Cape Town - The Department of Social Development has recommitted to continue strengthening the implementation of drug prevention initiatives in an attempt to address the scourge of substance abuse.
Addressing the National Council of Provinces on Tuesday on her department's Budget Vote, Deputy Minister Bathabile Dlamini said substance abuse was increasing in the country, adding that social problems facing people meant there was a great deal of work still to be done.
"There is a great need for more work to be done to bolster the Provincial Substance Abuse Forums and the community structures, in this case the Local Drug Action Committees to nip this problem in the bud.
"If we are to win the war against substance abuse, we must target young people because prevention is better than cure. It is widely accepted that addressing the scourge of substance abuse cannot rely on government response alone," Ms Dlamini said.
She said the department would continue with its effort to strengthen the implementation of drug prevention initiative including the "Ke moja" - (I am fine without drugs campaign), which targets young people through arts, sport and the transfer of critical life skills.
Re-iterating the statement she made last week during the debate in the National Assembly, Ms Dlamini said the department would focus on reducing the demand for drugs and support for treatment.
She said while focusing on prevention, there was a need to ensure that those affected receive the necessary support.
"If we can deal with this problem successfully, we will simultaneously address associated problems such as crime, unwanted teenage pregnancies, and HIV and AIDS infections.
"Equally important is the prevention of substance abuse in the adult population, in this regard, we will develop a prevention model specifically targeting adults by the end of the current financial year," Ms Dlamini said.
She emphasised that the struggle to reduce the demand for drugs and other harmful substances was a war that must continue to wage collectively.
"We must seek to become better organised as we implement the National Drug Master Plan and the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act (2008)," she said, adding that the department will host the second biennial substance conference on abuse during the course of the current financial year.
