Some researchers argue that South Africa should look into using “expired” doses of antivenom if the country once again struggles to make enough of the treatment – something which happened in 2023. In part 2 of a Spotlight special series on snake antivenom, Jesse Copelyn outlines the case for extending the shelf-life and goes over some exciting, but very early, research on a new form of antivenom.
Rehab centres in South Africa have been admitting an increasing number of codeine users in recent years. Now, the country’s medicines regulator has published a draft guideline as part of a broader effort to track suspicious codeine sales. Spotlight’s Jesse Copelyn unpacks the details.
In response to high levels of codeine abuse in South Africa, health authorities have been developing a plan to track the supply of the drug from manufacturers all the way to patients. In this Spotlight feature, Jesse Copelyn explores why people get hooked on codeine, and how the new project could combat the problem.
Whether a pharmacist suggests it for treating headaches or whether a doctor prescribes it for managing post-surgical pain, chances are good that at some point you’ve taken a pain pill containing the opioid codeine. But since codeine can be addictive and withdrawal symptoms severe, regulation of the drug in South Africa has turned into a headache. Elri Voigt takes an in-depth look at the complexities of codeine regulation.
