It is no secret that drug and alcohol addiction is a major problem in South Africa. It has been estimated that at least 15% of South Africans have a drug problem (Recovery Direct, 2018). This number may be far higher, as not all drug rehabilitation centres report their statistics, nor are a great many addicts seeking professional help and so are invisible. South Africa does not have a regular drug use survey from which to get more accurate statistics, so it is difficult to get an accurate picture of the problem.
Drug use in South Africa is estimated to be twice the international norm. Cannabis and alcohol are the most consumed drugs, mainly abused by male youths. In fact, at last 80% of male youth deaths are alcohol related. The rate of alcohol foetal syndrome is five times that of the USA (Parker, 2018). That South Africans have an alcohol problem became crystal clear during lockdown, when liquor stores were forced to close and people panicked, brewing their own alcohol at home and forming long queues when alcohol outlets reopened, in some cases drinking as soon as they emerged from the stores.
Approximately 3.7% of the country’s population use cannabis, followed by cocaine (1%), amphetamines (1%), opioids (0.5%), opiates (0.4%), ecstasy-type drugs (0.3%) and prescribed opiates (0.1%) (Staff Writer, 2020). It is estimated that some 60% of all crimes committed in this country involve the use of substances.
Meanwhile, the UN has warned that while the lockdown has resulted in less drugs being produced, the economic fallout of Covid-19 crisis will result in a spike of drug use in the near future. It is mostly marginalised groups, the youth, women, and the poor who will fall prey to addiction. Add to this the existing problems in informal settlement areas, such as unemployment, lack of effective mentorship, lack of family values, poor parenting guidance, and loss of hope, and we are set for a dramatic drug use increase (Mbandlwa & Dorasamy, 2020). Our health system will most certainly not be able to cope with this epidemic.
Chemical addictions aside, people also suffer from a variety of behavioral addictions. Compulsive behaviours are defined as persistent and repeated behaviours that are carried out even if they have no benefit to the person who is caught up in them (Raypole, 2020). Two such addictions are now officially recognised by the DSM-5, namely gambling addiction and internet gaming disorder. Although not yet officially recognised because of a lack of scientific, peer-reviewed evidence, you can add addictions such as sex, shopping, exercise, food, TV, and social media to the list.
There are approximately 7 million South Africans aged 15 and up who smoke some 27 billion cigarettes per year (Smoke Free World, 2019). When taking all of this into consideration, it is clear that there is a massive problem that needs serious intervention by those who have the skills to help overcome addiction and unhealthy habits.
Research has clearly indicated that the best way to intervene is to catch the addict early, before their condition can progress. When caught early and treated effectively, the recurrence rates are no higher than for other chronic conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma (Office of the US Surgeon General, 2016).
Once caught in the web of addiction, the treatment option that may be the most effective will depend on the person. Mainstream treatments include detoxification, cognitive behavioural therapy, rational emotive behavioural therapy, contingency management, 12-step facilitation, and the use of medication. These have all been used with varying degrees of success (Underwood, 2020).
Hypnotherapy is a mostly neglected treatment option, even though it has been scientifically shown to be highly effective for the treatment of addiction. In a study focusing on methadone addicts, it has shown a 94% success rate (Manganiello, 1984). It has been shown to be 77% effective in treating men with alcohol addiction (Potter, 2004). Teaching a recovering drug addict self-hypnosis techniques has proven to be highly effective to prevent relapse (Pakela et al., 2004). Any hypnotherapist worth their salt will attest to the success rate of hypnosis on smoking.
According to Hartman (1972): “The addict is usually over-sensitive, dependent, lonely, lacking in self esteem, and finds it difficult to tolerate frustration. In addition, self-pity is often a prominent feature of the addict’s personality. Hartland mentions two distinct types of addiction: 1) that which occurs in people suffering from neurosis who try to control their tension and anxiety with drugs; and 2) that which occurs in people who resort to drugs for the ‘lift’ and feelings of euphoria that they induce.” These are issues that hypnosis has proven to benefit through using self-esteem and ego boosting techniques.
If hypnosis is so effective in treating addiction, why are more hypnotherapists not using their skills to help people overcome this problem? According to South African hypnotherapy guru Thomas Budge: “Addiction is one of the most feared aspects of the hypnotherapist’s practice, simply because they do not possess the in-depth knowledge and skills to successfully help their clients.” Hypnosis training in this country does not specifically address this aspect in the detail it deserves, if at all. At most, helping people to stop smoking forms part of the hypnosis school’s curriculum, but most hypnotherapists are scared to touch serious addictions and prefer to refer clients to the one or two people who are equipped to handle this problem, such as himself.
Thomas has taken it upon himself to rectify this problem and share his knowledge built up over many years. Together with Yvonne Munshi, they have written a book called Addiction: Between the devil and the deep blue sea. This work forms the basis of a masterclass that will soon be presented in South Africa, before being taken across the oceans to empower hypnosis practitioners world-wide.
The five-day course is aimed at qualified and experienced hypnotherapists, not beginners, as it will cover advanced techniques for which a certain level of expertise and experience is required. It will cover the neurobiology of addiction, the rules of the mind, and detailed practical methods and award-winning scripts to help widen the scope of the modern hypnosis practice. During the course, Thomas and Yvonne will be imparting the wealth of knowledge that they have brought together in the course material.
Hypnotherapists will benefit not only from the specialised knowledge and skills, but also by becoming part of a growing worldwide network that will provide help and support in years to come. This means that any problems they may face will immediately be addressed by the experts and will benefit everyone who has gone through this unique training process. A system of referrals will ensure that those who most need this kind of service will be able to find a hypnotherapist close to them.
By adding these essential skills to their service offering, hypnosis practitioners will be able to substantially grow their businesses. They will be kept abreast of the latest developments and updated techniques and so increase their confidence and effectiveness when working with clients who find themselves in the clutches of addiction.
South African hypnotherapists are privileged to be the first to be trained in this upcoming masterclass that will be held in Pretoria from 2 – 6 September 2021. The course will go ahead with a minimum of nine attendees, while the maximum number of participants is 18. During the five days they will be immersed in practical training and will leave having a major advantage over other practitioners, equipped with rare and valuable skills that are not shared often. They will become the ambassadors for this specialised service and use their newly acquired skills to be of even greater benefit to a society that desperately needs their help.
Bookings can be made at hypnosismasterclass.pro where full details of the course is available. The closing date for registration is 18 August 2021.
References
Hartman, B. J. (1972). The use of hypnosis in the treatment of drug addiction. Journal of the National Medical Association, 64(1), 35–38.
Mbandlwa, Z., & Dorasamy, N. (2020, July). The impact of substance abuse in South Africa: A case of informal settlement communities. ResearchGate.
Office of the US Surgeon General. (2016, November). Early intervention, treatment, and management of substance use disorders. Nih.gov; US Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK424859/
Parker, B. (2018, June 26). 80% of SA’s male youth deaths are alcohol-related and drug consumption is twice the world norm.
Pekala, R. J., Maurer, R., Kumar, V. K., Elliott, N. C., Masten, E., Moon, E., & Salinger, M.
(2004). Self-Hypnosis relapse prevention training with chronic drug/alcohol users: Effects on self-esteem, affect, and relapse. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 46(4), 281–297. https://doi.org/10.1080/00029157.2004.10403613
Potter, G. (2004, July). Intensive therapy: Utilizing hypnosis in the treatment of substance abuse disorders. Citeseerx.ist.psu.edu.
https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.668.676&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Raypole, C. (2020, February 26). Types of addiction and how they’re treated. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/types-of-addiction
Recovery Direct. (2018, September 6). The staggering stats of addiction in South Africa. Recovery Direct Rehab in Cape Town.
Smoke Free World. (2019). State of smoking in South Africa. Foundation for a Smoke-Free World. https://www.smokefreeworld.org/health-science-technology/health-science-technology-agenda/data-analytics/global-state-of-smoking-landscape/state-smoking-south-africa/
Staff Writer. (2020, September 24). The most widely-used drugs in South Africa. Business Tech. https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/435579/the-most-widely-used-drugs-in-south-africa/
Underwood, C. (2020, December 12). 6 Treatments for addiction that are proven successful. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/connect-to-care/addiction-treatment-recovery/successful-treatments-for-addiction
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