A BREATH OF HOPE CREATES HEALING RIPPLES
THE WORLD OF ADDICTION
No matter where you find yourself in your journey of healing and recovery there is hope and healing. You may still be using, just stopped or in recovery for a few months or years. If you are a parent, friend or work colleague, creating certainty and purpose for a loved one needing guidance is a vital first step in brining about change.
Given the vast challenges in the field of addiction within South Africa we have provided you with resources to help you in this journey towards recovery. Below you will find a list of online addiction magazines, the top private therapists, top addiction blogs the best private treatment clinics in South Africa, a list of government rehabs, free addiction apps and screening tests.
SELF ASSESSMENT TESTS
RESOURCES
SOUTH AFRICAN STATISTICS
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the factors that fuel the vicious cycle of socio-economic vulnerability and drug use disorders with an estimated 275 million people using drugs globally. A national survey of South African adults showed a prevalence of 33.1% for past-year alcohol use, which was higher than the global average of 32.5% (S. Afr. Med. J. 2018). Dr. Paul Seale from the Mercer University School of Medicine in the US conducted research about drug use in South Africa. He found that 13.3% of the population had used drugs during their lifetime leading to substance abuse in 3.9% of people and dependence in 0.6%
It is estimated that Six in 10 men (61%) and one in four women (26%) aged 15 and older drink alcohol. Cannabis is the second most widely used drug in South Africa and its usage is widespread amongst all age and income groups. Alcohol and Cannabis are the drugs of choice amongst youth and many young people are experiencing the consequences of drinking alcohol at an early age; resulting into underage drinking is a leading public health problem in this country. Each year, approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking.