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English home language

Grade 7

Module 11

How well do i read?

How well do I read?

BACKYARD LABS BACK

Doctors warn against the popular drug methcathinone

Nicki Padayachee

A rave drug is taking the country by storm – because it can be made from common household products in an ordinary kitchen.

But Methcathinone – popularly known as cat – contains Chromium Six, the subject of Hollywood hit Erin Brockovich , which causes liver and kidney failure and lung cancer.

The highly addictive drug, which comes in a powdered form, hit South African shores last year, and has since overtaken ecstasy as the drug of choice for ravers.

Now drug counsellors are reporting more and more cases of cat patients – and police are raiding cat “factories” to try to clamp down on the drug before it spirals out of control.

Said Dr Charles Perkel, a Johannesburg psychiatrist who specialises in drug rehabilitation: “Ecstasy used to be the drug of the moment but cat is now taking its place”.

Perkel said that cat constricted the cerebral arteries and caused long-term structural changes in the brain. “It’s very, very scary,” he said.

Now drug counsellors are reporting more and more cases of cat patients – and police are raiding cat “factories” to try to clamp down on the drug before it spirals out of control.

Said Dr Charles Perkel, a Johannesburg psychiatrist who specialises in drug rehabilitation: “Ecstasy used to be the drug of the moment but cat is now taking its place”.

Perkel said that cat constricted the cerebral arteries and caused long-term structural changes in the brain. “It’s very, very scary,” he said.

Another drug counsellor, Judith van der Westhuizen from the Elam Clinic in Kempton Park, said all her centre’s patients in the last 12 months had used cat. The centre treats about 12 addicts every month.

“Lots of them use it with cocaine. They have terrible sinus problems, which lead to headaches and ear infections,” she said.

Superintendent André Koch of the Police Forensic Unit said the drug was fast becoming a problem. He said police had already raided four illegal cat factories this year.

“It is prevalent in Gauteng, Cape Town and the Durban area. We also found a factory in die Scottburgh area on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, “ he said.

“It is fairly new in the country and goes hand in Another drug counsellor, Judith van der Westhuizen from the Elam Clinic in Kempton Park, said all her centre’s patients in the last 12 months had used cat. The centre treats about 12 addicts every month.

“Lots of them use it with cocaine. They have terrible sinus problems, which lead to headaches and ear infections,” she said.

Superintendent André Koch of the Police Forensic Unit said the drug was fast becoming a problem. He said police had already raided four illegal cat factories this year.

“It is prevalent in Gauteng, Cape Town and the Durban area. We also found a factory in die Scottburgh area on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, “ he said.

“It is fairly new in the country and goes hand in hand with the rave scene. It is very easy to synthesise.”