Rehab programme

The standard inpatient programme is 30 days. This can be extended to 42 days when clinically necessary and approved by your medical aid or funded privately. A shorter 14-day relapse programme is available for former Houghton House patients who need to be readmitted.

Thirty days is the minimum time needed to do three things: clear the substance from the body, stabilise the patient medically and emotionally, and begin therapeutic work. None of those can be rushed.

The first week or two is often dominated by detox and stabilisation. Withdrawal from alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opioids can be physically dangerous without clinical supervision, and managing that safely takes time. Once a patient is medically stable, the daily therapeutic schedule begins. At Houghton House, patients are engaged in therapeutic activity from 6am to 8pm, because consistent engagement accelerates recovery in a way that a shorter stay cannot.

Thirty days also gives the clinical team enough time to understand what they are actually treating. Addiction rarely presents in isolation. Most patients have a co-occurring condition, whether depression, anxiety, trauma, or something else, and assessing and beginning to address both takes time.

There is also a neurological case for the duration. Prolonged substance use changes brain chemistry and alters neural pathways, and full cognitive function can take up to 90 days to return after someone stops using. Thirty days of inpatient care covers the most acute phase of that window. Houghton House recommends building on those 30 days with secondary care, an aftercare programme, and ongoing support.

From 6 am to 8 pm, patients are engaged in therapeutic activity with almost no gaps. Group therapy, individual sessions, psychoeducation, and 12-step work fill the day. Mealtimes and evenings are the only real breaks. The pace is deliberate. Keeping patients occupied and engaged throughout the day is part of the treatment itself.

Houghton House treats all forms of substance dependence, including:

• Alcohol
• Opioids, including heroin, nyaope, whoonga, and prescription painkillers such as morphine, codeine, oxycodone, and fentanyl
• Stimulants, including cocaine, methamphetamine (tik), cat (methcathinone), prescription stimulants such as Ritalin, ecstasy, and MDMA
• Sedative-hypnotics, including benzodiazepines, z-drugs, barbiturates, sleeping pills, GHB, and mandrax
• Cannabis
• Dissociative drugs, including ketamine, PCP, DXM, and salvia divinorum
• Inhalants, including nitrous oxide, aerosols, and solvents
• Novel psychoactive substances (designer drugs)

In addition to substance use disorders, we treat gambling disorder and co-occurring mental health conditions. Learn more about our dual diagnosis treatment.

The programme incorporates cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), individual and group counselling, 12-step facilitation, trauma and grief therapy, psychoeducation, mindfulness, and biokinetics.

Treatment is tailored to each patient by a multidisciplinary clinical team that includes psychiatrists, psychologists, and addiction counsellors.

The decision depends on three factors: the severity of the addiction, whether withdrawal requires medical supervision, and how much stability and support exists at home.

Outpatient treatment suits people who are genuinely self-motivated, prepared to be open with those around them, and have a stable home environment without significant triggers. If physical dependence is mild and medical detox isn’t required, outpatient care can be effective.

Inpatient treatment is appropriate when:

• The addiction is moderate to severe
• Previous outpatient attempts haven’t worked
• The home environment is too unstable or full of triggers to support early recovery
• Withdrawal requires clinical supervision

Alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal in particular can be physically dangerous and needs to be managed in a hospital setting. Addiction also makes honest self-assessment difficult, and an instinct to choose outpatient sometimes reflects a desire to keep the problem private rather than a genuine clinical fit. Our admissions team can help you work out which option suits your situation.

Learn more about our outpatient programme.

The cost of 30 days of inpatient care at Houghton House typically falls between R92,000 and R102,000.

In South Africa, all registered medical aid schemes are legally required to cover substance use disorder treatment under Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs). Because Houghton House is dual-licensed as both a rehabilitation facility and a private psychiatric hospital, most patients pay nothing beyond the R1,850 once-off admission fee. Any medication co-payments are the patient’s responsibility and typically don’t exceed R2,000.

The exact scope of cover depends on your scheme and benefit year. Our admissions team will verify your benefits and manage pre-authorisation before you’re admitted. See how your medical aid scheme covers rehab.

Houghton House’s aftercare and halfway house programmes extend the support that begins in inpatient care. Most patients move into the aftercare programme on discharge. Those whose home environment isn’t yet stable enough for independent living may be suitable for the halfway house. Continuing care significantly improves long-term outcomes.

Learn more about aftercare at Houghton House.