In the past few months the number of drug addicts, mostly addicted to dagga, in Nelson Mandela Bay has increased so rapidly that Dora Nginza Hospital had to open up another ward for patients needing psychiatric help.
That was the strict warning issued by a group of South African mental health professionals, who said just because using dagga in the privacy of one’s home was no longer illegal, this did not mean it was safe.
According to data gathered by the SA Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use for June 2018, 24% of all patients in the province who were admitted for drug abuse used dagga as their drug of choice.
The figure was one-third of patients when it came to those younger than 18.
Nicole Breen, project leader: information and awareness for the SA Federation for Mental Health, said it felt compelled to caution recreational users that dagga could have a serious, negative impact on their mental health.
On Tuesday, the Constitutional Court legalised the private use of dagga and gave parliament 24 months to fix antidrug legislation that was declared unconstitutional.
“People ascribing to a specific religion, those in physical pain, as well as those who use the substance recreationally, will undoubtedly welcome the judgment,” Breen said.
“The South African Federation for Mental Health, however, wishes to issue a warning to those making use of the substance, as it could induce symptoms of mental illness and indeed mental illness itself.”
She said the risks associated with the use of dagga, a moodand mind-altering substance, could not be discounted.
“If you are a person with a mental illness, are genetically predisposed to mental illness or have experienced paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, depression or other recognisable symptoms of mood beyond the normal range, it is essential that you contact a doctor to discuss the use of dagga before simply using it,” she said.
“The body of knowledge surrounding this subject is considerable.
“The Royal College of Psychiatrists, for instance, describes how the use of marijuana can lead to the aforesaid symptoms, rendering a user twice as likely to develop a psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
“They discuss the onset of both short- and long-term psychosis as a consequence of marijuana use.
“They illustrate that just as people can feel positive effects such as relaxation, there are also glaring negatives which can be extremely dangerous for a person both physically and mentally.
“The college also highlights that, should a person make use of marijuana in their younger years, there is a growing risk of developing mental illnesses later on in life.
“One vulnerable life tarnished or lost is too many. We do not want to extinguish some rights in the name of others. We simply cannot afford to take the chance.”
A social worker at Dora Nginza Hospital, Pamela Rubushe, said they had seen a sharp increase in the number of drugaddicted patients needing psychiatric help at Dora Nginza Hospital, and doctors even had to open another ward to handle the overflow.
The current observation ward has 35 patients.
Speaking on behalf of premier Phumulo Masualle, spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said the premier expected affected departments, like health and social development, to engage in awareness campaigns to educate the public on the impact of dagga use.
“Also to those who need reminding, let me say it again – dealing in dagga is still a criminal offence,” Kupelo said.
Earlier this year, Dr Yunga Thungana won a prestigious discovery grant for his ongoing research establishing which substances first triggered psychotic symptoms in patients at the unit.
In an interview in August, Thungana confirmed that alcohol and dagga were the most prevalent substances being abused by patients at the Dora Nginza Hospital unit.