GEORGE NEWS - Members of the Local Drug Action Committee (LDAC), of which George Municipality's community development section is a part, recently underwent training by the Provincial Department of Social Development and the Central Drug Authority (CDA).
According to Janine Adams, social worker at the municipality's community development section, the training revolved around the specific functions of the LDAC as well as the roles and responsibilities of each partner. The training was held at the George Civic Centre.
The LDAC consists of various role players including governmental departments, NGOs and members of civil society. The municipality fulfills the coordinating role of the committee.
LDAC structures are the local committees that coordinate and report the activities. These committees consist of stakeholders from different government departments, the private sector, NGOs and others, who aim to prevent and combat substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking within the municipalities' jurisdictions.
"The LDAC is a platform which is used to discuss the various issues surrounding substance abuse and how it can be addressed," says municipal communications chief Chantèl Edwards.
"It is a multi-disciplinary committee that meets once a quarter and the members all have one common goal, to reduce substance abuse as well as the demand for it. This can only be done if all sectors work together to eradicate this evil that is consuming our communities and youth. The LDAC aims to develop strategies that will rebuild communities from the bottom up."
The LDAC stems directly from the National Drug Master Plan (NDMP), which gives a clear indication of what needs to be done. The first NDMP was approved in 1999 and is revised every five years.
The one currently being used applies to 2019 to 2024. The NDMP requires national and provincial government departments to include planning for and dealing with substance abuse problems in their normal planning and budgeting.
On behalf of the George LDAC, Edwards thanked Chantelle Pepper of the provincial Department of Social Development and Devon de Koker from the CDA, who took the time to facilitate the valuable and much-needed training.
"The session was very fruitful and all members gained a clearer understanding of their various roles and responsibilities with regard to the LDAC," she said.
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