Taking a stand against drug abuse
The ward 25 substance abuse and rehabilitation programme has been launched.
Drug abuse is a social disease which can affect anyone, regardless of upbringing and social standing.
To fight substance abuse, the Department of Social Development (DSD), SANCA, police and educators met at the Fairleigh Hall on Wednesday, October 2, to launch a substance abuse and rehabilitation programme which will be implemented in Ward 25 and focus on residents living in Arbor Park, Fairleigh and the Siyhalala-la informal settlement.
According to Zethu Mdlalose from DSD, the programme will be rolled out to other wards as of November. “Our main aim is to fight substance abuse and we cannot fight it alone. Substance abuse affects rich and poor, educated and non-educated.”
Hlengiwe Hlengwa, from DSD, confirmed that the campaign will consist of a team of trained people going door to door in Ward 25 with information packs to be handed to residents.
“The information packs will consist of symptoms displayed by those addicted to substances, the different types of drugs and who to contact if someone is addicted to a certain substance,” said Ms Hlengwa.
The door-to-door campaign will be started in Ward 25 on October 9 and end on October 11.
Captain Shooz Magudulela, SAPS spokesperson, added that the programme would have a positive affect on the ward and community as a whole.
“If all the groups in the programme work together, Ward 25 can become a drug free area,” he concluded.
