MANDRAX

South Africa is the largest abuser of Mandrax in the world.

Statistics show that Mandrax with Dagga is still the drug of preference in the largest parts of South Africa. Mandrax is mainly sold in the form of a tablet and is highly addictive.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Mandrax is a synthetic drug that is compiled by means of the mixing of chemicals in a chemical process and a tablet is then produced. The active ingredient in Mandrax is Methaqualone.

In the sixties and early seventies these tablets were prescribed as sleeping tablets. Other medicinal uses included illnesses like high blood pressure and anxiety attacks.

Mandrax was originally known as a safe and non-dependent drug. It was the drug that people reckoned was going to be the miracle cure of the world at its time.

It was however found that Mandrax had various side effects, especially if it was used with Dagga and alcohol, which was life threatening because it caused psychological and physical dependency. This caused a drastic increase in burglaries, especially at pharmacies, where it was found that Mandrax specifically was stolen. Mandrax was banned in most parts of the world because of the misuse..

The banning of Mandrax caused crime syndicates to use this opportunity to continue producing it by means of clandestine laboratories. The market was already established and the need for the drug made it a profitable business.

Clandestine laboratories arose in the following countries:
  • India
  • Pakistan
  • Kenya
  • Tanzania
  • Zambia
  • Swaziland
  • Mozambique
  • South Africa
  • The Far East

Stencil from clandestine laboratories

WHY MANDRAX?

Experience has shown Mandrax is smoked to get a greater "Rush". This is because of the toleration effect of the body of a human who started experimenting with small amounts of Dagga but later have to add Mandrax to achieve the same effect.

Mandrax is highly addictive. People become physically dependent on it and have severe withdrawal symptoms in rehabilitation.

DESCRIPTION OF MANDRAX

The original Mandrax tablet was a thin white tablet (±1mm) with the trademark "MX" on the front and "RL" on the reverse side. The drug was also available in capsule form, blue on one side and white on the other with the abovementioned trademarks thereon.
  • The Mandrax that is currently confiscated varies drastically in appearance: tablets are found in thickness of 1cm, which is known as "Double Barrels";
  • the colour ranges from beige, pink, blue, purple, black, brown and green.

The emblem on the Mandrax tablet has also changed and is mostly established by means of the individual presses used by the smugglers as shown on the photo's that follow.
PRICE : R25 - R65 (per tablet, depending on the availability, demand and quality)

STREET NAMES
  • White Pipe
  • Buttons
  • MX
  • Gholfsticks
  • Doodies
  • Lizards
  • Press outs
  • Flowers
For more pictures go to the Photo Gallery

METHOD OF USE
The Mandrax tablet is usually crushed and mixed with Dagga and is then smoked in a Dagga pipe or better known as "Bottle neck". This is also known as the so-called "White pipe".

In fact, it is the smoking of the "Bottle neck" that causes the distinctive stains on the palm of the hand of a Mandrax user.

SIDE EFFECTS OF MANDRAX

Mandrax has more and stronger side effects than Dagga, such as :

  • serious emotional problems
  • depression
  • drastic weight loss
  • headaches
  • stomach cramps
  • insomnia
  • epilepsy
  • aggression
  • toxic psychosis
  • the muscle control of the body is effected which causes the Mandrax user to fall often

SIGNS OF A MANDRAX USER

  • yellow stained hands
  • bloodshot eyes
  • gaunt appearance
  • rotten teeth
  • drowsiness
  • unnatural sleeping patterns
  • loss of appetite
  • increased saliva secretion
  • swollen abdomen

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
  • broken bottles and bottle necks
  • homemade filters - known as a "Diamond"
  • brown stained tissues
  • containers used to spit in
  • Lotto and Tab tickets in which tablets are crushed

SMUGGLING OF MANDRAX

Mandrax is packaged in 1 000 tablet packets by the producers and is then exported on a large scale and brought into the country by the following means :

  • in false panels of cars
  • in spare wheels of trucks
  • in false fuel tanks
  • in containers

Mandrax is then taken to the distribution area and repacked in bank bags in quantities of 200's, 100's and 50's from where it is then sold at street level to individuals.

The sale of Mandrax is mostly found in Coloured and Indian areas.

FUTURE OF MANDRAX

Mandrax is being forced out of the market in many parts of South Africa by drugs such as Crack Cocaine, that is slowly but surely taking over the market. In Gauteng it was found that the drug of preference is definitely Crack Cocaine and not Mandrax anymore.

Read more about the following drugs...
Dagga | Mandrax | LSD | XTC | Cocaine | Heroin | Rohypnol | Welcanol | Pethadine

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