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Corporate addiction programme

Houghton House

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Person having an emotional moment, sitting by a bed in dim lighting. (AI-generated)

Dual diagnosis: When mental health and addiction collide

24 November 2025

By Dan Wolf, Houghton House Director and psychologist specialising in substance abuse and addiction issues. This is an adaptation of an article Dan wrote that was first published in the October 202...
A clean, clinical yet warm environment inside a private treatment facility. A small, mixed group of people sits in a circle during a therapy session, with a professional facilitator.

How is addiction treated? The main models used in evidence-based rehab

12 May 2025
There is no single addiction treatment method that works for every person with an addiction. Effective addiction treatment draws on several evidenc...
managing drug and alcohol relapse

Addiction in the workplace: A practical guide for South African HR and managers

12 May 2025
Supporting employees with substance dependence Addiction in the workplace is more common than most employers realise.  Research suggests that up to...
A professional, warmly lit office environment. A person sits across from a counsellor or HR professional in a calm, private setting. The mood is supportive and confidential.

Employee assistance programmes (EAPs) and addiction rehabilitation in South Africa

13 March 2025
EAPs: Supporting well-being in the workplace If your organisation has an EAP, it’s likely one of the most underused resources available to yo...
A candid photo of people presenting as male sitting across from each other at a kitchen table in quiet, serious conversation.

What to do when someone won’t get help for their addiction

13 March 2025
Most families dealing with addiction reach a point where the problem is clear to everyone except the person with it. Conversations don’t land...
Person having an emotional moment, sitting by a bed in dim lighting. (AI-generated)

Dual diagnosis: When mental health and addiction collide

24 November 2025
By Dan Wolf, Houghton House Director and psychologist specialising in substance abuse and addiction issues. This is an adaptation of an article Dan wrote that was first published in the October 2025 issue of Dischem’s Better magazine. Unders...
A clean, clinical yet warm environment inside a private treatment facility. A small, mixed group of people sits in a circle during a therapy session, with a professional facilitator.

How is addiction treated? The main models used in evidence-based rehab

12 May 2025
There is no single addiction treatment method that works for every person with an addiction. Effective addiction treatment draws on several evidence-based models, combining them in ways that address the physical, psychological, and social dimensio...
managing drug and alcohol relapse

Addiction in the workplace: A practical guide for South African HR and managers

12 May 2025
Supporting employees with substance dependence Addiction in the workplace is more common than most employers realise.  Research suggests that up to 15% of South Africa’s workforce is actively struggling with a harmful substance or behavioura...
A professional, warmly lit office environment. A person sits across from a counsellor or HR professional in a calm, private setting. The mood is supportive and confidential.

Employee assistance programmes (EAPs) and addiction rehabilitation in South Africa

13 March 2025
EAPs: Supporting well-being in the workplace If your organisation has an EAP, it’s likely one of the most underused resources available to your staff. For employees struggling with addiction, an EAP is often the first (and sometimes only) po...
A candid photo of people presenting as male sitting across from each other at a kitchen table in quiet, serious conversation.

What to do when someone won’t get help for their addiction

13 March 2025
Most families dealing with addiction reach a point where the problem is clear to everyone except the person with it. Conversations don’t land. Promises get broken. Each attempt to help seems to end in an argument, a denial, or a door closed....
AI-generated image showing a silhouette of a man looking at a beautiful vista of a sunrise over forested hills and mountains. Before him is a long and winding road. Above the mountain, a caption reads "Relapse prevention" and "Stay on the path to recovery"

Relapse prevention and the importance of continuous care in addiction recovery

26 February 2025
prog Relapse is one of the most common challenges in addiction recovery. Many people assume that completing rehab means the problem is solved, but recovery does not end when inpatient treatment does. Addiction is a chronic condition. Like other ch...
Logos of the South African medical aids that cover rehab at Houghton House addiction recovery centre and psychiatric hospital. These include Discovery Health Medical Scheme, the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS), Bonitas Medical Fund, SA Police Service Medical Scheme (POLMED), Momentum Medical Scheme, Bestmed Medical Scheme, Medihelp, Fedhealth Medical Scheme, Profmed, the Chartered Accountants (SA) Medical Aid Fund (CAMAF), and the international medical schemes Cigna, Pulamed, and BPOMAS

Which medical aids in South Africa cover rehabilitation at Houghton House?

19 February 2025
Did you know that all medical aid schemes in South Africa are legally obligated to cover substance abuse treatment as a prescribed minimum benefit (PMB)?  This means that if you’re a member of a recognised medical scheme registered in South ...
An abstract collage representing various addiction risk factors. Risk factors for addiction include genetics, environment, trauma, mental health conditions, and age of first use.

Risk factors for addiction

4 December 2024
Everyone has a brain capable of developing addiction. The reward system that drives substance dependence is a feature of normal human neurobiology, not a disorder exclusive to a particular type of person. What varies between individuals is the deg...
A blurred office environment in warm amber and neutral tones.

Substance abuse and addiction in the workplace

4 December 2024
Addiction in the workplace is largely invisible, not because people aren’t struggling, but because most people who are struggling are still showing up.                                                                                          ...
Choosing the right rehab

How to choose the right rehab: A practical guide

18 November 2024
Choosing a rehab can be overwhelming, especially when you’re in crisis or worried about someone you care about. South Africa has a wide range of facilities, from state-funded centres to private hospitals, and the differences between them are...
A serene, hopeful spiritual scene showing diverse cultural elements — Islamic geometric patterns, a Hindu lotus flower, soft golden light, hands reaching upward.

Is addiction a sin? What Islam and Hinduism say about substance abuse

18 November 2024
When someone is struggling with addiction, one of the most painful questions they may face is a deeply personal one: “Is my addiction a sin?” For those who identify with a faith tradition, the intersection of spirituality and substance...
12 stone steps climb through the dark woods up towards a glowing sunrise, representing the 12 steps of addiction recovery programs like AA and NA.

The 12-step programme for addiction recovery

18 November 2024
Understanding the 12 steps to recovery There’s a reason the 12 steps to recovery are almost synonymous with achieving sobriety and maintaining recovery. Most addicts can get sober, but it’s far more difficult to stay sober: managing cravings...
AI-generated image of a counsellor comforting a child whose parent is an alcoholic.

How does an alcoholic parent affect a child?

18 November 2024
Are children affected by alcohol abuse? Alcohol abuse affects more than the person drinking. It can profoundly shape the emotional, psychological, and developmental wellbeing of children living in the same home. If you have ever asked, “How does a...
A split image shows the same addiction therapist counselling two different patients in a clinical setting.

Alcohol vs drug rehab: How treatment programmes differ

18 November 2024
Many people ask whether alcohol rehab and drug rehab are treated differently — and the answer is yes, although the core principles of recovery remain the same. Understanding how alcohol and drug rehab programmes differ can help you make an informe...
A warm, candid-style photograph of a parent and young child sharing a relaxed morning together at a bright kitchen table. The parent looks rested, engaged, and genuinely present. Soft natural light, a cup of tea or coffee visible, no alcohol. The mood is calm, connected, and hopeful.

Sober parenting: Benefits, tips, and why it matters for your whole family

14 November 2024
Parenting is overwhelming. That is not a controversial statement. Between the sleepless nights, the school runs, the emotional demands, and the relentless pace of family life, it is no surprise that many parents reach for a drink at the end of the...
A candid photo of a family sitting together in a living room, not posed for the camera, but in quiet, supportive conversation.

Addiction is a family disease

10 November 2024
When someone in a family develops an addiction, the effects don’t stay contained to that one person. Partners absorb the chaos. Children adapt to unpredictability. Siblings take on roles they didn’t choose. Parents carry guilt that has...
AI-generated image depicting the concept of sponsorship in recovery. On the left the fathers of the concept of sponsorship (Bill Wilson (Bill W.) and Dr Bob Smith) are shown. On the right, we see a couple walking hand-in-hand down a boardwakl. In the background, the Johannesburg skyline is visible, with the sun emerging from behind dark clouds to symbolise hope.

What is a sponsor in rehab? A guide to AA and NA sponsorship

11 October 2024
  In many 12-step recovery programmes such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), having a sponsor plays an important role in early sobriety. If you’ve ever asked, “What is a sponsor for addicts?” or “How do I find a spons...

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