Evaluation of the National Drug Master Plan in South Africa

1. CDA PRESENTATION TO SOCIAL DEV PORTFOLIO COM 27/10/2004 PROF D W MALAKA & MS E MOKOKO

2. Introduction • The National Drug Master Plan (NDMP) was established in terms of the Prevention and Treatment of the Drug Dependency Act, No. 14 of 1999. • It is South Africa’s response to the United Nations call to all countries to collaborate in combating illicit drug trading and trafficking

3. Introduction cont • The NDMP’s vision is to “build a drug free society together”– This can only be achieved by collaboration of all stakeholders • To transform the NDMP from a mere plan into a tangible strategy, it was imperative that the government departments and civil society be coordinated by the CDA to attain this goal. • The function of the CDA is to oversee the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. Incorporated in this function is the protection of vulnerable people

4. Evaluation of the CDA • Challenge 1: Implementation of the NDMP in totality in all provinces of RSA • The efforts of the CDA to meet this challenge were (a) forming of committees such as research, youth, crime, international liaison, community health and welfare, governance and communication (crosscutting)

5. Challenge 1 cont • Implications: 14 government departments had to commit resources to enable the CDA to implement the plan in totality. However, the Act does not have an enforcement clause to commit all Departments to contribute the required resources. The responsibility remains solely with the Departments of Social Development that hosts the CDA

6. Challenge 1 cont • Solution: to remedy this problem, the Act must be reviewed and the enforcement clause should be included

7. Challenges • Challenge 2: The Multidisciplinary Approach • The NDMP is designed to coordinate and support all programmes to prevent and combat substance abuse in the country. However, interdisciplinary team work seems unachievable as yet in the country. Instead of collaboration, competition is rife, hence there is duplication of programmes. Example, drug education programmes designed by health, education and social development, safety and security, correctional services all target youth

8. Challenge 2 cont • Implications: Lack of collaboration and cooperation result in duplication of resources in some areas while other areas lack resources • Solution: An audit of all substance abuse programmes in the country would reveal over resourced provinces in contrast with under-resourced ones

9. Challenge 3 • Coordination of substance abuse programmes in all nine provinces • Not all the provinces in RSA have the skill and ability to identify problems that are unique to it. RSA institutes are all located in some urban areas. • Implication: Research at grass roots level is grossly limited.Very limited information exists on substance abuse trading and trafficking in the rural areas of RSA

10. Challenge 3 • Solution: More research especially baseline studies in rural areas should be funded

11. Challenge 4 • Administrative support to the CDA • The CDA functioned for four years without administrative support • Implications: For four years there was virtually little follow up on decisions taken at the CDA meetings. The Secretariat was appointed at the end of 2002 (end of the fourth year)

12. Challenge 4 • Solution: An addition of two more personnel to support the Secretariat in some of their work which includes establishing and maintaining provincial forums and local drug action committees is essential

13. Challenge 5 • National information dissemination • If a drug free society has to be attained, information must be disseminated to all the people of South Africa, to enable them understand the dangers of drug use and abuse and to ensure their informed decisions. • Implications: The CDA has been planning for the establishment of a National Clearinghouse and database accessible to all the people of South Africa

14. Challenge 5 cont • Solution: Funding for the establishment and staffing of a National Clearinghouse and a database on substance abuse with a toll free hotline should be prioritised

15. Challenge 6 • Mini Drug Master Plan • Mini Drug Master Plans from National and provincial government departments responsible for drug abuse counteraction (Justice, Health, Education, Social Development, Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Industry, National Treasury, Labour, Correctional Services, Safety and Security, South African Revenue Services, South African Police Services and Youth Commission)

16. Challenge 6 cont • Implications: The CDA should coordinate national efforts uniformly and avoid duplication and the framework would ensure that there is uniform tool throughout the country. • Solution: Progress reports are needed in order to include them in the 2005 CDA Annual report. Reporting would be improved

17. Challenge 7 • Provincial substance abuse forums • Substance abuse has to be put on both public and political agenda of the province. • Implications: The level of functioning differ and depends on the settings (under resourced as opposed to over resourced) • Solution: Functional provincial substance abuse should be maintained or established where they do not exist

18. Challenge 8 • Local Drug Action Committees • Local drug action committees (LDACs) had to be established in all 231 Municipal areas in order to prevent substance abuse at local level • Implications: Well coordinated LDACs efforts increase access to all people and would usually incorporate interested groups and individuals • Solution: Functional LDACs should be established and maintained in all the Municipal areas

19. Conclusion • Substance use and abuse prevention needs concerted efforts from every role players • CDA need intersectoral resources and support in order to deliver better