News & References

Information about addiction

Addiction is a disease that affects a significant portion of the world's population. In South Africa and abroad, millions of people struggle with alcoholism, drug addiction, various other types of dependencies and eating disorders. Oasis Centre in Plettenberg Bay provides a safe place for addicts to find recovery, and has become one of the leading drug treatment faciltlies in South Africa.

The information and news below helps to enlighten individuals about the disease of addiction, and provides useful insight into addiction treatment and rehabilitation. Contact Oasis Centre in Plettenberg Bay to find out more about our drug treatment facility, or for more information about alcohol and drug addiction, dependencies, eating disorders and dysfunctional behaviours.

Garden Route Living: Summer 2006 Issue 14 by: Elise Latter

An oasis is a fertile spot in an arid desert, a symbol of life and hope. It can also be a refuge or place of safety in the midst of difficult times. In Plettenberg Bay, OASIS has another meaning - it is the acronym for "Overcome Addiction Step Into Society", a counselling centre that offers hope and life to people whose lives have spiraled out of control; a safe haven for those on the brink of disaster. GRL takes a look inside.

From the road it seems like an average up market suburban house in the heart of Plett. There's no signage, just a street number; and no apparent extra security measures to keep people either in or out. Inside, the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, similar to a comfortable, homely guest house. A wooden deck overlooks a swimming pool set in a palm-treed courtyard with en suite bedrooms leading off to one side. There is also a congenial communal living and dining area. But the pleasant decor and surroundings are just a small aspect of this unique rehabilitation centre.

OASIS can accommodate a maximum of ten, er... What would be a suitable word? ... 'Guests' does not sound quite right (it is not an asylum) ...so (for want of a better word) 10 addicts. Ten people who find themselves drowning in their habit and dragging down those who matter most to them.

British-born, highly eloquent, Anstice Wright, one of the three directors of OASIS and a senior therapist, speaks from both personal and professional experience.

"Our firm belief is that these people do not need to be punished or taught a lesson. Being judgmental and harsh does not work. We want to get them to accept themselves by being in a loving, accepting atmosphere, and then maybe they will go on to say: 'I actually do not want to be this horrible person who I have turned into'. Addicts are not nice to the people around them, and when they realise this they often want to change. And, of course, once you want to change, well, then you can do anything."

As a recovering addict herself, Anstice went on to become a qualified psychotherapist, and now has over 18 years of experience in the field of addiction therapy. Although she has a deep understanding of what an addict is going through, simply because she has been through it too, she stresses that formal training is essential in order to assist others on their own path of recovery.

A high degree of professionalism, therapeutic knowledge and wealth of experience underpin the treatment offered at OASIS. Registered with the Department of Social Development, and monitored by an advisory board, Oasis is a private, registered rehabilitation centre for the treatment of all forms of addiction, including drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex, eating disorders and self harm.

Established in 2005, Oasis is the creation of three highly trained, dedicated and compassionate women - Anstice Wright, Helen Schaffer and Mandy Stokes. They ascribe the success and 'magic' of OASIS to the very healthy and creative relationship forged between the three of them.

Our impression is that they also complement and balance each other perfectly. While Anstice is outspoken, expressive and engaging, Mandy, a qualified addictions counsellor and the youngest member of the team, is quieter and, it seems, a very sensitive and insightful listener. Cementing the trio is Helen, a qualified social worker with 23 years' experience, and former director of Sanca (South African National Council for alcohol/drug dependence) in Durban. Helen is warm, direct, analytical, articulate, and, I suspect, as solid as a rock.

They are all passionate and enthusiastic and share a heartfelt concern for the 10 people in their care. To balance the strong feminine influence in the centre, they have appointed a male house manager, and there is also a male counsellor in training. Oasis utilises the consulting services of a doctor, a clinical psychologist and a psychiatrist. Depending on the nature of addiction, an initial detox period is undertaken at a clinic in George under the guidance of the psychiatrist. Once the physical addiction has been overcome, the person is transferred to OASIS to tackle the bigger problem of emotional dependency.

Although childhood experiences may play a role, Helen says it is not about blaming.

"What happened to you when you were a child is not your fault, but when you become an adult you have to take responsibility to start to understand how you imprinted what you absorbed, and how that is not working for you, and that there is another way."

"It is scary when you get in touch with that, because reality is no longer what you thought it was. It takes time to work through this and for the new way to settle. There is no quick fix." The general recommended length of stay at OASIS is three months. And it is certainly not cheap. Three months at Oasis can cost the same as a small car.

So, what makes someone an addict? Of course there are many factors, including genetic predisposition and environmental issues, but Anstice believes that it is also desperation.

"Addicts spend their lives pretending to be somebody else. How can you accept yourself, when you do not even know who you are?"

"Other people also pretend, but with addicts it is extreme and there is an urgency, because they are going to die prematurely... From an overdose, alcohol-related car accident or some other reckless act. With other conditions it is okay to see a patient once a week for years and hope things improve, but addiction requires a more direct and confrontational approach."

Staying at OASIS is an intense experience involving a lot of introspection. And a lot of emphasis is placed on group work as well as individual therapy. "Your peers let you know very quickly if your behaviour is not working for you," quips Anstice. Two therapists are always present at any group session to ensure balanced feedback.

But it is not only about self-analysis, emotional baggage and soul searching. The three directors strongly believe in the healing influence of nature, and Oasis takes full advantage of Plettenberg Bay's beautiful surroundings. Beach walks, horse riding and nature excursions are all integrated into the weekly timetable. Once a month the group goes on a deep-sea adventure trip and sometimes gets to swim with dolphins! This can be a profound life-changing experience, as the dolphins circle and brush up against the swimmers. It is amazing. But Anstice believes that just being in the middle of the ocean is in itself a humbling experience, giving a new perspective on the issues in one's life.

OASIS is not about incarceration, but about re-integration back into society, and, towards the end of their stay, the recovering addicts are given more and more responsibility and freedom - until they can go into town on their own without fear of relapsing.

Although OASIS has only been in existence for a relatively short time, it has received glowing recommendations from both the people who have stayed there and from their families. One recovering addict writes: "What stepped out of OASIS was an adult version of the little girl I left behind many, many years ago; the little girl I continuously punished for not being good enough. That little girl had uncurled from her foetal position, learned to crawl and then walk, and grew until she was ready to leave the safety of OASIS, standing tall and confident."

Word of the 'magic' of OASIS has spread, and people with addiction problems are coming from all over South Africa, and even as far away as England, Holland, Portugal and Italy, to seek a safe haven and learn to live again...one day at a time.

To find out more information about admission to our rehab, contact Oasis Counselling Centre in Plettenberg Bay.