“We will either find a way, or make one”

Hannibal 247 – 183 B.C. Carthaginian General

A Mini National Drug Master Plan has been submitted to the Province as part of the local substance abuse forum’s contribution in the war against substance abuse.

In his foreword the Chairperson states: “To establish a forum supporting the provincial substance abuse initiative that will emphasize and address the areas of Crime, Youth, Community Health, Research, Communication and Collaborate with provincial and national strategies to prevent the abuse of Chemical substances, legal or illegal, natural or synthetic or prescription medicines or over the counter medication.”

Substance abuse is a menace in our community and is a worldwide scourge that threatens to destroy society. The forum supports the reduction of demand through informed, educational programs and reducing supply through law enforcement and international cooperation. The forum embraces all other concerned organizations, Churches, forums, Law enforcement, NGO’s and Government in the fight against substance abuse and addictions.

This forum’s prime responsibility is to recruit and promote an active working membership comprising all stakeholders in the community involved with the Youth, Education, Crime prevention, Health, Law enforcement, Social Services, Justice, Business, Rehabilitation centre’s, Treatment centre’s, Religious and faith groups, to actively engage in the challenges of establishing sustainable solutions that prevent the supply and demand of substance abuse.”

– John Preller

Key Objectives: (Outcome Based) – Prevention, Treatment and Aftercare

Prevention – Drug Awareness programs through the media and promotions aimed at the youth using all resources within the committee membership and support groups. I.e. SANCA, Teenagers against Drug Addiction, SAPS, Community Forums and other related practitioners.

Teachers and parents will be trained to identify drug symptoms / behaviours and usage.

Outcome: Empower the youth with life skills training, assertiveness skills Insight and knowledge. Engage families to preserve the family bonds, especially in vulnerable family units. Remove the stigma of addiction. Encourage the youth to continue school attendance.

1. Treatment – Diversion Programme SAPS encourage offenders to receive counselling, attend support groups and do week end community service at the SAPS station instead of being charged and receiving a criminal record.

Encourage schools to allow scholars time to attend treatment centres.
Outcome: Alternative approach to encourage treatment and rehabilitation

2. Aftercare – Establish Support Groups and attendance at institutions, provide after hours meetings throughout the metro in all centres and townships.

Outcome: Reintegration into the family and community with life skills training. Relapse prevention and narrative group therapy to give insight and coping skills that improve the life-time journey of recovery.

The Local Drug Action Committee has identified two focus areas viz; youth and crime.

Having noted and observed that substance abuse begins at an early age, it was decided that the Local Drug Action Committee’s attention should be devoted to prevention. There is a direct link between substance abuse and perpetration of crimes hence crime was selected as a priority area.

Currently there is moral degeneration as a result of HIV/AIDS, crime, teenage pregnancy, substance abuse and other social ills. The Local Drug Action Committee views substance abuse as the major contributor to the above. It is therefore vital that substance abuse be addressed at individual, group and community level in order for moral regeneration to take place.

There are challenges ahead: Reduction in crime, increased demand for treatment, community involvement in addressing substance abuse, Teenagers Against Drug Addiction activities in schools will all act as proof of objectives being met.

Last week a steering committee inspected and approved an unoccupied school building in Port Elizabeth’s New Brighton area to be developed into a state run SUBSTANCE ABUSE REHABILITATION CENTRE FOR CHILDREN. This will be the first of its kind in the Eastern province and second in the country!

• 20% of patients in treatment centres in Port Elizabeth are younger than 20 years!

• The majority of users reported that they started abusing drugs between the ages of 11 – 19!

Reducing Supply through Law Enforcement and International Cooperation.

Most people are united in agreeing that organized crime is out of control in our country. It is also a fact that Drug trafficking contributes a large proportion of organized crime activities, particularly in terms of monetary value and lost lives, either in turf wars or drug related overdoses.

Drug trafficking is big business in South Africa, the value is unknown, but every now and then we are shocked into reality when we are confronted with reports of drugs with more than R100 million in street value being intercepted. We know that only a miniscule percentage of drugs are intercepted. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to work it out; you can calculate that we are looking at a multibillion dollar organized crime Business network in South Africa!

The Government’s shortsighted crime fighting approach has back-fired on us. There are not enough police on the ground, there are even less vehicles employed. Technology is limited and scarce. There is not enough coverage along our borders and entry points. The criminal justice system is soft on crime and invites exploitation by criminals.

Only when this Government enforces drastic action with a strong political will to eradicate the supply will any significant reduction be achieved.

We as a Community can be part of the solution, report crimes, join our local Community Policing Forums, Business against crime organizations, civic or any social community drives that provide sustainable solutions to making our neighbourhood and city safer for all.

John Preller
Fax: 086 6661145
Cell: 084 446 7137
E-mail: jpreller[AT]telkomsa.net