Date: 12/02/2007
Source: Department of Social Development
Title: Skweyiya: Biennial summit on substance abuse
Address by the Minister of Social Development, Dr Zola Skweyiya, to the opening ceremony of the first Biennial summit on substance abuse the forum conference centre, Bryanston, Johannesburg
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
Source: Department of Social Development
Title: Skweyiya: Biennial summit on substance abuse
Address by the Minister of Social Development, Dr Zola Skweyiya, to the opening ceremony of the first Biennial summit on substance abuse the forum conference centre, Bryanston, Johannesburg
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
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