Information About Drug Testing in South Africa
South Africa is one of the biggest countries in the world; it could also be the reason why there are a lot of people who are into drug addiction, such as the ecstasy drug. Though the government is doing the best it can to make sure that the problem doesn’t become a lot worse, some of the efforts are not showing any improvement.
Here are some vital drug facts you may want to know about drug testing in South Africa:
1. There is one council that runs drug testing in South Africa and finances it. The Medicines Control Council in South Africa seeks for funds and tries to raise revenues in order to run the organization properly, evaluate the drugs that are being sold by pharmaceutical companies, and conduct drug testing in South Africa.
2. There is constant update of drug laws in South Africa. As of 2007, the social development minister of South Africa sees the need to revise the laws relating to drug addiction in the country. There are three main reasons for the modifications. First, there should be one central authority that will take care on the problem of drug addiction. Second, the need to have preventive services should be greatly stressed. Lastly, children who are succumbing to such substance abuse or may be potential victims of it should be well taken care of. The government should be more sensitive to their needs.
3. Cocaine is the no.1 leading substance and cause of drug addiction in the country. There are different kinds of illicit drugs that go in and out of the country; however, today their major problem is crack cocaine and heroin. Worse, there’s a whole new possibility that this will continue and affect new users and age groups in the society. Thus, in order to curb the situation, there are various drug tests held in workplaces, schools, and in any other social environment.
4. An athlete should be informed before a drug test can be conducted. For drug testing in athletes, he/she must be properly informed by an official of Institute for Drug-free Sport. A copy of the request shall be given to the person, informing him/her that he/she has been selected to undergo a drug test. Subsequently, he or she will have to sign the copy as confirmation and avoid voiding the urine before he or she reaches the station for doping control.
5. There are two kinds of samples that will be asked from the athlete. For drug testing in athletes, two samples will be asked. The second one will be analyzed once he/she will be tested positive of any illicit drugs. He/she then is entitled to watch the unsealing as well as the analysis of such sample. If he/she couldn’t do so, he/she is free to send any representative who will witness the process on his/her behalf. The findings will be forwarded by the laboratory to SAIDS, who will then turn over them to the sports organization where the athlete belongs to. The penalties will be given based on the sports code the organization is following.
