GEORGE NEWS - One does not wake up one morning deciding "today I am going to become addicted to alcohol or drugs", says Denise de Beer, the director of the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (Sanca). "One may start experimenting with alcohol or drugs and gradually progress to regular use. Before you know it, you start longing for the effect of the substance and the use intensifies. Eventually, you continue to use, despite experiencing negative consequences, which may include financial constraints, relationship problems, conflict with the law and other social problems."
It is estimated that one person's substance abuse affects 12 other people's lives. This may include the abuser's family, friends, the community he or she lives in, his or her employer and colleagues, as well as health and justice systems.
From April 2017 to March 2018, 387 people came to the Sanca George office for an intervention, of which 72% were younger than 35 years.
Statistics
Sanca's national office reported that, from 2016 to 2018, 44% of service users accessing their treatment programmes were between 22 and 35 years old. "Of these, 16% were between 14 and 17 years old," says De Beer. The majority (60%) of service users accessing treatment are younger than 35 years. The most commonly reported substances of use in this time frame were cannabis (38%), alcohol (21%), heroin or opiates (14%) and multi-drugs (14%).
"This shows that alcohol and drug abuse is still very much of a concern in our society and that we need more interventions to address the ever-growing demand for service delivery to individuals and families living with substance use disorders," she says.
Sanca George
In the past 22 years, Sanca George has grown in staff and service delivery. "Currently the organisation has eight permanent staff members, a project manager, a relief administration officer and a contracted professional nurse. Initially, the organisation focused on prevention and awareness programmes, but over many years service delivery expanded to include early intervention, community-based treatment and aftercare services."
Sanca does its utmost to keep up with the demands in the addiction field and to deliver a service that will change the lives of people in the grip of addiction.
Contact the Sanca George office on 044 884 0674 or ddebeer@sancageorge.org.za. You can also visit their Facebook page for more information.
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