The Modern Workplace’s Silent Epidemic Workplaces across South Africa are quietly facing an epidemic that rarely makes the HR reports, addiction. It’s not the kind that’s always obvious. It’s not someone staggering into work drunk or the employee found sleeping at their desk. It’s quieter, more insidious, the late-night wine to “unwind,” the reliance on […]
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Naltrexone
The Medication Nobody Wants to Talk About, Until It Saves Their Life For all the public talk about “awareness” and “support,” medication-assisted treatment remains one of the most controversial, emotionally loaded topics in addiction recovery. Families whisper about it. Patients feel judged for considering it. Social media moralists insist that if someone truly wanted to […]
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Four Absolutes
Why The Four Absolutes Still Get Whispered About For all the talk about how modern recovery has moved forward from the old days of church basements and handwritten inventories, there is still a quiet reverence among seasoned counsellors and long term members for something AA never officially kept, the Four Absolutes. Honesty, purity, unselfishness and […]
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Escape
Addiction often stems from a need to escape from overwhelming emotions or stressful life situations. Individuals may turn to substances or behaviors that provide temporary relief and detachment. This core emotion is not a pursuit of pleasure but an attempt to avoid discomfort or pain, frequently rooted in trauma or emotional isolation. Escapism in addiction […]
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Whoonga
Whoonga, also known as nyaope or wonga, is a dangerous drug that started to feature in South Africa around 2009. It’s typically a mix of black tar heroin and various additives, which can range from pharmaceutical drugs to household cleaning chemicals. These additives are used to increase the volume of the drug and enhance its […]
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Cannabis Culture, Cannabis Chaos
Cannabis Has Gone Mainstream, But the Risks Haven’t Shrunk Cannabis has achieved a level of cultural acceptance that would have been unthinkable twenty years ago. It’s legal in several countries, celebrated on social media, endorsed by celebrities, and talked about as casually as coffee. For many people, cannabis has transformed from an illicit drug into […]
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Prohibition
Prohibition, as a general concept, refers to the legal enforcement by governments to restrict or ban the production, distribution and consumption of certain substances or behaviours deemed harmful to society. Historically, the most notable instance of prohibition was the ban on alcohol in the United States from 1920 to 1933, aimed at addressing social issues […]
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Teetotaler
Teetotalism refers to the commitment or advocacy for complete personal avoidance of alcohol consumption, particularly in the form of alcoholic beverages. Individuals who adhere to teetotalism are known as teetotalers or are described as being teetotal. Worldwide, nearly 50% of adults abstain from drinking alcohol, not including those who have previously drunk but have since […]
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Tough Love
Old-School Approaches to Addiction Are Failing Families Tough love is one of the most emotionally charged concepts in the addiction world. It’s a phrase people throw around with confidence, almost as if it’s a universal solution for getting someone to “wake up” and stop using. You hear it from frustrated parents, exhausted partners and well-meaning […]
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