Harm reduction and drug policy: implications for South Africa

dc.contributor.advisorVan Der Spuy, Elrena
dc.contributor.authorRothfuchs, Steve
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-04T09:37:30Z
dc.date.available2026-06-04T09:37:30Z
dc.date.issued1999
dc.date.updated2026-06-04T09:25:48Z
dc.description.abstractPsychoactive substances have been used for social or religious purposes around the globe for millennia. However, in modem times, their inherent properties and hazards have been exaggerated or misrepresented. They are illegal, even feared. Yet, the futility of eradication efforts exemplifies the fact that drugs are here to stay. There is no doubt that the abuse of these substances by a small percentage of users does result in significant damage. However, the standard prohibitory regimes compound the problem by treating the possession and use of these substances as a criminal rather than a health matter. Drugs and their users have been demonised and relegated to the fringes of mainstream society. Social reactionists provide a theoretical basis for this process in matters that often appear to have been tailored to their work. Harm reduction initially developed as a treatment perspective however its features also imply a much broader philosophy. Its central tenet is to diminish the damaging effects of substance use and it has, so far, been accepted in an unelaborated form in South Africa's National Drug Master Plan.
dc.identifier.apacitationRothfuchs, S. (1999). <i>Harm reduction and drug policy: implications for South Africa</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Law ,Institute of Criminology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43295en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationRothfuchs, Steve. <i>"Harm reduction and drug policy: implications for South Africa."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Law ,Institute of Criminology, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43295en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationRothfuchs, S. 1999. Harm reduction and drug policy: implications for South Africa. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Law ,Institute of Criminology. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43295en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Rothfuchs, Steve AB - Psychoactive substances have been used for social or religious purposes around the globe for millennia. However, in modem times, their inherent properties and hazards have been exaggerated or misrepresented. They are illegal, even feared. Yet, the futility of eradication efforts exemplifies the fact that drugs are here to stay. There is no doubt that the abuse of these substances by a small percentage of users does result in significant damage. However, the standard prohibitory regimes compound the problem by treating the possession and use of these substances as a criminal rather than a health matter. Drugs and their users have been demonised and relegated to the fringes of mainstream society. Social reactionists provide a theoretical basis for this process in matters that often appear to have been tailored to their work. Harm reduction initially developed as a treatment perspective however its features also imply a much broader philosophy. Its central tenet is to diminish the damaging effects of substance use and it has, so far, been accepted in an unelaborated form in South Africa's National Drug Master Plan. DA - 1999 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - psychoactive substances KW - drug policy KW - drug trade LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1999 T1 - Harm reduction and drug policy: implications for South Africa TI - Harm reduction and drug policy: implications for South Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43295 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/43295
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationRothfuchs S. Harm reduction and drug policy: implications for South Africa. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Law ,Institute of Criminology, 1999 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43295en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentInstitute of Criminology
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Law
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectpsychoactive substances
dc.subjectdrug policy
dc.subjectdrug trade
dc.titleHarm reduction and drug policy: implications for South Africa
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelLLM
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