Rand Aid Association’s Wedge Gardens Treatment Centre has seen an integral need for its holistic focus on the substance abuse problems we are faced with every day in South Africa.

Men of all ages come to Wedge Gardens Treatment Centre seeking the help that they have not been offered before.

“Wedge Gardens is a lifeline to those men who are ready to start taking back their lives,” says complex manager Adél Grobbelaar. “When rehabilitation is successful, they are able to move forward without the need for a debilitating dependency,” she adds.

When Wedge Gardens realised that addiction rehabilitation in South Africa was traditionally based on a client centred approach, it made sure that integration back into society became a core element of its Full Circle Recovery Programme.

“Our treatment is based on an holistic, pioneering approach that focuses on the needs related to rehabilitation,” Adél explains.

That’s why the Full Circle Recovery Programme has incorporated a problem solving, reality therapy and systems approach that makes use of a clinical psychologist, trauma psychologist, social workers, medical practitioners, nursing practitioners and a spiritual therapist.

“Although this type of rehabilitation has long been used by western society, this has not been the case in South Africa. We used a mixed quantitative-qualitative study in 2005 and 2006, to explore the needs related to treatment at Wedge Gardens,” says Adél.

The study provided evidence that patients have to be equipped to be able to reintegrate with their significant others, as well as the community at large. Rand Aid’s Full Circle Recovery Programme therefore also focuses on assessment, behaviour change, family and community integration, and recovery care.

The programme’s core services include detoxification, in-house treatment, family therapy, family information workshops, family accommodation, a halfway house, aftercare services, and outreach programmes.

If you or someone you know needs to ‘Quit 4 Good’, contact Wedge Gardens now at 011 430 0320 or email agrobbelaar@randaid.co.za.

Wedge Gardens also undertakes outreach programmes in Alexandra, an area stricken with poverty that is urgently in need of assistance. Should you be in a position to support Wedge Gardens, please contact Carol Steyn at 011 882 2510 or email csteyn@randaid.co.za