Fight against substance abuse continues

The MEC for Social Development, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Mbali Hlophe, welcomed the first intake of substance users in a new partnership in Selby on November 6.

The Clinix Foundation is registered as an inpatient treatment facility in terms of Section 19 of the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act 70 of 2008 to provide inpatient treatment services.

The facility will admit 119 substance abusers.

Hlophe said she was ecstatic with such partnerships because they would change the NPO partnership in the department.

“Today has seen admissions of the first 85 service users in the facility, with the remaining 34 to be taken in the next two weeks. Partnering with such organisations continues to bring and instil hope in those we service.

“We want the government to partner with organisations that are reliant and have sustained themselves in the past to reduce complete reliability from the State,” she said.

Hlophe said that the Gauteng government is exploring expanding the rehabilitation programme from six weeks to six months because six weeks does not seem to be enough for rehabilitation.

“We also want to expand on the programme offering to respond adequately to the needs of beneficiaries. This includes expanding on skills development and sustainable programmes,” noted Hlophe.

Clinix Foundation will offer a six-week primary treatment programme. Upon completion, beneficiaries will be discharged into a halfway house programme where they will attend a skills development programme for at least six months.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi will visit the facility within the next two weeks.