All services rendered to service users and to persons affected by substance abuse must be provided in an environment that—
| (a) |
recognises the educational, social, cultural, economic and physical needs of such persons; |
| (b) |
ensures and promotes access to information regarding the prevention of substance abuse; |
| (c) |
promotes the prevention of exploitation of such persons; |
| (d) |
promotes the respect for the person, human dignity and privacy of service users and persons affected by substance abuse; |
| (e) |
prevents stigmatisation of service users; |
| (f) |
promotes the participation of service users and persons affected by substance abuse in decision making processes regarding their needs and requirements; |
| (g) |
recognises the special needs of people with disabilities; |
| (h) |
ensures that services are available and accessible to all service users, including women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities without any preference or discrimination; |
| (i) |
ensures that service users are accepted as human beings in need of help and with the potential to change; |
| (j) |
coordinates the educational needs of children with the relevant education department; |
| (k) |
strives to render effective, efficient, relevant, prompt and sustainable services; |
| (l) |
respects the confidentiality of the information relating to the treatment and rehabilitation of service users and persons affected by substance abuse; |
| (m) |
respects the right of service users and persons affected by substance abuse to give written consent to participate in any research related to their treatment and rehabilitation; and |
| (n) |
ensures that services are appropriate to the ages of children and youth. |
Older Persons Act, 2006
