Thank You

The coordinator will take a focused clinical history: substances used, timing of last use, previous withdrawal events, current medications, psychiatric diagnoses, medical conditions, suicidal or violent thoughts, and practical details like ID, medical aid and who can transport you. That information isn’t small talk — it determines immediate risk (do you need medical detox or emergency care?), which medicines are safe to continue or start, whether you need a dual-diagnosis team, and what level of care we design for you. Bring ID, medical aid card or proof of income if you don’t have aid, any recent scripts or lab results, and be honest about last use — withholding details puts you at clinical risk. The coordinator also asks about work, legal obligations and family so we can create a realistic admission plan instead of a generic "one-size-fits-all" slot list.

No — we won't automatically push you into the public system, and we won’t leave you with nothing. The coordinator will map every feasible option: private admission with a payment plan, negotiated rates, outpatient stabilisation, referrals to state hospitals or NGO services, and harm-reduction resources in Johannesburg. Be blunt about finances up front — that lets us prioritise safety (medical detox placement or urgent public referral if your withdrawal is high-risk) and design a workable plan (step-down care, community-based programmes, or medication-assisted outpatient treatment) rather than promising a private bed you can’t afford. Expect honest trade-offs: public beds can be slow, private care is faster but costlier, and coordinators will help you navigate both paths practically.

Short answer: sometimes — but only if it’s safe. The coordinator will triage using standard withdrawal tools and a clinical interview; severe alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal, acute medical instability, or active suicidal ideation usually requires urgent medical detox or an acute hospital admission. If you’re medically unstable we’ll arrange ambulance transfer or hospital liaison; if you’re medically stable but at moderate risk we’ll prioritise a rapid admission to a medically supervised detox bed and start evidence-based meds (for example benzodiazepine taper for alcohol, opioid agonist therapy where indicated). In Johannesburg capacity varies, so the coordinator’s job is to get you the right setting fast — that may mean same-day admission, hospital handover, or an immediately scheduled outpatient stabilization with close monitoring.

We don’t disclose your treatment without your written consent. South African confidentiality norms and POPIA protect your medical information; coordinators only share what you authorise or what’s legally required (for example a court order or immediate risk to others). We will, however, help you draft a limited disclosure to employers or manage communications if you want assistance — for instance a medical certificate that states “medical leave” without details. If family involvement is clinically helpful we’ll discuss controlled family sessions and boundaries; we can support families without exposing patient details against your wishes.

Tailored support is a written, practical plan that matches your clinical needs to local resources: scheduled outpatient therapy (CBT, trauma work, group therapy), medication-assisted treatment if appropriate, arranged appointments with a psychiatric prescriber, linkage to community support groups and sober-living options in Johannesburg, and clearly assigned follow-up contacts. It includes contingency planning (who to call on relapse, crisis phone numbers, emergency medical steps), workplace reintegration advice, and family sessions when helpful. The admission coordinator lines up the first month of care for you — appointments, transport advice, and a safety plan — not slogans. If you leave without that, you’re just trading one problem for another; we make sure you have concrete, local steps to follow and a clinician responsible for the handover.