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When Special
Assignment met them, they were walking husks, depleted,
and emaciated. They told us they’d tried to come clean
many times. But in Maputo rehabilitation treatment is
poor to non-existent.
After exhaustive
negotiations Special Assignment found two rehab
facilities in Johannesburg willing to treat them for
free. Recovery is hard work. It means learning how to
live without drugs. More painfully, it means facing up
to everything you’ve done while drugging. But perhaps
the hardest of all is figuring out why and how drugs
could form such a strangle-hold on your body and mind.
Phoenix House Drug and
Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre volunteered to manage
Dadinha's rehabilitation, a 12-week period of very
intensive group and individual psychotherapy. Carlos
received his treatment from House of Mercy Drug and
Rehabilitation Centre. It is a shorter programme of 6
weeks only, but no less intense. For therapy to succeed,
a couple must be separated.
Under the guidance of his
therapist, Carlos was joined by his two daughters for
family therapy. Together they unearthed old pain caused
by years of lies, disappointment, anxiety and neglect.
All three of them left with greater understanding of
their relationship. They experienced a sense of relief
that despite the outpouring of emotion that the therapy
provoked, their affection and caring for one another
will help them heal. They re-pledged their support where
possible to ensure Carlos' ongoing recovery.
We report that Carlos has
settled in a new home in Maputo and has resumed work. We
know that he is battling with ongoing alcohol use and is
suffering great torment at the absence of Dadinha in his
life. His therapist confirms that despite the fact that
he is putting himself at risk, drinking does not
constitute a relapse or signify the end of his recovery.
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