Picture: for illustration purposes
A criminal syndicate operating within ex-Springbok Hannes Strydom's own pharmacy business has been uncovered, leading to revelations of a R50 million heist of codeine-based products. As a cheap, highly addictive opioid, codeine is burdening South Africa's socio-economically disadvantaged areas, mirroring the fentanyl/oxycontin crisis of the USA.
The exploitation of codeine cough mixtures showcases a national epidemic, resulting in a surge of black market activity. Though codeine mixtures are regulated under the Medicines Act and require availing from registered pharmacists with identification and signed register, illicit sales pervade. Inner city areas and townships across the country are littered with discarded bottles shadowing the invisible, possibly massive, black market trade.
Popular brands include Bron Clear and Beneline, consumed neat or mixed with affordable soft drinks and alcohol. They are coveted for their numbing effect and euphoria, as mirrored in South African hip hop culture and social media. The drug's sweet taste and inconspicuousness paired with its potential for misuse have garnered alarming traction among school-aged youth.
Despite its detrimental effects such as increased risks of gastric ulcers, inflammatory bowel conditions, gastrointestinal bleeding and mental health struggles, the allure of quick relaxation and escape continues to feed the cycle of abuse. Personal accounts further testify to the drug's destructive and enticing nature, begging for attention and action on this expanding crisis.