Hope for substance abuse on West Rand
'Life Recovery Centre in Randfontein a ray of light in West Rand rehabilitation gloom' — DA.
Justus de Goede, MPL and DA Gauteng spokesperson for Social Development has advised that although the Life Recovery Centre in Randfontein is a ray of light in the West Rand’s rehabilitation gloom, the shortage of substance abuse treatment centres across the board is a major challenge for Gauteng.
De Goede and his team visited the centre in Randfontein last week and said it is the only fully equipped substance abuse treatment centre to serve the whole of the West Rand but, the facility has a waiting list of two to three weeks for the admission of substance abuse patients.
“The long waiting list is the result of the unavailability of other suitably equipped substance abuse treatment centres in the area offering treatment free of charge,” De Goede said.
He continued, “Life Recovery is funded by the Gauteng Department of Social Development and can only accommodate 200 in-patients. This means that other patients who are in need of such services have to be added to the waiting list as they cannot afford to pay for private centres.
“With the escalation of the substance abuse scourge, increased access to treatment centres must be facilitated before the battle against substance abuse can be won.”
He said after analysing the Randfontein Recovery Centre, the DA believes the Gauteng Department of Social Development must pursue this formula and partner with the private sector as well as NGOs to ensure that these much-needed services are provided in all communities. The systematic involvement of communities in the programmes of the centre was impressive and should be emulated.
“The DA has demonstrated its commitment to eradicating drug abuse in Gauteng. We will continue conducting oversight visits in different regions across the province, to provide the Portfolio Committee and Nandi Mayathula-Khoza, the MEC for Social Development, with information on both the challenges and the successes with regard to access to and the functioning of substance abuse treatment centres.”
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