Recovery and substitute addictions in the Western Cape, South Africa: A multi-perspective approach

Abstract

Understanding substitute addictions, whereby a terminated addictive behaviour is replaced with another behaviour or addiction, has implications for assessment, treatment planning and recovery of Substance Use Disorders (SUDs). As the harms of addictive behaviours extend to communities and society, it is vital to keep pace with the evolving needs of persons in various stages of recovery and to equip service providers and adapt programmes accordingly. Yet, substitute addictions are under-researched globally. This study aims to explore the nature and dynamics of substitute addictions in the Western Cape, South Africa, using a multiple methods design, comprising five separate but interrelated sub-studies.