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Help for Substance Abusers
INKCAZELO:
If you find that your use of mood-altering substances, whether legal or illegal, is having a negative impact on your happiness, your ability to work and your relationships with friends and family, you may have a substance-abuse problem.

  1. What is substance abuse?
  2. Where can I find help for substance abuse?
  3. What treatment options are available for substance abuse?
  4. What is a support group?
  5. What is outpatient treatment?
  6. What is inpatient treatment?

WHAT IS SUBSTANCE ABUSE?
Substance abuse is the constant and excessive use of any mood-altering substance that can be harmful to a person's social, emotional, spritual or physical wellbeing. Alcohol, nicotine, illegal party drugs and prescription tranquillisers are all examples of substances that can become addictive and cause behavioural problems.
IMIYALELO:
WHERE CAN I FIND HELP FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE?
If you do not have the financial resources for private treatment, go to your nearest Social Development District Office. The social worker there will do a screening with you to gauge the severity of the substance-abuse problem, and an assessment with you and your family to decide on an appropriate intervention. Depending on the outcome of the screening and assessment, you may be referred to a support group, outpatient treatment or inpatient treatment.

It is generally a good idea to take your family with to your screening and assessment as the social worker will probably want to speak to them and may want to refer them to support groups as well.

If you have a medical aid and the financial resources for private treatment, you can access a range of private psychiatrists and psychologists through any of the private treatment centres in the province. Make sure that the treatment centre you approach is registered with the provincial Department of Social Development to ensure that certain minimum standards in terms of treatment and centre management are met.

WHAT TREATMENT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE?
There are three broad treatment options for substance abuse, depending on the seriousness of the problem. They are support groups, outpatient treatment and inpatient treatment.

WHAT IS A SUPPORT GROUP?
Support groups are when clusters of people get together on a regular basis to share the problems they face in trying to break free of a drug or alcohol habit and to encourage each other to stay free of dependence-causing substances. It is a voluntary treatment.

Support groups are suitable for people who fall into the "risky use" category of substance abuse, in other words, they use substances more than is normal, but their usage is not yet a serious problem in their lives.

Support groups
Alcoholics Anonymous
Al-Anon
Alcoholics Victorious
Christelike Afhanklikheidsbediening (CAB)
Christelike Afhanklikheidsdiens (CAD)
Toughlove
Narcotics Anonymous

WHAT IS OUTPATIENT TREATMENT?
With outpatient treatment, you don't have to stay overnight at the facility in order to receive treatment. It usually takes the form of individual, group and/or family counselling, and can be short-term or long-term.

Outpatient treatment is suitable for people whose substance use is affecting them emotionally, physically, socially or spiritually.

NGO-run outpatient centres
Cape Town Drug Counselling Centre (CTDCC), Observatory and Mitchell's Plain
SANCA (WC), all areas

WHAT IS INPATIENT TREATMENT?
This is when the person being treated is admitted to the treatment facility. An admission can last anywhere from two to five weeks (short-term) to more than nine weeks (long-term).

Inpatient treatment usually takes the form of individual, group and/or family counselling, together with supportive medical help if needed. The length of inpatient treatment at private facilities varies, ranging anywhere from two to 20 weeks. The length of inpatient treatment at public and subsidised treatment centres are between five and seven weeks.

Inpatient treatment is suitable for people who are dependent on a substance, or nearing a state of dependency.

State-owned or subsidised inpatient treatment centres
De Novo, Kraaifontein
Hesketh King, Stellenbosch
Ramot, Parow
Stikland Hospital, Bellville
Toevlug, Worcester
IBONELELWA LISEBE:
ICANDELO LIKARHULUMENTE:
Department of Social Development (Provincial Government of the Western Cape)
Umxholo okweli phepha wagqibela ukuhlaziywa nge- 17 uEpreli 2007
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