2nd Biennial Anti-substance Drug Summit SA

We were priviliged to be invited to this summit as a NGO representing faith based treatment. There were close to 700 delegates who took part in the discussion around the theme; An intergrated approach towards a drug free society.
There where several Ministers of the Cabinet, representatives from World Health Organization, the United Nations, Director Generals as well as President Zuma who delivered the keynote address. The Department of Social Development organized this event as a build up to previous provincial summits. The resolutions of the summit where formulated into a declaration signed by delegates representing various sectors of Government and civil society. This declaration will form part of the presentation by the Minister of Health when he attends and international conference regarding substance abuse next month in Brazzaville.

It is encouraging to note that our Government is at last taking the impending drug tsunami serious. Issues that where taken really serious was the abuse of alcohol by teenagers, the personal violence resulting from illegal consumption at unlicensed taverns in the townships, the crime statistics relating to hard drugs and off course the illegal immigrants who peddle on our streets.
Two issues stood out namely the raising of the minimum legal age for the public consumption of alcohol and the banning of sports events that are sponsored alcohol manufacturers and distributors.
Very little if nothing was really mentioned about irresponsible manner in which the medical profession prescribed legal drugs.
Neither was enough note taken of the lack of mental professionals who can effectively offer treatment. It was briefly mentioned that there are not enough treatment facilities but no concrete solutions or options where discussed.
General Cele made some bold statements on how hard the Police where going to come down on dealers but where he was going to find the staff qualified to do it? The average policeman is not equipped to deal with normal criminals on the streets never mind clever ways in which dealers do business and buy themselves out of trouble. In most other countries they have highly trained special units that deal with drug trafficking and even they are losing the war against drugs.
Many repetitive speeches were given by various government officials who spent a lot of time unneccessarily observing protocol. You cannot imagine how many times this or that Minister or MP or MEC or DG was mentioned for being present. A lot was said that has been said and written before concerning all the reasons why people take drugs and how dangerous they are and how we must all stand together and form forums and launch community projects but once more sadly to say no real creative solutions where mentioned. There was far too much generalization about the issues with very little insight into the real causes. The words like interventions, mental disease, modern day scourge and community actions where used over and over. It was a typical social workers mentally that prevailed which could describe the problems of society but not really find working solutions. Of course everything ran pretty late on the program which is to be expected in Africa.
The government officials undertook to have alcohol free events in future and stood their ground during the Gala evening which we did not attend. Overall the entire event was pretty colourful and the food was great. We did manage to network with some people who shared our view regarding partnership we should espouse above all, namely that of Jesus Christ working through His people to address sin in society.
After the presentations made by key speakers the entire audience was divided into five commissions that where to debate the following;

1. Policy and legislation
2. Demand reduction
3. Supply reduction
4. Harm reduction 
5. Role of Civil Society.

It was during these debates that one could voice your opinion from the floor and the Lord gave me a few issues I could comment on. I raised the issue of the lack of recognition given to Christian counsellors and the need to accredit theologians who have been trained in addiction therapy from a Biblical perspective. I also raised the fact that if this was done a large human resource could be employed to augment the shortage of social workers. Off course we also addressed the issue that man is a triune being and therefore spiritual renewal is of tantamount importance in therapy and we must not only look at the psychological and physical issues relating to substance abuse. As can be expected this stuff went over their heads.
The really positive thing that came out of attending this summit was the realization that God has indeed given us a very dynamic answer to these issues through the work that has been done in Extreme Freedom Foundation. The vision He gave us for a national strategy more than 26 years ago is really the answer for our country's drug abuse crises of today.
My resolve after attending this summit is to be more aggressive in writing to heads of Departments regarding the issues as we see them from God's perspective. I will be placing some of these thoughts on this blog as I write them and hopefully God will raise up more public support from among the Christian ranks.

I am happy to state that just before we left for the summit both Annatjie and myself were registered as Theological Counsellors under the SANHPB Act. It is another step in the right direction and we will take another step soon by registering the treatment centre under this legislation as well. Thereafter the Biblical Therapy College will follow and sooner or later we will receive full accreditation and professional recognition. We will continue to trust God that He will enable us through faith and endurance to prove to the secular health professionals that Jesus Christ still heals all manner of disease including drug addiction. The Word of God is more than sufficient to address and heal the sins of society if we repent and obey God.