Social Development

[a]   What is the prevalence of underage drinking in the Western Cape

According to the SACENDU report of 2020, published December 2021, the following data was collected from 34 treatment centers during the period for July 2020 to December 2020, for patients younger than 20 years old, who access treatment within Western Cape.

•      Most patients in the age group younger than 20 years [65%] were males.

•      A higher proportion of patients in the age group 20 years and younger were referred to treatment centers by self/family/friends [48%]. There has also been an increased compared to the previous period. This followed by referrals by schools (32%) and referrals by social service/welfare at [11%]

•      The primary substance uses for patients younger than 20 years [60%] were treated for Cannabis use. There was also a significant increase from [23%-60%] that was admitted for treatment. [21%] of patients 20 years and younger were treated for Methamphetamine use. There has also been a decrease from [40%-21%’]

•      The mode of use for the age group 20 years and younger were smoking followed by swallowing.

•      It was reported that males dominated all substances, however, there has been in increase in female patients admitted for alcohol use.

•      The primary substance uses per race for patients younger than 20 years has seen an increase from [24%-59%] for Cannabis use in Colored patients and Black/African (23%-66%). There was also a decrease in Methamphetamine use [40%-17%] and a slight increase in alcohol use amongst Colored patients [12%-17%]. This may also be linked to the Government restriction on alcohol during the pandemic.

[b] what are her Department’s programmes to [i] prevent and [ii] address this challenge, including [iii] a breakdown of the expenditure on this challenge between 2019 and 2022?

[i]      The Department funds specialist organizations to implement preventative and early intervention services within schools to increase the awareness of risks involved in substance use. The focus is not limited to alcohol use and includes other substances as well.

[ii]     The Department of Social Development funds a range of community-based treatment services to address and manage substance abuse problems at various stages of the addiction process, i.e., early intervention, treatment and aftercare and reintegration. Early detection systems for those at risk and immediate referrals to the appropriate counselling services is important. The Department funds bed spaces for youth ages [13years – 18years] at two inpatient treatment facilities at a cost of

R3 464 400 annually. Children are also provided with a substance abuse service within all Child and Youth care facilities in the province. There is a focus is on youth development initiatives, particularly in our rural areas, positive role models, recreational activities, sports, developmental opportunities, and life skills training. Social crime prevention units have substance abuse related diversion programmes that are aimed at addressing the substance abuse of children in the ambit of social crime. Ensuring the availability of clear referral pathways to ensure that young people have easier and immediate access to social workers and other service providers.

[iii]      The total budget allocated to the NPO sector for services on prevention, early intervention, community based, inpatient and aftercare level to youth and adults in the substance use disorder field between the period 2019 and 2022 is R259 382 719.

                         Breakdown per financial year:

                         2019: R 66 518 000

                         2020: R 64 581 013

                         2021: R 65 050 000

                         2022: R 63 233 706

It should be noted that this excludes the operating costs of substance abuse treatment services provided by the department in its own secure care facilities for children and youth. These amounts cannot be disaggregated since they are included in the overall budget and running cost of the facilities in question.