Page 74 - Central Drug Authority Annual Report 2021

CHAPTER 6. EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

1. EVALUATION

This section will deal with the broader issues affecting the Many departments that must serve on the CDA, as directed
functioning of the CDA and its support structures. It will by the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act
however, also examine more closely, service delivery impera- 2008 (Act 70 of 2008) and submit reports on their imple-
tives that inform strategies and tactics of different stake- mentation of the NDMP have either not submitted reports
holders in responding to the directives of the NDMP. This nor appointed representatives to serve on the CDA. This has
report is presented by the CDA, and therefore all recommen- created major challenges in the implementation of the
dations contained herein will give marching orders to the NDMP. The NDMP assigns certain responsibilities to specific
incoming CDA, informing it of what should be given atten- departments. Failure to adhere to these directives creates
tion to, to improve its functioning and how to make the gaps and deficiencies in implementation. Furthermore, all
programmes to substance abuse in the country more government departments serving on the CDA must work
effective. within their clusters as assigned but also work across these
clusters to ensure service integration.
This annual report has been compiled by the new CDA that The reports on the actionable plans of the departments
was inaugurated by the Minister in May 2021. The end of the indicate that there has not been much change in the
term of the previous CDA was on 31 March 2021. However, approach towards the issue of substance use disorders.
except for a few departmental representatives and the There is a strong focus on activities that are towards
remaining 8 drug experts, the CDA was not functional. The reduced social ills, improved well-being of children, families
provincial Departments of Social Development however, and communities. This in and of itself is good, however this
kept the Provincial Substance Forums alive and somewhat strong focus on a single outcome is not sustainable as there
functional, albeit with no resources to sustain their activities is need for an approach more aligned to the 5 principles of
and to function independently as independent sub-struc- the NDMP2019-2024 which is people centred and is
tures of the CDA. inclusive of people already dealing with substance use
disorders.
This report and the above analysis therefore, is derived from
national reports submitted by Departments at the national It is also quite evident from the reports of the policing
sphere of government. Viewed on their own, the reports authorities that there has not been much of a shift from the
show that there are serious efforts to address the scourge of punitive approach to SUD’s in the year under review. It has
drugs and substance abuse by national departments. On been scientifically proven that addiction is a disease that
their own these departments, seem to be making some affects both the brain and behaviour, shedding new light on
strides in the management of the problem. It is however, our understanding of drug use and the appropriate response
very clear that with the exception of departments in the thereof. Thus, our focus, which has been on ensuring that
Security Cluster, who seem to be somewhat and to a limited people who are dealing with SUD’s are removed from our
extent, working together, it seems that departments are communities, must change. Our public order ethos may have
working in silos. The NDMP calls for a concerted and coordi- seen their removal from the face of society into incarcera-
nated response to the substance abuse problem and if the tion centres as the best approach, as we have not provided
goals of the NDMP are implemented to the extent that they for the financial and other resources required to manage
should, this would contribute meaningfully and effectively people dealing with SUD’s through other mechanisms
deal with the challenges faced by the country in relation to identified by NDMP 2019-2024, of dealing with the
drugs and substance abuse. challenge, such as placement in appropriately resourced
treatment centres.
It does not seem that the departments are consciously
working towards meeting the goals of the NDMP. All the The other glaring disparity identified is that there are few, if
work done and indicated in the reports is incidental to the any actionable plans by any of the departments towards
goals, rather than directed at achieving the goals of the Goal 7 which would facilitate outcome 1, the reduction of
NDMP through collective efforts. The manner in which poverty. However, the Provinces have reported on Goal 7
these reports are submitted is largely not compliant with which is encouraging though also worrying as the Depart-
the framework provided for in the NDMP. To analyse these ments and Provinces should work in tandem. The misalign-
reports has meant that the authors of the report have had to ment discloses the non- engagement of some departments
interpret the data provided from their own frame of in the Provincial Substance Abuse Forums(PSAF’s), this has
reference. This has also meant that departments did not been highlighted as a continuing challenge.
apply themselves to working on plans to meet the goals
through the development of their own Drug Master Plans
that are aligned to those of the NDMP (2019 – 2022).
72 Annual Report 2020/2021 Central Drug Authority