Prescription for addiction

Worldwide, over half a million people die from drug overuse every year – 80% of those deaths are related to opioids, highly addictive drugs like heroin and morphine. While heroin and nyaope are illegal, morphine and related drugs like codeine are medicines commonly used to treat pain. And here, like the rest of the world, the abuse of prescription opioids is rising. To residents and doctors in Benoni east of Johannesburg, the addiction problem is painfully clear. It’s a working-class town where money is tight, and a trip to the doctor might be more than many can afford. Could that be why so many are turning a blind eye to medical professionals selling addictive medication without a prescription? We staked out the local pharmacies and clinics to find out. For the full story, get DStv Stream Premium: https://bit.ly/DStv-Stream