Traffic Light Teacher checks into rehab

Background:

Last week, we met 25-year-old Veli Moses Mackenzie, the Traffic Light Teacher, who frequents the corners of Empire Road and Owl Street in Johannesburg, and teaches motorists Zulu words at R1 a word while they wait at the traffic lights. While getting to know Moses it emerged that he never finished matric, and that it is his dream to go and study sound engineering. The Complimentary Breakfast and The Academy of Sound Engineering teamed up to make his dream come true and changed his life in a matter of minutes with a bursary to study for a Higher Certificate in Audio Technology valued at almost R60 000 for 1 Year. Since we last spoke to Moses we were faced with some difficulties and today we face the hard truth of somebody living on the streets - he has a drug addiction.  As a team, The Complimentary Breakfast felt it would be best if we could help Moses get clean before he starts at The Academy of Sound Engineering in order for him to focus on his studies and give him the tools that he needs to succeed. Moses accepted the offer of rehab with much enthusiasm and commitment - and today he checks in to Phoenix House for six weeks.  

 

 

BELOW IS WHAT MOSES WILL BE DOING FOR THE NEXT 6 WEEKS:
 
The incredible offer from SANCA's Phoenix House

 
1)      Summary of SANCA Phoenix House

For 44 years, Phoenix House has offered services in the prevention and treatment of addiction. Our excellent track record speaks for itself as we are recognised by the medical aids as a preferred service provider. Our referral networks are extensive, and include medical practitioners, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, employee assistance practitioners, human resource managers, school principals, social media and the community. Our programmes are intense and presented by a skilled professional team, consisting of a medical practitioner, a clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, an addiction counsellor and 24 hour nursing care. Apart from the individualised care that each patient receives, either as in-or out-patients, families are an intrinsic part of the treatment process. We have an intensive 8 weeks outpatient programme customised for specific age groups. The inpatient programme is 3 to 6 weeks and designed according to the 12 STEPS and the therapeutic community model to ensure that patients change destructive behaviours and learn new coping mechanisms to deal with everyday life. Once a year, we have a celebration of recovery evening and it's heart-warming to gather with our former patients and hear their success stories. Since we believe that addiction is a disease, our prevention and awareness campaigns in communities aim to reduce the stigma of addiction by educating people about addiction being a medical condition and not only a social condition as believed for many years. We strive to delay the onset of drug experimentation and reduce the damage of substance use through our Kemoja project in schools; our "Poppets" programme for ECD centres and crèches; holiday programmes; annual youth leadership camps; door-to-door campaigns; street marches and many more projects. Although our treatment is mainly aimed at addiction to substance, we also address cross addiction like sex addiction, gambling addiction, food addiction, shopping addiction and internet/social media addiction. Our interventions do not end when the programme is over. Our patients have access to an aftercare group and aftercare treatment that continues for several months and even years after treatment. All of our services are within affordable limits.
 

 

2)      Breakdown of the process of the treatment programme:
 

Screening and admission procedures    

Initial assessment interview to determine motivation and the following:
•         Drug history
•         Treatment history
•         Family history
•         Diagnosis
•         Determining possible prognosis
•         Treatment options and program that the patients will benefit from: Age group; Cognitive functioning; Levels of addiction; Socio-economic status
•         Treatment matching
•         Orientation and setting out expectation for treatment

 

Medical  

•         Medical examination and assessment by medical officer
•         Prescription and administering of withdrawal medication by trained medical staff
•         Psychiatric management
•         Understanding physical and psychological dependency, tolerance, effects or different drugs on the body, drug seeking behaviour, personality disorders, behavioural changes, etc.
•         Strict medical protocols
•         Ongoing medical monitoring (blood pressure, etc)
•         Urine test conducted
•         Full medical history on each new intake
•         Referral to other resources eg Mental health

Therapeutic    

•         Psychological and psychiatric assessment through history taking, verification or information and developing and individualized treatment plans.
•         Therapeutic work to create awareness, suppressed feelings and emotions, inter and intra personal relationships, expression, etc.
-  Individual therapy to address trauma, behaviour, cognitive thinking patterns, re-parenting, etc.
-  Therapeutic groups on relationships, trauma, other forms of abuse, victims of crime, etc.
-  Self Actualization
-  Insight Development
-  Support Structure
-  Behavioural and Cognitive reconstructing
-  Change management
-  Monitoring and Evaluation
 

Educational and Information    

•        Psycho-Educational groups to increase coping mechanism and social skills.
•        Understanding the disease concept, addiction, denial health issues, etc.
•        Relapse management training
•        On-going stress reduction training

 

Family involvement    

•         Individual and or group family therapy sessions to build bridges, create insight and positive change in systems.

 

Support structures and self help    

•         AA, NA, Tough Love , Alanon, Aloteen, OA, GA etc.
 

Behaviour modification and cognitive behavioural therapy    

•         Rules and regulations for structure
•         Consequences and responsibility
•         Social interactive (appropriate vs. inappropriate social responses and actions)

 

Alternatives    

•         Recreational and sport activities
•         Physical health
•         Having fun without drugs

 

Reintegration and adjustment (becoming functional within social systems)    

•         Preparation for functioning in society with the demands.
•         Practical schools/work skills

 

Aftercare and maintenance    

•         Monitoring progress
•         Provide support and assistance
•         Individual and groups
•         Regular urine testing
 

3)      What you can expect at Phoenix House

The content of the programme is as follows:

•         24 hour medical assessment, monitoring and interventions by the medical team;
•         Weekly Indivual counselling sessions with professional staff
•         Four psycho-educational and therapeutic group work sessions per day with members of the therapeutic team;
•         Art therapy groups;
•         Spiritual group (not compulsary);
•         12 STEPS programme with an addiction counsellor and attending Inhouse and external AA/NA meetings three times per week;
•          Family Therapy group sessions on Thursday evenings with the clinical psychologist to rebuild family relationships;
•         Aftercare programme for a minimum of one year after discharge through individual and group sessions;
•         Strict disciplinary programme based on behavioural modification and the principles of a therapuetic community.

 
4)      Goodies list for Moses

Medikasie en art matrial: R1,600
Pocket Money: R600
Clothes
Toiletries
2 Exam pads
Pens and pencil
Washing powder and staysoft
 
 
Kind regards/ Vriendelike groete
 
Adrie Vermeulen
Director: SANCA PHOENIX HOUSE