Don’t be tempted by addictive substances

Addictive substances

We are all aware that there are many different types of drugs available today and new ones are constantly emerging. The media and internet filled with reports and information about them. Yet still, the most persistent substances include both legal and illegal substances. The most common of these substances include alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, tik, cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, and certain prescription medication.

Many symptoms of substance dependency are consistent across the board, whilst others are specific to certain drugs. Regardless of the type of drug the person is dependent on, or the level of their addiction, all the addictions can be treated with the right care programme in place.

Understanding the Withdrawal Process

“Withdrawal symptoms” are the body’s natural reactions when it is suddenly deprived of an addictive substance that it has grown accustomed to. Acute substance use disorders change many chemical functions of the body and the mind. These chemical imbalances can cause discomfort both physically and psychologically as the substance is withdrawn.

People with substance use disorders become progressively more tolerant of a drug as time goes by. This increase in tolerance means that they have to increase the volume of the drug, each time they take the drug, to get the same result that they experienced on the previous occasion.

In many cases of heroin, alcohol, and benzodiazepines may require a medicated withdrawal process to ensure that the patient has passed any potential medical issues before they enter psychological recovery programmes.

Recovery and Interventions

Most people stuck in addiction cycles try to stop the cycle by themselves but land up in relapse loops. This process is often repeated until the consequences become unbearable.

Traditional “interventions” need to be delicately handled, while everyone may start with the best intentions these situations, substances and relationships can play disastrously into perpetuating the cycles of addiction. It often requires intervention by family, friends, employers, or an influential person to guide the person toward accepting and finding professional help. A successful intervention process in most cases, require professional advice from a therapist about how to best move forward in the interests of the individual and the family.

After the initial detoxification (sometimes in a suitable medical facility) the psychotherapy can begin to establish the underlying reasons what has gone wrong and how we can help you from here. Therapy prepares you for the way forward.

Substance abuse and violence

When the government published the regulations on the ban, reference was made to the possibility of an increase in domestic violence. The inevitable tension of people living in confined spaces and close proximity to each other and the added complexity of alcohol and substance abuse to this situation may exacerbate the potential for violence.  It is, of course, very difficult to know with any certainty whether the ban will help limit domestic violence or whether it might instead lead to a greater number of incidents.

Lockdown Level 3: Alcohol for sale and purchase

Like cigarettes, liquor has still managed to find its way onto the streets. With police resources strained to enforce a host of new laws, the illicit trade has managed to flourish.

On Sunday night (24 May 2020), President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that alcohol would be available for purchase during Level 3 lockdown. Amendments to the Disaster Management Act, which governs all lockdown laws, will, however, prescribe stringent control measures to mitigate the inevitable mad dash to bottle stores. The reintroduction of liquor will be subject to new lockdown laws which deal, predominantly, with the operating hours of outlets. Importantly, the sale of alcohol will not apply to on-consumption premises, meaning restaurants and bars will remain closed to sit-down customers at Level 3.

Should the alcohol and tobacco ban be removed?

The reality is the sole purpose of the lockdown restrictions and current bans is to curb the COVID-19 spread.  In other words, could we continue to partially sell alcohol & tobacco under strict conditions and still curtail COVID-19? The South African Liquor Brandowners Association (Salba), South African arm of British American Tobacco (BAT), the Gauteng Liquor Forum, South African Drug Policy Initiative (SADPI), Tax Justice South Africa and academics have come in support of the removal of the current ban. Their reasoning is summarized by Smithers in “economic hardship, crime, domestic violence, looting of liquor outlets, illegal selling and buying of alcohol, human rights violations, the suffering of people with alcohol addictions.” 

There are arguments presented that government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be based on the challenges faced by a minority of people with addiction and mental health challenges. Rather, governments decisions must be made in the best interests of the majority of the country. The removal of the ban is in the best interest of the majority of people, even if this decision could negatively affect the minority of the population. In fact, the South African Drug Policy Initiative (SADPI) has highlighted that the removal of the ban may actually be in the best interest of the vulnerable, as they will suffer mentally and physically, some with fatal outcomes, due to the removal of the substances they are addicted to.

No matter the argument, we must remember that people suffering from substance dependency needs our help, not judgement.

We as PROCARE are here to support you and your Family during your stay at home period.  We   also provide counselling via digital platforms (E.g. Skype, WhatsApp video, Zoom) as well as Telephone counselling. 

For Professional Confidential Counselling contact us on 0861 776 227 or directly on our

Lockdown numbers:

Gauteng & Other regions: 060 390 4885 / 082 455 2336

Western Cape: 082 977 4435 / 082 339 8988

Sources utilized:

https://www.sacap.edu.za/blog/academic-articles/alcohol-abuse/

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/level-3-lockdown-alcohol-sales-new-operating-hours/

https://www.recoverydirect.co.za/drug/