As part of the Harmony Group’s groundbreaking treatment offering, we have taken the step of introducing our unique Smoking Cessation Programme. Smoking is an addiction like any other, and increasingly, society is marginalising smokers, and awareness of the associated health risks is growing among the general population. In developing nations, it is currently the youth who are most at risk of becoming new uptakers of nicotine products. In South Africa, new laws have seen smoking banned in public places, and each year, smokers are fined more by way of increases in the so-called ‘sin-taxes’. Globally, the trend for addictions treatment centres is to address the issue of smoking in primary care treatment. Harmony Addictions Clinic is the first such centre in South Africa to offer a comprehensive programme addressing nicotine addiction.

The programme is headed up by Addictions Counsellor, Evelyn Nangle, herself a recovering tobacco user: “All clients entering treatment are assessed, during which process those who do smoke are encouraged to join the Nicotine Cessation Programme. We motivate clients to participate, and those who agree to participate, join an ancillary programme focused specifically on the issue. For the clients who do not wish to participate, smoking is only allowed during break times in designated areas outdoors.” Nangle notes that giving up smoking requires careful guidance, as a number of underlying emotions frequently surface during the process: “New research confirms that nicotine provides a calming effect for individuals who are pre-disposed to anger. Such people are at high risk of relapse if management of those feelings is not addressed. Our programme addresses these concerns in a holistic manner: Tobacco cessation is assisted by the use of Nicotine Patches, prescribed by the resident nurse and administered every 16 hours for approximately three days,” she says. “Clients attend two groups per week, in addition to the standard programme, that include didactic and interactive lectures, feelings management and coping skills groups, relapse prevention training and life-skills.” Nutrition and exercise also increase the likelihood of a positive result, and clients attend Yoga and NIA dancing to aide in their overall well-being.

“Harmony Addictions Clinic is a non-smoking facility – only clients may smoke, on limited terms, on the property. Staff members who smoke are encouraged to quit and those who do smoke may only do so off the property, and sign a contract agreeing to this,” Nangle concludes.

Harmony Addictions Clinic uses a twelve-step abstinence model to support a tobacco-free lifestyle, and hosts a weekly Nicotine Anonymous meeting.