Addiction

Addiction Treatment South Africa

Addiction is a psychological and physical disease characterised by an inability to stop consuming a specific substance or engaging in a particular activity even though it has negative, harmful consequences. 

You may be addicted to a particular substance, such as alcohol or drugs – this is also called a substance use disorder.

When an individual has a substance addiction, they cannot control how they use a substance or engage in compulsive behaviours (like gambling addiction) and are entirely dependent on these behaviours to cope with daily life.

Alcohol and Drug Rehab in South Africa

White River Manor provides the best addiction treatment in South Africa.

Our world-class drug and alcohol inpatient treatment programs utilise a holistic approach to substance addiction recovery, ensuring you get the most out of your treatment.

A typical addiction treatment program at our stunning recovery centre includes the following:

  • Comprehensive, personalised substance addiction treatment, including drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
  • Treatment programs for behavioural addiction, such as gambling addiction.
  • Residential treatment, including inpatient treatment or outpatient treatment and support.
  • Mental health treatment for mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and trauma (and other co-occurring disorders).
  • Group therapy.
  • Relapse prevention.
  • Behavioural therapy, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) therapy sessions.
  • Trauma-informed treatment.
  • Aftercare and support programs.

Our Holistic Approach

Our holistic approach to substance use disorder recovery utilises various approaches and modalities to ensure you get the most out of the recovery process, including a fully customised addiction rehab treatment program that addresses your specific needs and preferences.

Are you or a loved one struggling with alcohol or other drugs? 

Or do you need assistance with your mental health? Or maybe you want to learn more about your treatment options. 

No matter your reasons for getting in touch, you can contact our multidisciplinary team in South Africa anytime for a confidential discussion.

Our friendly South African team is always here to offer support and help to those seeking professional help for mental health and substance use disorders.

Contact our world-class team today, who will gladly assist.

The Two Features of Substance Use Disorders

There are two distinct features that all drug and alcohol addictions have in common. They include:

  • Maladaptive, addictive behaviours. This is where a substance use disorder causes problems for the individual (and those around them) rather than helping them to cope effectively with situations or overcome difficulties. These addictive behaviours undermine the individual’s ability to find alternative, healthy coping strategies, which can be as destructive to a person’s life as the drug or alcohol addiction itself.
  • Addictive behaviours are persistent. The individual will continue to frequently engage in substance abuse despite the trouble it causes them and those around them. A person with an addiction is not able to stop or moderate their alcohol or drug addiction behaviours, regardless of the negative consequences to their health, emotional wellbeing, career, finances and relationships. (Not without the right professional help and treatment.)

Addiction is an illness, just as cancer or heart disease are illnesses. 

Just as cardiovascular disease damages the heart and diabetes impairs the pancreas, addiction hijacks the brain. It can happen to anyone at any age or time.

According to the charity Action on Addiction, 1 in 3 people are addicted to something.

Recent studies have identified high instances of co-occurring disorders in those who have a substance use disorder or addiction.

It is believed that addiction can cause mental health problems or result from an attempt to cope with them. In either case, both conditions or co-occurring disorders must be treated simultaneously for a person to experience a full recovery.

Our Treatment Centre in South Africa

Suppose you (or a loved one) are grappling with alcohol or drug addiction and want to learn more about your treatment options or the best type of inpatient treatment programs available in South Africa. 

In that case, our multidisciplinary team offers comprehensive advice and support to help you make the best decision possible.

Our personalised addiction treatment programs are created to address your specific needs and preferences, allowing you to move towards lasting sobriety and wellness no matter what type of addiction or mental health conditions you may have.

Moreover, our fully customised drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs are designed to help you manage any cravings, urges, or withdrawal symptoms you may experience as you navigate the recovery process.

All our programs utilise various treatment approaches and modalities to address all the different aspects of addiction, including mind, body, and spirit.

Our multidisciplinary team in South Africa works with you to create a personalised treatment plan that suits you.

Whether you require drug rehab for drug addiction, alcohol rehab for alcohol dependency or co-occurring disorder treatment for a mental health condition, we can tailor your treatment program to match your specific needs and treatment goals.

Contact our South African recovery centre today for further help and support.

What are the Different Types of Addiction?

There are no different types of addiction as such, only different manifestations of the condition.

While one person may become dependent on alcohol, someone else might become addicted to prescription drugs, and another to a combination of both. In each case, the principal dynamic is the same – an all-consuming relationship with a substance or behaviour that changes your mood.

The term’ addiction’ is most commonly associated with alcohol and drugs (including prescription medications). 

These substance addictions include:

  • Stimulants (e.g. Adderall, cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy).
  • Depressants (e.g. alcohol, tobacco, Xanax, Valium.
  • Opioids (powerful painkillers, such as heroin, morphine, codeine, Vicodin).
  • Inhalants.
  • Dissociatives (e.g. Ketamine and PCP).
  • Hallucinogens.
  • Cannabis.

More recently, the term’ addiction’ has been expanded to include several addictive activities or behaviours called process addictions. 

These include:

  • Gambling addiction.
  • Sex and love addiction.
  • Work addiction.
  • New technologies (the internet, mobile phones, social media, video games).
  • Shopping addiction.
  • Eating addiction.
  • Exercise addiction.

No matter the type, an untreated addiction will have far-reaching consequences that not only cause damage to the addicted person but also negatively impact the lives of their family, friends, work colleagues, and extended community.

What are the Causes of Addiction?

Addiction is a progressive disease that doesn’t just happen overnight. 

It is rare to become addicted after only using a substance once or engaging in a particular behaviour just a few times.

Not everyone who uses substances or engages in certain behaviours will become addicted to them.

Substance abuse is a highly complex condition, and there is no single cause that determines if we will become addicted.

However, there are several factors known to contribute to whether a person is more likely to develop a drug or alcohol addiction, including:

  • Family history.
  • Genetic factors.
  • Environmental factors.
  • The presence of other underlying mental health problems.
  • Brain changes.

Substance abuse and other addictive behaviours like gambling addiction are often used as a way of blocking out or numbing complex issues or relieving painful emotions. 

If left untreated, these behaviours will only worsen over time.

Seeking professional help, support, and treatment to help you get to the root causes of your addiction and address any dual diagnosis issues is vital to your recovery.

Contact our helpline today to speak to a healthcare professional about our addiction rehab services and begin your journey to addiction recovery.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Addiction?

The mental and physical effects of addiction can vary from person to person, depending on the type of substance and behaviour of addiction and your set of circumstances.

The strain of managing any addiction will have profound psychological, emotional, and physical consequences, resulting in a wide range of unpleasant and distressing symptoms.

However, common symptoms of substance use disorder and other types of addiction include the following:

  • An inability to stop despite negative consequences.
  • Changes in mood, appetite, and sleep.
  • Denial and/or defensiveness.
  • Engaging in risky behaviours.
  • Being preoccupied with the substance or behaviour.
  • Neglecting or losing interest in people and activities you once enjoyed.
  • Putting the substance or behaviour ahead of other parts of your life, including family, work, friends, and other responsibilities.
  • Secrecy – hiding substances or behaviours from others.
  • Needing increasingly more significant amounts of a substance – or engaging more frequently in addictive behaviours.
  • Relationship/marital problems, especially with those who detect the dependency.
  • Declining physical health.
  • Financial problems.
  • Paranoia.
  • Lack of concern over physical appearance / personal hygiene.
  • Withdrawal symptoms when the substance use or behaviour stops.

As addiction is a progressive disease, over time, you may develop a higher tolerance, engage more frequently in the behaviour, and experience more intense cravings and extreme withdrawal symptoms.

The first step to getting help is to recognise these signs and symptoms as soon as possible and acknowledge that you need it.

All addictions are treatable, and there are several effective treatments available to ensure a full recovery and prevent relapse.

Addiction Treatment

Addiction is treatable and can be successfully managed. 

However, not all routes to addiction recovery are the same.

It is a complex and chronic condition that causes a wide range of mental, emotional, and physical problems, each requiring different, specific treatments.

Research has shown that people participating in treatment programs have a much higher chance of achieving recovery. 

Without the correct approach, relapse is common.

The recovery journey can take time and requires persistence and commitment.

The best addiction treatment program for each individual will depend on a variety of factors and needs to be carefully designed in collaboration with an experienced therapist.

Some typical treatment approaches include:

  • Behaviour therapy and counselling to address the thoughts, emotions and behaviour patterns that are contributing to the addiction – including family therapy and group therapy.
  • Treatment for related mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression.
  • Medication and drug-based treatment to manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms, as well as to treat underlying mental health disorders.
  • Community support, including in-person or online support groups, as a source of education, encouragement and social support.
  • Group therapy.
  • Inpatient residential treatment in a rehab facility.
  • Family therapy sessions.
  • Individual therapy sessions with an addiction counsellor.
  • Trauma treatment to help you address any underlying issues that may cause or worsen your addiction.
  • Co-occurring disorder (or dual diagnosis) treatment.
  • Relapse prevention program.
  • Aftercare and support.

Research has shown that modern approaches to treating addiction are more effective, especially those that treat addiction and co-occurring mental disorders together.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the most effective treatment programs typically include:

  • Understanding that addiction is a treatable disease that alters brain function and behaviour, and there is a risk for relapse even after long periods of abstinence.
  • Understanding that no single treatment program is suitable for everyone. A person’s problems and needs must be considered when matching them to treatment options.
  • Being immediately available.
  • Attending to the individual’s specific needs and treating the addiction, including medical, psychological, social, employment, and legal issues.
  • Combining behavioural therapy and medication-assisted treatment tailored to a person’s age, gender, ethnicity, and culture (for an appropriate length of time).
  • Involving the individual, as well as their family, in treatment planning.
  • Delivering support for co-occurring mental health issues.
  • Providing medically-assisted detoxification (also called medical detox).

Addiction Treatment at White River Manor

At White River Manor, we have our unique approach to treating addiction alongside any co-occurring conditions.

We provide a holistic treatment program shaped by your personal preferences and therapeutic needs.

This can include various elements from the traditional 12-step program, which is known to provide a solid foundation for recovery.

Using a combination of traditional methods, ancient philosophy, and cutting-edge science, the team at White River Manor treats the whole person, not just the addiction. 

Our personalised, holistic approach ensures deep transformational healing and a full recovery.

We understand that recovery is a lifelong pursuit of positive habit-building, maintaining mental well-being, and avoiding triggers, which is why we also include a complete aftercare plan to support you following treatment.

We will be there to guide and support you and your loved ones throughout the recovery process.

To find out more about our treatments for addiction and dual diagnosis – please get in touch with us or White River Recovery and take the first step on your healing journey.

Complete the form below to contact the team at White River Manor

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