Drug Awareness Week promoted at taxi ranks

South Africans this year were not able to sidestep the very serious issue of substance abuse when confronted with posters and leaflets distributed at various taxi ranks throughout greater Johannesburg.

19 June marked the start of National Drug Awareness Week (NDAW), an annual campaign aimed at creating awareness about the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse.

National roll-out

An initiative of the South African National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence (SANCA), this campaign is rolled out nationally to educate and inform society on substance abuse and the solutions on offer.

A SANCA treatment facility located in Boksburg - the SANCA Horizon Alcohol and Drug Centre (SANCA Horizon), decided this year to look at engaging with South Africans through more innovative means.

Inzalo Communication, which has been highlighting NDAW for SANCA Horizon for many years as a CSI initiative, realised the initiative required a medium able to reach ordinary South Africans quickly and efficiently. They approached ComutaNet, which has access to thousands of taxi commuters, to have 5000 pamphlets distributed on 23 June.

Through its Star Radio, ComutaNet is also running interviews during NDAW, with experts from SANCA Horizon as well as previous drug and alcohol addicts sharing their thoughts and experiences.

The interviews are currently being broadcast to taxi ranks across South Africa in the hope of educating those using drugs, as well as those living with drug addicts, about preventative measures that can be taken - together with how to identify whether someone is using, and the impact on friends and families.

For more about SANCA Horizon, go to www.horizonclinic.co.za.