Relapse is a process, not an event. By the time someone in recovery picks up a drink or a drug, the relapse has usually been underway for two to four weeks. The earliest signs are emotional rather than behavioural, and they appear long before anyone reaches for a substance. This article describes what to look […]
Relapse isn’t born in the moment someone picks up. It’s not the drink, the hit, the line, or the call to the dealer. Relapse starts long before the substance reappears. It begins quietly—inside daily habits, inside self-deception, inside the gaps people pretend aren’t there. The world keeps telling us relapse is a failure of discipline. […]
The holiday season can be challenging for many due to financial stress, complex family dynamics, and feelings of loneliness. When you add the struggle of managing addiction and its triggers, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. While you might think postponing rehab until after the holidays would be easier, starting treatment before the season is often […]
Hobbies are vital for everyone as they provide a fun and healthy outlet or add more meaning to life. However, they become crucial for individuals in recovery from addiction. Early sobriety often demands a lot of energy for therapy and self-care, but as you progress, finding healthier ways to spend your time becomes essential. This […]
Substance Use Disorders Are a range of mental health conditions that can develop when people use drugs or alcohol in excess. They can have serious consequences for both physical and mental health. Include compulsive and obsessive behaviour, withdrawal symptoms, and long-term damage to the body. Can be divided into three main categories: alcohol-related disorders, drug-related […]
The 12 step programme in South Africa runs through Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and dozens of related fellowships across the country. At Changes Rehab in Johannesburg, the 12 step framework sits inside our person-centered, abstinence-based primary care model, supported by a clinical team with over 120 years of collective experience. This page explains what the […]
Here are the four stages of an alcohol treatment centre programme: Treatment Initiation Early Abstinence Maintaining Abstinence Advanced Recovery. Few alcoholics’ recoveries are this direct. We move back and forth between the four stages, some alcoholics more than others. Knowing where you are in the 4 stages of an alcohol treatment centre programme can help […]
Introduction Yes, medical aid in South Africa is required to pay for inpatient rehab under the Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs), but the day count and co-payment depend on your scheme. How Medical Aid Pays For Rehab In South Africa: Your 2026 Step-By-Step Guide If you’re limping from crisis to crisis due to your own or […]
Research shows that, on average, 35% of people will relapse in the year after treatment if their rehab programme was less than 90 days long. This drops to 17% for those who were in rehab for 90 days or longer. Relapse rates are even lower for those in treatment for a year or more.
If you are comparing rehabs in Johannesburg, the right facility will be government-licensed, employ registered medical and clinical professionals, treat dual diagnosis, run all three phases of care under one roof, and back recovery with a proper aftercare programme. The rest of this page is the evidence behind each of those standards. Picking a rehab […]