Skweyiya during substance abuse media briefing, Pretoria
20 August 2007
Ladies and gentlemen
Welcome to this briefing on the scourge of substance abuse.
We are joined by the Central Drug Authority, they co-ordinate the work of
national and provincial government departments and stakeholders in combating
substance and drug abuse. The Chairperson, Mr Pitso Montwedi, will brief you on
their work.
The combating of drug and substance abuse is a priority as the scourge has
the potential to seriously undermine our development and social cohesion
efforts. It is usually in the most vulnerable and in the poorest communities
where one finds higher levels of alcohol and drug abuse. This reduces our
success rate in extricating the affected from poverty and deprivation. That is
why we locate the combating of substance abuse firmly within our anti-poverty
and social cohesion interventions.
The nature of the problem
Accurate and current statistical data on the use and abuse of illicit drugs
in South Africa are difficult to obtain. However the statistics from the World
Drug Report of 2006 as well as recent research from the Medical Research
Council are disturbing.
In interpreting these figures it should be remembered that because of the
stigma attached to drug use and abuse, there is a tendency for
underreporting.
Dagga and alcohol are still the most abused substances. Estimates are that
2,2 million people use dagga or cannabis. In the second category are cocaine,
heroin, speed, LSD, hashish, ecstasy, tik and others.
According to the World Drug Report, the approximate number of problem drug
users in South Africa is more than 200 000. Close to 9 000 problem drug users
were treated at 73 treatment centres from June to December 2006. Considerable
abuse of over-the-counter and prescription medicines is also reported. These
include pain relievers, tranquilisers, cough mixtures and slimming tablets, as
well as solvents such as glue.
The social cost of illicit drug use has not been officially calculated, but
up to 12 million family members of drug users face emotional and financial
strain. In addition, drug usage has a negative effect on transport safety. A
third of heavy duty long distance drivers admit to using drugs to relax and to
stay awake. The main drugs used in this instance are alcohol and dagga.
Meanwhile, a conservative estimate of the economic costs to South Africa of
alcohol abuse, based on research studies conducted in other countries, is
between R8,7 billion and R17,4 billion per year. The social costs are also
enormous. About 11 million family members have to endure the turmoil of living
with problem or risky drinkers. Risky drinking affects 17,5 million South
Africans. Harmful drinking is defined as people drinking first thing in the
morning, drinking to intoxication and also imbibing alcohol in-between
mealtimes.
It is estimated that alcohol abuse is a factor in nearly half of road
crashes. This results in a cost to the country of around 7 000 lives
annually.
The national response
Experience has shown that successfully combating the drug problem requires
the application of three elements harmoniously, in an integrated and balanced
manner. These are supply reduction through law enforcement, demand reduction
through prevention strategies amongst others and harm reduction through
treatment and social support.
To be effective in our response, we seek to achieve the following:
* to reduce the demand for alcohol, tobacco and other drugs
* reduce the social health and economic costs associated with substance abuse
in the South African society
* reduce substance abuse-related mortality and morbidity
* improve awareness of the dangers of substance abuse.
All government departments form an integral part of the action against
drugs, within the Central Drug Authority and individually. The Central Drug
Authority has produced the National Drug Master Plan, in terms of United
Nations conventions. The National Drug Master Plan provides for a coherent,
comprehensive and co-ordinated approach to the combating of the drug problem in
the country.
This approach allows for the involvement of all stakeholders from grassroots
and community level to the national level. Provinces and national departments
are guided by the Plan to formulate mini-Drug Master Plans to implement
prevention, early intervention and treatment.
Provincial Substance Abuse Forums have been established, as well as local
drug action committees, which consist of social workers, teachers, justice and
police officials and community representatives. While our campaign to combat
substance abuse targets all age groups, we prioritise children and the youth,
given the fact that the age of experimentation with drugs has dropped to about
10 years.
Our youth programme, called "Ke moja, no thanks I'm fine without drugs" is
intended to raise the confidence of young people to enable them to resist peer
pressure.
The programme also empowers parents, educators and school governing body
members to be able to identify youth with substance abuse problems for early
assistance. We run the programme in partnership with the United Nations Office
for Crime and Drug Control (UNODC).
Cabinet approved the Prevention of and Treatment of Substance Abuse Bill on
the 8th of August this year. It will replace the Prevention and Treatment of
Drug Dependency Act of 1992 which has become outdated. Amongst its
shortcomings, it focuses primarily on institutional treatment and very little
provision is made for prevention, community based and out-patient services.
The proposed legislation promotes more community based services, places
greater emphasis on preventative services, and will be more sensitive towards
the needs of children. We look forward to vigorous participation by the public
and stakeholders when Parliament holds public hearings on the Bill.
I would like to emphasise that every citizen, young and old, has a role to
play in the fight against drugs. The abuse of drugs and alcohol is influenced
by the degree of tolerance by citizens in a particular country. The promotion
of the perception, for example, that the use of dagga is not harmful, or that
excessive or binge drinking is acceptable behaviour over weekends undermines
all efforts of combating this scourge.
We urge all citizens to treat substance and drug abuse as serious matters.
Known drug dealers must be reported to the police. Children and others who
abuse substances must be helped to stop the habit and to return their lives to
normality. Most importantly, families must confront the problem of denial which
perpetuates the scourge. Early intervention is delayed as family members refuse
to accept that one of their own could be using or abusing drugs or is an
alcoholic.
The new law provides hope as it will substantially improve the manner in
which the country responds to drug and substance abuse. We remain optimistic
that with co-operation from all communities and sectors, we can begin to stem
the tide of substance abuse.
Thank you.
Enquiries
Lakela Kaunda
Cell: 082 782 2575
Background information
Summary of the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Bill (The
Bill)
The Department of Social Development has decided to review the Prevention
and Treatment of Drug Dependency Act, No 20 of 1992 (the Act) for the following
reasons:
* The Act has become outdated.
* The Act is not responsive to current challenges.
* The Act focuses primarily on institutional treatment.
* No accreditation process for programmes and personnel in the field.
* Very little provision is made for prevention, community based and out-patient
services.
* Treatment services are not available and accessible to all citizens.
The above mentioned Bill envisages to:
1. provide for a co-ordinated effort to combat substance abuse
2. provide for the conditions for registration of all programmes including
those in treatment centres and halfway houses
3. provide for the conditions and procedures for the admission of persons to
treatment centres and the release of persons from treatment centres
4. provide for early intervention, treatment and reintegration programmes for
vulnerable persons
5. establish a Central Drug Authority whose powers and duties are to monitor
and oversee the implementation of the National Drug Master Plan.
The Bill has twelve chapters and is summarised below:
* Chapter 1 deals with the interpretation and objects of the Act.
* Chapter 2 deals with programmes for the combating of substance abuse.
* Chapter 3 deals with the establishment and development of programmes for the
prevention of substance abuse, the accreditation of programmes and the
monitoring and evaluation of such programmes.
* Chapter 4 deals with the establishment and development of community based
services, the types of programmes, the accreditation process, the staffing of
services and the monitoring and evaluation of such programmes.
* Chapter 5 makes provision for the establishment and abolishment of centre
based and out patient services, the registration and establishment of treatment
centres and halfway houses, the monitoring and assessment of these centres, the
staffing thereof and the establishment of out patient services.
* Chapter 6 deals with aftercare and reintegration services, the accreditation
of these services and the monitoring and evaluation thereof.
* Chapter 7 deals with the admission, transfer and referral procedures to
public and private treatment centres.
* Chapter 8 makes provision for behaviour management and disciplinary
interventions in public and private treatment centres, halfway houses, out
patient and community based treatment facilities.
* Chapter 9 deals with the establishment and functioning of the Central Drug
Authority and the supporting structures.
* Chapter 10 deals with the general provisions.
Issued by: Department of Social Development
20 August 2007
