Date: 01/07/2004
Source: North West Provincial Government
Title: N Rasmeni: Launch of local Drug Action Committee
ADDRESS BY MEC FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, MS NOMONDE RASMENI, DURING THE LAUNCH OF THE LOCAL DRUG ACTION COMMITTEE, Galaletsang Science Hall, Mothibistad, 1 July 2004
Programme Directors
Mayors and Councillors
Dikgosi
Acting Deputy Director General of the department
Officials from the department
Ladies and gentlemen
I am indeed honoured to address this significant occasion when we are launching the local drug Action Committee. The launch of this committee is imperative, as research has shown that substance abuse is a major course of social and accidental deaths in our country and in the province. Its sphere of influence reaches across social, racial, culture, language, religion and gender barriers and directly and indirectly affects everyone.
Prior to this event there were number of campaigns organised to create awareness of the dangers of substance abuse throughout the province. It is evident that victims of substance abuse are young people, who, most of them are not able to handle social pressures like peer pressure, unemployment and poverty. It is encouraging to see that young people are actively involved in committees such as this.
Programme Director, this year's theme is "Treatment works with the support of families and communities", and it is linked to the International Year of the Family. The campaign aims at emphasising the importance and effectiveness of drug treatment through the support o families and communities.
Programme Director we are called Department of Social Development, because our actions are based upon solidarity and engender self-reliance within individuals and communities. Therefore by launching this Local Drug Action Committee we seek to ensure that communities are empowered to create conditions for sustainable livelihood. Effective drug abuse treatment can also help to alleviate some of the most devastating social ills -- crime, the transmission of infectious diseases, loss of productivity, and family as well as social disorders.
Drug abuse is rife among the youth in this country. It is therefore pivotal that we as the department strengthen the partnership with communities, Non-Governmental Organisation, Faith Based Organisation and other stakeholders in an endeavour to fight drug abuse among our youth and communities. By working together with relevant structures we can successfully develop a prevention and rehabilitation programme.
The National government has developed a policy document called National Drug Master Plan that was adopted in 1999. The document acts as the barometer of time commitment and performance of the South African Government and its citizen in the implementation by each Province. To facilitate the implementation of the National Drug Abuse Master plan, a provincial Substance Abuse Forum, which is a representative of all stakeholders, was established and launched by my predecessor MEC Mayisela in July 2003.
Ladies and gentlemen this Substance Abuse Forum is further tasked to ensure that local drug action committees are established and well functioning at local level. Such committees have already been established in 12 Local Municipalities in Bophirima and Central Districts respectively. In line with building a people's contract, I impress upon the community to fully and actively participate in this committee.
Families are presently over burdened as a result of social disintegration resulting from various social problems such as the ravaging HIV/AIDS pandemic, substance abuse, poverty and domestic violence. The establishment of the Local Drug Action Committee will then give support to the families of substance abusers.
The committee will be tasked among others to ensure that substance abuse is kept high on both public and political agenda, and to further ensure that families of drug and alcohol abusers have access to information, counselling and offer support services. We have all seen how drugs destroyed many of our brothers and sisters.
Programme Director, we are also concerned about the stigma attached to drug users and we hope to diminish it by illustrating the possibilities for a positive future, using the stories of individuals who have successfully undergone treatment and are engaged in productive lives.
"A common misconception exists that 'once a drug abuser, always a drug abuser'. This attitude and the stigma associated with drug abuse and drug dependence hinder society from being proactive in meeting and treating the needs of drug abusers. In truth, drug abuse treatment is effective and can have a dramatic impact on individuals, families and society.
Let's all stand together against substance abuse and make North West a better and safer province to live in.
Let's all make sure that we build a people's contract to eradicate drug abuse and drug dependence.
Issued by: Department of Social Development, North West Provincial Government
1 July 2004
Source: North West Provincial Government
Title: N Rasmeni: Launch of local Drug Action Committee
ADDRESS BY MEC FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, MS NOMONDE RASMENI, DURING THE LAUNCH OF THE LOCAL DRUG ACTION COMMITTEE, Galaletsang Science Hall, Mothibistad, 1 July 2004
Programme Directors
Mayors and Councillors
Dikgosi
Acting Deputy Director General of the department
Officials from the department
Ladies and gentlemen
I am indeed honoured to address this significant occasion when we are launching the local drug Action Committee. The launch of this committee is imperative, as research has shown that substance abuse is a major course of social and accidental deaths in our country and in the province. Its sphere of influence reaches across social, racial, culture, language, religion and gender barriers and directly and indirectly affects everyone.
Prior to this event there were number of campaigns organised to create awareness of the dangers of substance abuse throughout the province. It is evident that victims of substance abuse are young people, who, most of them are not able to handle social pressures like peer pressure, unemployment and poverty. It is encouraging to see that young people are actively involved in committees such as this.
Programme Director, this year's theme is "Treatment works with the support of families and communities", and it is linked to the International Year of the Family. The campaign aims at emphasising the importance and effectiveness of drug treatment through the support o families and communities.
Programme Director we are called Department of Social Development, because our actions are based upon solidarity and engender self-reliance within individuals and communities. Therefore by launching this Local Drug Action Committee we seek to ensure that communities are empowered to create conditions for sustainable livelihood. Effective drug abuse treatment can also help to alleviate some of the most devastating social ills -- crime, the transmission of infectious diseases, loss of productivity, and family as well as social disorders.
Drug abuse is rife among the youth in this country. It is therefore pivotal that we as the department strengthen the partnership with communities, Non-Governmental Organisation, Faith Based Organisation and other stakeholders in an endeavour to fight drug abuse among our youth and communities. By working together with relevant structures we can successfully develop a prevention and rehabilitation programme.
The National government has developed a policy document called National Drug Master Plan that was adopted in 1999. The document acts as the barometer of time commitment and performance of the South African Government and its citizen in the implementation by each Province. To facilitate the implementation of the National Drug Abuse Master plan, a provincial Substance Abuse Forum, which is a representative of all stakeholders, was established and launched by my predecessor MEC Mayisela in July 2003.
Ladies and gentlemen this Substance Abuse Forum is further tasked to ensure that local drug action committees are established and well functioning at local level. Such committees have already been established in 12 Local Municipalities in Bophirima and Central Districts respectively. In line with building a people's contract, I impress upon the community to fully and actively participate in this committee.
Families are presently over burdened as a result of social disintegration resulting from various social problems such as the ravaging HIV/AIDS pandemic, substance abuse, poverty and domestic violence. The establishment of the Local Drug Action Committee will then give support to the families of substance abusers.
The committee will be tasked among others to ensure that substance abuse is kept high on both public and political agenda, and to further ensure that families of drug and alcohol abusers have access to information, counselling and offer support services. We have all seen how drugs destroyed many of our brothers and sisters.
Programme Director, we are also concerned about the stigma attached to drug users and we hope to diminish it by illustrating the possibilities for a positive future, using the stories of individuals who have successfully undergone treatment and are engaged in productive lives.
"A common misconception exists that 'once a drug abuser, always a drug abuser'. This attitude and the stigma associated with drug abuse and drug dependence hinder society from being proactive in meeting and treating the needs of drug abusers. In truth, drug abuse treatment is effective and can have a dramatic impact on individuals, families and society.
Let's all stand together against substance abuse and make North West a better and safer province to live in.
Let's all make sure that we build a people's contract to eradicate drug abuse and drug dependence.
Issued by: Department of Social Development, North West Provincial Government
1 July 2004
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