18th November 2020 • Sticky Post

Rehab in South Africa: Why South Africans Are Seeking Treatment Abroad

South Africa’s drug problems have grown exponentially worse in the last few years. As the opioid crisis rages on, rapidly increasing numbers of South Africans have been experimenting with, and becoming addicted to, Nyaope, a brutal street drug also known as Whoonga. The drug is a blend of opiates and HIV medications, and it’s frequently cut with rat poison and laundry detergent. This powerful drug adds the psychoactive side-effects of medications like efavirenz to the potency of heroin. Meanwhile, statistics show a growth in the rate of cocaine and methamphetamine use, and some officials believe that the country’s current drug problem could be even more damaging than the AIDS epidemic.

South Africa used to be a transit hub for heroin making its way to Europe, but over the last few years, the domestic market for heroin has grown at a disturbingly rapid rate. As Simone Haysom, the author of a recent report on drug use for ENACT, an E.U. backed NGO, reports, heroin use is “a major phenomenon — not just in big cities, but in small towns.” South Africa is particularly at risk for developing a severe addiction problem because of systemic inequality (it has one of the largest income disparities between rich and poor in the world), a prevailing sense of hopelessness (racial tension is a fact of life and the overwhelming majority of South Africans feel the country is moving in the wrong direction), and high rates of unemployment (one in three South Africans of employable age are without jobs). 

While there are few reliable statistics about the rate of drug addiction in South Africa, those that exist are frightening. And the country has struggled to keep pace with funding for public treatment facilities. The number of South Africans using public rehab facilities has increased substantially in recent years, while funding has remained flat, raising wait times and leaving existing centers overflowing with clients. If you’re a drug addict in South Africa looking for solutions and a sense of hope, turning your gaze abroad may seem like the wisest approach.

Why Portugal?

Why Portugal?

Portugal was in the midst of an epidemic of heroin addiction when they made the dramatic decision to embrace the principles of harm-reduction and decriminalize the consumption of all drugs. As one of the architects behind Portugal’s new approach explains it: “We realized we were squandering resources. It made much more sense for us to treat drug addicts as patients who needed help, not as criminals.” By removing the threats of prosecution and incarceration, Portugal has reduced the stigma surrounding addiction, and the number of addicts receiving treatment has increased by 60% since 1998. The results the country has achieved simply by treating addicts with dignity and viewing addiction as a health issue has caused countries such as France, Switzerland, and Germany to embrace harm-reduction. Portugal’s clear-headed, compassionate approach to treating addiction makes it an ideal destination for those attempting to overcome substance-abuse problems.

South Africa has been extremely slow to adopt the principles of harm-reduction. While a failure in this area can be viewed as a mistake in some countries, in a country ravaged by HIV/AIDS, the government’s refusal to enact life-saving changes is nothing less than a tragedy. Even a policy as simple as adopting needle exchanges has been met with resistance. As one researcher notes: “outreach teams frequently encounter and have to answer to angry (wealthier, more powerful) citizens and police when providing health services.”

South Africa offers some publicly funded drug treatment options to addicts looking to reclaim their lives, and there are also privately run residential treatment facilities. These centers have the benefit of being close to home, but for South Africans without substantial bank accounts, the cost of effective treatment in a comfortable setting can be staggering. Luxury private facilities have rates rising as high as $26,000 US per month! And if you’re looking for a publicly funded facility, you need to be prepared for wait times spanning weeks, or even months before being placed in an overcrowded and under-funded treatment facility. The shortage of treatment beds and affordable facilities has pushed many addicts to the brink of despair. 

In theory, seeking treatment in these centers will not put you at risk of increased attention from the police or the stigma of being an addict in a society that views drug use very harshly, but if you’re living in a small community, word might still spread. If you’re looking to be treated with dignity and respect, experience compassionate treatment, and maintain your privacy, going abroad might be your best option. Drug addiction is still viewed harshly in many South African communities, with studies finding that addiction carries more stigma than mental illness. In many small towns, the addicted are still seen as criminals who have succumbed to a “moral failing” rather than sick people in need of medical treatment. If you’d prefer to be treated as a person, rather than a junkie, as you begin your recovery journey, you might want to consider seeking treatment in Portugal!

What Are The Benefits Of Treatment Abroad?

1) Environment

Leaving an environment full of familiar stressors and temptations can have a beneficial effect in treatment. South Africa is a very violent society, and rates of homicide, armed robbery, and home invasions are far higher than in other western countries. The scars of apartheid and simmering racial tensions also add to the stress of daily life in South Africa. As a result, increased rates of South Africans suffer from PTSD and related psychological disorders, conditions which often are at the root of addiction. At Iboga Tree Healing House we offer specialized treatments and counseling for dealing with PTSD, including iboga therapy.

Portugal is a great place to recover from traumas related to addiction. It’s a picturesque country with a lovely Mediterranean climate. It’s dotted with quaint villages, ancient ruins, majestic castles, and miles of beautiful coastline. And there are few regions better suited to recovering your health than Portugal’s sun-drenched Alentejo region. A land of rolling hills and vast plains, the Alentejo offers visitors the opportunity to recover their health and connections to the natural world by riding horses, watching birds, stargazing, hiking, and cycling. Many South African visitors are especially appreciative of the temperate climate, peaceful lifestyle, and delicious regional fare, and escaping the punishing heat of South African summers can be extremely beneficial to your mood and receptiveness to treatment. All this, while enjoying a rehab facility that rivals a luxurious resort or hotel for a fraction of the cost of treatment back home. You’ll disconnect from a toxic environment and share amazing new experiences with people from all around the world!

2) Privacy

Iboga Safety: Know The Facts

While increasing numbers of people are coming to the understanding that addiction is a medical issue, there is still a significant social and professional stigma that comes with seeking treatment for substance abuse. If you head to Portugal, it’s easy to tell friends, family members, and colleagues that you’re off on a much-needed vacation and avoid awkward conversations and prying questions. There’s also no risk that someone will spot you emerging from a clinic or support group meeting and start whispering.

3) Promising Treatments Unavailable In South Africa

We’ve written a lot about the undeniable power of ayahuasca and ibogaine to combat the addictive properties of opioids and other drugs, and to open the addicted mind to the idea of a positive transformation into sobriety. Because Portugal has decriminalized all drugs, promising treatments that cannot be obtained in a safe medical setting in South Africa can be accessed here with the supervision of health-care professionals. If you think a treatment that uses a psychoactive substance is your best option, we’d recommend getting away from SA, where many psychoactive substances like ayahuasca and psilocybin are illegal, which makes it difficult to find responsible treatment providers. 

4) Easy Intake

Easy Intake

When you’ve reached rock bottom, a treatment center that can quickly start the process of detox and recovery can be a life-saver. The prospect of waiting months for the in-patient treatment you need can be a heart-breaking, motivation-sapping roadblock. South Africa’s drug treatment programs are underfunded, one of the main reasons why the majority of South African addicts are pushed into less intensive outpatient treatment programs. Treatment centers abroad can immediately start the intake process, allowing you to strike back at your addiction when you’re feeling hopeful and motivated. This can make all the difference in the world! 

Iboga Tree Healing house

Why South Africans Are Seeking Treatment Abroad

At Iboga Tree Healing House we have a unique ability to accommodate clients from around the world with our welcoming, open-minded, and international staff.. You’d be hard-pressed to find a treatment center more committed to the safety of their clients than Iboga Tree Healing House. We’re also deeply committed to maintaining a supportive and non-judgemental environment for facilitating recovery and personal growth.

In addition to offering iboga therapy, we also provide a wide array of holistic treatments, including breathwork, kundalini yoga, equine-assisted therapy, kambo, and more. All of these practices are extremely beneficial for re-energizing both body and spirit to pursue recovery. In combination with our ten-hectares of outdoor space, large terraces, and outdoor swimming pool, we let nature remind our clients to be grateful and receptive for new horizons and second chances. We have many testimonials from people around the globe who’ve benefited immeasurably from experiencing our treatments in beautiful, sunny Portugal. If you’d like to experience treatment abroad, don’t hesitate to get in touch!