Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya has released for public comment a draft law intended to address the problem of substance and alcohol abuse.
Skweyiya said the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Bill would help reduce the prevalence of drug abuse among South Africans, particularly children.
”Our country continues to experience increased levels of substance abuse, [and] of serious concern to us is that the age of first experimentation with substances has dropped to between nine and 10 years,” he said in a statement on Monday.
The new legislation, Skweyiya said, would promote more community based services, place greater emphasis on preventative services and be more sensitive to the needs of children.
The South African Risk Survey, conducted in 2004, indicates that nationally 49% of teenagers use alcohol, 31% smoke and 13% use dagga on a regular basis.
It is estimated that the annual economic costs associated with alcohol misuse could be in the region of 0,5% to 1,9% of the country’s gross domestic product, or about R8,7-billion a year.
”The far-reaching implications of substance abuse should not be underestimated — they threaten the stability of families and the future of our youth, influence criminal behaviour and contribute to poverty and unemployment,” said Skweyiya.
He also linked substance abuse to car accidents, domestic violence and other social ills.
Scheduled to be introduced in Parliament this year, the proposed law will replace the outdated Prevention and Treatment of Drug Dependency Act of 1992. — Sapa