MEDIA ADVISORY

30 August 2020

DEPUTY MINISTER FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMEMORATES INTERNATIOAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY IN BRAKPAN

The Deputy Minister for the Department of Social Development (DSD) Ms. Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu will commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day on Monday, August 31 at Life Recovery Centre Witpoort. The day seeks to raise awareness around the silent killer that is overdose and the stigma that surrounds overdose fatalities. International Overdose Awareness Day spreads the message that overdose death is preventable.

Overdose is a risk when using many psychoactive drugs. Because drugs are unregulated, people often don’t know how much they are taking, and can take too much and suffer the health consequences of an overdose, including death.  Overdose is much more common with certain drugs, and is especially common for opioids like heroin which is known locally as Nyaope, Whoonga and Unga. After the lockdown, overdose risk will be higher because people may have less tolerance Mixing drugs (including alcohol) is the most common cause of fatal overdose. According to Harm Reduction International, “research indicates that overdose is a familiar issue for people who inject drugs, with many studies finding high levels of self-reported non-fatal overdoses or witnessed overdoses. Crucially, overdose is a fundamentally preventable harm. For opioid overdoses in particular, a ‘cure’ exists in ‘Naloxone’ – yet this is a shamefully underused intervention around the world given its potential to save lives.” (www.hri.global International Overdose Awareness Day)

The National Department of Social Development will join the world in commemorating the International Overdose Awareness Day in partnership with the Central Drug Authority (CDA) and South African Network of People who Use Drugs (SANPUD) on 31 August 2020. The observance of this Day is part of the Department’s implementation of the fourth edition of the National Drug Master Plan 2019-2024.

The Deputy Minister will during her visit at the Life Recovery Centre Witpoort, engage with service users and also conduct an assessment of the centre as part of the ongoing national response measures to contain and mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on our beneficiaries and facilities while ensuring that the prescribed services meant for communities are fully operational.

Media is invited to cover this global commemoration as follow:

Date:      Monday, 31 August 2020

Time:     10h00

Venue:   Life Recovery Centre Witpoort

              185 Lemmer Rd, Vulcania, Brakpan

Media RSVPs may be directed to Makhosazana Mavuso on 072 732 9381/ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Media enquiries may be directed to Lumka Oliphant on 083 484 8067 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.