Pretoria - Africans are less likely to seek treatment for drug addiction compared to the rest of the world, it was revealed at the National Substance Abuse Treatment Symposium which started in Kimberly on Wednesday.
According to Jason Eligh of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), only one in 18 people who use drugs in Africa seek treatment, as opposed to the world average of one in six.
This means that an overwhelming majority of drug users on the continent will not escape the devastating effects of drug abuse.
Also speaking at the symposium, Chairperson of the Central Drug Authority, Mogotsi Kalaeamodimo, said while improving access to treatment facilities was important, it was vital to work towards removing the stigma associated with seeking help for drug addiction so that more people can come forward and seek help.
The Department of Social Development, working with the Central Drug Authority, has called the symposium to discuss and find sustainable methods to treating those addicted to drugs and alcohol.
The symposium, which has brought together treatment experts from around the world, is expected to develop a treatment strategy for the country.
Through Project Mikondzo, the department has adopted an approach of making an impact at a household or family level in dealing with the many social challenges in communities.
Similarly, in dealing with substance abuse, it is the view of the department that family-based programmes that enhance family bonding and relationships through parenting skills; developing, discussing, and enforcing family policies on substance abuse; and training in drug education and information can make a major contribution in driving back the scourge of substance abuse.
Over the next three days the symposium will discuss a number of themes related to the roll out of an effective treatment system in the country.
These themes are: treatment, reintegration and aftercare services; evidence based and best practice models for substance abuse treatment; intervention and treatment programmes; and monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness and efficiency of treatment services. - SAnews.gov.za
