Tik is the street name for the drug crystal meth. It is a stimulant that is easily accessible, available cheaply and highly potent. Tik is both a very popular drug for recreational use and highly addictive. Tik is heated up and smoked using a glass pipe, or it may be snorted, ingested or injected intravenously. It is widely used in South Africa, and the consequences on the body and mind can be devastating.
The high from tik is described as an intense, euphoric feeling. The user experiences a rush of energy – they feel more alert, confident and have the motivation to accomplish their goals. Other short-term effects include:
The longer someone uses tik the less they are able to experience the pleasurable euphoria they felt in their early days of tik use. As addiction takes hold, the effects of tik use become more and more severe. As with any addiction the user is unable to see the cost of their addiction, and an intervention is often required. In most cases by the time an individual does seek help the effects of tik are clear to see and sometimes irreversible. The long-term effects of tik are:
The negative effects of using tik very soon outweigh the original desired effect of the drug and this can be seen amongst recreational users as well. Crystal meth is potent, cheap and has a long lasting high, these factors attract many new users but the effects on the body and mind are severe. If you suspect someone may be using tik, it is important to seek out professional help as soon as possible.
If you or a loved one needs assistance with an addiction to crystal meth – know that help is readily available. The road to recovery is not always an easy one but getting yourself or your loved one the best possible care from the team at Crossroads Recovery Centre, provides you with a map to sober, healthy living. No matter how bad things seem, there is hope and it’s only a phone call away. If you or anyone close to you needs help with an addiction to sex, gambling, substances, alcohol or food, please contact us for a free assessment.
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The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
"Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
“Rehab” – is a word that has the potential to conjure up a range of mixed emotions. Unfortunately, due to the stigma around addiction, rehabilitation centres can have a negative perception attached to them, which may deter people from initiating the process. What we aim to do in this article is to outline some of the aspects of an inpatient programme as a way of preparing potential clients and their families for the process of recovering from an addiction.
Detox and Withdrawal
Depending on the type and quantity of the substances that a client has used, he/she will undergo a detoxification process as the body withdraws from the effects of drugs and alcohol. The extent of this detox varies from person-to-person. What you can expect is that a medical physician will be appointed to the client, to monitor their wellbeing and ensure that the physical side effects of withdrawal will be minimised. Choosing to detox without medical supervision may be fatal. Quitting “cold turkey” can lead to serious issues such as seizures and severe dehydration.
Information Sessions
Clients who book into rehabilitation centres will be empowered through knowledge around aspects such as the disease theory of addiction, what life in recovery entails as well as the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual impact of addiction. During these sessions, clients will have a chance to engage with their peers and ask questions in an open and inclusive forum. Awareness alone however, is not the key to long-term recovery, which is why rehabilitation centres take a multi-pronged approach to treatment.
One-on-One Counselling
Every client is assigned a counsellor at the onset of his/her treatment process. That counsellor will guide the client through the recovery process, talk about deep-seated issues and help to unpack their addictive thought patterns. Clients respond differently to counselling. While some may be resistant to the process, it quickly becomes clear that opening up and sharing with someone who can be trusted, is integral to getting and feeling better.
Group Therapy
Group therapy involves a counsellor or group facilitator hosting a session in which clients are invited to participate. Active participation is encouraged. In this environment, clients can challenge each other, share their experience and learn from the experience of others. Group therapy has proven extremely effective in the treatment of addiction.
Introduction to the 12-Step Fellowships
After treatment, one of the most effective ways of staying clean and sober and finding a new way of life, is found in the rooms of Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous. South Africa has strong fellowships within NA and AA, with members who are readily available to provide free support for people who have entered recovery. Rehabilitation centres will ensure that clients attend these meetings during treatment in order to start building valuable connections with others in recovery.
These aspects of the rehabilitation process are not exhaustive. Our programme is comprehensive and based on years of experience and collective expertise in the field. If you or a loved one are battling an addiction and need assistance – know that help is readily available. The road to recovery is not always an easy one, but getting yourself or your loved one the best care from the team at Crossroads Recovery Centre, provides you with a map to sober, healthy living. No matter how bad things seem, there is hope and it’s just a phone call away. If you or anyone close to you needs help with an addiction to sex, gambling, substances, alcohol or food, please contact us for a free assessment.
The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
"Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
After some trauma and time, either you or a loved one has admitted that they need rehabilitation from substance abuse and now you find yourself in a situation where you need to choose a recovery centre. Choosing a recovery centre for substance abuse can be daunting. There are many different types of treatment centres : faith based programmes, 12-step programmes, SMART recovery programmes, cognitive therapy, dual diagnosis clinics, client-centred approaches, relapse prevention programmes….the choice can be overwhelming and confusing. Below we discuss how Crossroads manages rehabilitation from substance abuse.
Crossroads, Johannesburg is a primary care, rehabilitation from substance abuse centre, offering short-term treatment, (28 days to 84 months). It offers a client-centred approach, built around the 12-step model. Treatment is residential, meaning we offer an in-patient recovery programme, where food, individual counselling, group therapy, family counselling and detoxification are all included in our treatment fee. Although most of our clients come to us for problems with substance abuse, we also treat other forms of addictions, such as : gambling, food, and sex. We do work with most major medical aids, this means that we can manage the authorisations on your behalf before you check-in which minimises some of the stress for you.
As part of the individual therapy, we offer both trauma counselling and 12-Step counselling. Trauma can be defined as a deep psychological wound, one that has a profound impact on the emotional well-being and everyday functioning of the sufferer. Trauma counselling provides an outlet where people can discuss their experiences and develop strategies for dealing with the ongoing difficulties they face as a result. Trauma counselling is done to heal the wounds of the past and to aid the clients in achieving a successful recovery from substance abuse.
All of our counsellors at Crossroads Recovery Centre, Johannesburg have experience in working and living the 12-steps of recovery. Some of our counsellors have over 20 years experience in dealing with substance abuse. In the 12-step process, written step-work is used to inform a large part of the individual counselling process. Through processing step-work with a counsellor, our clients gain insight into their own addiction and how to live successfully once they leave treatment. The integration of the 12-steps in the counselling process means that the clients who leave Crossroads Recovery Centre, adjust well to a supportive, non-professional environment, such as the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.
Although we are primarily as 12-step based centre for the rehabilitation from substance abuse, we also make use of other therapy models such as : process groups, gender groups, exposure groups, life story groups, planning and objectives groups and spiritual groups. A bit about these groups is explained below :
1. Process Groups
The process group is the most common type of therapeutic group given at Crossroads Recovery Centre. An addictions counsellor is present and facilitates the running of the group while each client is asked to participate. Group therapy is an intensive process, clients are asked to be vulnerable and give feedback to one another. This process is incredibly beneficial as it is the best way for clients to bring the issues they may have to light and start to deal with them in a supportive environment.
2. Gender Groups
In gender groups men and women are separated. This gives each client space to address any gender-specific problems they may have. A counsellor facilitates the group and prepares topics for discussion and reflection. We find that separating the genders gives our clients an opportunity to talk about issues and concerns that they may feel uncomfortable addressing in front of members of the opposite sex. It is a format which encourages a deeper discussion about issues that may be gender-specific and gender-sensitive, for example; sexual abuse, love and sex addiction, marriage problems, sexual dysfunction and expectations set by gender roles.
3. Spiritual Groups
Spirituality is a cornerstone of a 12-step recovery programme. In these groups counsellors address a number of issues related to spirituality. These include topics such as meditation, spiritual principles and finding new ways to connect with a higher power of your own understanding. Though topics and thoughts from certain religions may be brought up, Crossroads Recovery Centre, prides itself on being inclusive of all religions and faiths, or lack thereof. These topics encourage discussion and exploration of new ideas related to each individuals spiritual practice so that they may gain a better understating of the 12 steps as a whole.
4. Planning and Objectives
Many people come into recovery lacking direction and discipline. Weekly planning and objective groups are structured in a way that encourages our clients to set meaningful, attainable, short-term goals in order to work up to achieving long-term objectives. Each week the clients give a report on whether they achieved their goals or not. They are then held accountable by their peers. This continuous process of goal-setting and reporting back, helps our clients learn how to go forward with planning and structure once they leave our facility.
5. Exposure Groups
From time-to-time it becomes apparent that a person may not be doing as well as expected in treatment. This may be for several reasons. It could be holding on to old ideas, refusing to participate, being dishonest or breaking rules in the facility. For whatever reason, the person may be confronted in a group therapy session. In this type of group, several counsellors may participate, and the clients’ peers are given an opportunity to address them directly. We have found that this type of confrontation can be very powerful in addressing problematic behaviours. Subjects of a sensitive or confidential matter are not handled in this type of confrontation.
6. Life Story Groups
As part of the therapeutic process at Crossroads Recovery Centre, all clients are asked to write a life story. This is presented to the group as well as the counsellors. The life story reveals past behaviour patterns and thinking, this combined with behaviour that has occurred in their time at Crossroads Recovery Centre, is processed and feedback is given. The client has an opportunity to hear what their peers and counsellors think. This feedback helps them in their recovery from substance abuse moving forwards, and often reveals what attitudes and behaviours may prove problematic in the long run. From this point our client can move forward with a better understanding of how they can better help themselves.
All of these groups have the primary aim of rebuilding an individual and getting them towards a place where they are able to reintegrate into society and function within their families, social circles and workplaces, harnessing their maximum potential.
The road to rehabilitation from substance abuse is not always an easy one but getting yourself or your loved one the best care from the team at Crossroads Recovery Centre, provides you with a map to sober, healthy living. No matter how bad things seem, there is hope and it’s just a phone call away. If you or anyone close to you needs help with an addiction to sex, gambling, substances, alcohol or food, please contact us for a free assessment.
The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
"Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
When searching for a rehabilitation centre for yourself or a loved one it can be daunting from the start. The terminology, the variety of options, the medical jargon can be intimidating and difficult to navigate. In this article we will break down the rehab options that are available in Johannesburg.
The first important distinction is to choose between inpatient or outpatient treatment, these are the most common options for rehabilitation treatment. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, deciding what is right for you is completely dependent on your personal needs and circumstances, there is no one size fits all. Inpatient treatment is completed while staying at a rehabilitation centre. All activities take on the premises and clients are constantly supervised. While in inpatient treatment clients are isolated from the outside world, with no need to work, study or fulfil other obligations. Whilst in inpatient treatment a client’s sole responsibility is to focus on their recovery. Clients who choose this treatment option typically receive more intense therapeutic intervention than those who choose the other rehabilitation options. Clients are consistently supervised, limiting their access to drugs or alcohol, this gives them some safety and security withing the first few weeks of their sobriety. As far as rehabilitation options go, inpatient is the gold standard. Many people are intimidated by this option because it is the most time consuming and expensive option there is, but the quality and level of care received is far superior to the other options. With regards to the fees regarding this form of treatment, it is important to remember that this option is covered by medical aids as a prescribed minimum benefit, this means that even the most basic hospital plan allocates benefits for this type of rehabilitation.
The other most popular option for rehabilitation is outpatient treatment, this type of treatment takes on a variety of forms. When it comes to rehabilitation the most popular form of outpatient treatment is a schedule that runs over the course of a few weeks, and usually consists of group therapy as well as individual counselling. Every outpatient program runs slightly differently, having different time requirement and schedules. Most programs that fall within this category have the big advantage of participants being able to still perform their daily responsibilities, such as work, studies and family commitments. Outpatient does however have its disadvantages as an option for rehabilitation. Because clients are not isolated from the temptations of the outside world while their recovery is still fragile, many clients report struggling with craving and giving into the temptation of their previous lives. If this option seems right for you, it may be wise to consider that this option is more challenging for clients, as recovery is not their single priority and that because less hours are dedicated to it the work that is done in this time is less substantial.
There is however a third option, many clients choose to first undertake inpatient rehabilitation and once having completed that program, transfer to an outpatient program. This allows the benefits of both, as well as a smoother integration into their previous lifestyle, while still being supported and held accountable.
Crossroads Recovery Centre in Johannesburg offers both options for rehabilitation. Contact us for advice on how to best proceed with your recovery. If you or anyone close to you needs help with an addiction to sex, gambling, substances, alcohol or food, please contact us for a free assessment. The road to recovery is not always an easy one but getting yourself or your loved one the best possible care from the team at Crossroads Recovery Centre, provides you with a map to sober, healthy living. No matter how bad things seem, there is hope and it’s only a phone call away.
The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
"Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
