Official reply: December 2009
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION 2280
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
(Interdepartmental transfer on 20 November 2009)
Date of publication on internal question paper: 13 November 2009
Internal question paper no:
Mr M Waters (DA) to ask the Minister of Social Development:
1) Whether any studies have been conducted to determine the harm of all
drugs to users, including alcohol and tobacco; if not; (a) why not,
and (b) when will such a study be conducted; if so, (i) what were the
findings of the study and (ii) ranking of all drugs according to harm;
2) Whether her department is considering classifying all drugs according
to the harm caused to the user; if not, why not; if so, what are the
relevant details? NW2992E
REPLY:
1) No, the Department intends to conduct a comprehensive survey on the
nature, prevalence and extent of substance abuse and impact of
programmes in the communities in South Africa. This survey will
determine the harm of all drugs to users, including alcohol and
tobacco.
(a) Funding for this survey has been made available for 2009/10
â2010/11 and
(b) a survey of such magnitude has commenced during the 4th quarter
of the 2009/2010 financial year. DSD followed all prescribed
tender procedures and the survey has been outsourced to the
consortium Mark Data at the end of November 2009.
(i) No, there are no findings yet as the study only commenced
in December 2009 and the first draft report is expected after
eight months.
(ii) The information on ranking of drugs according to harm will
only be available after conducting the survey on substance
abuse.
2) No, the Department of Social Development is not considering
classifying all drugs according to the harm caused to the user. The
classification of harm caused by drugs is the responsibility of the
Department of Health, the Medicine Control Council and the relevant
Directorate, addressing mental health issues. The Department of Social
Development will only ensure that such information is available to the
users and everyone. [pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic]