The 3‐Metros Study of Drugs and Crime in South Africa: Findings and Policy Implications

Abstract

This study examined the drug-crime nexus by investigating the prevalence of recent drug use among persons arrested by the police. Data were gathered during August/September 2000 from 1050 adult arrestees in eight police stations in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg (South Africa). Measures included urinalysis results for cannabis, methaqualone (Mandrax), opiates, cocaine, amphetamines, and benzodizepines, and a questionnaire designed to assess socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds of arrestees, history of prior arrests and imprisonment, current arrest information, profile of substance use, etc. Results of the study show high levels of drug use among arrestees, with 45% testing positive for at least one drug (mainly cannabis and Mandrax). A greater proportion of arrestees in Cape Town tested positive for drugs than in the other sites. Data were also analyzed in terms of gender, age, race, location (site and police station), and offense category. Persons arrested on charges of housebreaking or for drugs/alcohol offenses were particularly likely to test positive for drugs. Drug positive arrestees were more likely to have had a prior arrest. Among the conclusions of the study are that 1) strategies to reduce drug use and drug related crime must be area specific, 2) particular attention needs to focus on young offenders, 3) police need to be trained to recognize particular symptoms and to establish protocols on handling arrestees under the influence of drugs, and 4) diversion to treatment of drug using offenders deserves more consideration.

Applying upstream interventions for interpersonal violence prevention: An uphill struggle in low- to middle-income contexts

“…Nevertheless, one local study showed self-reported cannabis use at between 22% and 28% of arrestees who committed violent offences [42] and another conducted among arrestees for violent crimes across eight police stations in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg confirmed a high prevalence of drug usage amongst the alleged perpetrators, with nearly half (45%) testing positive for illicit drugs by urinalysis [43]. Arrestees in Cape Town tested positive for Mandrax, which may be attributed to gang activities in the city [44].…”

The wrong type of decline: Fluctuations in price and value of illegal substances in Cape Town

“…While there may be an ever-growing literature on the multiple and diverse impacts of illegal substances on individuals, communities and South African society as a whole, 8 there is little empirical information on the illegal substance economy itself. What does exist invariably focuses on public health concerns, such as treatment centre data, and does not engage with the criminal economy itself.…”

Legalising medical use of cannabis in South Africa: Is the empirical evidence sufficient to support policy shifts in this direction?

“…On the first issue, our own research has shown associations between cannabis use and road traffic injuries and other forms of trauma, [6] crime, particularly property crime and murder, [7] and sexual HIV risk behaviours, [8] but the causal mechanisms were not clearly elucidated. Unpublished research conducted in SA using functional magnetic resonance imaging also showed cognitive deficits associated with cannabis use, even after participants had stopped using cannabis for several weeks (Carey P, et al …”