The road to recovery from substance dependency can be a lifelong and arduous journey. However, it is an essential one to take. Substance dependence can affect the individual’s physical, psychological and emotional well-being and those in their immediate surroundings.
It affects their relationship with themselves and their families, friends and peers. It is an unfortunate reality due to a variety of reasons, such as the high rates of unemployment, poverty and crime, as well as trauma, stress and other psychological challenges.
Every South African knows of at least one person struggling with substance dependency. It can be a spouse, a friend, a work colleague, a child or a family member.
However, according to the Treatment Manager at the Sultan Bahu Centre, Shuaib Hoosain, anyone could overcome the ailment affecting many South Africans with a specialised program, a favourable support structure, and the internal desire to recover.
The First Steps to Recovery Are Always the Most Challenging
It might be a cliche, but the first step to recovery will always be acknowledging a problem. The second and most vital is the desire to seek help.
Hoosain said clients who seek assistance from their treatment centres come from different environments. Therefore, the illness of addiction knows no creed, culture or social or economic background.
“[Clients] generally originate from all walks of life. In fact, 94% of individuals who access our services are unemployed. We also see individuals who have some form of tertiary education … [With some] clients the unmanageability has kicked in, and they have come to recognise that their substance use is, in fact, the problem. They are seeing deficits in their occupational and academic functioning, and as a result, they decide to come in on their own.”
They are people who acknowledged and saw how substance dependency began to affect different aspects of their daily lives. This acknowledgment speaks to the individual’s internal desire, strength and motivation to reclaim their lives and dignity.
SMread| Imran Khan’s party leaders arrested as chaos unfolds
Focusing on the Internal Self
It is that internal desire which the Sultan Bahu Treatment Centre looks to build on. Hoosain said the Sultan Bahu Treatment Centre formulates a specialised treatment program for each client, depending on their needs.
He acknowledges the cycle of change tends to fluctuate with each client, so some days may be worse than others, and some may be better. However, the approach of empathy and willingness to help is unwavering.
“When it comes to motivation, it is something which is internal. We try to move the clients across by trying to be where they are. By taking an emphatic approach, by being motivated with them and trying to see where their needs are currently.”
SMread| NASGB calls for ban on Prime Hydration in schools
The Reintegration Process
Substance dependency directly impacts the individual and their families. Therefore, the recovery process is serviced for the individual and their loved ones.
Hoosain said when an individual’s families discover the issue, their attitudes and behaviour change. They begin to assume different roles based on the actions and verbal altercations made by the individual, which causes emotional distress, distrust, conflict and tension in the household.
“When it comes to reintegration, a lot of effort is put into reintegrating the client back into their occupational, academic and even household functioning … When the person is actively using substances, the family adopts certain roles in response to the substance user coping mechanism … [So] when it comes to reintegration the preparation of the families are absolutely important.”
So when the individual is on this journey, rebuilding and taking accountability for one’s actions is essential in restoring the damage caused. Therefore, according to Hoosain, families play the most crucial role in the reintegration process as they offer the support structure needed to aid the individual.
SMread| Government prioritises legal battles over loadshedding solutions
The Responsibility of Loved Ones
Hoosain urges families to remember patience is key. Though substance dependency is a chronic condition, it does not mean it must be debilitating. It is treatable and manageable.
Furthermore, families of the individual will need to educate themselves on substance use disorder and understand what it is about. They will need to understand the various triggers and how to avoid them. More importantly, they will need to establish open communication and avail themselves of the needs of the individual.
“The idea is that the person must acknowledge that there is an issue. They need to assume responsibility … And have command over their lives. One must remember that this is an integrative process and whilst the person is primarily responsible for his or her own well-being and that if there is a family that can engage in this process, the outcome will be [so much] better.”
