SEE THE SIGNS Manage your mental health Dear client We hope that you re feeling well in spite of the cold weather we ve been experiencing. Mind the gap An update on what additional benefits your gap cover will pay for. In this edition of our newsletter, we take a closer look at mental health issues and we share important information on the mental health benefits offered by the various schemes. Dr Lerato shares some insights on the subject of addiction and the dangers associated with selfmedicating, as well as how to get help for a habit that may be spiralling out of control. Keep warm, safe and healthy until next time. Health and wellness Click here for information on addiction and tips on getting help from Dr Lerato. Learn to see the signs of stress and find ways to deal with it to protect your mental and physical well-being. Know your benefits Find out more about your scheme s mental health benefit. Know your rights Learn to see the signs of stress and find ways to deal with it to protect your mental and physical well-being. Telephone: +27 (0)11 269 2690 www.alexanderforbes.co.za HEALTH
KNOW YOUR BENEFITS Bestmed Manage your mental health Claims for psychological and psychiatric conditions will be processed as follows: Claims submitted by contracted service providers Claims submitted by non-contracted service providers 100% of the contracted fee is covered for accommodation and treatment. 100% of the scheme s tariff is covered where services are authorised or approved by the scheme itself. *Please note that these benefits are limited to a maximum hospital stay of 21 days per member every year. Schizophrenia and bipolar mood disorder Schizophrenia and bipolar mood disorder are recognised on the chronic disease list (CDL). If necessary, Bestmed will fund medication according to the funding guidelines of the scheme. Treatment plans that include certain doctor and/or specialist visits will be covered by the scheme s risk benefits, subject to scheme rules and treatment protocols. Major depression Major depression is not recognised on the CDL, and will only be funded on higher options (Pace1 and up). If necessary, Bestmed will fund medication according to the funding guidelines of the scheme. Note: Major depression does not have a treatment plan, and all claims (including consultations and tests) must be paid from the day-to-day benefits. Accommodation and treatment for chemical and substance abuse Claims submitted by contracted service providers Claims submitted by non-contracted service providers 100% of the contracted fee is covered for accommodation and treatment for the prescribed minimum benefit conditions. 100% of the scheme tariff is covered, where services are authorised or approved by the scheme itself. For more information, please contact your consultant.
KNOW YOUR BENEFITS Discovery Manage your mental health Discovery Health Medical Scheme s mental health benefit provides cover in hospital for 21 days per member every year or 15 out-of-hospital consultations per member every year, subject to authorisation. This benefit also depends on the plan you choose, as some plans restrict members to network hospitals or state facilities. Members on the Executive, Comprehensive, Priority and Saver plans may also have access to psychologists as part of the Allied, Therapeutic and Psychological benefit on an out-of-hospital basis. This benefit has specific limits based on plan type and family size. Claims are paid from available funds in the medical savings account or above threshold limit. Members need to apply for the additional services on the allied, therapeutic and psychology benefit and these claims will be paid from your medical savings account. The ongoing treatment of certain mental health conditions may be covered either from the chronic illness benefit, prescribed medication benefit or prescribed minimum benefit. Access to the chronic illness benefit and prescribed minimum benefit depends on specific entry-level criteria and members need to apply for access to these benefits. For conditions such as bipolar mood disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorder, major depression and so on, members need to apply for cover from the chronic illness benefit. Attempted suicide is not a covered benefit on Discovery Health, as healthcare services related to wilfully self-inflicted illness or injury are generally excluded by the scheme, unless the condition is a prescribed minimum benefit. In this case, cover will be subject to the scheme s prescribed minimum benefit guidelines and designated service provider rules. For mental health conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) that affect mostly children and adolescents, cover for ongoing treatment is provided through the day-to-day benefit under prescribed medication.
Plan *Allied, therapeutic and psychology benefit limits Single member + one dependant + two dependants + three or more dependants Executive Plan R18 000 R21 650 R25 250 R30 350 Classic Comprehensive R14 250 R19 300 R23 600 R27 300 Essential Comprehensive R8 600 R12 150 R15 750 R18 600 Classic Priority R8 600 R12 150 R15 750 R18 600 Essential Priority R5 700 R8 600 R10 700 R12 900 *Claims are paid from available medical savings account and above threshold limit. Limits apply the medical savings account into the above threshold limit. For more information, please contact your consultant.
KNOW YOUR BENEFITS Bonitas Manage your mental health Below is a summary of the benefits per option. Plan BonComprehensive Mental health Hospitalisation per family every year R40 200 A sub-limit applies Consultations per family every year R13 600 A sub-limit applies BonClassic Standard Plan BonSave R35 350 A sub-limit applies R34 800 A sub-limit applies R27 650 A sub-limit applies R13 600 A sub-limit applies R13 600 A sub-limit applies R13 600 A sub-limit applies BonFit R27 650 From available savings Primary R13 550 A sub-limit applies R8 200 A sub-limit applies BonEssential R27 650 BonCap In line with prescribed minimum benefits only For more information, please contact your consultant.
KNOW YOUR BENEFITS Fedhealth Manage your mental health Fedhealth will cover you for mental health, drug and alcohol rehabilitation from a limited amount for your day-to-day claims. Some options will only cover you for basic treatment, according to the prescribed minimum benefits (PMBs). How is this covered? Consultations and non-chronic medication are covered up to the relevant limits. HOSPITAL COVER In the event that hospitalisation is required for mental health conditions or drug and alcohol rehabilitation, the member must request authorisation from the scheme. Sub-limits apply for in-hospital treatment on each option, and the amount will be paid according to the healthcare professional tariff. Benefit limits Maxima Plus: R36 300 Maxima Exec: R28 900 Maxima Standard, Standard Elect, Maxima Basis and Maxima Core: R22 600 Maxima Saver: R21 400 Maxima Entrysaver: PMB cover only Maxima Entryzone: PMB cover only Blue Door: R8 010 Ultimax: R36 400 Ultima 200: R25 100
CHRONIC BENEFIT A chronic benefit is provided for members who require medication on an ongoing basis for longer than three months. For certain mental health conditions such as bipolar mood disorder, schizophrenia, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and depression, there is a chronic benefit. Each option will have limits for the chronic benefit. Benefit limits Maxima Plus: R13 600 per member, up to R25 400 per family every year. Maxima Exec: R6 430 per member, up to R11 900 per family every year. Once the limit has been reached, PMB conditions only on comprehensive formulary. Maxima Standard and Standard Elect: R5 120 per member, up to R10 200 per family every year. Once the limit has been reached, PMB conditions only on restrictive formulary. Maxima Basis: Unlimited, subject to PMBs only. Maxima Saver and Entrysaver: Unlimited, subject to restrictive formulary. Maxima Core and Entryzone: Unlimited, subject to restrictive formulary. Covered mental health conditions Bipolar mood disorder and schizophrenia are covered on all options. There are some mental health conditions, however, that are covered under available benefit limit and only on Maxima Plus, Exec, Standard and Standard.net: Anorexia nervosa Attention deficit disorder (in children only) Bulimia nervosa Depression Generalised anxiety disorder Obsessive compulsive disorder Panic disorder Post-traumatic stress syndrome For more information, please contact your consultant or the Fedhealth Call Centre on 0860 002 153.
KNOW YOUR BENEFITS Liberty Manage your mental health Liberty Medical Scheme offers cover for both in-hospital and out-of-hospital treatment for mental health conditions. The level of cover depends on the option you ve chosen. It will be available as long as it s not: listed under exclusions unrelated to conditions for which you have a specific waiting period incurred during a general waiting period. Out-of-hospital treatment depends on available funds in the medical savings facility (MSF), while in-hospital cover depends on the in-hospital Liberty Medical Scheme (LMS) rate of cover your option provides for as well as the available benefit limit. To minimise any shortfalls for in-hospital and out-of-hospital treatment, you should always try to use doctors and healthcare facilities in Liberty s network. Out-of-hospital treatment All options have a mental health benefit for out-of-hospital treatment, except for the Hospital Standard, Hospital Select and Hospital Plus options. Prescribed minimum benefit (PMB) conditions for out-of-hospital treatment, such as counselling or psychotherapy, are covered on all options, in line with industry regulations. This is limited to 15 visits per member every year. Depression is one of the additional chronic conditions covered on the Traditional Ultimate and Completed Plus options. To access this cover, you need to get authorisation from the scheme.
Option Hospital Plus Hospital Standard Hospital Select Saver Plus Saver Standard Saver Select Complete Standard Complete Select Complete Plus Out-of-hospital mental health benefit Liberty Medical Scheme rate No benefit Traditional Ultimate 200% 100%, subject to available funds in the medical savings facility 100%, subject to available funds in the medical savings facility and threshold benefit. Claims paid from the medical savings facility and self-payment gap also count towards the benefit limit. 100%, subject to available funds in the medical savings facility and threshold benefit. Claims paid from the medical savings facility and self-payment gap also count towards the benefit limit. Per family each year R6 800 R10 000 In-hospital treatment There are no designated service providers (DSPs) for psychiatric hospital admissions, but authorisation will only be granted for admissions to accredited psychiatric facilities. Option In-hospital mental health benefit Liberty Medical Scheme rate Per family each year Hospital Plus 200% R24 900 Hospital Standard Hospital Select 100% R19 100 Saver Plus 200% R26 900 Saver Standard Saver Select 100% R19 100 Complete Standard Complete Select 100% R22 300 Complete Plus 200% R26 900 Traditional Ultimate 300% for psychiatrists and 200% for general practitioners, up to 21 days per member every year Benefits are subject to pre-authorisation and the relevant managed healthcare programme. Benefits are limited to three days per member admitted by a general practitioner. Psychiatric admissions include admissions for drug and alcohol rehabilitation but don t include physiotherapy. For more information, please contact your consultant.
KNOW YOUR BENEFITS Momentum Manage your mental health Many mental health conditions are generally categorised by some combination of abnormal thoughts, emotions and behaviours as well as difficulties in relationships with others. General rules about the mental health benefit: The benefit is available on all options, if you see a designated service provider. You need pre-authorisation for in-hospital or out-of-hospital benefits. There s a 21-day sub-limit to in-patient treatment for some prescribed minimum benefit conditions. You may have out-patient treatment, depending on the benefit limits of your option. You may combine in-hospital and out-of-hospital benefits. How to register Once your doctor or facility has confirmed your diagnosis, the admitting facility, doctor or psychiatrist must submit a treatment plan and assessment form to Momentum Health on your behalf. The form, along with a letter of motivation, must be emailed to mmsa-communitycare@momentum.co.za for a Momentum Health case manager to evaluate. Out-of-hospital psychotherapy sessions may be authorised to treat some mental health conditions. The request for treatment as well as a letter of motivation or treatment plan must be emailed to behavioural-science@momentum.co.za. The treating psychiatrist must do registration for chronic medication by calling Momentum Health on 0860 11 78 59.
Physiotherapy for psychiatric hospital admissions will be covered from your available day-to-day benefits, unless the case manager pre-authorised it. The benefits per option are as follows: Scheme option In-hospital benefit Out-of-hospital benefit Per member every year Ingwe Access R15 200 Custom Incentive Extender Summit Prescribed minimum benefits at a state facility R30 200, if a preferred healthcare provider is consulted R30 700, if a preferred healthcare provider is consulted R30 700, if a preferred healthcare provider is consulted R30 700, if a preferred healthcare provider is consulted Prescribed minimum benefits at a state facility Three visits to specialists per member, and five visits per family per year. An Access primary care network provider must do the referral and pre-authorisation. From Health Saver, if applicable From available savings R16 100 per family every year from available savings, the self-payment gap and the above threshold benefit R18 000 per family every year, up to an overall yearly day-to-day limit of R21 000 per member For more information, please contact your consultant.
KNOW YOUR BENEFITS Sizwe Manage your mental health Below is a summary of the benefits per option, up to prescribed minimum benefits. Gomomo Care Primary Care Affordable Care Full Benefit Care Savings Care In-hospital treatment, including psychiatric consultations and six in-hospital consultations with a clinical psychologist 21 days per member every year Out-of-hospital treatment related to psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and counselling psychologists Subject to referral by a general practitioner (GP) and limited to the specialist benefit R4 610 per family every year R7 640 per family every year R14 720 per family every year Cover at Sizwe rate 100% 100% 100% 100% R6 750 per family every year Non-prescribed minimum benefit consultations at the doctor s rooms depend on available savings. For more information, please contact your consultant.
KNOW YOUR BENEFITS Dr Lerato Happy mind, Happy body Life s hectic pace and many challenges sometimes take their toll in the form of mental fatigue, which most of us can alleviate with a favourite activity or a good heart-to-heart talk with a trusted friend. But what happens when you can t bounce back from this feeling and lose the ability to cope with everyday life? Mental health conditions can vary from mild anxiety to full-blown morbid depression and a range of other ailments that can be just as debilitating as a physical condition if left untreated. Treatment varies according to the diagnosis and can include therapy, medication and/or hospitalisation. Simple tips for everyday mental health Talk about it. Build a supportive network of loved ones who will lend a willing ear over a cup of coffee. Just knowing you are loved and supported will help get you through challenging times. Take time. Start and end your day unrushed and do something that addresses your emotional needs, be it meditation or prayer, enjoying a steaming cup of tea on the stoep, or a long, hot bath, as long as you take the time to nurture yourself. Practise gratitude. Keep a list of things you are grateful for and things that bring you joy. Put it where you can see it every day and add to it often. Have fun. Try to inject some fun into each day, even if it s just running barefoot on the lawn with a pet or enjoying the wonder of blowing bubbles with a toddler. Switch off. Set a curfew for checking emails, answering business calls and logging off your PC. Then literally switch off and relax. Take care of your health. Follow a balanced diet, add exercise to your routine and have regular check-ups at the doctor. Also make sure that you get enough rest. Reach out. Look around you and offer support to friends and family who are struggling to cope. This will show someone else that they re not alone, boost your self-confidence and help you build strong relationships that will contribute to your future well-being. If all else fails, get help. If nothing seems to bring back your zest for life and you feel like you can t cope, reach out for professional help.
Some of the signs that you might need to consider professional help Withdrawal from social interaction and loss of interest in all activities that you once considered to be fun An unusual drop in your ability to function normally in everyday situations Problems with logical thought, memory, concentration and speaking Heightened sensory sensitivity A feeling of being disconnected from yourself and your surroundings Unusual nervousness and paranoid thoughts Drastic changes in your sleeping patterns and appetite Mood swings If you experience any or a combination of these symptoms and suspect that you are suffering from a mental health condition, discuss it with your GP and ask him or her to refer you to an appropriate mental healthcare professional such as a psychologist or psychiatrist for an accurate diagnosis and advice on appropriate treatment. For more information, please contact your consultant.
KNOW YOUR BENEFITS Medihelp Mental health not just all in your head Will your medical aid pay for treatment? Your benefits for treatment of a mental health condition depend on your Medihelp benefit option. Visit www.medihelp.co.za or phone Medihelp s contact centre at 086 0100 678 for more information about your benefit option. How much will be covered for mental health? Psychiatric treatment of a mental health condition is subject to pre-authorisation, services rendered in an approved network hospital or facility and prescribed by a medical doctor: Professional services rendered in and out of hospital by a physchiatrist General ward accommodation Medicine supplied during the period of the treatment in the institution Outpatient consultations Dimension Prime1 Non-Network & Network 100% of the Medihelp tariff, R15 800 per member every year (up to R23 750 per family per year) Dimension Prime 2 Non-Network & Network 100% of the Medihelp tariff, R19 850 per member every year (up to R27 150 per family per year) Dimension Prime 3 Non-Network & Network 100% of the Medihelp tariff, R23 750 per member every year (up to R31 800 per family per year) Dimension Elite 100% of the Medihelp tariff, R28 650 per member every per year (up to R39 750 per family per year) Medihelp Plus 100% of the Medihelp tariff, R34 900 per member every per year (up to R47 500 per family per year) Necesse 100% of the Medihelp tariff subject to pre-authorisation Sources: World Health Organization (www.who.int/), Internet mental health (www.mentalhealth.com) For more information, please contact your consultant.
MIND THE GAP Admed Submitting a gap claim Admed gap claims must be submitted within six months from the date of admission into hospital. Any claim received after six months from the date of admission into hospital will be rejected as a late or stale claim. What steps must I take to claim under my Admed gap policy? 1. Inform Admed as soon as possible about your claim, within six months from the date of admission into hospital, the procedure, the diagnosis of illness or bodily injury. 2. Complete all the relevant sections of the claim form accurately and truthfully so that we can process your claim without delay. If we don t receive all of the required information and documentation from you, your claim may not be paid on time. What documentation do I need to supply when I submit a claim? A completed and signed Admed claim form Hospital account (first two pages only) Specialist or dental practitioner account Claims advice from your medical aid scheme or the claim statement reflecting dental copayment. Email all new claims to admed@guardrisk.co.za or post them to: The Admed Claims Team Guardrisk Insurance Company Limited PO Box 786015 Sandton 2146
Is there anything else I need to know? Your claim will be processed within 7 10 working days after all the required documentation is submitted. Email any outstanding documentation for claims to admedclaims@guardrisk.co.za. Admed will settle claims by paying you, the policyholder, directly into a bank account that reflects your name. Payment will always be made in the South African currency (rands). Admed won t pay your claim into someone else s bank account unless the account belongs to your nominated spouse on your policy, and you ve given us written instruction to pay your claim into that bank account. Admed won t pay your claim to a medical practitioner, hospital or any other medical service provider. Admed will only process your claim after your treatment or procedure has been undertaken. If you were admitted into hospital, your claim will only be paid when you ve been discharged from hospital. The most that Admed will pay for any claim is the amount calculated as payable in terms of your policy. We will not pay any interest on claim amounts paid to you. For more information, please contact your consultant.
MIND THE GAP Complimed What documentation do I need to submit my Complimed claims? For the gap benefit: A copy of your specialist or provider accounts A detailed medical scheme claims transaction confirming the short payment A detailed hospital account Your medical scheme membership certificate A completed claim form For the copayment benefit: A detailed hospital account or radiologist account A detailed medical scheme claims transaction confirming the copayment amount Your medical scheme membership certificate A completed claim form For the casualty benefit: A detailed casualty report and account A detailed medical scheme claims transaction confirming the payment or short payment from the scheme A completed claim form For the sub-limit benefit: A copy of your specialist or other healthcare provider account A detailed medical scheme claims transaction confirming the short payment A detailed hospital account Your medical scheme membership certificate A completed claim form
For the oncology benefit: A copy of the approved oncology treatment plan All healthcare service providers accounts The medical scheme claims transaction history statement reflecting the amount charged by the service provider and the amount paid by the scheme A completed claim form For supplementary benefits: All healthcare service providers accounts The medical scheme claims transaction history statement reflecting the amount charged by the service provider and amount paid by the scheme A detailed hospital account, admission or discharge form A completed claim form PLEASE NOTE: Complimed pays claims within 14 days, as long as you have submitted all the required information. You have six months to submit a claim through Complimed. If your children are age 21 or older, proof of study or financial dependency will need to be sent together with their claims submissions. Send your completed claim form and all the relevant documentation by email to claims@ambledown.co.za. For more information, please contact your consultant.
MIND THE GAP Stratum What documentation do I need to submit my Stratum claims? You need to submit a fully completed 2016 client claim form and your latest medical scheme membership certificate each time you make a claim. Additional documentation is required per benefit claimed, as listed below. Gap benefit All healthcare service providers accounts The medical scheme claims transaction history statement reflecting the amount charged by the service provider and amount paid by the scheme A detailed hospital account as well as an admission or discharge form, if applicable Copayment benefit A detailed hospital account or radiologist account The medical scheme claims transaction history statement reflecting the copayment or amount claimed for, or proof of payment if the copayment was paid up front Casualty benefit A detailed casualty report and account The medical scheme claims transaction history statement reflecting the amount charged by the service provider and the amount paid by the scheme Trauma benefit The counsellor s report and account The medical scheme claims transaction history statement reflecting the amount charged by the service provider and the amount paid by the scheme Sub-limit benefit All healthcare service providers accounts The medical scheme claims transaction history statement reflecting the amount charged by the service provider and the amount paid by the scheme A detailed hospital account as well as an admission or discharge form, if applicable
Oncology benefits and oncology optimiser benefit A copy of the approved oncology treatment plan All healthcare service providers accounts The medical scheme claims transaction history statement reflecting the amount charged by the service provider and the amount paid by the scheme Diagnosis benefit A copy of the approved oncology treatment plan which provides confirmation of the diagnosis with cancer for the first time and that treatment forms part of an approved oncology plan. What documentation do I need for additional benefit claims? Gap policy premium waiver Death certificate, doctor s confirmation of permanent disability, or employer s confirmation of forced retrenchment respectively Proof from your bank confirming that you are the premium payer Medical scheme waiver benefit Death certificate or doctor s confirmation of permanent disability Proof from your bank confirming that you are the premium payer Accidental death benefit Death certificate
How do I submit a claim Complete a Stratum Benefits 2016 claim form and send it to yourclaim@stratumbenefits.co.za along with any other required documentation. Claims will only be processed if they are received within six months of the event being claimed for. Successful claims will be paid on the third working day of each month. Before you submit a claim to Stratum Benefits, please refer to your policy schedule for the underwriting criteria and general exclusions. Is there anything else I should be aware of when submitting a claim? All claims must first be submitted to your medical scheme for payment. The medical scheme will assesses claims and generate a remittance statement. The remittance statement will show any shortfall amounts due to the supplier charging in excess of the medical scheme tariff. A Stratum Benefits Claim Form, medical scheme remittance statement, hospital admittance form and the latest specialist accounts relating to the procedure or operation must be submitted to Stratum Benefits within six months of the treatment date for assessment. Stratum Benefits will confirm that they ve received your claim and let you know if there are any outstanding documents. The Stratum Benefits claims turnaround time is 5 7 working days for feedback. For more information, please contact your consultant.
MIND THE GAP Turnberry Claiming process and requirements At Turnberry, we pride ourselves on treating customers fairly and this is certainly the ethos carried through in our claims department. Each claim is assessed on its individual merit and you, the client, are informed of the progress of your claim throughout this process. In order for us to assess a claim, we require the following documentation from you: A completed Turnberry claim form Your medical aid statement, reflecting the transactions processed for the claim you are submitting Invoices from your healthcare service providers, for example general practitioners or specialists The hospital account for the period you were hospitalised for, reflecting date of admission and date of discharge. Payment of claims will be made directly to you, and not to your healthcare provider, as legislation requires that gap cover providers reimburse the policyholder directly. Once all the documentation is received, the claim will be processed and paid to you within five to fourteen working days. It is important to note that you have six months from the date of treatment of a pending claim to provide written notice thereof, and all required documentation must be provided within 12 months to avoid your claim being rejected. For more information, please contact your consultant.
MIND THE GAP Xelus How to submit your claims To successfully process a Xelus claim, you ll first need to visit www.xelus.co.za to download a claim form. Once you ve accessed the Xelus website, you ll see that there s also an option for members to sign an authority for Xelus to obtain the relevant claims information on their behalf. If you re a member of Discovery Health or Momentum, you ll also need to sign the relevant authority form from your medical scheme. There are available from our office, or you can simply click on the relative link on the bottom of your Xelus claim form. By signing this authority form, you will allow us to obtain any outstanding supporting documentation on your behalf. If you don t sign the authority form, you will need to submit the following supporting documents: Claims transaction remittance from the medical scheme Relevant doctors accounts Hospital account (first four pages showing admission or discharge times and international classification of diseases (ICD) codes) Four copies of your current medical scheme membership certificate (copies of your membership card will not be accepted) Proof of your date of employment, reflecting the top section of your payslip or a letter that you re your employer. Please note that this is not required for self-employed individuals. What happens once your claim has been submitted? Your claims are processed continuously and when received by Xelus, and payments are made every day. An email and SMS notification will be sent to you when: your claim is first captured you are required to send outstanding documentation, if you haven t signed the authority form your claim has been authorised for payment. Important note EFT payments can only be made to the principal member. Legally, we are not allowed to pay service providers. For more information, please contact your consultant.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS Dr Lerato A word on addiction Drug or substance abuse refers to a pattern of behaviour which leads a person to compulsively look for and use drugs, despite the negative impact that these drugs have on the individual and on their loved ones. People usually begin using drugs recreationally. However, over time, the body needs more of the drug to get the same high. This results in the individual taking more and more of their drug of choice until eventually the drug becomes a bad habit that s very hard to quit. Some drugs are more addictive than others. The danger of self-medicating When we think of drug addiction, street drugs such as dagga, cocaine or heroin come to mind, but in fact many people suffer from addiction to painkillers, anti-anxiety medication, and over-the-counter medication such as cough syrup containing codeine. Taking these legal drugs can lead to a good, sometime even euphoric, feeling. With repeated consumption, the body develops tolerance and you need more and more of the medication to get the same effect. Eventually taking the medicine will become a daily habit and, at this point, you are addicted. Addiction is when you cannot go without the drug, whatever it is. The uncontrollable urge or impulse to get the drug leads the addicted person to go to extreme lengths to get the drug, irrespective of the consequences. Drug addiction is commonly associated with stealing, lying and broken relationships because of the compulsion to get money or make excuses to get more drugs. Why do some people become addicted while others don t? Genetic predisposition is the most commonly known factor that increases the risk of addictive behaviour, but it s not the only factor. The environment also plays a big part. A home with emotional, physical or sexual abuse, a neighbourhood where illegal drugs are easily accessible, or a circle of friends who use drugs are examples of environments that increase the risk of substance abuse. Individual behaviour, personality and personal choices also play a role. These markers influence will power and significantly affect how we are influenced by drugs legal or otherwise.
How do I know I have a problem? The modified-cage questionnaire helps you assess whether you have a problem with alcohol or drugs: Have you ever felt you ought to cut down on your drinking or drug use? Have people annoyed you by criticising your drinking or drug use? Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking or drug use? Have you ever had a drink or used drugs first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover? If you answered yes to two or more of the above questions, you may have a problem with addiction. How and where do I get help? Addiction doesn t have to be a life sentence. You can turn things around. The first thing you need to do is get help and emotional support. Dealing with addiction cannot be accomplished on your own. Admit that you need help and find an accountability partner or buddy who can support you as you get the help you need. Most employers and communities have platforms such as healthcare centres or anonymous helplines where you can reach out for direction on the best places to go to deal with addiction. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) run 12-step programmes and attendance is free of charge. It will be a good idea to remove yourself from social environments or people who hold you back on your road to recovery from addiction.
How do I lead a normal life while dealing with my addiction? Addiction is a life-long condition. Once you have suffered from it, there will always be a danger that you could misuse drugs or other substances again in the future. The road to recovery is a daily effort. Make your journey easier by sticking to these three rules of thumb: 1 2 3 Talk to someone: Always have an accountability partner ( buddy ) or group (AA/NA group, for example) that you can lean on for emotional support. Stay away from what no longer serves you: Avoid high-risk environments that are likely to cause a relapse. Take things one day at a time: If you stumble on your road to recovery, don t give up. Seek help immediately and get the support you need to get back on track. Addiction affects your emotional and mental health. It s accompanied by depression, anxiety, relationship conflict and the inability to copy with the stresses of life. If you are suffering from addiction, dealing with the chemical problem alone is not enough. Get the emotional and psychological support you need to heal and be well again. For more information, please contact your consultant.