Public hearings on Substance Abuse Bill end in Cape Town

The public hearings will conclude at the Chamber Legislature Building in Cape Town on Friday.

The public hearings, which began on Monday, have enabled stakeholders and interested parties to make verbal representations regarding the prevention of and treatment for substance abuse.

In a statement, the Western Cape Provincial Parliament's Standing Committee on Social Development said the Bill was aimed at combating substance abuse in a coordinated manner and made provision for the registration and establishment of all programs and services.

It would also create conditions for the admission and release of persons to and from drug treatment centres and provide prevention, early intervention, treatment, re-integration and after care services to deter the onset.

The Bill, presented by the Minister of Social Development, Zola Skweyiya earlier this year, seeks to provide for mechanisms aimed at demand and harm reduction in relation to substance abuse through establishment of treatment centres and halfway houses.

The committee said the Bill would establish a Central Drug Authority to oversee the implementation of the National Drug Master Plan.

Stakeholders have also presented their comments on the new Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill which is aimed to amend the Tobacco Products Control Act, 1993.

The new Bill will define certain expressions and to amend certain definitions of the Act as well as provide further guidelines for the advertising, sponsorship, promotion, distribution and information required in respect of the packaging and labeling of tobacco products.

Article published courtesy of BuaNews