However, the abuse of drugs in Africa is escalating from cannabis abuse to the use of more dangerous drugs and has spread to a wide range of people. Although the most common and available drug remains cannabis, cocaine and heroin trafficking are recent developments in some countries which have had no previous experience with these drugs. The effects of drug abuse in Africa have included an amotivational syndrome and poor school performance, increased occurrences of cannibis- and amphetamine-induced psychoses, a decrease in productivity, and a possible connection to serious criminal behavior. The authors suggest that drug abuse assessment programs must be designed and implemented to determine the true magnitude and characteristics of the problem and to monitor its trends -- to date, these efforts have been hindered by a lack of funds and a shortage of trained personnel. A formal legislative drug control program is supplemented by an informal system of drug abuse control operating through the family, church, school, neighborhood, and work environment. African efforts should be directed towards strengthening both types of controls in order to compensate for shortfalls in financial and human resources. The authors maintain the drug problems in Africa will worsen in the future unless more effective measures are implemented to arrest current trends. 21 references. (Author abstract modified)