Anyone can fall victim to substance abuse - no matter how successful they are. In this article we will take a look into what substance abuse is, how to seek help for it and how we cover rehabilitation.

The difference between substance abuse and addiction

One of the greatest indicators of addiction is how difficult it is for the person to stop the substance they are addicted to. In contrast, those who abuse substances would find it relatively easy to stop using the substance in question.

Although substance abuse is not the same as addiction, substance abuse can often lead to addiction, so it is important to keep an eye out for warning signs. Here are a few behavioural signs of substance abuse:

• Regularly missing school or work
• Changes in school or work performance
• Not following through with their responsibilities
• Denying how serious their substance abuse problem is
• Irritability

Because substance abuse often leads to addiction, it is important to overcome the challenges of substance abuse before the person becomes addicted to it. A few warning signs of addiction include (among others):

• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms if the person stops using the substance
• Constantly thinking about the substance and how to get it
• Changes in appearance such as tremors, weight gain or loss and red eyes
• Taking the substance along with alcohol
• Stealing (or borrowing) money to get hold of the substance
• Becoming unconcerned with their own hygiene

Substances that are commonly abused

Substance abuse starts when a person finds that taking the substance relieves their stress or helps them avoid issues that they are facing daily.

Commonly abused substances may include alcohol, tobacco products, marijuana, and even over-the-counter (OTC) medicine such as opioid pain relievers, medicine that is used to treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), medicine used for anxiety or sleep problems. The most commonly used OTC substance is medicine for coughs and colds.

Reasons to stop substance abuse

We would like you to know that substance abuse is not a sign that you're a weak person. Even successful persons can get hooked on substances.

Getting professional help is a good start to help a person triumph over their substance abuse problem - it is very likely that trying to address the problem themselves will be a struggle. Even with help, it might still be difficult to overcome substance abuse. But there are so many reasons to stop the habit, including:

• Improvement to your overall health
• Control over your finances
• Rebuilding your relationships
• Reaching your goals

We are here to help

1. SANCA - You can contact them on www.sancanational.info/contact - simply select the region and centre closest to you for information and help.
2. Nishtara Lodge - Nishtara Lodge is based in Johannesburg, and you can contact them in any of the ways mentioned on their site: www.nishtara.online/contact-me
3. Ramot - Located in Cape Town, you can contact Ramot on the details listed on their website: www.ramot.org.za/contact-us.html

How we cover your rehabilitation

We cover alcohol and drug rehabilitation as a prescribed minimum benefit (PMB).

• On the Classic Comprehensive plan, we cover up to a maximum of 200% of the Scheme rate for accounts that are related to your rehabilitation.
• On the Classic Saver plan, we would cover up to 200% of the related accounts.

In each case, you can be admitted for up to 21 days (per person on your plan). As with all PMB conditions, there are protocols that apply to your condition and its treatment.

Give us a call on 0860 100 421 for more information on how we cover you during your admission and to get authorisation for your treatment.