World Drug Day: Offer empathy, not discrimination

26 June marks the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, or World Drug Day. The day is significant in strengthening action and cooperation aimed at a world free of drug abuse.

This year’s theme, by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is “People first: stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention.”

“It is important to treat those who suffer from Substance Use Disorders (SUD) and their families with respect and empathy. These disorders are an illness that require proper treatment and support, just like any other health crisis. SUDs are often a main contributor to other social ills like abuse, violence, crime, and unemployment, so it takes a whole-of-society (WOSA) and whole-of-government approach to stem the tide,” says Western Cape Minister of Social Development, Sharna Fernandez.

Local Drug Action Committees (LDACs) are a perfect example of WOSA. Efforts by the Provincial Substance Abuse Forum – driven by Provincial Minister Fernandez and the Western Cape Department of Social Development (WCDSD) – have led to the establishing of LDACs in 18 of the 30 municipalities in the province.

Functioning LDACs are crucial to the expansion of SUD services in vulnerable communities, like rural areas.

The WCDSD has allocated R108.8 million to its Substance Abuse, Prevention and Rehabilitation programme in 2023/2024:

• The Department subsidizes: 6 in-patient treatment centers in the Western Cape to provide treatment for both adults and youth between the ages of 13-18 years of age. Total bedspaces are 671.
• The Department funds:
  • 14 community-based organizations (CBOs) to render a non-residential community- based treatment programme across 32 sites in the province; 18 CBOs with 23 sites providing early Intervention Services;11 Organizations with 17 sites providing Aftercare Services; 3 organizations in Worcester, Athlone, and Bellville to deliver preventative services in rural areas with a focus on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
  • 7 WCDSD-funded organizations provide services at identified high risk schools to ensure service availability in schools where brief interventions can be conducted.
  • The WCDSD funds an opiate substitution therapy program in Mitchells Plain and Hanover Park. This is a 3-month long intervention made up of psycho-therapeutic intervention managed by a multi-disciplinary team.
  • The Saartjie Baartman Centre is funded to admit female service users who experience problems with SUDs as well as gender-based violence.
• Expansion of services in Villiersdorp, Stilbaai, McGregor, Langeberg, Mossel Bay, and Hout Bay.
• Substance treatment programmes at six DSD Child and Youth Care Centres for children between 12 - 17 years old.
• The Department operates one public treatment center in Kensington that caters for 30 males and 30 females on a rotational basis over a 9-week treatment cycle.
• The Department has two own youth treatment centres for boys and girls up to the age of 18 years at Kraaifontein Treatment Centre and Lindelani Child and Youth Care Centre for both court and voluntary admissions.

The WCDSD also supports school-based crime prevention programmes in urban and rural hotspot areas: Khayelitsha, Kraaifontein, Nyanga, Gugulethu, Delft, Mfuleni, Harare, Bishop Lavis, Phillipi, Phillipi East, Mitchells Plain and Beaufort West. Topics like life skills, mentoring, anti-bullying, SUDs, personal anger and stress management were offered to learners. In total, 11 197 children across the province accessed and benefited from these programmes in 2022/2023.

There are many unregistered organisations in the province providing SUD services. The WCDSD has 38 unregistered in-patient facilities and 11 unregistered halfway houses on its database. When a facility or programme is unregistered, the Department cannot offer support, or vouch for the safety or efficacy of the services rendered.

“I urge NGOs that wish to make a difference in communities to follow the proper channels and apply for registration with the Department, so professionals can assess the services you wish to render. An unregistered facility can have devastating consequences in the lives of individuals battling with SUDs, their families, and the community,” adds Provincial Minister Fernandez.

For more information about registration processes, please call our toll-free number 0800 220 250 or visit your nearest Department of Social Development local office. You can also visit: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/dept/social-development/services/956/41468