SUBSTANCE ABUSE: PREVENTION AND TREATMENT POLICY PROPOSALS TO BE RELEASED SOON?

Please note: On 10 November 2023, the draft policy was gazetted for public comment.

According to Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu, Cabinet recently approved the publication of a draft policy on preventing and treating substance use disorders for stakeholder input. Addressing a global alcohol policy conference in Cape Town, the Minister also referred to plans afoot for establishing ‘a special committee of Cabinet Ministers to ensure coordination, strategic alignment and decision making in harm prevention and reduction strategies across government’.

There is no reference to the draft policy or the ministerial committee in post-Cabinet meeting media statements going back as far as August.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG) records of a National Assembly Social Development Committee meeting in May refer to work already underway in the Department of Trade, Industry & Competition on developing ‘alcohol use legislation’ and amendments to the Liquor Act, 2003. This with the intention of assisting the Department of Social Development in ‘fighting the battle against alcohol abuse’, according to Acting Deputy Director-General Thabani Buthelezi.

Published by SA Legal Academy Policy Watch

There are not comments for this article at the moment, check back later.
You must be logged in to add a comment, log in now.
Need Help ?

Explore Smarty