A 5 minute contemplation on Understanding Dis-ease . Do you ever think ‘Why do I do the things I do’? Do you ever contemplate that ‘driver’ you have inside yourself and wonder what you can do about it? What is the driving force that makes us prone to obsessions and compulsions ? Obsessions are not limited to substances- obsessions can be related to our behaviour and thinking, for example : finances, food, games, social media, carbohydrates or relationships.
What impact do these behaviours, thoughts and compulsions have on us physically, spiritually, emotionally and financially ? Are we even able to identify how we are feeling and if we are even sane ?
Self-centred routines are the result of our compulsions and obsessions, but how do we find respite from them ? Do we have control over our behaviours and thoughts ?
The solutions only come to us when our perception is not clouded by us acting out, but how do we manage that ?
Maybe it’s time to think about it.
This podcast was recorded as a series of lectures given to people in 12 step addictionrecoverytreatment. The purpose of these talks was to teach and motivate individuals to search for their own spiritual solution to their addiction.
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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."
Nyaope is a street drug that has come into widespread use across South Africa, especially in the poorer communities and informal settlements scattered all over the country. One of the main reasons for the rapid spread and use is because it is so inexpensive to acquire and the drug is generally described as being a cocktail of various ingredients; the primary active ingredient being low-grade heroin, which is cut with various other substances to bulk up the weight and price of the product.
Nyaope and Antiretrovirals
For many years it has been said that Nyaope contains antiretroviral drugs. Analysis of samples has shown that this is in fact false due to the drug being cut with various other substances and compositional it differs from area to area. There is no way of telling what’s actually in it. In some areas Nyaope contains methamphetamine.
Effects Of Nyaope
Nyaope can be rolled and smoked with marijuana and/or tobacco or it is diluted and injected intravenously. The “high” from Nyaope creates a feeling of euphoria, contentment and relaxation. The effects of smoking it are less potent, and as dependency builds the preferred method of use becomes intravenous injection as this produces a more intense high. After the initial effects, a feeling of drowsiness and euphoria can persist for several hours. Mental function is clouded and heart functions as well as breathing function are slowed. Other side effects include nausea, vomiting, sneezing, yawning and itching.
Through repeated Nyaope use the user builds up tolerance and physical dependence, this is the main reason that Nyaope users graduate from simply smoking it to injecting. The amounts they use increase and the user needs to use more often in order to avoid the effects of withdrawal.
The fear
of withdrawal and the associated pain is so intense, that users of
Nyaope are willing to go to any lengths to maintain their use.
Dangers Of Nyaope Use
The long-term effects of using Nyaope can be devastating and long-lasting. Those who inject are at risk of contracting blood borne viruses such as HIV and Hepatitis, blood poisoning from the contaminants used to cut the the drug, bacterial or fungal endocarditis, abscesses from continual injecting and decreased kidney function.
The use of Nyaope has risen dramatically in areas with high levels of poverty, the main reason for this is because the drug is highly addictive and cheaply available. The users end up resorting to crime to maintain their use and avoid the intense symptoms of withdrawal. The eventual cost is much higher than the cost of that first hit.
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."
Addiction is often described as a “spiritual, physical, and emotional” disease.
What is spirituality
Historically the terms spirituality and religion have been confused to mean the same thing. Generally speaking, when the term “spirituality” is used, it refers to a feeling or belief in the oneness between an individual and the universe, being in touch with one’s soul or inner self, and even simply a sense of personal well-being. None of these meanings has a specific reference to a deity or to religion.
Spiritual consequences in active addiction
Addiction and spirituality go hand-in-hand as we notice the contrast of how spirituality plays a role in both addiction and recovery. In active addiction, there is typically an absence of connection to spirit – this will differ from individual to individual.
Addiction is a disease of isolation which feeds on shame and guilt. Addiction robs us of our spirituality because it makes us believe we are not connected, we are alone and we, in turn, are too numb to hear or understand any sense of intuition, spirit or higher power. It makes us believe we have little or nothing for which to be grateful and it blinds us from being mindful or present to reality.
Spirituality in recovery
In recovery, a spiritual practice is absolutely essential and often becomes the backbone of staying clean and sober for many. Most would argue that to be truly successful in breaking the chains of addiction, we all need a spiritual path in recovery and a community of support to go along with it. The reason for this is that the addict in us wants us to remain alone in the dark, but a spiritual path and community, shine the light for us. Once a light illuminates, the darkness cannot survive. Understanding the role spirituality can play in recovery is usually the cornerstone for many in treatment.
Feeling connected to
ourselves, others, and a source greater than us, can cause feelings
of well-being, purpose and contentment. These feelings begin to
replace our ego, fear and anxiety as the sense of connectedness
creates a pathway for healing.
The 12 steps and spirituality
12 Step programs guide individuals to really contemplate their sense of spirituality and, over time, to build on it. The 12-Steps themselves help people understand just how much control we have over our lives as human beings – and, with that, how we can rely on God as you understand Him, or any another Higher Power, to help navigate the journey towards recovery which is typically filled with ups and downs.
12-Step programs don’t need to merely talk about spirituality in order for a person to generate a stronger sense of what that means to them. The Steps themselves require that those in recovery acknowledge the pain they’ve caused others, and to ask for forgiveness. This act of taking ownership builds a sense of spirituality in bringing a person’s focus back down to the level of “humanness”, which we so often forget.
By participating
actively in 12-Step meetings, a person is making a contribution –
an effort towards bettering their community and connecting with
others. This spiritual sense of belonging is crucial for a person to
soar in recovery, and 12-Step programs clearly facilitate this.
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."
“Will my medical aid cover my treatment?” is a question we hear incredibly often at Crossroads , and generally, the answer is yes, with a few exceptions. This blog will go into the if, why and how your medical aid or hospital plan can assist you in getting treatment.
What are PMB’s ?
Prescribed Minimum Benefits are features of The Medical Schemes Act that ensures every member has access to basic health care services. A medical aid legally has to cover these to the bare minimum, if they want to be registered with the Council for Medical Schemes. They apply regardless of what the scheme is, which means that even hospital plans have these benefits included. In the case of rehabilitation, the focus from a doctor’s point has to be diagnostic, this means that the duration or cause of the illness does not determine the validity of treatment. This also means that rehabilitation for illegal drugs is not any different from treatment for legal ones, such as over the counter medications or alcohol.
How much do they cover ?
The rules set forth by the Council of Medical Schemes dictate that rehabilitation should be covered for up to 3 weeks. Some medical aids also make detoxification benefits available when combined with rehabilitation. The monetary value of these benefits does vary from scheme to scheme, with some paying out more than others. This does not impact on the ability to use these benefits but is rather associated with how much the co-payment will work out to.
Under what circumstances will your medical aid not pay ?
There are a few things that will exclude you from using these benefits, which are listed below:
If you are on a waiting period: Generally, when you join a medical aid for the first-time, certain benefits are excluded from the scheme. This is so that people don’t take advantage of the medical aid – join on one day, use the benefits and then cancel the next day. This all varies from scheme to scheme and differs for individuals. Speak to your broker or call the customer care line for clarity.
If there are exclusions on your medical aid: Some medical aids offer budget options. This may limit your options for treatment to certain hospitals and doctors. This may apply to rehabilitation centres as well. Though we do see this from time to time, what we see more often is “medical insurers” who do not need to conform to the same rules as medical aids when it comes to prescribed minimum benefits.
If you have used your benefits: Medical aids limit the benefits associated with certain conditions. Should there be no more benefits remaining on the medical aid they will not authorise another stay in treatment. These benefits reset each calendar year. This means that if you have used your benefits in 2020, they will be available to use again on the 1st of January, 2021.
If you do not stay for the full duration of treatment: As a rule, medical aids pay out per day, so if you stay in treatment for half the time, they will only cover half the fees. Again this varies between schemes and options. A medical aid may refuse to pay entirely if treatment is not completed. This is one of the many reasons it is recommended that you stay in treatment for the full amount of time.
Some general advice regarding medical aid and treatment
First and foremost, the best advice when it comes to medical aids is to be honest. We have seen many people denied benefits because they did not declare their addiction or alcoholism as a pre-existing condition. This is especially true if you have been in treatment before, but also applies if you have ever spoken to a doctor or received advice from a doctor regarding your addiction. This is especially important when first joining a medical aid, as it will have an impact on waiting periods and therefore the benefits available to you. It may seem awkward but keep in mind- everything that happens between yourself and a medical aid or broker is confidential. On the subject of confidentiality, what is claimed from your medical aid is privileged information. This information will not be passed on to anyone else who is not associated with the treatment team or the medical aid. Many people are concerned that this information will be common knowledge or easily accessible – it is not. The only exception is that the information may be accessible to other members on the medical aid plan.
How do I know what my medical aid will cover?
The easiest way to determine availability or value of funds is to do a pre-authorisation. This can be done prior to admission. This is obligation free, if pre-authorisation is obtained and the person is never admitted, the benefits will still be available to use at any point in the future.
Contact us to find out more about how your medical aid can assist you in getting treatment, we work with most approved medical aids.
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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."
