Drugs have been used since civilisation began for medication, meditation, divination and recreation. But at no time in history has there been such grave concern – from the head of state to the average citizen – over the epidemic nature of drug abuse and the insidious social and financial consequences of illicit trafficking.
The former late United Nations Secretary General Javier Pėrez de Cuėllar told the Economic and Social Council on 24 May 1985 that “Drug abuse presents as destructive a threat to this and coming generations as the plaques which swept many parts of the world in earliest centuries. Illicit drugs, wherever they are produced or used, contaminate and corrupt weakening the very fabric of society. These problems have already profoundly afflicted every region in the world”.
The abuse of drugs, both natural and synthetic, has progressively spread throughout the world and now affects virtually every country, menacing all segments of society, including young persons and even children. Simultaneous consumption of different types of drugs and more dangerous means of drug-taking exacerbate health hazards, including the proliferation of the deadly Aids virus.
Increasingly sophisticated networks for producing and distributing illegal drugs contribute to increased criminal activity and continue to challenge the national and international drug control system. This whole process undermines the economic and social order, spreads violence and corruption, and imperils the very political stability and security of some countries.
Drug use is widespread in Namibia. According to the Namibian Police drugs with an estimated N$41 million were seized and 105 Namibian nationals were arrested between 1 December and 31 December 2022 in connection with the drug seizures (New Era, 9 January 2023.) A global report on cocaine smuggling says Namibia is a transit point for cocaine coming from Latin America – despite frantic efforts by the authorities to prevent drugs from being smuggled into the country.A public concern which focuses on social drug dangers or drug “abuse” without also focusing on the drug user himself is misdirected. It is a person who employs a drug and a person who suffers harm himself or visits harm others. It is what people do to themselves and each other with or without drugs, which justly arouses public concern or horror. It is therefore the person who must be attended to and the reasons for and consequences of his drug use that need to be established. Speaking statistically, the persons most likely to harm or be harmed under circumstances in which drugs are implicated dare most likely to be those who are already identified as suffering a variety of other deprivations and, miseries.
There is no question that drug use does occur in association with accidents and criminality.
There are strong doubts as to the role of drugs as sufficient in “causing” crime, but it is likely that drug use does play a direct role in accidents; alcohol is the acknowledged villain. Drugs also play a direct role in suicide, whether that act takes place outside of awareness or intentionally, and whether done suddenly or slowly. Ideally, one would prevent rather than attempt to cure drug abuse and criminality. The evidence suggests that both honesty and safe drug use can be taught, but the apt pupil is already the one fortunate enough to be without severe social disadvantage or personality disorder.
Consequently, one recommends education and the prevention of poverty and misery – a prescription readily accepted by the “Great Society” but one which cannot yet be filled or administered to needy patients. In the meantime, it seems apparent that those who are untaught in safe drug use and who already have propensities for hurting themselves and others are well-advised not to employ mine-altering drugs. Since these same folk are unable to accept other easily given advice, such as “shape up”, “obey the Law”, “reform” or “keep healthy”, it is ridiculous to assume that they will be prudent in their use of drugs. Consequently, control over the distribution of drugs is in order.
Although it is one aim of narcotics and drug laws to achieve that control, we lack evidence concerning how best to make laws which mould drug-use conduct. Given that lack, it can be suggested that the more extreme provisions of current drug laws are at least unkind and quite possibly destructive. If one accepts the premise that the person abusing drugs is thereby giving signs of his disorder, it would be well for those around him to take notice of that disorder for the sake of their safety as well as his.
If drug abuse is a sign of disorder, if it is a sign of distress, then one asks if it is effective to be so homoeopathic – treating pain by giving pain? Without proof that it is, then both economy and kindness dictate that our attempts to control undesirable drug behaviour emphasise features other than punishment.
This is not to rule it out entirely, merely to suggest that flexibility and experimentation might better dictate our approaches until such time that we conclude that we are quite unable, at least through policy decisions, to influence that behaviour at all.
*Reverend Jan A Scholtz is the former chairperson of the //Kharas Regional Council and former !Nami#nus constituency councillor. He is a holder of a Diploma in Theology, B-Theo (SA), a Diploma in Youth Work and Development from the University of Zambia (UNZA), a Diploma in Education III (KOK) and a BA (HED) from UNISA.