Since 1996, the South African Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (SACENDU), a network of researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers from five sentinel sites in South Africa, has provided evidence regarding the types of substances used and abused, trends in alcohol and other drug use (AOD), consequences of AOD use, and patterns of supply and demand in South Africa. This was a descriptive epidemiological study of AOD indicators based on data gathered from multiple resources such as special AOD treatment centers, substance abuse related admission/discharge diagnoses from acute psychiatric facilities, and AOD related trauma unit admission data from the established networks. Results revealed that alcohol was the most common primary drug of abuse across all sites. The second most common primary substance of abuse was cannabis alone or cannabis smoked together with Mandrax. From 1997 to 1999, a dramatic increase in indicators for cocaine/crack and heroin occurred in two sites. The proportion of patients in treatment reporting ecstasy (MDMA), LSD, or speed as their primary drug of abuse has been limited to young people. These findings by SACENDU show that a broad range of globally abused substances is present in South Africa. The profile of drug use in South Africa has shifted dramatically since the transition to democracy, with cocaine powder, crack cocaine, club drugs, and heroin emerging onto the South African drug markets. The use of illicit substances seems to be increasing and requires careful monitoring by SACENDU. References