International Day Against Drug Abuse: Minister leads door-to-door awareness

The Western Cape Minister of Social Development led a team of social workers, substance abuse treatment specialists and police officers on a door-to-door awareness to mark International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking.

The door-to-door was held in Eastridge (Mitchells Plain), and visited areas known to have a problem of drug sellers and addicts.

The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) has set aside R104-million to continue expanding substance treatment facilities. DSD has grown its network of funded services from a mere 7 in 2009, to now funding 43 organizations working at 51 sites across the province.

We have shifted from focusing on in-patient facilities only, to expanding outpatient based facilities. These focus on rendering;

Early intervention,

Inpatient treatment,

Community based treatment,

and aftercare services.

Since 2014, the Department has responded to over 50 000 drug-related cases, and treated 35 502 through our 51 treatment sites across the province. The majority of clients treated are men, at 73% of admissions, whilst 27% were females.

The latest admission data shows us that the most common primary substances of use reported at treatment centres/ programmes are tik, cannabis, alcohol and heroin (together comprising 92% of all admissions).

We will continue growing our services, and making them accessible. Anybody needing more information or assistance can contact us on the www.heretohelp.co.za website, or the DSD hotline on 0800 220 250. We can beat drug and alcohol abuse, ‘Better Together’.

Source: Government of South Africa