Disclaimer

Content on this website is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always speak to a qualified health professional about any medical concerns.

No Medical or Emergency Advice

The information on this website, including text, graphics, images, downloadable resources, questionnaires, and any other materials, is provided for general educational purposes only. It is not intended to:

  • Diagnose any medical, psychiatric, or substance use disorder;
  • Recommend or replace any specific treatment, medication, or therapeutic intervention;
  • Be used as a substitute for an in-person assessment by a suitably qualified health professional.

You should not ignore or delay seeking professional medical advice because of information you have read on this website. Never start, stop, or change any medication, treatment plan, or therapeutic approach without first consulting a doctor or other appropriately qualified practitioner.

If you believe you or someone else may be experiencing a medical or psychiatric emergency, or is at risk of self-harm or harm to others, you should seek immediate help by contacting your local emergency services or presenting to the nearest emergency facility. In South Africa, you can contact:

  • Emergency medical services: 10177 (from a landline) or 112 (from a mobile phone)
  • South African Police Service (SAPS): 10111

No Doctor–Patient or Therapist–Client Relationship

Using this website, sending queries via contact forms, email, messaging platforms, or any other communication channel linked to this site does not create a doctor–patient, therapist–client, or any other formal professional relationship.

A professional relationship with our clinical team is only established after:

  • A formal assessment has been conducted;
  • Admission and treatment have been accepted by both the client (or legal guardian) and the facility; and
  • All required consent and admission documentation has been completed and signed.

Individualised Assessment and Treatment

Addiction, mental health conditions, and related medical problems are complex and highly individualised. Any reference on this website to possible symptoms, diagnoses, treatment options, expected outcomes, or recovery journeys is general in nature and may not apply to your specific circumstances.

Only a suitably qualified, registered health professional who has taken your full history and conducted an in-person or appropriately supervised assessment can provide advice or treatment recommendations tailored to your situation.

Accuracy, Updates

While reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the information on this website is accurate, current, and aligned with widely accepted clinical practice in South Africa:

  • The content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis;
  • No representation or warranty is given, express or implied, as to its completeness, reliability, suitability, or accuracy;
  • Clinical guidelines, laws, funding arrangements, and professional standards may change over time, and information on this site may not always reflect the most recent developments.

You remain responsible for verifying any information that may affect your healthcare decisions with your doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other suitably qualified professional.

Outcomes and Recovery Disclaimer

Addiction treatment and mental health care outcomes vary significantly between individuals. Many factors influence results, including (but not limited to) diagnosis, severity of condition, co-occurring disorders, social support, environment, and personal engagement with treatment.

Accordingly:

  • No guarantee is made that any particular person will achieve abstinence, remission, or any specific treatment outcome;
  • Any references to success rates, recovery stories, case examples, or testimonials reflect individual experiences and do not predict or guarantee your outcome;
  • Past results do not guarantee future results.

Medical Aids, Costs, and Approvals

Any information on this website regarding:

  • Medical aid or health insurance benefits;
  • Cover for addiction treatment and mental health services;
  • Co-payments, deductibles, exclusions, or waiting periods; or
  • Estimated costs and benefits;

is provided for general guidance only.

Benefits differ between schemes and plans, and they are subject to each funder’s rules, clinical criteria, authorisation processes, and contractual terms. Final decisions on funding, approval, and payment always rest with the relevant medical aid or insurer.

You should confirm all benefits, limitations, and out-of-pocket costs directly with your medical aid, insurer, or financial advisor before admission.

This website may contain links to third-party websites, organisations, professional bodies, helplines, or resources. These links are provided solely for convenience and informational purposes.

We do not:

  • Control or endorse the content, policies, or services of any linked third-party website;
  • Guarantee the accuracy, currency, or completeness of information found on third-party sites;
  • Accept responsibility for any loss, harm, or damage that may arise from your use of third-party resources or services.

Professional Registration, Licensing, and Ethical Standards

Our clinical and medical services are delivered in accordance with the laws and professional standards applicable in the Republic of South Africa, including (where relevant):

  • The National Health Act and associated regulations;
  • The ethical rules and policies of applicable professional councils (such as the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), the South African Nursing Council (SANC), and other relevant bodies);
  • Applicable licensing and registration requirements from the Department of Health and the Department of Social Development.

However, the summaries and references on this website are not a full statement of the law or of professional rules. They are provided purely for context and should not be relied upon as legal advice or as a legal interpretation of any statute or guideline.

Personal Information and Confidentiality

Any personal information that you submit through contact forms, email, telephone, or messaging channels linked to this website is handled in line with our Privacy Policy and applicable South African data protection laws, including the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

However:

  • Online communication is never completely risk-free, and we cannot guarantee absolute security of data transmitted via the internet;
  • You should avoid sending highly sensitive information (such as detailed medical histories or identity numbers) in unsecured electronic messages; and
  • Confidentiality protections are subject to legal and ethical limits, for example where there is a serious risk of harm to you or others, or where reporting is required by law.

Use of Self-Assessment Tools and Questionnaires

Any questionnaires, checklists, or self-assessment tools provided on this website (for example, relating to addiction, mental health symptoms, or readiness for treatment) are intended solely for personal reflection and educational purposes.

They:

  • Do not constitute a diagnosis;
  • Are not a substitute for a clinical assessment by a qualified professional;
  • Should not be used to make decisions about starting, stopping, or changing any treatment.

A high or concerning score should prompt you to seek an in-person assessment from an appropriate health professional as soon as reasonably possible.

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by South African law, the owners, directors, employees, contractors, and affiliates of this facility will not be liable for any loss, damage, injury, or claim of any nature whatsoever (whether direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or otherwise) arising out of or in connection with:

  • Your access to or use of this website;
  • Your reliance on any information, resources, or materials provided on the site;
  • Any decisions or actions you take or fail to take based on the content of this website; or
  • Your use of any third-party websites, services, or resources linked from this site.

Nothing in this disclaimer is intended to exclude or limit any liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable South African law.

Jurisdiction and Applicable Law

This website is controlled and operated from within the Republic of South Africa. Your use of the site and any dispute arising from or relating to the site, its content, or this disclaimer shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of South Africa.

By using this website, you consent to the jurisdiction of the South African courts in respect of any dispute that may arise in connection with your use of the site.

Changes to This Disclaimer

We may amend, update, or replace this disclaimer from time to time without prior notice to reflect legal, clinical, operational, or regulatory changes. The latest version will always be available on this page.

Your continued use of the website following any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated disclaimer. You are encouraged to review this page periodically to ensure that you remain informed of the current terms.

Contact for Clarification

If you have any questions about this disclaimer or how it applies to your use of this website, you are welcome to contact us directly using the details on our Contact page. Please note that queries submitted via the website are not monitored for emergencies and should not be used in place of emergency services.