Houghton House
Drug rehab
Inpatient drug rehabilitation in Johannesburg, with 24-hour medical care and on-site psychiatric support.
Drug addiction affects the body, mind, and emotions. Whether it involves prescription medication, opioids, stimulants, or other substances, effective drug rehab requires both medical and psychological care.
At Houghton House Addiction Recovery Centre in Johannesburg, our evidence-based drug rehab programme provides an environment where clients can recover safely, supported by a compassionate professional team.
Understanding drug addiction
Drug addiction, also known as substance use disorder (SUD), is a chronic condition that changes the way your brain functions. Over time, repeated substance use alters the brain’s reward and stress systems, creating powerful cravings and making it increasingly difficult to stop.
Drug tolerance builds over time, meaning you need more of the substance to achieve the same effect. Reducing drug use or stopping may cause withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, sweating, nausea, anxiety. These physical and psychological effects reinforce the cycle of dependence.
Addictions rarely exist in isolation. Many individuals struggling with SUD also suffer from co-occurring mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, or impulse-control disorders. Often, substance abuse is a way of self-medicating in an attempt to cope with stressors.
When does drug use become a problem?
It isn’t always easy to recognise when drug use has crossed the line from experimentation or recreation to dependence. What begins as occasional use can gradually turn into a pattern that feels impossible to control. Warning signs that drug use may have become a problem include:
- Using more of the substance than you intended
- Needing larger or more frequent doses to achieve the same effect S
- pending a lot of time obtaining, using, or recovering from drugs
- Neglecting work, studies, or family responsibilities
- Continuing to use despite health issues or relationship conflict
- Experiencing cravings, irritability, or anxiety when not using
- Trying to stop, but finding you can’t on your own
If several of these signs sound familiar, it may be time to speak to our admissions team. Houghton House offers confidential assessments and treatment plans that help you take back control and begin the recovery process.
Treating both addiction and mental health
Many people who use drugs also struggle with untreated mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, or trauma.
At Houghton House drug rehab, all patients are assessed for co-occurring mental health conditions as part of the standard intake process. Where depression, anxiety, trauma, or another condition is present alongside addiction, both are treated simultaneously rather than sequentially.
Our dual-licensed facility is uniquely equipped to treat addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions simultaneously. By addressing the full picture, we help clients build a solid foundation for long-term health and stability.
What drug addiction treatment at Houghton House involves
Our inpatient rehab programme for drug addiction offers an integrated schedule of therapy, education, and personal development. Every component is designed to help clients build awareness, skills, and resilience.
Treatment is tailored to each individual and guided by an experienced multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors, and support staff.
The treatment programme includes:
- Supervised medical detox
- Daily therapy schedule
- CBT & DBT
- 12-step facilitation
- Psychoeducation
- Trauma and grief therapy
- Group therapy
- Individual counselling
- Relapse prevention
- Mindfulness & meditation
- Biokinetics & exercise
- Family participation
A rigorous daily therapeutic routine
Treatment at Houghton House follows a set daily schedule. Patients know when therapy begins, when meals are, and when they have free time. That consistency is deliberate: for many people in early recovery, unstructured time carries real risk. A predictable routine removes some of that pressure while patients build the capacity to manage it themselves.
Within that framework, the clinical team adapts its approach to each patient. Some need their thinking challenged directly; others need space to process. Counsellors make those calls based on what they’re observing, not on a formula. The 12-step programme runs alongside individual counselling and group therapy throughout.
Holistic, evidence-based addiction treatment
Treatment at Houghton House focuses on what drives substance use, not just the substance use itself. Patients work with therapists to identify the thought patterns, emotions, and situations that sustain addiction, and develop concrete strategies for managing them differently.
As a licensed private psychiatric hospital, we’re perfectly positioned to treat both conditions under one roof. Our comprehensive drug rehab programme integrates medical care, individual therapy, group work, and family involvement, treating addiction as the complex condition it is.
Long-term addiction recovery support
Discharge from inpatient care is not the end of the recovery process. Clients who complete our inpatient programme continue their progress through our aftercare programme. Continued engagement reinforces the recovery skills developed during treatment, helps maintain stability, and keeps you connected to a supportive community.
We also offer halfway houses for those who need a gradual transition into independent living. Both options keep patients connected and supported during the transition out of residential care.
Medical aid cover for drug addiction treatment
Houghton House is dual-licensed as both a psychiatric hospital and a rehabilitation facility. Under South Africa’s prescribed minimum benefits legislation, all registered medical aid schemes must cover treatment for substance use disorder. For most patients, this means no copayments, but the exact scope of cover depends on your scheme and benefit year.
What this looks like:
- 3 days of hospital-based medical detox
- Up to 21 days of inpatient psychiatric care (where a co-occurring condition qualifies)
- Up to 21 days of inpatient substance abuse treatment
- A once-off R1,850 admission fee applies upfront; this is typically the only out-of-pocket cost
Confirm your cover before you commit
Call +27 11 787 9142 or WhatsApp 079 770 7532, and our admissions team will verify your medical aid benefits at no cost and with no obligation.
Here’s how Houghton House has helped people like you
Frequently asked questions about drug rehab
Stopping drug use on your own can be extremely difficult and, in some cases, unsafe. When the body has developed dependence, suddenly quitting can trigger strong cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and emotional distress that make relapse more likely.
The safest way to stop using drugs is with medical and therapeutic support. At Houghton House, clients begin recovery through a supervised detox programme, where withdrawal is managed in a safe and controlled environment. From there, individual and group therapy help uncover the emotional, psychological, and situational triggers that fuel substance use.
Treatment also focuses on developing practical relapse-prevention skills, rebuilding structure, and addressing co-occurring mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression. Our multidisciplinary team works closely with each client to create a personalised recovery plan — helping you move from dependence toward lasting change and a healthier, more stable life.
If you or someone you care about needs help, you can contact Houghton House for a confidential assessment at +27 11 787 9142, or call our 24/7 helpline at +27 79 770 7532.
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Houghton House treats all forms of substance dependence, including prescription drug addiction (opioid painkillers, benzodiazepines, sleeping medication, and stimulants), alcohol dependence, cannabis, heroin, mandrax, cocaine, and other illicit substances. Each patient receives a programme tailored to their specific substance history and clinical needs.
Treatment begins with a comprehensive psychiatric assessment and, if necessary, a medically-supervised detox to safely manage drug withdrawal symptoms. This is followed by structured therapy that includes individual and group counselling, CBT, DBT, trauma therapy, mindfulness, and relapse prevention.
Dual diagnosis refers to treating addiction and mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, or trauma at the same time. Houghton House is licensed as a psychiatric and addiction treatment centre, allowing clients to receive fully integrated care under one roof.
The duration of treatment depends on the individual client’s needs and progress. Most people begin with 24 days of inpatient care in our primary care facility, followed by six days in our secondary care or step-down facility. This can be extended to 18 days if needed.
After inpatient treatment, you’ll transition into our aftercare programme, and we strongly recommend that you continue to attend regular NA meetings until you’re at least one year sober.
Inpatient treatment gives patients the tools; aftercare is where they put those tools to consistent use. Houghton House offers continued support through our aftercare programme, outpatient therapy, and halfway houses, helping clients maintain stability and build a sustainable recovery.
Yes. Family involvement is encouraged as part of the healing and recovery process. Our counsellors facilitate family support sessions to rebuild trust, improve communication, and help loved ones understand how to support ongoing recovery.
We hold family support meetings every Thursday at 17:30 – 19:00 at 420 York Avenue, Ferndale.
Some people do reduce or stop drug use without formal treatment, particularly in the earlier stages of dependence. Whether this is realistic depends on the substance, how long you’ve been using, and whether there are co-occurring mental health conditions involved.
For physical dependence on substances like opioids, benzodiazepines, or alcohol, stopping without medical supervision carries real risk. Withdrawal can cause seizures, severe anxiety, and other complications that require immediate clinical attention.
For those with moderate to severe dependence, or where previous attempts to stop on your own haven’t held, structured inpatient treatment gives you the best chance of lasting change. Our admissions team can help you work out which level of care fits your situation — call us on for a confidential assessment.
Yes. Prescription drug dependence is one of the most common forms of addiction we treat. This includes dependence on opioid painkillers, benzodiazepines, sleeping medication, and stimulant prescription drugs.
Prescription dependence can take months or years to become apparent, and people often don’t recognise it as addiction because the medication was prescribed by a doctor.
Treatment follows the same evidence-based process as other forms of drug rehabilitation: medically supervised detox where needed, followed by individual and group therapy, CBT, and relapse prevention work tailored to the specific substance and circumstances.
Medical aid covers prescription drug addiction treatment under the legislated Prescribed Minimum Benefits. Contact our admissions team to confirm your specific cover.
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