The City of Cape Town’s Health Department has opened its latest substance abuse treatment site.

Based at the Eerste River Clinic, the site is the seventh of its kind to offer free drug and alcohol treatment to residents in need.

Six other sites have been in operation for a number of years – the first being the Tafelsig substance abuse treatment site launched in 2008, followed by Town Two in Khayelitsha, Delft South, Milnerton, Parkwood and Manenberg.

Two qualified social workers and a clerk will be available to help clients through a 16-week programme, based on the evidence-based Matrix® model.

‘This treatment site is the first in what we refer to as Area East, within the City. There is a need for community-based alcohol and drug treatment services in this ever-expanding and developing area. Our clinic staff have also detected a trend where some of our clients are also dealing with alcohol or drug abuse. These are some of the reasons why we decided on this area as the location for the latest Matrix® site,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.

The substance abuse programme is available to walk-in clients who are able to enter the programme immediately after a professional assessment and drug and alcohol screening.
Based on the Matrix® model, treatment consists of three to four sessions a week, which involve:

• counselling sessions with or without family members;
• an early recovery group which focuses on skills that will help you stay clean and sober;
• a relapse prevention group which focuses on living without alcohol and drugs;
• a family education group which teaches you and your family about the process of recovery; and
• a social support group involving regular meetings with others struggling with substance abuse.