​Lerato Mailoane
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says the provincial government will expand drug rehabilitation facilities with an additional 1 351 new beds. 
During the State of the Province Address, Premier Lesufi highlighted the issue of drug and substance abuse and announced that government was working with society to fight the scourge.
"We need to ensure that we spare no resources to salvage our children's future. If we can't fight drugs, an entire generation might be wiped out," said Lesufi on Tuesday.
He was responding to questions in the Legislature.
The premier said the additional beds will be at a farm in Cullinan at Dr Fabian and Florence Treatment Centre and other drug facilities across the province.
The state-owned treatment centre is in Cullinan, approximately 30 km east of Pretoria. The facility is on a farm and is registered in terms of the Prevention of and Treatment for substance abuse Act, Act 70 of 2008. 
"Currently, the registered bed capacity is 200 and admits service users with substance use disorders in the inpatient treatment programme. Plans are afoot to increase the capacity with additional 200 beds during the 2023/2024 financial year. 
The ultimate plan is to have a registered facility with 1000 beds," he said.
The six-month-long rehabilitation programme comprises different phases. The first phase of the rehabilitation programme takes place at the inpatient treatment facility and includes detoxification services and primary treatment for nine weeks. 
A multi-disciplinary team of medical practitioners, social workers, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, caregivers, child and youth care workers, and nurses provides the primary treatment. 
It entails comprehensive treatment interventions such as individual therapy, counselling, group therapy, health lectures, skills development, recreation, sports etc.
As part of the programme, they refer service users to centres of excellence for accredited and formalised vocational skills training and start skills development programmes at the inpatient treatment facility.
After completion of the primary inpatient treatment programme, recovering service users are referred to referring agencies to continue with after-care programmes provided by social workers or in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous.
"Those who qualify are referred to skills development programmes provided by centres of excellence. 
The following centres accommodate service users in recovery for 3 to 6 months as per the region they reside in.
These include Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa Centre of Excellence in Tshwane, Bokamoso Centre of Excellence in Evaton, Xilembeni Centre of Excellence, Bapsfontein in Ekurhuleni, Satelite office in Elrode, Believers Care Society Centre of Excellence, Turfontein, Ikusasalethu Centre of Excellence, Alexandra and Bambisandla Sam Centre of Excellence in Carletonville.
photo cred: SABC