Question NW1136 to the Minister of Social Development
10 June 2016 - NW1136
Masango, Ms B to ask the Minister of Social Development
Whether any information is available regarding the total number of persons who are addicted to drugs; if not, when does she intend to carry out a comprehensive census in order to establish the number of addicts; if so, (a) how many persons are addicted and (b) in which provinces are they located?
Reply:
No. There is no comprehensive date available but currently the Department relies on the information from South African Community Epidemiology Network on Drugs (SACENDU). According to data collected from treatment centers on people admitted to treatment services by SACENDU between January 2015 and June 2015, the following were finding:
NUMBER OF PEOPLE ADMITTED FOR TREATMENT SERVICES DURING JANUARY-JUNE 2015
|
|
|
3524 |
Western Cape |
|
4285 |
Gauteng |
|
226 |
Limpopo |
|
850 |
Mpumalanga |
|
1122 |
KZN |
|
74 |
Northern Cape |
|
126 |
North West |
|
366 |
Free State |
|
363 |
Eastern Cape |
Plans are underway in the current financial year to develop a system to collect data on the number of people accessing anti-substance abuse services during 2016/2017 financial year. The Department will further conduct research on the nature, extent and impact of substance abuse amongst communities in South Africa during 2016/2017 financial year.