PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION ADDICTION HELP
Started on a prescription? Come off it safely, with support.
Outpatient support for dependence on painkillers, sleeping tablets, tranquillisers and codeine products. Working alongside your doctor, in Centurion and online.
Confidential assessment · R750 · In person in Centurion or online
In short: You can become dependent on medication even when it was prescribed for a good reason. Common ones include codeine products, opioid painkillers, benzodiazepines such as alprazolam and diazepam, and sleeping tablets such as zolpidem. Don’t stop these suddenly: speak to your doctor about a safe plan to reduce them. Urban Recovery supports you through that and helps you build the skills that keep you well afterwards.
Signs your medication use has become a problem
- You take more than prescribed, or run out early
- You see more than one doctor, or buy extra over the counter
- You feel anxious or unwell when a dose is late
- You use it for stress or to switch off, not just for the original reason
- You hide how much you take
- You feel foggy, low or flat much of the time
If a few of these sound familiar, take the free Drug Abuse Screening Audit. It’s private, takes a few minutes, and nothing is saved or sent.
How Urban Recovery helps
Most treatment focuses on getting you to stop. We focus on what comes after: rebuilding your health, relationships, purpose and habits, so you build a life you don’t need to escape from. You stay at home and keep working while you do it.
- Assessment (R750, 45 minutes): a confidential conversation with Steven that looks at the whole picture and gives you a clear plan.
- REBUILD programme (8 months, one afternoon a week, R3 850 a month): 12 practical modules in a small group, in Centurion or on Zoom.
- Recovery coaching (R850 a session): one-on-one support with goals and accountability.
- Monday support groups (free): every Monday from 19:00 in Centurion or on Zoom, for you and the people who love you.
Why you shouldn’t stop on your own
Stopping benzodiazepines or sleeping tablets suddenly can cause severe anxiety, insomnia and, in some cases, seizures. Stopping opioid painkillers suddenly is rarely life-threatening, but it can be very hard. A doctor can plan a gradual reduction.
We’re an outpatient service and don’t do detox, but we’ll help you arrange medical support and walk with you through it.
Common questions
Can you be addicted to something your doctor prescribed?
Yes. Dependence can develop from regular use, even at prescribed doses, and it can turn into addiction when the medication starts serving other purposes, like coping with stress. It doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. Read Hooked on what the doctor prescribed.
Do I need to tell my doctor?
We strongly encourage it, because your doctor needs to manage any reduction safely. If that conversation feels hard, we can help you plan it.
Is it confidential?
Yes. What you share stays with us and isn’t shared with your employer, family or anyone else without your consent, except where the law requires it, such as an immediate risk to life. We also don’t claim from medical aid, so your treatment stays off your medical record.
What does it cost?
Assessment: R750 once-off. REBUILD programme: R3 850 a month for 8 months, or R25 500 once-off. Recovery coaching: R850 a session. Monday groups: free. See all treatment options.
Related reading
Not sure where to start?
Book a confidential assessment with Steven. You’ll leave with a clear plan, whichever option it points to. Or WhatsApp us on 076 402 7083.