The addiction crisis hiding in plain sight in South African homes

For many families, addiction is something that happens “somewhere else” — to other people, in other communities.

But experts working on the frontline of South Africa’s substance abuse crisis say the reality is very different.

In this latest HOT 1027 News special series “Unhinged”, Tara Penny speaks to recovering addicts, counsellors, intervention specialists, social workers and rehabilitation centres to unpack the true impact of addiction — and the message from every corner is clear: no family is immune.

Cassey Chambers from the South African Depression and Anxiety Group says one of the biggest challenges is breaking through the shame that prevents people from asking for help.

“This doesn’t happen to other people down the road. It’s not an ‘other community’. This is an us issue.”

Addiction is not limited to illegal drugs. It can include alcohol, prescription medication, gambling and other destructive behaviours — and many families are quietly fighting battles nobody else can see.

Perhaps most alarming is the age at which addiction is taking hold.

At Golden Harvest Rehabilitation Centre, children as young as 10 are being treated for substance abuse, with social workers warning that many youngsters arrive carrying years of trauma, abuse, neglect or emotional pain.

“The person who came in is not the same person who came out.”

While the stories are heartbreaking, there is hope — with many young people completing treatment, returning to school and rebuilding their futures.

But for many people battling addiction, one of the biggest obstacles remains stigma.

Experts say outdated stereotypes around what an “addict” looks like often prevent people from recognising the warning signs — especially when someone is still holding down a job, supporting a family or appearing to function normally.

“Shame is keeping too many families trapped in silence.”

The reality is addiction crosses all social and economic boundaries.

Yvette Kruger from Addicts Voice believes the conversation needs to go deeper than the substance itself.

She says addiction is often linked to unresolved pain, trauma and the desperate need to escape — and that lasting recovery means treating the person, not just removing the drug.

“Behind the addiction, there is often a broken heart.”

Her message is simple: every life is worth saving.

For families watching someone they love spiral, intervention specialists say they don’t have to wait for “rock bottom”.

Clint Swanepoel from True North Interventions says early action can prevent years of damage, and recovery often requires healing for the entire family — not only the person battling addiction.

“It’s not just the addict who needs healing — the family does too.”

Because behind every addiction is a person. Behind every person is a family. And behind every recovery journey is the possibility of hope.

But as South Africa’s conversation around addiction changes, experts say we also need to challenge what we think we know about certain substances.

For many people, dagga is still viewed as “just weed” — something harmless or very different from harder drugs. But addiction specialists warn that the cannabis available today is often far more potent than many adults realise, and some vulnerable users are experiencing serious mental health effects.

Experts stress that not everyone who uses dagga will develop problems, but they say the risks — especially for young people — cannot be ignored.

“It’s just weed… until it’s not.”

While addiction takes a devastating toll on the person using substances, the impact often reaches far beyond one individual.

For parents, partners and families, addiction can mean years of fear, confusion, heartbreak and fighting for someone they love — sometimes while feeling completely alone.

Sandton mother Anne Lapidus Brest knows that journey all too well. After watching her son Gregory battle addiction for almost two decades, she has shared her family’s story to offer hope to others still fighting.

“I never, ever gave up. I believed that he had the potential to turn his life around.”

And while asking for help is a critical first step, experts warn that many South Africans face another major challenge — actually accessing treatment.

“The rehabs are full… people aren’t aware of how bad the problem actually is.”

With rehabilitation centres under pressure, waiting lists growing, and private treatment often out of financial reach for many families, South Africa’s addiction crisis is placing increasing strain on available resources.

But support does exist, and experts say reaching out — even just for advice — can be the start of recovery.

South Africa’s role in the drug trade

Behind every addiction is more than a personal struggle. Experts say South Africa has become a major hub in the global drug trade, with sophisticated criminal syndicates moving cocaine, heroin and other drugs through the country while profiting from human misery.

As these networks grow, so too does the damage they cause – fuelling violence, corruption and organised crime. Tackling addiction, experts say, isn’t only about helping individuals recover. It’s also about reducing the demand that keeps this multi-billion-rand industry alive.

“Behind every addiction is a criminal economy profiting from human misery.”

Recovery is possible

Throughout the UNHINGED series, one message has come through time and again: recovery is possible.

For Jackie, that turning point came after years of addiction, when she reached a place of complete desperation. One decision to ask for help changed everything. Today, she says sobriety hasn’t just given her back her life – it’s given her hope.

Her story is a reminder that recovery isn’t about perfection. It’s about taking the first step and choosing it again every day.

“There is so much hope. It is the most beautiful life.”

From surviving to helping others

Jeanne’s addiction cost her almost everything.

She lost her health, her relationships, custody of her son, and at her lowest point was living inside a Johannesburg power box, convinced her life was over. Today, more than eight years clean, she works at a rehabilitation centre helping others begin their own recovery journeys.

Her story is proof that no matter how hopeless addiction may seem, recovery can transform not only one life, but countless others.

“The life that is waiting for you will be beyond your wildest dreams.”

Why can’t they just stop?

It’s one of the questions families ask most often – and one of the hardest to answer.

Experts say addiction isn’t simply a matter of willpower. Substance use changes the way the brain processes reward, creating a powerful battle between logic and compulsion. That’s why so many people continue using despite devastating consequences.

Understanding addiction as a chronic illness, rather than a personal failing, is one of the most important steps families can take.

“In active addiction, they actually can’t stop.”

Treating the whole person

Experts agree that lasting recovery means looking beyond the addiction itself.

Many people entering treatment are also living with depression, anxiety, trauma or other mental health conditions. If those underlying issues aren’t addressed, the risk of relapse remains high.

Recovery isn’t simply about putting down drugs or alcohol. It’s about healing the person beneath the addiction.

“You’re not a bad person getting good. You’re a sick person getting better.”

A future worth fighting for

Behind every statistic is a young person whose life could still be changed.

On International Day Against Drug Abuse, Andile is celebrating three months of sobriety after becoming addicted to dagga at just 14 years old. What began with vaping quickly escalated, affecting his behaviour at school, damaging trust with his family and taking a toll on his health.

Today, he’s back at school, rebuilding his relationships and looking ahead to a future he once thought he might lose. His message to other young people is simple: asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness – it’s the beginning of recovery.

“I learned that it’s okay to talk about what you’re going through. When I did, it opened doors for me.”

Supporting or enabling?

For families watching someone they love battle addiction, the instinct is often to help in whatever way they can. But addiction specialists say there is an important difference between supporting recovery and shielding someone from the consequences of their actions.

Paying debts, replacing stolen money or repeatedly rescuing a loved one may feel compassionate, but experts warn it can unintentionally keep the cycle of addiction going. Sometimes, they say, the hardest act of love is allowing someone to face the reality of their choices.

“Sometimes the most loving thing you can do is stop protecting someone from the consequences.”

The warning signs families shouldn’t ignore

Addiction rarely begins with a dramatic event. More often, it develops slowly through subtle changes in behaviour that are easy to dismiss or explain away.

Experts say the warning signs are remarkably consistent, regardless of whether the addiction involves drugs, alcohol, gambling or prescription medication. Secrecy, isolation, dishonesty and broken promises often appear long before the addiction becomes obvious.

Recognising those early warning signs could make all the difference.

“The biggest symptom of addiction isn’t the substance itself. It’s dishonesty.”

When someone refuses help

One of the most difficult realities for families is watching someone spiral deeper into addiction while insisting nothing is wrong.

When every conversation ends in conflict and every attempt to encourage treatment has failed, experts say there may still be another option. South African law allows families, under specific circumstances, to apply for a court order that enables someone to receive treatment against their will.

While it may sound daunting, professionals stress that the process is designed to save lives—not to punish people battling addiction.

“The person’s fighting a war. You need every bit of ammunition you can get.”

Every recovery begins with hope

For Sihle, addiction nearly robbed her of everything.

After experiencing severe trauma as a teenager, alcohol became a way of escaping emotional pain. Instead, it pulled her further into darkness until she reached the point where she realised she needed help.

Today, eight months sober, she’s back at school, rebuilding her future and hoping to become a psychologist so she can help others facing the same struggles. Her story is a reminder that no matter how hopeless addiction may seem, recovery can create opportunities that once felt impossible.

“Rehab taught me that I deserve a second chance.”

Healing doesn’t end with rehab

When someone enters rehabilitation, the focus naturally falls on the person battling addiction. But experts say recovery doesn’t happen in isolation.

Years of addiction often leave families carrying fear, anger, resentment and trauma of their own. While their loved one begins rebuilding a life, parents, partners and siblings are often left trying to heal from everything they’ve lived through.

Professionals say lasting recovery depends on treating the family as well as the addiction—because healing is strongest when no one has to carry the burden alone.

“It’s not just the addict who requires aftercare… the family does too.”

Recovery is possible

Over the course of the UNHINGED series, we’ve heard heartbreaking stories of addiction—but we’ve also heard stories of extraordinary courage.

We’ve met recovering addicts rebuilding their lives, teenagers rediscovering hope, parents refusing to give up, and experts dedicated to helping families find a way forward. While South Africa’s addiction crisis remains one of our greatest challenges, every conversation in this series has pointed to the same truth: recovery is possible.

The first step is often the hardest—but no one has to take it alone.

“Recovery is a journey, not a destination. Just have the courage to ask for help.”

Getting help

Addiction thrives in silence — but recovery often begins with a single conversation.

Whether you are struggling with substance abuse yourself, worried about a loved one, or trying to support a family member through addiction, help is available. You do not have to wait for things to reach breaking point before reaching out.

Drug addiction and mental health support services in South Africa:

South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG)
📞 Substance Abuse Helpline: 0800 12 13 14
📞 Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0800 567 567
🌐 www.sadag.org

SANCA (South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence)
📞 011 892 3829
🌐 www.sancanational.info

Eagle View Wellness Centre
📞 079 590 8682
🌐 evwc.co.za/contact-us/

Addicts Voice
Support, outreach and recovery guidance for people battling addiction and their families.
🌐 www.addictsvoice.com

True North Interventions
Family support and professional intervention services.
🌐 www.true-northassist.com

Houghton House Addiction Recovery Centre
Addiction treatment and recovery support.
🌐 www.houghtonhouse.co.za

Golden Harvest Rehabilitation Centre
Youth substance abuse treatment and support services.