Renewed Life Center treats addiction and ADHD together, at a house in Lakeside, Cape Town. Admission does not automatically mean stopping your prescribed ADHD medication; our doctor reviews it with you.

The first conversation is free and confidential.

ADHD and Addiction Support in Cape Town

Ask about ADHD and addiction treatment

Who this programme is for

You do not need to have it all worked out. People usually recognise themselves in one or more of these:

A head that never goes quiet
A drink, a pill or a line is the only thing that slows the noise down at night.
Worry about medication
You take ADHD medication and fear a rehab would take it away.
Earlier treatment missed it
Past attempts dealt with the drinking or drugs and left the ADHD out.
Stopping does not hold
Cutting down lasts a few days, then an impulse undoes it.
A tired family
The people at home can no longer tell where the ADHD ends and the drinking begins.

What happens to your ADHD medication

Tell us about the medication you already take. Admission does not automatically mean stopping it. Our GP, Dr John Wulz, who has worked in mental health and emergency medicine, examines you after you arrive and goes through your medication with you.

When prescribed by a doctor and taken as directed, stimulant medication can safely and effectively treat ADHD, NIDA notes; misused, it carries its own risk. If you take Adderall or another stimulant, tell us on the first call which medicine and dose you are on. Our pages on Adderall in South Africa and Ritalin and Concerta explain how these medicines are regulated in South Africa.

How ADHD and addiction feed each other

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, as the US National Institute of Mental Health describes it. It turns up often among people in addiction treatment: a 2012 analysis of 29 studies found that 23.1% of people with a substance use disorder met the criteria for ADHD, and a later review of the evidence found that ADHD roughly doubles the risk of developing one.

When ADHD and addiction occur together, both need to be considered in treatment. The impulsive moment, the sleepless night and the restless evening are still there after detox, and they need skills of their own. The pull is not the same with every substance:

ADHD and alcohol
The 2012 analysis found ADHD more often among people dependent on alcohol than among those dependent on cocaine. If a drink is what slows your head down at night, that is part of what the plan works on. If you drink every day, or take sleeping tablets or benzodiazepines daily, do not stop all at once on your own. Tell us what you take; our medical team decides after the assessment whether you need a medical detox.
ADHD and cocaine
The same 2012 analysis found ADHD less often with cocaine dependence than with alcohol, opioid and other addictions, but it still turns up. Some ADHD medicines are stimulants too, as NIDA notes, so the doctor who reviews your prescription needs to know about the cocaine.
ADHD and cannabis
Cannabis addiction is treated here too, alongside the ADHD. If a joint is what lets you sit still or fall asleep, tell us how much and how often you smoke, so the plan starts from what the cannabis has been doing for you.

How the programme works

One team for both
We treat ADHD and addiction in one plan, along with any anxiety, depression or trauma, through our dual diagnosis treatment. If your body needs medical help to come off alcohol or drugs, a medical detox with our medical team comes first and takes three days to two weeks.
A steady routine, and a counsellor of your own
Every weekday is a full therapeutic day with the same shape, from the morning group through themed groups into the afternoon, so there are few empty hours to fill. Your own counsellor works with you one-to-one every week, 45 minutes at a time. In the groups, DBT teaches ways to handle strong feelings, alongside schema therapy, psychoeducation and relapse prevention. TRE, art therapy and yoga are part of the week as well, so the work is not only talking. Kerry Dominie-Williams, our TRE practitioner, says of TRE: “we have a calmer nervous system and therefore we have a calmer person, and a calmer person is way more willing to receive and share.”
Who you work with
Ruby Weber heads psychology at the centre, with more than 20 years in the addictions field. Nikki Edwards oversees the programme as Programme Director and Clinical Manager; her 11 years of personal recovery add another perspective to that work.
A second month, then a plan for home
Most clients stay into a second month: the first month gets you steady, and the second goes deeper. Before you leave, the relapse-prevention work becomes a written plan for your own home. If your counsellor recommends a further stage, sober living on our property or an outpatient programme can follow, and we keep in touch with former clients.

Ask whether this fits you

For the family

A partner or parent does not have to wait for the person to agree: you can talk to our team first. Once treatment begins, your contact is the counsellor, who shares news as far as the client agrees. Families can join a support group by video every week, family sessions are planned by the counsellor, visiting can start in the first week, and relatives can book sessions for themselves.

How to start

Tell us what you take, for how long, and which ADHD medication you are on, if any. We reply the same day and talk for 20 to 40 minutes by WhatsApp, video or phone. An assessment conversation of 45 to 90 minutes with our team follows. You hear the fee on the first call and get it in writing the same day. Admission can be immediate and typically happens within three days of first contact.

Tell us which medication you take

Questions about ADHD and addiction treatment

Do you treat ADHD and addiction together?

Yes. The doctor reviews your ADHD medication after you arrive, and the impulsive moments and restless evenings that feed the drinking or using are part of the work in groups and with your own counsellor, alongside any anxiety, depression or trauma.

Will I lose my ADHD medication?

Admission does not automatically mean stopping your prescribed medication. Our doctor reviews it with you; do not change your dose on your own.

Do I need an ADHD diagnosis to contact you?

No. Write to us whether you have a diagnosis, a suspicion or just questions; the first conversation is about what is happening now.

How long is the programme?

Most clients stay on for a second month of deeper work after a first month of getting steady. You and your counsellor plan the length together.

Can I come from abroad?

Yes. We meet you at Cape Town airport and help with the visa documents: the 90 visa-free days for UK and US passport holders are for tourist visits, so check which visa a treatment stay needs before you book.

Can a relative contact you first?

Yes. A partner or parent can speak to our team before the person has agreed to come.