, he still has unprotected sex with his girlfriend. Elethu's story powerfully shows us why it is necessary to break the grip of substance abuse in our lives and in our communities. Back in the studio we find out how the support group also have to face the problems that alcohol can present when on treatment.  The question of why Alcoholics Anonymous for instance isn't widespread through the poorer areas of our country is also raised.

At the Kenilworth Clinic we have an insert dealing with the widespread tik problem in the Western Cape. Its chemical affect on a user is discussed including how it can lead to heightened sexual arousal and reckless sexual practices. In many instances tik users turn to prostitution to fuel their habit.

Drug and alcohol abuse are some of the main contributing factors to the high rates of HIV infection in our country and leads to a lack of adherence to antiretroviral treatment in our communities. Substance abuse also fuels violent crime and compounds unemployment and poverty. So in order to truly protect ourselves and to protect others we have to break the cycle of substance abuse in our communities.

IT'S A FACT