Addiction centre fails to impress
It is not an NGO, but a business – contradicting telephonic confirmation by a person who introduced himself as ‘Duncan’,who said it was a free service to the public.
AN information session to introduce a new addiction treatment centre in Empangeni, yielded more questions than answers.
The apparent lack of clarity and transparency as to personnel, as well as issues around the required legal, welfare and medical processes, dampened hopes that a desperately needed facility could in the near future accommodate referrals from SANCA or even private patients struggling with addiction.
The Bethlehem Addiction Treatment Centre invited the Zululand Observer, among others, to attend what was described as a welcoming, history and general overview on addiction.
The foreign-accented guest speaker, introducing himself only as ‘Ayo’, declined to name the identity of the ‘directors’ mentioned on their website, the registration number of their company or what type of undertaking it is, and the names and qualifications of the doctors and therapists they claim to have working for them.
He said he was not there to speak about that but about his passion for drug addicts who, he says, are suffering from an illness.
He did however say they were not an NGO, but a business – contradicting telephonic confirmation by a person who introduced himself as ‘Duncan’,who said it was a free service to the public.
The failure to arrive of the Durban doctor who Duncan said was to be on the programme, was another disappointment, while the presentation given of drug addiction appeared to have emanated from an American university.
Ayo spoke about the treatment of addictions with a drug called Nalprexone which, according to a local doctor who regularly treats addiction, is not registered in South Africa.
Asked by SANCA whether they are registered with the Department of Social Development and Integration as an Addiction and Rehabilitation Facility, Ayo said they were ‘in the process’.
They also later declined SANCA to view the rooms, stating they were not ready.
According to the City of uMhlatuze Town Planning Division, the property is not appropriately zoned for the proposed use and such application is still to be submitted for inspection and evaluation.
After this, proper public participation process must be followed according to the Planning and Development Act.
According to their website they are however already ‘the proven residential recovery program for addiction treatment’ and ‘the first treatment centre in the world to offer intensive one-to-one attention with multi-disciplinary therapies in a luxury setting’.
The site adds: ‘Although we have treated nobility, politicians, CEOs and celebrities from around the world, we remain completely discreet and confidential. Not one client has ever been confirmed as being in our care.’
That may well be so, as an internet search finds no information on the centre, its history, validity of claims, endorsements or any of the usual data pertaining to such a project.
The Zululand Observer waits patiently for this promised information.
