Opioids in South Africa (Paperback)

From over-the-counter cough syrups and prescribed painkillers to heroin and fentanyl bought on the street, the misuse of opioids has ignited widespread debates about drug policy reform. In this book, the contributors draw on a range of disciplinary perspectives to focus on these issues in South Africa. Experts in medicine, pharmacology, and the social sciences and humanities, together with civic actors, present evidence-based arguments and insights and explore possibilities for reducing harm. Addressing three core areas—policy dilemmas, care and treatment, and the issue of stigma—they invite a wider conversation, asking us to imagine policy responses that can better protect the dignity and health of people using drugs, their families, and their communities.