What can South African addiction helplines realistically do for me?

Helplines can offer immediate support, basic risk assessment, information on treatment options and a calm voice when your house feels like it is burning down, but they cannot fix everything in one call.

Are helplines only for people using, or can families call too?

Families are often the first to reach out, and good helplines will talk them through safety, boundaries and next steps, not just tell them to drag the person in against their will.

How do I know if a helpline is legitimate and not a referral scam?

Legitimate services are transparent about who funds them, what they offer and which centres they work with, and they do not pressure you into one specific facility while dismissing all other options.

Can I stay anonymous when I call an addiction helpline?

You can with most reputable services, which will take only the information needed to help and will not share your story with employers, neighbours or social media.

What should I have ready before I phone a helpline?

Have basic details on substances, patterns, medical risks, previous treatment and your medical aid plan, so the person on the line can move quickly from sympathy to a concrete plan.

Addiction Helplines South Africa: 24/7 Free Crisis Support

If you or someone you love is in crisis right now, the addiction helplines in South Africa listed below offer free, confidential support, most of them 24 hours a day. You don’t need a referral, you don’t need medical aid, and you don’t have to give your name. Just pick the category that fits and call.

Below the helpline numbers, we’ve added a short section on what to do after the call, because for many people, the phone call is the start of a longer conversation about treatment, not the end of it.

Drug and Alcohol Addiction Helplines

Organisation	Contact	Website	Notes
Substance Abuse 24-hour Helpline	0800 12 13 14	SADAG	Department of Social Development line. Free and confidential, by phone or SMS.
Alcoholics Anonymous South Africa	0861 435 722	aasouthafrica.org.za	Local AA groups across South Africa.
Narcotics Anonymous South Africa	083 900 6962	na.org.za	NA meetings throughout South Africa.
SANCA	011 892 3829 / WhatsApp 076 535 1701	sancanational.info	Affordable addiction prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. Branches countrywide.
Tara Hospital Addiction Helpline	011 535 3000	tara.org.za	State psychiatric hospital with addiction unit (Sandton).

Mental Health and Crisis Helplines

Organisation	Contact	Website	Notes
SADAG (South African Depression & Anxiety Group)	0800 21 22 23 / 0800 456 789	sadag.org	24-hour support for depression, anxiety, and mental health.
SADAG SMS Helpline	SMS: 31393	sadag.org	Send an SMS for mental health support.
Cipla 24-hour Mental Health Helpline	0800 456 789		Immediate support for mental health crises.
Suicide Crisis Helpline	0800 567 567	sadag.org	Crisis intervention and emotional support, 24 hours.
Lifeline South Africa	0861 322 322	lifelinesa.co.za	24-hour crisis line. Counselling for distress.
Akeso Crisis Helpline	0861 435 787	akeso.co.za	Mental health information and support across Akeso facilities.
South African Federation for Mental Health	011 781 1852 / 086 558 6909	safmh.org	Mental health awareness and advocacy.
ADHD Helpline	0800 55 44 33	adhdsa.co.za	Support and information for ADHD.
SABDA (Schizophrenia & Bipolar Disorder Alliance)	011 326 0661	sabda.org.za	Support groups for schizophrenia and bipolar.
Befrienders Bloemfontein	051 444 5000	befrienders.org	24-hour emotional support, phone and email.

Behavioural Addiction Helplines

Organisation	Contact	Website	Notes
National Responsible Gambling Programme	0800 006 008	responsiblegambling.org.za	24-hour support for gambling addiction.
Gamblers Anonymous South Africa	Visit website for meetings	gasouthafrica.org	Local GA meetings.
Co-dependents Anonymous (CoDA)	082 343 4455	coda.org	Recovery from codependency. Local meetings.
Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous	[email protected]	slaasa.co.za	12-step fellowship for sex, love, and romantic obsession addictions.
Eating Disorders South Africa (EDSA)	012 993 1060	edsa.co.za	Information and support for eating disorders.
Recovery Direct	081 444 7000	recoverydirect.co.za	Online and inpatient eating disorder and trauma recovery.
Eating Disorders Anonymous	081 444 7000	eatingdisordersanonymous.org	Online support for eating disorders.
Recovery Space	Visit website	recoveryspace.co.za	Eating disorder recovery webinars and online coaching.

Abuse and Domestic Violence Helplines

Organisation	Contact	Website	Notes
POWA (People Opposing Women Abuse)	011 642 4345	powa.co.za	24-hour crisis line for women experiencing abuse.
Childline South Africa	0800 055 555	childlinesa.org.za	24-hour helpline for children and adolescents.
The Pink Ladies (Missing Children)	072 214 7439	pinkladiessa.co.za	Helps locate missing children.
Child Welfare South Africa	0800 535 754	childwelfaresa.org.za	Child protection and welfare services.
Domestic Violence Assistance Programme	031 260 1588		Support for domestic violence survivors.
National Human Trafficking Helpline	0800 222 777		24-hour trafficking helpline.
Salvation Army (Human Trafficking Hotline)	0800 737 287	salvationarmy.org.za	0800-RESCUE.
Halt Elder Abuse Line (HEAL)	0800 003 081	actiononelderbusesa.co.za	Helpline for elderly people facing abuse.

Rape and Gender-Based Violence Helplines

Organisation	Contact	Website	Notes
TEARS Foundation	1347355# (USSD) / or 010 590 5920	tears.co.za	Survivor support for rape and gender-based violence.
Rape Crisis South Africa	021 447 9762 / WhatsApp 083 222 5164	rapecrisis.org.za	Crisis counselling for survivors. Cape Town.
Gender-Based Violence Command Centre	0800 428 428	gbv.org.za	24-hour GBV support and referrals.
Stop Gender Violence Helpline	0800 150 150		24-hour confidential GBV support.
AIDS Helpline	0800 012 322		National Department of Health AIDS line.
Advice Desk for Abused Women	031 626 9673		Support and advice for abused women.

Emergency Services

Organisation	Contact	Website	Notes
South African Police Service	10111	saps.gov.za	Police emergency.
Netcare 911	082 911	netcare911.co.za	Private emergency medical services.
ER24	084 124	er24.co.za	Private emergency medical services.
Cape Town Fire and Rescue	021 480 7700	capetown.gov.za	Cape Town emergency management services.

Sexual Health Helplines

Organisation	Contact	Website	Notes
Sexual Health Line	0860 100 262		Confidential sexual health support.
Marie Stopes	0800 11 77 85	mariestopes.org.za	Contraception, safe abortion, and reproductive healthcare.
My Sexual Health	011 568 4844	mysexualhealth.co.za	Sexual health support.
LoveLife Sexual Health Line	0800 121 900	lovelife.org.za	Youth sexual health support.
Emergency Contraception Helpline	0800 246 432		Emergency contraception advice.

Family, Carer, and Community Support

Organisation	Contact	Website	Notes
FAMSA (Family and Marriage Association)	011 788 4784 / 011 788 4785	famsa.org.za	Family preservation, counselling, and crisis support.
MobieG	0800 567 567 / WhatsApp 060 047 0000	mobieg.co.za	Free mobile guide. Covers dependency, depression, abuse, and more.
NSMSA (National Shelter Movement)	082 057 8600 / 082 058 2215	nsmsa.org.za	GBV shelters for abused women and children.
XenoWatch	060 794 9882	xenowatch.ac.za	Monitors xenophobic violence.
Therapy Route	WhatsApp 081 375 3519	therapyroute.com	Find a therapist near you.
OUT LGBT Well-Being	0860 688 688	out.org.za	LGBT+ health and crisis support.
Gift of the Givers Foundation	0800 786 786	giftofthegivers.org	Disaster response and humanitarian aid.
Crime Stop	0860 010 111	saps.gov.za	Report crime anonymously.

Health Condition Helplines

Organisation	Contact	Website	Notes
CANSA (Cancer Association)	0800 22 66 22	cansa.org.za	Information, support, and emotional help for cancer patients.
CHOC (Childhood Cancer)	0861 113 500	choc.org.za	Support for children with cancer and blood disorders.
Headway	011 442 5733	headway.org.za	Brain injury support for survivors and families.
Heart and Stroke Foundation	021 422 1586 / 010 589 2046 / 031 261 9055	heartfoundation.co.za	Mended Hearts and Stroke support, regional meetings (CT/JHB/DBN).
AIDS Helpline	0800 012 322		National Department of Health line.

Government Helplines

Organisation	Contact	Website	Notes
National Anti-Corruption Hotline	0800 701 701	gov.za
National Fraud Hotline	0800 601 011	gov.za
Department of Education	0800 202 933	gov.za
Department of Home Affairs	0800 60 11 90	gov.za	ID and travel docs queries.
Department of Human Settlements	0800 146 873	gov.za	Housing enquiries.
Department of Water Affairs	0800 200 200	gov.za
Crime Stop (Anonymous Tip-off)	08600 10111	gov.za

What to Do After Calling a Helpline

The Helpline Is the First Step, Not the Last

A helpline operator can talk you through the moment you’re in. They can de-escalate, suggest a meeting, share resources, and listen without judgement. What they usually can’t do is admit you to treatment or replace ongoing clinical care.

If you’ve called a helpline more than once, if your last few weeks have been getting darker not lighter, or if a family member’s drinking or using has reached the point where the home no longer feels safe, the next conversation needs to be about treatment.

How to Tell if You or a Loved One Needs Rehab

There’s no single threshold, but the patterns below usually signal that helplines and meetings on their own aren’t enough.

Daily use, or use that has crept up in frequency over the past six months
Withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop: shaking, sweating, anxiety, or nausea
Failed attempts to cut down on your own, even when you really meant it
Hiding use from family, lying about how much, or stashing supplies
Lost work, missed school, broken relationships, money problems, or legal trouble linked to using
A family member or partner who has said they can’t keep doing this

How a Rehab Admission Actually Works

If you call Changes Rehab, you’ll be put through to the admissions team. They’ll do a short, confidential assessment to understand what’s happening, what you’ve used, what you’ve tried before, and whether your medical aid covers treatment. From there they’ll guide you on which level of care fits, primary inpatient, secondary, outpatient, or detox first.

You don’t need to have decided anything before you call. The first conversation is just information.

If You’re a Family Member Trying to Help Someone Who Won’t Listen

Helplines for families exist (FAMSA, SADAG, Al-Anon) and they are useful. But families often hit a wall where the addicted person refuses to engage no matter how many helpline numbers get passed across the dinner table. At that point, a structured intervention (or in extreme cases a Section 33 court order) becomes the next conversation.

Talk to Changes Rehab

Whichever helpline you call, you don’t have to figure out the next step alone. If you’d like to talk through treatment options for yourself or someone you love, contact Changes Rehab on 081 444 7000 or email [email protected]. The first call is confidential and there’s no obligation to admit.