Alcohol and other substance abuse and dependency are allegedly on the increase in the province yet Social Development MEC Mapula Mokaba-Phukwana, when officially opening the Seshego Treatment Centre on Tuesday, expressed confidence that the facility would help minimise the usage of drugs.
Statistics shared by Mokaba-Phukwana when addressing the audience at Seshego Hospital’s Livhuwani Maanda Recreational Hall prior to the official opening of the centre, indicated that more males than females are treated for substance use disorder in Limpopo. She said 89% of substance use disorder patients are males while females account for 11%, adding that the average age of people seeking treatment is 28 years.
Mokaba-Phukwana went on to say that there has been an increase number of persons needing treatment for nyaope dependency. Among drug dependents seeking treatment 60,3% were cannabis users while 51,4% of all persons seeking treatment were dependent on alcohol.
“It is heart-breaking to learn that some of the poorest of the poor in Limpopo use the little money they have or even social grants to buy alcohol or illicit substances. The effects are precarious and detrimental to growth and development in the province. Substance abuse and addiction directly leads to a rise in crime and violence – especially against women and children. It also causes road injuries and fatalities, school drop-outs and risky sexual behaviour among others,” Mokaba-Phukwana explained.
She said the centre was the first government facility for the treatment of substance addiction in Limpopo. Previously, dependents seeking inpatient services had to be referred to facilities outside of the province, it was learnt. The state-of-the-art treatment centre will offer detoxification treatment on site as well as social reintegration and occupational therapy programmes to up to 54 people, but many more people will benefit from the outpatient programme, Mokaba-Phukwana explained. She said a team consisting of a doctor, nurses, social workers, a psychologist and psychiatrist among others, will strengthen the services of the centre.
Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba emphasised that the opening of such a facility is long overdue. She further said her department believes that the centre will be a great resource to the entire population of the province as in the past over 200 people per year were referred to treatment centres outside of Limpopo. The gathering was also addressed by former drug addicts as well as representatives from organisations such as Sanca Limpopo Alcohol and Drug Centre and the Central Drug Authority, an advisory body of the national Department of Social Development.
Story & photos: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
