City launches drug action committee
“I appreciate this partnership that seeks to resolve one of the most challenging social ills facing society today - substance abuse. We must always be empathetic to the realities families face in dealing with drug and substance abuse.”
The City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) launched a local drug action committee (LDAC) on April 29 at the Germiston Banquet Hall.
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Mayor Tania Campbell presented appointment letters to the members nominated to serve on the LDAC committee.
The mayor said the CoE welcomes this initiative.
“This partnership seeks to resolve one of the most challenging social ills facing society today – substance abuse.
We must always be empathetic to the realities of families dealing with drug and substance abuse. Within this context, we gain renewed energy that we will be able to make an impact in communities across the city,” said Campbell.
Section 60 of the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act, No. 70 of 2008 states that a municipality must establish a Local Drug Action Committee to represent the municipality at the Provincial Substance Abuse Forum and give effect to the Provincial Drug Master Plan.
The Department of Social Development has the responsibility to enforce this act, which makes provision for the development of programmes, the establishment and management of treatment centres and the establishment of the Central Drug Authority, provincial substance abuse forums and LDACs.
A representative from the Gauteng Department of Social Development, Desary Carlinsky, said the role of the LDAC committee is to keep their communities drug-free.
“The committee consists of interested persons and stakeholders involved in organisations dealing with the combating of substance abuse. It also has representatives from government departments operational in that area, NGOs, CBOs, FBOs, and individual structures concerned with the problem of substance abuse,” explained Carlinsky.
He said the committee includes justice officials, correctional services, SAPS, educators, local government, health officials, social development officials, religious bodies and community and business representatives.
The mayor said the CoE will work with these partners to deliver drug and substance abuse prevention programmes as this aligns with the city’s strategy based on seven pillars. The seven pillars strategy includes demand reduction, harm reduction, supply reduction, healing continuum, sustaining groups, capacity building and advocacy.
