THE City of Ekurhuleni revealed on Tuesday, October 27, that it is ready to fight the scourge of substance abuse in its communities during the official opening of the Palm Ridge Community Based Substance Abuse Day Clinic.
Together with its partner, the Gauteng Social Development Department, the City is on a drive to convert ageing clinics into substance abuse day clinics in an effort to increase accessibility to treatment interventions.
Also read:
• There is always hope for addicts
• Homeless mother’s body found next to refuse container
• SA’s drug consumption is twice the world average
Monica Meyer, an Eden Park resident who heads the Local Drug Action Committee (LDAC), expressed her gratitude for the new rehab centre.
“We often have drug addicts, who are ready to quit, referred to us and we sometimes do not know where to take them as facilities are far and parents cannot afford the private rehab centres,” said Meyer. “The centre, which is near, will help the LDAC a great deal where we will be able to visit the facilities to support the patients we referred to the centre,” she added.
MMC for Health and Social Development, Clr Makhosazana Mabaso, urged the community of Palm Ridge and surrounding areas to encourage those in need to utilise the facility and that those recovering be supported through the rehabilitation phase.
Comprehensive assessment, counselling services, rehabilitation and detoxing, recreational and fitness programmes are amongst the services to be offered at the facility.
The centre will accept walk-in patients and referrals from social workers, schools and the community.
For more information residents may contact the Department of Social Development’s regional office on 011-306-5350.
