A Second Chance In Life : Cape Town Drug Centre Community Outreach

"A place where you are promised a Second Chance In Life and receive help and support through your journey."

[Picture that's shows the sign of the Centre. Image from Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/drugcounsellingcentre]

The Cape Town Drug Counselling Centre was established in 1985 and is a key resource for the Western Cape community. CTDC is an outpatient center that provides confidential assistance to individuals and families who are facing problems with substance abuse. Their programme requires people to participate in everyday activities where they can literally be face to face with their problems. This programme educates the patients on the impact of substance abuse and how it affects the society and family. The main key is to teach them how to overcome and deal with it.

The centre has three branches and they are situated in Atlantis, Observatory and in Mitchell's plain.

[A meeting at the centre. Image from CTDC facebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/drugcounsellingcentre]

[Images from the Centre that show the patients doing outdoor activities and preparing food. https://www.facebook.com/drugcounsellingcentre]

The scourge of drugs in Cape Town is a severe problem that contributes to crime especially in impoverished communities. Substance Abuse looms large as a threat and is fracturing families and the communities. Many families have loved ones who are grappling with addiction and have no way to help them. In many communities minors are using drugs and alcohol on a daily basis which leads to them getting addicted and overdosing.

FAST FACT: Drug users often use more than one type of drug at a time. Most substance abuse cases treated in the Western Cape involve methamphetamine (tik), alcohol, cannabis (dagga) and heroine. This is according to a SACENDU report that studied 32 treatment centers/ programmes in the Cape between July and December 2013.

There was a research/ survey conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), that showed that fewer than 2% of people in South Africa said they had taken illicit drugs such as cocaine, amphetamine, hallucinogens and opioids. By 2017 this figure had climbed to 10%. This figure shows that people of race and class participated in the survey but rural areas tend to be more affected than urban areas.

https://www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2024/03/06/large-increase-in-drug-use-over-last-two-decades-in-sa-study-finds/

One of the root causes of South Africa's growing substance abuse problem has to be international supply. "There has been an increase in drugs that are being trafficked through the borders of South Africa, and with that increase in trafficking there's an increase in availability.... and of course the price is going down slightly, making it affordable." This was an explanation given by Kennedy Mutai. He was explaining how drug smuggling was inarguably the worst thing to ever infiltrate south Africa's borders.

Another thing that plays a role in the increasing demand for drugs is unemployment and poverty. People who go through hardships turn to drugs as a plea to get a sense of euphoria after using them. They use it as a coping mechanism, a way to escape their harsh realities.

[Statistics that show the most abused substances and the different provinces. Image is from Google images https://share.google/7CtBaoKT7EfH0mrh6]

Drug abuse doesn't discriminate. It reaches every corner of our world, touching all demographics and cultures. While it's often perceived as a problem confined to poverty stricken areas, the truth is it can affect anyone, anywhere. One the biggest consequences of drug abuse is the breakdown of family structures and relationships. Substance misuse can strain familial bonds to their breaking point. Families are often seen as a source of support. Also drug abuse contributes to a concerning rise in crime rates and violence within communities. The desperation to sustain an addiction or the impaired judgment caused by substances can lead individuals down the path of criminal behavior. This jeopardises individual safety and erodes the overall sense of security within neighborhoods. Children raised in environments marked by drug abuse face disruptions in their development.The stable and nurturing environment required for healthy growth is fractured. As a result that can lead to a cycle of substance misuse through generations.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE TESTIMONIALS FROM THE CAPE TOWN DRUG CENTER.

• "To the staff and team at CTDCC – thank you for your support, encouragement, patience and positivity. My journey from addiction began here with reluctance, but today I continue my journey with humility, honesty and willingness. I am carrying on with my recovery through NA, and plan to attend the NA meetings at CTDCC.

  38-yr-old female Tik addict in recovery

  Completed program July 2018

  Observatory branch”

• “I have found the Drug Counselling centre program most effective, in that it has allowed me to regain stability and clarity in life. I found my social worker Colleen’s input particularly helpful because she made me realize that I had a great deal to offer in the group sessions.

  I’ve certainly become aware that drug taking solves nothing. I know now that accepting my own thoughts and feelings is an essential component of living with happiness and good judgment.Some of the groups, lectures and consultations have been tough for me to handle. Initially I felt blocked. Now, however, I recognize the compassion that has been shown to me, especially by Colleen and the psychiatrist Dr Tshiki.I know that people want to see me well again. Now that’s starting to emerge, I feel confident that my drug problem can be handled, and I could in fact become a leader in my field.”

• Ek is ‘n student en ‘n transvestiet. Ek het so baie om te se maar ek is emosioneel omdat my pad by CTDCC beeindig. My tyd by CTDCC was opbouend – nie net emosioneel nie maar ook fisies, letterlik en my mentaliteit. Ek het so baie van myself geleer. Ek het geleer om my negatiewe in die positiewe te omskep deur my sessies by CTDCC.

  Ek het nie na CTDCC toe gekom vir my drug addiction nie – ek het so baie bagasie gehad wat ek mee gedeal het met behulp van my terapeut. Soos ek nou sit vergelyk ek my lewe met voor ek by CTDCC begin het en ook na dit. Daar is ‘n baie groot verskil. Ek voel goed al is ek hartseer.

  Ek en my terapeut weet dat groei baie belangrik is in mens se lewe. Ek het so baie geleer hier en een van die sterk punte is om realisties met my gevoelens to “deal”.

  Ek kan nou maklik dinge identifiseer wat my in gevaar sal stel an wat nadelig is vir my. Ek het geleer om die beste mens to wees wat ek is. CTDCC het my baie positief laat groei en ek sal dik verewig dankbaar wees.

  Ek weet ook ek kan enige tyd terugkom as ek verder hulp benodig.

  25yr-old Tik addict in recovery

  Observatory branch”

  ADDRESS OF THE BRANCHES

• ATLANTIS

  Drosdy Building Wesfleur Circle Atlantis 7800 P.O Box 56 Observatory 7935

  Tel: 021 001 7336

  Fax: 021 572 5480

  Email: Atlantis@drugcentre.org.za

• OBSERVATORY

  1 Roman Road Observatory Cape Town 7925

  Tel: 0214478026

  Fax: 0214478818

  Email : info@drugcentre.org.za

  Website: drugcentre.org.za

To conclude my research I found that the Cape Town Drug Centre is a great place for communities who are suffered from substance abuse. It is efficient for everyone who is in desperate need for assistance and support. They assist in Teacher Training Courses, Addressing parents of any situation, Student workshops and school drug policies. They intend on educating school kids on the dangers of substance abuse and how to avoid being pressured into doing it at a young age.