The determinants of South Africa’s drug policy in the area of demand reduction
The determinants of South Africa’s drug policy in the area of demand reduction

Summary/Abstract: The article examines the evolution of drug policy in South Africa, highlightingthe change from a punitive, prohibition-based “war on drugs” paradigm to a health-based,harm-reduction, and human-rights-oriented model. It situates drug use within SouthAfrica’s socio-historical context marked by apartheid, inequality and social exclusion,which shape patterns of psychoactive substance use. The analysis discusses the impact ofthe 2018 Constitutional Court judgment and the 2024 Cannabis for Private Purposes Act,along with the increasing importance of harm reduction strategies. The article identifieskey challenges, including insufficient funding, institutional fragmentation and persistentstigma. The conclusions emphasize that a sustainable paradigm alteration requires integratedhealth, social, and legal responses, as well as a transformation of public narrativessurrounding drug use.

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