"It is a high figure that illustrates a drug problem in the city that is often related to attempts to commit suicide," the Democratic Alliance's spokesman on health, Jack Bloom, said.

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The figures were disclosed by MEC of health in Gauteng, Brian Hlongwa, in a written reply from Bloom.

More females than males were treated for drug overdoses, a high number of whom overdosed on anti-depressants.

More effective plan needed
Teenagers also tended to overdose on paracetamol, and many black patients overdosed on organophosphates, commonly found in insecticides.

Approximately 30-35 percent of these patients needed intensive or high-care treatment at a cost of about R7 000 a day.

"We need more effective prevention strategies to prevent drug abuse and suicide attempts, both to save lives and to ease the strain on our overstretched hospitals," Bloom said. –(Sapa)

Read more:
Health24's guide to drugs

 

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