Cape Town gets free drug and alcohol helpline
By Tina George
21 May 2008
Capetonians in and around the Western Cape now have immediate access to a free drug and alcohol helpline.
Launched today by the City of Cape Town this service may now be the answer to many drug and alcohol users’ problems.
Speaking at the launch, Executive Deputy Mayor Councillor Grant Haskin said that alcohol and drug abuse has reached crisis proportions in the Cape metropole with devastating effects on the lives of thousands of Capetonians.
“We are offering a free telephonic service that they can call and get advice and referral as to what to do next.”
The 24 hour help line is staffed by 8 professional call operators.
However, Sarah Fisher, Executive Director of the Substance Misuse Advocacy Research and Training says that the operators are not counsellors – their role to help contain the caller and then immediately refer them to the most appropriate resource.
Haskin added that the helpline will offer both help and hope to those affected.
“The next step from here will be to train the operators into counsellors so as to later launch a 24 hour drug and alcohol counselling service,” says Haskin.
The Alcohol and Drug toll free helpline is 0800 Help 4 U or 0800 4357 4 8.
21 May 2008
Capetonians in and around the Western Cape now have immediate access to a free drug and alcohol helpline.
Launched today by the City of Cape Town this service may now be the answer to many drug and alcohol users’ problems.
Speaking at the launch, Executive Deputy Mayor Councillor Grant Haskin said that alcohol and drug abuse has reached crisis proportions in the Cape metropole with devastating effects on the lives of thousands of Capetonians.
“We are offering a free telephonic service that they can call and get advice and referral as to what to do next.”
The 24 hour help line is staffed by 8 professional call operators.
However, Sarah Fisher, Executive Director of the Substance Misuse Advocacy Research and Training says that the operators are not counsellors – their role to help contain the caller and then immediately refer them to the most appropriate resource.
Haskin added that the helpline will offer both help and hope to those affected.
“The next step from here will be to train the operators into counsellors so as to later launch a 24 hour drug and alcohol counselling service,” says Haskin.
The Alcohol and Drug toll free helpline is 0800 Help 4 U or 0800 4357 4 8.
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