Fighting the disease of alcohol and drug addiction
Westview Clinic hosts open day to clarify its mission
Helping addicts recover from their ills is a steady and continuous journey that relies as much on the will of the patient as it does the facility they are in. Ensuring that the latter is of the highest quality is Westview Clinic, which hosted an open day on Wednesday, 27 November.
Making sure the wheels stay in constant motion is In-patient Manager, Anthea Barriel, who for 15 years has been coordinating the treatment and recovery of drug and alcohol dependents. Westview Clinic caters for 18- to 35-year-olds who show a dedication to ridding themselves of their life-hampering habits. Stays at the facility are not mandatory and anyone is free to leave at any time, but are of course encouraged to finish the facility’s renowned 42-day recovery programme.
The open day was attended by social workers and other members of the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA) network who were seeking clarification on how best to get their wards into the facility. The facility can currently accommodate 40 patients and runs at 90 per cent capacity throughout the year. While a semi-private facility, the clinic has requested more funding to increase its capacity.
Facility supervisor, Sister Liz Rupata, outlined the two pillars of treatment, being medical and psychological. Medical treatment focuses on the detox and withdrawals, while the psychological treatment analyses deeper triggers. “We find out how they got here and what circumstances have led to their addiction,” said Liz. Anthea clarified that this was just the beginning. “Ask any recovering addict, the initial treatment is only the first step of the journey.”
Social workers or members of the public looking to have someone checked into the facility will need to confirm availability with the clinic and once confirmed, submit the following documentation:
– A psychological report of the patient
– Certified copy of the ID of the patient
– Medical report of the patient
– Proof of residence of the patient
– An undertaking signed by the family of the patient giving consent
– An affidavit from the patient agreeing to voluntary admission
