Cross Addiction in Recovery

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Cross Addiction in Recovery

30 July, 2021Articles, News

Cross addiction is when two addictions (behavioural or substances) occur in one individual, or when a person who is in recovery from one addiction, acts out with a different substance or behaviour. The theory of cross addiction though, is not yet scientifically proven. The evidence is more anecdotal, or confined to small studies. The movie, Thanks for Sharing, gives an indication of how addicts in recovery, struggle with more than one addictive substance or behaviour.

Addiction based on behaviour rather than a specific substance may manifest in a variety of forms. The five most common forms of addiction are drugs, alcohol, sex, food and gambling, although new recognised forms of addictions include social media, co-dependency and compulsive behavior such as exercise or spending. There are many different 12-step meetings and support groups for different types of addiction and these may be valuable assets to any persons recovery.

Misconceptions around different types of Addiction

There are a great many misconceptions around addiction. For example, when someone comes into treatment, there may be denial about the fact that they may be able to still do certain things or substances because they are only in treatment for one substance. Here are some examples: ‘I only drink, I can still take prescription medication.’ ‘My problem is only drugs, and I can still drink, right?’ ‘I’m only an alcoholic, I’m not nearly as bad as other people.’ These are common sayings amongst inpatients. Anything that is mind or mood altering may fill a void. It is important for someone undergoing treatment to work on the root cause of their behavior before they can fix the actual addiction.

How to manage Cross Addiction?

12-Step treatment can be a great way to manage and/or prevent cross-addiction from occurring. Appropriate therapy can allow individuals to work on themselves, as well as their behaviour, which could allow them to find a balance within themselves and their lives.

Addressing the addiction through integrated treatment is usually the most effective way of treating cross addiction. It is also important to reduce triggers such as dangerous people, places and things and work on the behaviour through CBT therapy. This allows for thought patterns and emotions that contribute substantially towards substance abuse and destructive behaviour, to be managed and slowly changed over time .

If you or a loved one needs assistance with addiction – 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 is 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

www.crossroadsrecovery.co.za

074 89 51043 JHB

012 450 5033 PTA

-Dominique Le Claire Rossouw

Free Addiction Assessment

Book a FREE Confidential Assessment at your nearest Treatment Centre Today.

Johannesburg Admissions: +27 74 895 1043
Pretoria Admissions: +27 82 653 3311
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Stories of Recovery

  • 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.
    Oliver VG
    Read more
  • 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.
    Johan B
    Read more
  • 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!
    Carla S
    Read more
  • "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."
    Angelique J
    Read more
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Marijuana & Alcohol- Legal but Linked to Violence

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Marijuana & Alcohol- Legal but Linked to Violence

28 July, 2021Articles, News

As legalisation spreads, more Americans and South Africans are becoming heavy users of marijuana, despite its links to violence and mental illness. The best data concerning the scope and effects of marijuana & alcohol use comes from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).

The survey asks about problems users believe they have encountered because of their use. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) consolidates the answers to estimate how many would meet the clinical criteria for dependence (2.8 million) or abuse (an additional 1.4 million) set down by the Diagnostical and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (commonly referred to as the DSM-V). SAMHSA makes these calculations for all substances in an effort to estimate the nationwide need for treatment for each substance.

137 million people self-reported current alcohol use,of which 17.3 million described enough problems to meet the criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence, equivalent to one instance of alcohol abuse or dependence per 7.9 current users, or 13% of current users — significantly lower than the corresponding ratio for marijuana.

In 2012 the Treatment Episode Data Set recorded 681,374 treatment admissions for which the primary substance of abuse was alcohol and 305,560 for which it was marijuana or hashish. That works out to 15 admissions for every 1,000 current marijuana users versus only 5 for every 1,000 alcohol users.

What is clear is that, in individual cases, marijuana can cause psychosis, and psychosis is a high risk factor for violence. What’s more, much of that violence occurs when psychotic people are using drugs or alcohol. The drug they are most likely to use is marijuana. The most obvious way that it fuels violence in psychotic people- is through its ability to cause paranoia. In people with psychiatric disorders, paranoia can fuel violence.

A 2012 paper in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, examining a federal survey of more than 9,000 adolescents, found that marijuana use was associated with a doubling of domestic violence in the U.S.A.. A 2017 paper in the journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, examining drivers of violence among 6,000 British and Chinese men, found that drug use was linked to a 5-fold increase in violence, and the drug used was nearly always cannabis.

If you or a loved one needs assistance with substance abuse or alcoholism – 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 is 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

www.crossroadsrecovery.co.za

074 89 51043 JHB

012 450 5033 PTA

RESOURCES

https://www.wsj.com/articles/marijuana-is-more-dangerous-than-you-think-11546527075

https://www.nationalaffairs.com/publications/detail/the-real-dangers-of-marijuana

Free Addiction Assessment

Book a FREE Confidential Assessment at your nearest Treatment Centre Today.

Johannesburg Admissions: +27 74 895 1043
Pretoria Admissions: +27 82 653 3311
Close

Stories of Recovery

  • 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.
    Oliver VG
    Read more
  • 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.
    Johan B
    Read more
  • 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!
    Carla S
    Read more
  • "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."
    Angelique J
    Read more
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Outpatient Programme

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Outpatient Programme

23 July, 2021Articles, News

Crossroads Recovery Centre, Johannesburg is excited to announce that we now have an outpatient programme. Deciding on whether to enter an inpatient rehab facility or to rather seek outpatient care is an important step towards recovering from an addiction. Not everyone is able to commit to, nor afford inpatient (primary care) treatment. While equally focused on rehabilitation, each type has unique attributes and benefits to offer.

Primary care offers intensive, full-time residential treatment where the client commits to living with us for the duration of their treatment. Our outpatient programme is a part-time initiative, allowing the recovering addict to keep going to work or college during the day. This is an important advantage as it allows the person to maintain the ability to support their family whilst also focusing on recovering from their addiction. The hands-on medical care and extensive therapy available to our inpatients increases the cost of treatment. However, the price difference should not discourage anyone from choosing the best possible treatment route for themselves. Our outpatient programme can be very beneficial for addicts who are serious about their recovery.

The outpatient initiative begins with an intake assessment and if needed, a visit to our physician. Mild detox cases may be handled through the programme. It runs for 28 days, Mondays to Fridays, from 17:00 until 19:00 with a short break in between. Groups and lectures are held at the Valley Centre, Jan Smuts Avenue in Craighall Park, Johannesburg. Clients are expected to attend every evening and to be punctual for all classes. The cost of the programme is R12 000.00. Lectures and groups include topics such as:

  • the disease of addiction,
  • 12-step recovery,
  • the neurobiology of addiction,
  • boundaries,
  • childhood trauma,
  • abuse,
  • loss,
  • coping skills,
  • living sober and developing new support systems whilst sober
  • co-dependency

One-on-one therapy sessions are held fortnightly via Zoom. Additional individual sessions may be scheduled.

Clients are expected to commit to certain principles whilst they attend the programme:

Should they relapse during the 28 day period, clients may be suspended from the programme for a minimum of 72 hours.

Similar to our inpatient programme, the outpatient programme also establishes an individual treatment plan for each new client which includes measurable milestones to indicate their progress. Some recovering addicts also turn to outpatient treatment after completing our inpatient programme as part of their continued recovery. This affords them access to their support systems- being able to live at home and be amongst their loved ones while still undergoing treatment. Having a reliable support system available to you is very important when undergoing rehabilitation from any form of addiction. Although cheaper and shorter, the outpatient programme has the ability to achieve similar positive outcomes to any inpatient programme.

If you or a loved one needs assistance with addiction – 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.

www.crossroadsrecovery.co.za

074 895 1043 JHB

Resources :

https://www.addictioncenter.com/treatment/inpatient-outpatient-rehab/

Free Addiction Assessment

Book a FREE Confidential Assessment at your nearest Treatment Centre Today.

Johannesburg Admissions: +27 74 895 1043
Pretoria Admissions: +27 82 653 3311
Close

Stories of Recovery

  • 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.
    Oliver VG
    Read more
  • 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.
    Johan B
    Read more
  • 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!
    Carla S
    Read more
  • "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."
    Angelique J
    Read more
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Rehab in South Africa: A Look at How the Process Works

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Rehab in South Africa: A Look at How the Process Works

20 July, 2021Articles, News

For many of us, the only reference we have on how the process of rehabilitation works, comes from television. It is a process that has a reputation for being difficult and deeply challenging. Some may fear entering the process because of a prevailing perception that it requires significant change, which is a daunting prospect for anyone. That’s why we deem it so important to demystify the process, so that those who are struggling with addiction can reach a place of hope and realise that treatment is simply the beginning of a journey that takes place one day at a time. Change comes gradually, and although the process is not easy, getting clean is the beginning of a new, more fulfilling life. In this article, we break down the process of rehab in South Africa into four main components.

Detox

The first step in the process of rehab in South Africa, is to detox. The process of detoxing will vary from person-to-person because different substances have different effects on the body and mind. Each person’s detox process will be guided by a medical practitioner, who will be able to administer any form of treatment that may be required. Those who are entering rehab for a process addiction like porn addiction, may not need to go through the detox process but may enter the next phase of treatment immediately. Every patient’s needs are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Group Therapy

Learning to talk about feelings in an open and honest forum is an important step in the process of rehab in South Africa. Group therapy has proven to be an indispensable tool for personal development. Facilitators or counsellors will guide each group by suggesting a topic or by stimulating discussion and sharing. Some patients engage immediately with the process of group therapy, while for some, trusting others may take time. The most important thing to remember is that group therapy meets individuals where they are, allowing everyone to participate at their own pace.

One-on-One Therapy

Each patient will be paired with a counsellor upon entering the treatment process. Individual counselling sessions tend to go deeper than group therapy sessions in that counsellors may wish to help the individual to unearth some of the deep-seated issues that may be unresolved. Over time, each individual, forms a valuable connection and bond with their counsellor. Apart from being qualified, specialised addiction counsellors – all our counsellors are in recovery from addiction themselves and thus have personal knowledge of where addiction is capable of taking a person. This facilitates the process of trust between client and counsellor.

12-Step Fellowships

What happens after rehab is just as important as what happens during treatment. For this reason, at Crossroads Recovery Centres, we introduce recovering addicts to 12-step fellowships like Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous in the hopes that after treatment, clients will decide to immerse themselves fully in the recovery journey. These fellowships provide an indispensable support network that helps to guide the individual towards finding a new way to live without the use of addictive substances and behaviour.

These four stages are some of the bastions of the rehab process, but the list is in no way exhaustive. There are other components that may form part of treatment, including life skills workshops, yoga, meditation, craft classes and similar forms of therapy.

If you or a loved one needs assistance with substance abuse or alcoholism – 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

Free Addiction Assessment

Book a FREE Confidential Assessment at your nearest Treatment Centre Today.

Johannesburg Admissions: +27 74 895 1043
Pretoria Admissions: +27 82 653 3311
Close

Stories of Recovery

  • 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.
    Oliver VG
    Read more
  • 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.
    Johan B
    Read more
  • 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!
    Carla S
    Read more
  • "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."
    Angelique J
    Read more
Left Arrow Right Arrow

Approved Medical Aids

Bestmed LogoBonitas LogoCAMAF LogoDiscovery Health LogoFedhealth LogoGovernment Employees Medical SchemeLiberty CorporateMedihelp Medical Scheme