Drug overdoses on the rise

"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.

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