R96.2million on drug substance abuse

Mbasa Gqokoma
22 June 2015

The Department of Social Development in the Western Cape said it is important to find the root causes of social ills in our communities which often include drug and alcohol abuse.

This as today marks the beginning of Substance Abuse Awareness Week.

MEC Albert Fritz said over the last five years the department has doubled its budget in fighting substance abuse.

In terms of improvement of access the department has twenty-five drug treatment sites with the recent one being opened in Mitchell’s Plain.

MEC Fritz said the Department of Social Development is now spending almost R92.6 million rand on substance abuse programs that is the funding for more than 24 treatment centres in the Western Cape.

MEC Fritz said this is the huge increase to what they inherited when they came into power in the Western Cape.

“We also want to make a call to all parents who have children affected by drugs that they take them to the nearest police station or social development centre so that they can assist them with help, and for treatment so that they can be rehabilitated.” MEC Fritz added.