ASAP

Adolescent Substance Abuse Programme

Substance abuse is a growing problem among South Africa’s teens but early intervention has the potential to prevent substance use and abuse from turning into full-blown addiction.

About ASAP

Changes Rehab, Johannesburg launched the Adolescent Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) in September 2022.

All Too Often…

By the time the families, our justice system and schools intervene the problem has unfortunately progressed beyond experimentation and casual use. If there is even a hint of substance abuse in a young person you know, this includes alcohol, please act swiftly. The alternative is a long road of addiction and its dire consequences to be faced ahead. Importantly, both alcohol and cannabis abuse have the potential to cause dangerous consequences and long-term problems.

What is ASAP?

Changes Rehab’s ASAP initiative is an outpatient, educational and life skills programme for thirteen to eighteen-year-old substance abusers. It is designed as a repeatable and individualised four-week course to assist teens so that they can avoid their substance abuse progressing into a full-blown addiction that can derail their lives.

What To Expect From Joining the ASAP Programme

N

There are two compulsory groups per week, on Tuesdays and Fridays from 2.15pm to 4.15pm

N

Each participant will participate in four individual counselling sessions

N

Participants will need valid reasons for not attending group sessions and will need to catch up on missed sessions

N

Prior arrangements need to be made with schools to ensure attendance

N

The programme runs for four weeks

N

All participants require an assessment prior to joining and teens that have already progressed from abuse to addiction are not eligible for ASAP. In such cases an appropriate referral will be made.

N

We perform random urine tests and, should the family or school request more tests, they can be arranged at an additional cost of R200 per test

N

Participants agree to not using any mind or mood-altering substances for the duration of the programme including pharmaceuticals such as codeine

N

The fees are R7,600 for the four-week programme. Payment is required in full prior to participation and is non-refundable. This fee is also not claimable from medical aid schemes