To provide for a comprehensive national response for the combating of substance abuse; to provide for mechanisms aimed at demand and harm reduction in relation to substance abuse through prevention, early intervention, treatment and re-integration programmes; to provide for the registration and establishment of treatment centres and halfway houses; to provide for the committal of persons to and from treatment centres and for their treatment, rehabilitation and skills development in such treatment centres; to provide for the establishment of the Central Drug Authority; and to provide for matters connected therewith.