Drug activists graduate
The substance abuse fighters were spread across provincial universities
THE FIGHT against drug abuse was boosted by the graduation of 45 community representatives from the substance abuse treatment course at the University of Western Cape (UWC). The programme is funded by the Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) at all three provincial universities, and provides an eight-course undergraduate programme at UWC, and a specialist postgraduate programme at all three universities.
DSD allocated just under R4.8 million to fund 66 graduates to complete the course at all three provincial universities;
* University of Cape Town (Humanities): 15 students are trained in the post graduate course on addiction,
* University of Cape Town (Health Science): 13 students in post graduate in addictions,
* University of the Western Cape: 25 students funded by DSD, and an additional 20 funded by the UWC, saw 45 graduate in total,
* Stellenbosch University: 13 students trained in addiction.
“The course was developed in response to a lack of training programmes available in the field of drug and alcohol treatment intervention services, and is in line with Provincial Strategic Goal 3 which calls on us to increase wellness, safety and tackle social ills,” social development MEC Albert Fritz said.
“The programme has been running since 2011, and is producing substance abuse treatment practitioners in our communities.
“As DSD we are at the forefront of the fight against drug and alcohol abuse. Our policy response to substance abuse is about achieving harm reduction, which is why over the last five years we more than doubled the substance abuse budget, and this financial year will spend just over R104 million.
“Our approach as government is to focus on: * awareness, * early intervention, * statutory services and, * aftercare support programmes. “DSD funds 36 NGOs and 51 sites across the province,” Fritz said. – Staff Reporter