ATC130415: Report of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development on the 2010/11 Annual Report of the Central Drug Authority (CDA), dated 12 March 2013
Social Development
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE 2010/11 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CENTRAL DRUG AUTHORITY
(CDA), DATED 12 MARCH 2013
The Portfolio
Committee on Social Development having considered and deliberated on the
2010/11 Annual Report of the Central Drug Authority (hereafter referred to as
CDA) on 06 November 2012, wishes to report as follows:
1. Introduction
The Committees mandate as prescribed by the Constitution of South Africa
and the Rules of Parliament is to build an oversight process that ensures a
quality process of scrutinising and overseeing Governments action and that is
driven by the ideal of realising a better quality of life for all people of
South Africa.
The Committee, as part of exercising its oversight function received a briefing
from the CDA on its 2010/11 Annual Report. This report presents some of the key
achievements and challenges encountered by the entity in meeting its set
strategic objectives. It will also highlight the observations made by the
Committee.
2. Central Drug Authority
The Central Drug Authority (CDA) is a statutory body, established in terms
of the Prevention and Treatment of Drug Dependency Act, Act No 20 of 1992 as
amended. It consists of 12 members from the civil society, while another 14
members represent the national government departments and three entities
nominated by their respective Ministers. Its functions are to give effect to
the National Drug Master Plan in accordance with the guidelines set out
therein,
advise
the Minister on any matter affecting
the abuse of drugs referred to it by the Minister for advice. It also may
advise the Minister on any matte on which the CDA considers it necessary.
It may plan, co-ordinate and promote measures relating to the prevention and
combating of the abuse of drugs and the treatment of persons who were dependent
on drugs in accordance with the National Drug Master Plan. The CDA also
arranges conferences/summits relating to combating substance abuse in
Achievements
The CDA reported the following achievements:
Tabling of the CDA Annual reports to Parliament: 2006/2007; 2007/2008;
2008/2009; 2009/2010 and 2010/2011;
It created the National Clearinghouse and National Database;
The drafting of the Cannabis Position Paper was in progress;
It maintained 9 Provincial Forums;
It established 238 Local Drug Action Committees and were all active;
It attended the Commission on Narcotic Drug sessions and submitted reports;
The 1st Biennial Anti-Substance Abuse Summit was held in 2007. The 2nd
Biennial Anti-Substance Abuse Summit was held in 2011. Reports on both Summits
were available and resolutions and implementation Plans were completed.
It conducted the Departmental and Provincial Drug Master Plans training in
all national departments and provinces;
It monitored, reported and advised upon the trends in alcohol and other drugs
use, misuse and dependence;
It provided treatment and aftercare to dependents;
The impact of the application of the Departmental and Provincial Drug Master
Plans was assessed and reported to Parliament.
3. Trends in defining the drug problem
The CDA reported on the following trends
:
Primary substances of abuse
: alcohol remains the dominant substance of
abuse throughout the country.
The higher proportion of cocaine use in
Over the counter medicines and prescriptions continued to be an issue of
concern across all provinces. Inhalants/solvents (glue) use among young people
continued to be a problem. There was an increase in the injection drug use and
Methcathinone
use was noted in
Drug trafficking
:
The CDA found the following with regard to drug trafficking:
Cannabis trafficking was trafficked for shipment across African Countries;
Largest seizures were reported from the cannabis herb;
Cocaine was also being trafficked; and
Methamphetamine (
Tik
) seizures had been reported
from
4. Global World Drug Report
The Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) is the main policy-making body of
the United Nations Drug Control Programme. It is also the governing body of the
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
5. Achievements based on key integrated strategies
5.1 Supply reduction
X-ray scanners were introduced to search incoming parcels and packages into
the correctional centres to ensure that drugs do not enter the country.
Security search of all persons, staff, service providers, members of the public
and inmates continue to be conducted. A number of 540 incidents of supply
reduction occurred during 2010/2011 and 259.27 kg dagga (marijuana) was found during
the searches conducted in the correctional centres. Twenty one international
controlled deliveries from the
5.2 Demand reduction
Snap shots surveys were conducted in all nine provinces to determine the
extent of substance abuse. Provincial summits were held in provinces as a
precursor to the National Summit. The national summit was held in March 2011 at
the ICC in
5.3 Harm reduction
The CDA conducted harm reduction in the follows areas:
Support provided to employees and their families;
Referred clients to the rehabilitation centres;
Provided reintegrated programmes to individuals who received treatment;
Rescheduled E-cigarettes (products containing nicotine) from Schedule1/Schedule
2 to Schedule 3 to limit access;
Rescheduled Ephedrine and pseudo-ephedrine, which were precursors for drugs
of abuse, from Schedule 2 to Schedule 6;
Administered doping control services to all national sports codes; and
Conducted a meeting with service providers working on treatment interventions
to define the concept of harm reduction.
6. Concerns
raised
by members
Members were concerned about government entities, which had not submitted
annual reports to the CDA. They were particular unhappy with the CDA for not
submitting its annual report on time.
Members noted that the term of office of the current CDA Board had expired
and that a new Board had not been appointed. The matter regarding the
appointment of the new Board had been forwarded to Parliament for recruiting
and recommending candidates to serve the Board. This process was completed in
August 2012.
Members commented on the inclusion of substance abuse in the life orientation
curriculum of grade 12s. They urged the Department of Social Development to
work with the Department of Basic Education to educate learners about the dangers
of substance abuse in earlier grades.
Members noted with concern the increase of drug trafficking across the South
African borders. They were in favour of a presentation by both SAPS and SARS in
addressing the drug traffic problems of the country.
Members were keen to know when the new National Drug Master Plan would be
submitted to Parliament.
Documents
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