M Peden, Final Report: The sentinel surveillance of substance abuse and trauma, Department of Arts, Culture, Science, and Technology Innovation Fund, 2001.

C D H Parry, Alcohol and other drug use, in A Ntuli, N Crisp, E Clarke & P Barron (eds) 2000 South African Health Review, Health Systems Trust, Durban, 2001.

While figures are not available for South Africa, the American Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) tracks drug related deaths through 139 Medical Examiner's offices in 40 urban areas in the US. In 1999, 11 570 deaths were tied to drug abuse. In 23% of those cases for which a cause was known, the death was due to intentional suicide. While most of these deaths were due to acute incidents and may not include those for whom drug use was a contributing factor in a decline in general health, it cannot compare to the estimated 400 000 who die annually in the US due to cigarette smoking.

'White', 'Black', 'Indian', and 'Coloured' refer to demographic markers and are not meant to signify inherent characteristics. The demographic characteristics of substance users are important to include in drug-related research as accurate user profiles can assist in identifying vulnerable sections of the population and in the planning and implementation of effective prevention and intervention programmes.

Bellville was left out of the third phase of data collection due to renovations being undertaken.

Pinetown police station was included during Phase 2 as a back-up, but was excluded in Phase 3 due to low numbers of arrestees in that station.

LSD was tested for during Phase 1, but as no arrestees tested positive, it was excluded for Phases 2 and 3.

These figures are based on Phase 3 data only.

British Customs and Excise, personal communication.

C McAndrew & R Edgerton, Drunken comportment: A social explanation, Aldine, Chicago, 1969.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Final Report, Part 4, sections 20-24, 1998.

N Haysom, Towards an understanding of prison gangs, Institute of Criminology, Cape Town, 1981.