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A BRAND new approach to beating addiction is coming to Salt River, Woodstock and Observatory on Youth Day, Monday, 16 June.

Faces and Voices of Recovery (FAVOR), in partnership with the City of Cape Town, the Woodstock Community Police Forum (CPF) and various other community organisations, recently formed a steering committee intent on "changing the face of Woodstock" and surrounding areas.

"We'll start by declaring all four sectors within the Woodstock precinct drug-free zones. These sectors will be divided into blocks; blocks divided into streets, and each street will have a committee with a chairperson. The person responsible for each household will be asked to sign a pledge declaring the home a drug-free zone," says Jurgens Smith, executive director of FAVOR.

FAVOR, a Salt River NGO specialising in counselling and support for addicts and their families, is remarkable for its reported 86% success rate. Households in the will have free access to the services provided by FAVOR's volunteers.

The NGO stands on the principle that a fulfilling life awaits people who have been addicted to alcohol or drugs for extended periods.

Smith says that a positive attitude, reinforcing the ideal of "recovery is a reality", is what has enabled scores of people to beat their habits.

"We have to move away from the negative approach to recovering from addiction. Recovering drug addicts do not meet in some dark room somewhere talking about their problems. Recovery is possible," he says.

The organisation offers a comprehensive treatment plan for those suffering from addiction. Treatment involves private counselling, group sessions, relapse prevention and the teaching of life skills: all provided that those seeking treatment undergo a detox programme if required.

Teun Baartman, chairperson of the Woodstock CPF, believes the project could not have come at a better time, highlighting that most crimes in the area tend to be drug-related.

"Research has shown that people commit crimes to feed their drug habits. The CPF will therefore support the initiative in every possible way," he says.

Cedric Thomas, ward councillor for the area, believes strongly in the positive outlook model that FAVOR recently presented at an inter-sector meeting hosted by the Woodstock police.

He believes young people in the area do not have nearly enough social activities to keep their minds occupied and away from negative influences like drugs.

In addition to launching FAVOR?s programmes on 16 June, an anti-drug community march ? starting from the Pick n Pay in Observatory and ending at the Woodstock Police Station ? will be held on 14 June. Residents will publicly declare the area as a drug-free zone, says Smith.

Sports activities, a music concert, and special art projects will be organised at the Shelley Street sports ground in Salt River in order to involve the youth on the day.

"We hope to issue the youth with disposable cameras and task them with the job of taking pictures that best represent the area and the circumstances in which they live.

"The photographs will be judged and there will be prizes such as bursaries," says Smith.

"Young people will have the opportunity to take a look at the area, and after a year see how different it is."

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