The Cape Town Drug Counselling Centre (CTDCC) in Observatory has for many years been a beacon of hope for drug addicts, as well as the families and friends of those in need of rehabilitation.
This year the CTDCC will be the beneficiary of funds raised during the annual Tyger Run/Walk 2022 which takes place on Monday 21 March(Human Rights Day) at the Tyger Valley Shopping Centre.
Ashley Potts, former staff member and now councillor of Ward 81 in Mitchell’s Plain, told TygerBurger that the centre provides treatment services to both the user and the families of the users. The services are available to men and women, adolescents and adults between 10 years and 80years of age.
The three most common types of drugs used among individuals requiring their services in the Western Cape include dagga (marijuana), tik (methemphetamine) and heroin, he says. “Alcohol however remains one of the under-counted substances as it is not the drug of choice users present at the centre when they start their treatments,” Potts says.
Asked about how most people end up becoming drug addicts, and what their parents or guardians can do when they suspect that that their child is addicted, Potts responded saying: “This is not as black and white as asked, as it remains a multi-level challenge. Among youth you may find experimentation with a substance because of their peers, but it could also be due to socio-economic challenges.”
Abuse and other social ills or trauma might also play a role.
Potts says it is still too early to determine the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on their services and whether there had been an increase or decrease in the number of patients over the past two years.
“In my own understanding, we can truly tell of the impact of this pandemic within the next two or so years to come. Reason for this is due to the reality that a treatment centre only gets the impact of the ‘start to use’ when the user starts to feel the impact of his or her using as the family takes strain. This is when they come knocking on our doors.
“However, I would say without a doubt that it has increased the negative impact of our active clients who lost access when the lockdown started. I say so because we found on average that around 80% of our clients have not returned when we were able to reopen.”
Potts says there had been a huge spike in relapse due to the pandemic.
The CTDCC first opened its doors in 1985.
“We have a total of 18 staff and at any given time, we have about four interns or volunteers.”
The roles at the centre include that of the director, three senior social workers, seven social workers, three receptionists, one administration support staff member and three general workers.
“With Covid in play, the centre has been able to see clients from other provinces via Zoom and other platforms. We also go out when requested to offer training and capacity building, depending on funding available.”
Potts says a variety of programmes are offered at the centre. These include a six week intensive out-patient programme, six week aftercare programme, early intervention programme, family intervention programme, adolescents programme, training programme, as well as telephonic counselling.
The aftercare programme, he says, is in place for those who leave the centre. This is ideally a six week programme, but some continue for as long as they need to, with some staying up to three to five years at a time, Potts says. The centre also links their clients and parents to other support groups.
The CTDCC was nominated as the beneficiary of the TygerBurger Run/Walk by Tygerberg 104FM. To enter visit www.topevents.co.za or call 021 511 7130. The closing date for entries is 13 March. No entries will be taken on the race day.
