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Department to intensify fight against drug abuse
6 April 2006
The Department of Social Development (SocDev) is to highlight the challenge posed by substance and drug abuse in the country and galvanise stakeholders into renewed action at an Imbizo on Monday, 10 April 2006.
The Deputy Minister of Social Development, Dr Jean Benjamin, is to host the imbizo at the Magaliesoord Treatment Centre in Cullinan, Pretoria as part of the activities of the national Imbizo Focus Week, starting at 10h00.
SocDev is the lead department in combating substance abuse and administers the Prevention and Treatment of Drug Dependency Act of 1992. The law, among others, provides for the establishment of the Central Drug Authority (CDA), development of programmes and the establishment and management of treatment centres. The law is to be reviewed this year to address the new challenges of drug abuse in the country.
The Deputy Minister will on Monday also inaugurate the new CDA Board, appointed by the Minister of Social Development, Dr Zola Skweyiya. The event will take place at Airport Grand Hotel in Boksburg at 17h30.
There is factual evidence that substance abuse touches the roots of South African society. It is linked to the destruction of child and family life, criminal behaviour, HIV and AIDS infection, unemployment, road accidents and other forms of trauma such as violence against women and children.
Deputy Minister Benjamin said “South Africa continues to experience increased levels of substance abuse. The age of first experimentation with substances has dropped to between nine and 10 years. The drug trade transcends borders of all countries. While South Africa continues to serve as a transit point for the drug trade, it has also become a consumption country. This makes it critical for all stakeholders to pull together to combat this scourge”.
There are approximately 80 substance abuse treatment centres in South Africa. Out of these, 75 are privately owned, with five state institutions, in Gauteng, Western Cape, Mpumalanga and two in KwaZulu-Natal.
Enquiries:
Lakela Kaunda
Tel: (012) 312 7653
Cell: 082 782 2575
E-mail: Lakela.Kaunda@socdev.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Social Development
6 April 2006