As a complex and often isolating disorder, addiction is a mental health disorder that requires complex support – from professionals, from the resources available to the individual, and also from the close friends and family around them.
However, addiction affects every individual case differently, meaning that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to care, and what works for one individual may not necessarily work for another.
For example, addictions are generally classified as being a substance addiction or a behavioural addiction – each of which have specific effects, treatments, and forms of support available in South Africa.
Generally, most information in this article is in reference to substance addictions such as alcoholism (an alcohol addiction which requires specialised alcohol rehab or alcohol detox to overcome – See more here), though most information can be applied to specific behavioural addictions such as those to the internet, screens, and online engagement.
This article will cover supporting a loved one in South Africa with addiction, as well as how an addiction may impact them in different ways.
How can addiction impact individuals in South Africa?
Depending on a number of factors, every individual in South Africa will have a different experience and experience different impacts as a result of addiction.
Some of these key factors are listed below:
- The type of addiction (substance/behavioural)
- The specific form of addiction i.e., alcoholism, heroin addiction, screen addiction
- The history of this addiction
- The regularity of the individual’s engagement with addictive behaviours
- Pre-existing physical health issues
- Pre-existing mental health issues
The following subheadings outline some more specific areas of an individual’s life, but as every individual is likely to have a different experience of addiction in South Africa, these may not all apply to every individual case.
1. Physical health
Depending on the substance or the behaviour, an individual may experience a number of different physical health issues as a result of their addiction – and this often worsens exponentially over time if not recognised and/or treated in a timely manner.
For example, heroin is an extremely physically addictive substance, meaning that it becomes directly involved within the body’s everyday processing and therefore can take a careful withdrawal process in South Africa in order to avoid long-term health risks and life-threatening consequences.
Screen addictions, however, may not have so many direct impacts on an individual’s physical health, but increased time in front of a screen can lead to eye issues and neck strain; one study even researched the link between screen time and exercise in adolescents, suggesting that it may also be linked to obesity in young adulthood (1).
2. Mental health
Though addiction is considered to be a mental health issues in on itself, it is also heavily linked to other mental health issues in a phenomenon known as a dual diagnosis.
Dual diagnosis is where an individual is diagnosed with having more than one mental health issue (including addiction), but it can also be more than this. Studies suggest that the more “serious” the addiction is diagnosed as, the more likely it is that individuals will have additional mental health issues (2).
Commonly co-occurring mental health issues include anxiety and depression, but also disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, for example.
3. Social life & responsibilities
When an individual is struggling with addiction in South Africa, another common symptom of this is that the individual becomes increasingly withdrawn from their social life, relationships, and any potential responsibilities that they may have such as their work or school.
As an individual attempts to cover up their addictive behaviours, they can often worsen their situation, often requiring additional therapy and treatment to overcome in the future.
In addition, the desire to engage in addictive behaviours can also take away from an individual’s time engaging in their everyday activities and therefore seriously impact their ability to work effectively, either at home or at their place of work.
How to support a loved one struggling with addiction in South Africa
No individual in South Africa, or across the rest of the world, is required to do anything or partake in anything that they do not want to.
Though this means that no individual can be forced to attend treatment – no matter how much those around them believe it to be the best choice for them.
However, there are other ways that individuals such as close friends of family of the individual struggling with addiction can support their loved one into seeking suitable and appropriate care.
1. Active listening
The first tip for speaking to a loved one about addiction in South Africa is to practise active listening, meaning that the individual struggling feels supported and not probed for information.
For example, if the individual struggling with addiction is coming forward to a close friend or family member, then this person should be prepared to engage in a beneficial conversation for both parties.
In general, active listening refers to showing the person that you are listening, not interrupting, and asking suitable questions at suitable times to ascertain certain points or confirm understanding.
Active listening has been stated to be the ‘aspirin of negotiations’, opening opportunities for relations to be built between parties in a non-threatening and non-judgemental manner (3).
2. Normalising the conversation
In all households, South Africa or otherwise, addiction, mental health, and other related factors should all be discussed in an open and judgment-free way.
This means educating those around you, together, as well as bringing up the conversation fairly regularly to avoid/reduce stigma with those closest to you.
By creating a more casual discussion surrounding these topics, any individual in the family who may start to develop an addiction, feeling more comfortable coming forward and speaking about it more openly.
3. Open doors/judgment-free environment
As a final point, no individual in South Africa should feel as though they cannot turn to close friends and family about their issues.
Creating a safe, secure, and judgment-free area of support is a great way to encourage this coming forward, as well as creating a better environment in which to teach younger members and others to be more accepting of everything within a family or community group.
Seeking further advice and support for addiction in South Africa today
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, the best source of immediate support available is usually those closest to you i.e., friends or family, but in other situations it may involve contacting local health services or specialised addiction referral services in order to get the best advice and suitable support for your individual needs.
Every individual is different and therefore requires different care, so get in touch with your local health and advice services today to start working toward an addiction-free lifestyle and your recovery journey.
Citations used
[1] Boone, J.E., Gordon-Larsen, P., Adair, L.S. and Popkin, B.M., 2007. Screen time and physical activity during adolescence: longitudinal effects on obesity in young adulthood. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 4(1), p.26.
[2] Kessler, R.C., 2004. The epidemiology of dual diagnosis. Biological psychiatry, 56(10), pp.730-737.
[3] McMains, M.J., 2002. Active listening: The aspirin of negotiations. Journal of Police Crisis Negotiations, 2(2), pp.69-74.
