A registered rehabilitation centre is truly an addict’s best chance at achieving a better way of life, through the use of professional rehab facilities. When a person is diagnosed as having an addiction problem, whether it be alcohol, drugs, sex, co-dependence or any other addictive problem, they are in an extremely sensitive and delicate state. Professional counselling is extremely important, as is the right kind of care, love and direction to rebuild addicts’ lives and learn to live without addictive behaviour.

Why A Registered Centre?

Under the incorrect care, a person suffering from an addiction problem is likely to worsen in their condition rather than recover. Obviously, many treatment centres will claim that they are guaranteed to help an addict into recovery, however, when a person is choosing a treatment centre, they need to be sure that the facility of their choice is a registered rehabilitation centre.

If the centre is registered, it will have professional rehab facilities and their treatment programmes will have been approved by professionals, fees will not be exorbitant for what is offered and the patient will receive care that is trustworthy.

Centres which are not registered are not placing the patient as their priority. A centre who has their patients’ best interests at heart will not accept patients unless they are registered. The client’s needs at the time of treatment are so imperative to their survival, that the ignorance of proper treatment can be fatal.

What Should Be Offered

A treatment centre should offer their patients a healthy and nurturing environment.

Forced religion, physical punishment such as heavy labour and keeping patients locked away from the outside world will not help their plight. It may keep them from using for a time, but without any proper aid in establishing a way to deal with life clean and sober will only leave the addict vulnerable to relapse once they have left the centre.

According to the National Department of Social Development publication called “Minimum Norms and Standards for Inpatient Treatment Centres”, patients have constitutional rights which need to be upheld.

This document states that “Patients have the right not to be deprived of freedom arbitrarily or without just cause, the right not to be treated or punished in a cruel, inhumane or degrading way, the right not to be subjected to forced labour and to unfair labour practices, the right to bodily and psychological integrity, the right to freedom of religion, belief and opinion, the right to freedom of expression, the right to basic education, the right to equality, and equal protection and benefit before the law.”

If a treatment centre is not registered, there is a risk that these rights will not be upheld because the treatment centre may not subscribe to the principles laid out by the relevant governing bodies. This means that proper, qualified counselling and therapy is not guaranteed

It is so important for patients to realise that their drug use is a symptom of the problem. The problem is within the patient and due to addiction being an incurable disease; they need a daily programme of recovery and maintenance to help them stay clean, sober and healthy in mind and body.

When an addict maintains a daily programme of recovery as well as receiving the correct treatment in terms of therapy, their chances of staying clean and sober are so much higher. Those who are literally “locked away” at remote destinations and not given any psychological help are literally sitting ducks. Many believe that recovery is simply ‘abstinence’ and that once the addict is abstinent for a period of time, the problems will go away. This of course never happens as the psychological issues of an addict do not just “go away” from abstinence. They become even more pronounced as drugs are no longer being used to mask the feelings.

What A Registered Centre Has Been Approved For

If wanting to go for treatment, the centre which the patient wishes to attend should have been registered under the Prevention and Treatment of Drug Dependency Act 1992 (Act 20 of 1992). To be registered, the centre should provide the following and they should be up to standard:

1.            A copy of the constitution of the facility
2. Recommendation and Health Clearance Certificate from Local Authority
3. Local Authority building plans/schematic sketch of building
4. Detailed treatment programme
5. Daily programme (daily, weekly and monthly)
6. House rules for residents
7. Admission criteria
8. Financial statements (for the past six months)
9. Means test
10. Medical and psychiatric treatment policy
11. Organogram of the staff component
12. Nutritional programme
13. Fees structure

If the centre is registered, the patient/client is guaranteed that the centre is approved and will be a potentially lifesaving treatment option. If a centre is not registered, then these points have not been examined by the authorities, or the points have been examined and have not been passed.

For the best emotional, mental, psychological and spiritual wellbeing of a patient or client, addicts seeking help from their addictions and obsessive and compulsive behaviour should only be admitted to a registered treatment centre. This is the best guarantee that they will receive the correct and best possible treatment for their illness, rather than be subject to a sub-standard centre.

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