Substance abuse remains a major social challenge

SANCA officials have reported a continued increase in demand for its services over the last financial year at its annual general meeting last month.

The organisation, like many NGOs, face rising costs and dwindling funding owing to the tough economic climate, but has kept its doors open to the public despite operating at a R300 000 deficit over the past year.

A large portion of SANCA’s programme concentrates on early intervention, but an increase in the number and types of drugs on the market as well as continued social denial and stigma surrounding addiction, hinder its progress towards facilitating a ‘drug-free society’.

However, SANCA registered 442 new patients and 69 on its aftercare programme.

As family involvement remains a priority factor in ensuring a patient’s recovery, counselling sessions were facilitated with 308 family members of primary patients, while family and friends accounted for the largest source of referrals at 34 percent, with school referrals at 21 percent.

Six percent of new patients were admitted for nicotine addiction, 29 percent for dagga and 18 percent for whoonga or heroin, which has doubled from last year’s nine percent.

Alcohol remained the most common at 36 percent of new patients admitted. The 11 percent remainder were classified for other addictions.

Forty percent of new patients were below the 21 year age group and 42 percent between 22 and 35 – of which 87 percent were male and 13 percent female.

The majority of these patients, 81 percent, were unemployed, 17 percent earned less than R3 000 per month and two percent earned above R3 000, while the data also reflected 85 percent to have their highest qualification between Grades 8 to 12, eight percent had received tertiary education and seven percent completed between grades R to seven.

Demographically, 84 percent of patients were black, 10 percent white, 5 percent Asian and one percent Coloured.

‘My sincere gratitude is extended to all those who have contributed in any way to the functioning of our orginisation over the past year,’ said SANCA Zululand director Shireen Sahadev. ‘Our heartfelt thanks also goes out to all SANCA staff, the Department of Social Development and the Operation Jumpstart Association.’

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.

For news straight to your phone invite us:

WhatsApp – 072 069 4169

Instagram – zululand_observer