Cape Town – Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini says government departments are collaborating with other sectors of society to implement the National Drug Masterplan to respond to the scourge of drugs and substance abuse.
The Minister said answered oral questions in Parliament on Wednesday when the Social Cluster – comprising of the Departments of Arts and Culture, Basic Education, Higher Education and Training, Health, Human Settlements, Social Development, Sport and Recreation and Water and Sanitation – appeared before the National Assembly.
Minister Dlamini had been asked about the collaborative or intervention programmes that her department, the SA Police Service and community policing forums have put in place to effectively combat the scourge of drugs in communities.
“This government is committed to combating the scourge of alcohol and substance abuse because of its devastating effect on individuals, families, communities and society as a whole.
“We would like to emphasise that our approach and response to this scourge is anchored on the National Drug Masterplan with a strong emphasis on four pillars, namely prevention, early intervention, treatment, after care and re-integration.
“The Drug Masterplan, which is driven mainly by the Central Drug Authority – a multi-sectoral structure comprising of government, civil society and academic institutions, the approach allows for the involvement of all stakeholders from grassroots, community level and the national level,” she said.
The Drug Master Plan was developed after Cabinet approved the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on combating substance and alcohol abuse in 2010.
This came after President Jacob Zuma highlighted the challenges that the scourge of substance and alcohol abuse pose to the country and further called for a coordinated and inter-sectoral response.
Minister Dlamini said government’s recent intervention in Eldorado Park, under the leadership of President Zuma, was a good example of what can be achieved when everyone works together to confront the scourge head on.
“Provinces and national departments are guided by the plan to formulate their many drug masterplans to implement prevention and intervention and treatment.
“The Central Drug Authority is charged with the responsibility to develop and implement a coordinated approach encompassing supply control and demand reduction progress. Provincial substance abuse forums have been established as well as local drug action committees which consists of social workers, teachers, justice and committee representatives.
“We have already started implementing the programme of the IMC. The Department of Health is looking into the draft Control of Marketing of Alcohol Beverages Bill that is about the marketing and promotion of alcohol,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
