Government-funded programmes and services for vulnerable - Unicef

Government-funded programmes and services for vulnerable children in SA
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Prevention
of substance
abuse xliv
Chapter 4 of the
Prevention of and
Treatment for Substance
Abuse Act, 2008, focuses
exclusively on prevention
and early intervention
services for people at risk
of substance abuse (s8).
The purpose of the
prevention programmes is
to prevent a person from
using or continuing to
use substances that may
lead to abuse or result in
dependence.
The early intervention
services are intended to
identify and treat potentially
harmful substance use
prior to the onset of overt
symptoms associated with
dependency on substances.
Section 9 of the Act
requires that prevention
programmes focus on:
(a) Preserving the family
structure of the
persons affected by
substance abuse;
(b) Developing
appropriate parenting
skills;
(c) Creating awareness
and educating the
public on the dangers
and consequences of
substance abuse;
(d) Engaging young
people in sports,
arts and recreational
activities;
(e) Peer education
programmes;
(f) Enabling parents and
Targeted beneficiaries
Persons affected by
substance abuse
The Act prioritises
the provision of
community-based
services to children
and youth, people
with disabilities, older
persons and families
and communities,
and requires that
underserviced areas be
prioritised (s12, 13).
The Act is premised
on the provision
of holistic multistakeholder
responses by a
range of government
departments and
civil society. It does,
however, impose an
obligation on the
minister of social
development to
take the lead in the
process.
The Act envisages
the delivery of the
prevention and
early intervention
services by either
organs of state or
NGOs. Furthermore,
the minister of
social development
is obliged to make
provision for the
establishment of
these services.
The minister may
provide or fund these
services, but only
those organisations
that comply with the
norms and standards
created in terms of
the Act may receive
funding (s11).
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