Z Skweyiya: Biennial summit on substance abuse

12 February 2007

Honourable MECs responsible for social development,
The Mayor of Johannesburg,
Representatives of civil society and government,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Let me start by applauding everyone for your efforts in combating substance
abuse. I am glad that we are of one mind as various sectors, with regards to
seriousness of this matter, hence our gathering here this week.

We have every reason to be spurred into action. South Africa provides
fertile ground for the drug trade. We have well-developed international air
links. Our country's geographic position places it on major trafficking routes
between East Asia and the Middle East, the Americas and Europe.

In addition, our well-developed transportation infrastructure, modern
international telecommunication and banking systems and our long, porous
borders make South Africa a natural target for drug traffickers. This problem
is exacerbated by desperate South Africans who fall prey to promises of
syndicates that easy money is to be made by becoming drug couriers.

I must emphasise that a lot of good work is being done by our colleagues in
the criminal justice system to bring drug traffickers to book. In support of
the law enforcement agencies, we must work together to reduce the availability
and the use of drugs in our country.

While we remain vigilant against illicit drugs such as heroin, ecstasy and
other home-made concoctions, research indicates that alcohol remains the
primary substance of abuse in South Africa, followed by cannabis or dagga as it
is commonly known.

The South African Risk Survey conducted in 2004 indicates that nationally
49% of teenagers use alcohol, 31% smoke and 13% use dagga on a regular basis.
Such information and other data from bodies such as South African Community
Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (SACENDU) assist us in planning our
response.

Colleagues and partners, we will not succeed in our efforts if we work in
isolation from the rest of the world. I am therefore grateful for the presence
of international guests so that we may share in their expertise.

There are also key international organisations, such as the World Health
Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, which
play a vital role in providing guidance as well as financial and technical
assistance to countries in the fight against substance abuse.

We are signatories to various international agreements and treaties and
regularly participate in meetings in Africa and abroad that assist us in our
efforts.

We continue to play a meaningful role in our efforts to reduce drug abuse
within the framework of the agreements and treaties that we are party to.

As elsewhere in the world we have specific pieces of legislation to regulate
services and especially to control the production, manufacturing and
distribution of illegal substances. We announced recently that we are to
introduce a new substance abuse bill to replace the Prevention and Treatment of
Drug Dependency Act of 1992, which is now outdated.

Among the shortcomings of the 1992 Act are that it focuses primarily on
institutional treatment; does not provide for accreditation of programmes and
personnel in the field; the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are not
outlined and there is very little provision for prevention, community based and
out-patient services. In addition, treatment services are not available and
accessible to all citizens.

The new Prevention of, and Treatment of Substance Abuse Bill has been
gazetted for public comment. We intend to table it in Parliament later this
year, to provide a solid legal framework for delivery. The new legislation
promotes more community based services and places greater emphasis on
preventative services. It will also be more sensitive towards the needs of
children who are so often the victims of unscrupulous drug dealers. We hope to
receive your comments, which will surely improve the legislation.

The review of legislation provides an opportunity for us accelerate the
transformation of services. For example we need to address the shortcoming that
most substance abuse treatment takes place at residential or in-patient
treatment centres. This remains a very expensive and exclusive service,
affordable to only a minority in our population. We are in the process of
developing a community-based treatment model, as we believe that services
should be taken to where the people are and should be easily accessible and
affordable.

We also need to actively deal with the problem of un-registered treatment
centres which are mushrooming all over the country. We urge the public not to
use un-registered treatment centres, not only because they can put the lives of
their loved ones at risk, but also due to poor and unregulated service
delivery.

Another area of focus that I hope you will deliberate on extensively during
the next few days relates to inadequate after-care services, which open
possibilities of relapses. Patients go for treatment or rehabilitation at great
cost and effort, but when they return home and to their communities, we expect
them to stay drug-free without any assistance. Given the shortage of social
workers, it might be an option to consider semi-skilled workers in the
community, who could assist us in this regard.

I am sure many creative and workable solutions will emerge from this
Summit.

We are all partners in the war against drugs. Let us work together to
strengthen these partnerships towards a drug free society.

I wish you all the best with the deliberations over the next few days.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Social Development
12 February 2007