AHS Views

Drug addiction in South Africa is growing, and its victims are getting younger and younger. In an effort to reduce the number of addicts in the country, more and more drug treatment centers are opening. But, if you are looking for help, beware, because bogus treatment centers are sprouting up all over South Africa in an effort to take advantage of the growing number of addicts in the country. You have to look hard to find a successful drug rehab program.

A recent article reports that several unregistered drug rehab centers have opened in the Durban and KwaZulu-Natal, both of which are located on the southeastern coastline. The concern with the centers is that they are administering drugs to addicts, and “endangering their lives,” according to the director of the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.

In South Africa, drug rehab programs are required to register with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and every registered center is issued a practice number. The United States has similar registration requirements.

When looking for a good treatment center, is it very important to check out the credentials and licensing certificates of the program to ensure you are going into a legitimate, trustworthy drug rehab program.