Pretoria - As part of government's ongoing anti-substance abuse campaign, the Department of Social Development in partnership with the Central Drug Authority (CDA) and the Free State government will today join the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 42/112 of 7 December 1987 declared 26 June as the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
This year the day will be commemorated under the theme: Global Action for healthy communities without drugs". The theme reflects the need for concerted effort to curb alcohol and substance abuse and its associated socio-economic consequences around the globe.
Government is commemorating this day, to raise awareness of the major problem that alcohol abuse and illicit drugs represent to society as a whole, especially to young people.
As part of the build up to this day, the Free State provincial department and Local Drug Action Committees will conduct door-door campaigns and district anti-substance abuse summits to create greater public awareness, discussions and stimulate action to address the harmful effects of alcohol and substance abuse.
While accurate and comprehensive statistics on the use and abuse of alcohol and illicit drugs is difficult to obtain, data from sources such as the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (SANCA) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) shows that the prevalence of alcohol and substance abuse is unacceptably high.
The Deputy Minister of Social Development, Maria Ntuli, Free State Premier, Ace Magashule, MEC for Social Development Sisi Ntombela and members of the CDA will participate in a march to highlight the dangers of alcohol abuse and illicit drugs.
The march will also be attended by the Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation Gert Oosthuizen as well as the Deputy Minister of Higher Education Hlengiwe Mkhize.
