# Drug & Alcohol Rehab in Johannesburg | Sierra Recovery > Drug and alcohol rehab in Johannesburg: free SADAG and SANCA helplines, NA and AA, the public route, honest costs and one clearly-marked option abroad. [Home](/) / [Local treatment guides](/local-treatment-guides/) / Johannesburg Treatment options in Johannesburg # Drug & Alcohol Rehab in Johannesburg: the honest guide The main routes to drug and alcohol rehab in Johannesburg, South Africa, from free national helplines and SANCA to Narcotics Anonymous, the public treatment route, private residential rehab, and one clearly-marked addiction treatment programme abroad, with real contacts and how to reach each. [See the options](#options)[+44 1202 653136](tel:+441202653136) Clinically reviewed by[Nerea Encinas Sánchez](/clinical-team/)Director of the centre, MSc General Health PsychologyRegistered psychologist, COPAO AO13857 Checked for accuracy on 28 July 2026. Next review due July 2027. This page is general information about our programme and is not a substitute for advice about your own situation. If you may be physically dependent, do not stop suddenlyStopping alcohol or benzodiazepines (such as diazepam or alprazolam) abruptly can be dangerous if your body has become dependent, because severe withdrawal can cause seizures. Get medical advice before you reduce or stop, so that you safely manage withdrawal symptoms, ideally with a doctor or a medical detox service involved. In a life-threatening emergency in South Africa call 10111 (police) or 10177 (ambulance), or 112 from any mobile, which works free even without airtime. You do not have to pay to start getting help in Johannesburg. The SADAG 24-hour Substance Abuse Helpline (0800 12 13 14) is free and answers day or night, and SANCA, the national non-profit network, has its head office in the city. The public route through a state clinic or hospital, and free Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, are enough for a great many people on their recovery journey. Private residential rehab in South Africa is faster and more intensive but is paid for. An addiction treatment programme abroad is a further option, set out honestly below. Who publishes this, and why it matters. This guide is published by Sierra Recovery. We are not based in Johannesburg. We are a residential rehabilitation centre in Humilladero, Málaga, in southern Spain, and we appear once near the end, clearly marked, as one option for people who would consider addiction treatment away from home. This is not a directory, our mention is not influenced by anyone paying for placement, and where a local option is better for you than we are, we say so. ## The picture of addiction treatment in Johannesburg Johannesburg is the largest city in Gauteng and carries much of South Africa's demand for substance-use treatment, alongside a mix of state clinics, non-profit branches and private rehabilitation centres. Help is reached in two broad ways: through the public system, by referral from a state clinic or hospital, and through the non-profit and private sector, much of which is coordinated nationally by SANCA. Registered treatment centres operate under the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act. Many people affected by drug addiction or alcohol addiction also live with a co-occurring mental health condition, sometimes called dual diagnosis, and a sound addiction treatment programme will usually look at both together rather than substance use in isolation. Across rehabs in South Africa the recovery process usually starts with an assessment, whether help is reached through outpatient support close to home or a residential stay. Addiction affects the whole family, not only the person struggling with drug or alcohol use, which is why family involvement is worth building into any drug and alcohol addiction plan from the start. We have not published local prevalence figures here because we could not verify a current Johannesburg-specific statistic from an official source, and an invented number would not help you. ### Speak to a clinician about treatment from Johannesburg Confidential, no obligation, and no referral fee is paid to anyone for sending you here. [Speak to a clinician](#talk)[+44 1202 653136](tel:+441202653136) ## Free drug and alcohol services in Johannesburg Start here, before you consider paying for anything. These services are free, they are local, and for a great many people they are enough on their own. We publish them because a centre that only tells you about its own programme is not giving you the full picture. Where to go What they do, and how to reach them [South African Government](https://www.gov.za/Alcoholandsubstanceabuse) the commissioning authority Free drug and alcohol treatment for Johannesburg is commissioned by South African Government. Their page lists the current provider, which changes when contracts are retendered, so we link the authority rather than a service name that may be out of date. Your GP, or NHS 111 The NHS advises starting with your GP, who can assess you, advise on safe options and refer you into local treatment. Call NHS 111 for urgent advice that is not an emergency. [Talk to FRANK](https://www.talktofrank.com/get-help/find-support-near-you) Free, confidential drugs advice 24 hours a day on 0300 123 6600, or text 82111. Its find-support tool lists local services for any postcode. Drinkline The free national alcohol helpline on 0300 123 1110, weekdays 9am to 8pm and weekends 11am to 4pm, for you or for someone you are worried about. [We Are With You](https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/) Free, confidential support for drug, alcohol and mental health problems, in person in many areas and by webchat everywhere. [Adfam](https://adfam.org.uk/) Support and information for families and friends affected by someone else’s drug or alcohol use. Checked 28 July 2026. Commissioned services are retendered periodically, so confirm the current provider with the authority before you travel to an appointment. ## AA and NA meetings in Johannesburg Mutual aid meetings are free, they run most days, and there is no waiting list, no referral and no assessment. You can walk into one this week. They work alongside whatever else you choose rather than instead of it, and plenty of people use them and nothing else. Fellowship How to find a meeting near Johannesburg Alcoholics Anonymous Search your town or postcode on the [Alcoholics Anonymous South Africa](https://aasouthafrica.org.za/) site to see every meeting near Johannesburg, in person and online, with days and times. Narcotics Anonymous If drugs are part of the picture, search the [Narcotics Anonymous South Africa](https://na.org.za/) site for meetings near Johannesburg. ### What actually happens at a first meeting You do not have to speak, and you do not have to give your surname. Most meetings open with a reading, someone shares for a while, and others speak if they want to. It lasts about an hour, and it is free, though a basket goes round for the room hire. Nobody takes a register and nobody will ask you to commit to anything. An open meeting can be attended by anyone, including family. A closed meeting is for people who think they may have a problem themselves. If the first group does not suit you, the next one along will feel different, because each has its own character. The usual advice is to try three before deciding it is not for you. We link the official finders rather than print a timetable, because meeting times and venues change and a stale listing sends someone to a locked door. Checked 28 July 2026. ## Private residential rehab centres in Johannesburg Johannesburg does have a private residential treatment sector, and several centres operate in the city, but this guide does not name, rank or recommend individual private clinics. Specific centres have not been independently verified for this guide. Private rehabilitation centres in South Africa typically offer inpatient or outpatient programmes with a multidisciplinary team, individual and group therapy, medical detox where needed, and sometimes a 12-step or more holistic component, though the mix of services varies by provider. Good addiction rehab, whether it presents itself as a wellness centre or a straightforward drug rehab, tends to combine an evidence-based approach to the root causes of addiction with a structured daily routine, group sessions and, where relevant, dual diagnosis treatment for a co-occurring mental disorder or substance use disorder, sometimes with input from a psychiatrist as well as a psychologist. Research on effective recovery models generally supports this combined approach over treating substance dependence in isolation. Staff should be able to explain plainly how they help patients through withdrawal, how they support drug and alcohol recovery once the acute stage has passed, and what aftercare or sober living support exists once you leave. Holistic treatment, such as exercise, nutrition or mindfulness work alongside standard drug rehabilitation, can support addiction recovery but should sit alongside, not instead of, proper clinical care for anyone hoping to recover from addiction for good. The neutral way to find a registered inpatient or outpatient centre near you is through SANCA's national directory or by referral from a state clinic, since registered centres are governed under the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act. Whatever you find, check that the centre is currently registered before you commit, and ask directly how it approaches dual diagnosis if mental health issues or wider mental health challenges are part of the picture. ## What addiction treatment in South Africa costs, honestly Cost falls into three broad routes. The public and non-profit route is free at the point of care or means-tested: state clinics and hospitals do not charge for treatment, and SANCA and other registered non-profits subsidise fees according to means. Private inpatient rehab is paid for, usually quoted per admission of around 21 to 28 days, and many South African medical aid schemes cover part of an inpatient stay, so it is worth checking your plan's substance-use benefit before you assume you must pay in full. South African medical aids, the local equivalent of health insurance, vary in how they define cover for addiction and substance abuse, so it is worth reading the wording carefully for treatment for individuals with your specific diagnosis rather than assuming a standard benefit. We have not published a specific rand figure here because we could not verify a current South African price range from a source we would stand behind; ask each centre directly and confirm what your medical aid will fund. Treatment abroad is a paid option too, and Sierra's published fee for our residential programme is set out below. Please verify before you decide. Services, waiting times and prices change, and every centre sets its own fees. The figures and contacts here are drawn from official and each provider's own published information, dated above. Always confirm directly with the service before you rely on it. Considering residential treatment abroad? ## Sierra Recovery, Málaga, Spain Most people who look abroad are not chasing sunshine. They are trying to get far enough away from the people, the places and the routine that keep the drinking or the using going, because they have already discovered that stopping while all of that is still fifteen minutes away does not hold. That distance is the whole point, and it is the one thing a clinic near Johannesburg cannot give you. Sierra Recovery is a working farmhouse on forty hectares of olive groves in the Málaga countryside, about forty five minutes from the airport and roughly three hours from most UK airports. It is small, the team is English-speaking, and the same clinicians treat you from the first day to the last. What follows is what that actually buys, stated plainly enough that you can compare it with anything else you are considering. What matters when comparing Sierra Recovery Is it actually licensed A registered health centre entered in the Registro Andaluz de Centros, Servicios y Establecimientos Sanitarios (the Andalusian register of health centres, services and establishments) under N.I.C.A. 67331, authorised by the Junta de Andalucía. You can look it up yourself on the public register. What it costs, in full £9,900 for the 28-day residential programme, published on the site up front. All rooms are individual. You get an itemised written quotation before admission. Who pays whom No referral fees are paid or accepted, in either direction. Nobody earns a commission for sending you here, which is worth checking about any centre you are comparing. What the clinical work is Three group sessions a day five days a week, individual therapy three times a week, and a seventeen-module psychoeducation curriculum. The approach adapts the method of PROMIS Clinics, treating addiction in the United Kingdom since 1986. Where the limits are It is not a hospital and not a detox unit. Where a medically supervised detox is clinically needed it is completed in an appropriate medical setting before admission and billed separately. Qualified nurses are part of the team throughout the stay. Who you speak to first Our admissions team, all of them clinicians, working to the standards set by our clinical director. The assessment is free, and if a service closer to home suits you better, we will say so. What happens afterwards Aftercare is agreed before you leave: a session every week for a full year, online or in person at the PROMIS clinics in London, which is more than 48 sessions in the twelve months after discharge. A written handover goes to your GP so nothing has to be explained from scratch. Every figure above is published elsewhere on this site and can be checked. See [pricing](/pricing/), [regulation and licensing](/regulation-and-licensing/) and [the programme](/our-programme-at-sierra-recovery/). ## Which option is right for you Start with the SADAG helpline or a state clinic if you are unsure where to begin, if cost is the barrier, or if you want to stay near family and work. SANCA if you want structured assessment and treatment through a registered non-profit, with fees set to what you can afford. Private inpatient rehab in South Africa if you need detox and rehabilitation together, want to stay close to home, and have medical aid or the means to pay. An addiction treatment programme abroad only if a local stay is out of reach or if distance from your surroundings would genuinely help, and only if you can travel and do not need an immediate hospital detox. Use Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous alongside whatever you choose to support sobriety once formal treatment ends. If you are struggling with addiction, or seeking help for someone you love, and would like to talk it through, our admissions team will tell you honestly whether we are the right fit for your unique needs and your recovery journey. We aim to help clients find the right path to recovery, even when that path is not with us. Read [how admissions work](/admissions/). + ### Talk to a clinician You will speak to our admissions team, all of them clinicians. Confidential, and no obligation. We will tell you honestly whether this is the right place. [Speak to a clinician](/contact/) Or call us directly [+44 1202 653136](tel:+441202653136) Registered health centre, N.I.C.A. 67331, entered in the Registro Andaluz de Centros, Servicios y Establecimientos Sanitarios. [Look us up](https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/salud/oficinavirtual/consulta/index.jsp). ## Sources and verification - [South African Government](https://www.gov.za/Alcoholandsubstanceabuse), alcohol and substance abuse page, listing the 24-hour Substance Abuse Helpline 0800 12 13 14 and the public treatment route - [SANCA National](https://www.sancanational.info/contact), national office (011 892 3829, WhatsApp 076 535 1701) and Find a SANCA near you directory - [Narcotics Anonymous South Africa](https://na.org.za/), regional phoneline 0861 00 6962 and Johannesburg WhatsApp 082 899 8816 - [Alcoholics Anonymous South Africa](https://aasouthafrica.org.za/), meeting finder - South African emergency numbers, 10111 police and 10177 ambulance, and 112 from any mobile, per [SAPS](https://www.saps.gov.za/) and municipal emergency guidance - [Junta de Andalucía register](https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/salud/oficinavirtual/consulta/index.jsp), Sierra Recovery, N.I.C.A. 67331 · [Sierra pricing](/pricing/) All contacts dated 25 July 2026. Confirm each on the provider's own page before you rely on it. We have not quoted a local prevalence statistic or a South African private-rehab price because neither could be verified from a source we would stand behind. ## Questions people ask Where can I get free help for drug or alcohol addiction in Johannesburg? The SADAG 24-hour Substance Abuse Helpline on 0800 12 13 14 is free and answers day and night. SANCA, the national non-profit, has its head office in Johannesburg (011 892 3829) and runs a Find a SANCA near you directory. Narcotics Anonymous (0861 00 6962, Johannesburg WhatsApp 082 899 8816) and Alcoholics Anonymous hold free peer meetings, and a state clinic or hospital is the entry point to free public-sector treatment. How much does private rehab cost in Johannesburg? Private inpatient rehab is paid for and is usually quoted per admission of around 21 to 28 days, though every centre sets its own fees. Many South African medical aid schemes cover part of an inpatient stay, so check your plan's substance-use benefit first. We have not published a specific rand figure here because we could not verify a current South African price range we would stand behind, so confirm directly with each centre. The public and SANCA route is free or means-tested. Is there an emergency number if someone is in danger? Yes. In a life-threatening emergency in South Africa call 10111 for police or 10177 for an ambulance, or 112 from any mobile, which works free even without airtime. Do not stop drinking alcohol or taking benzodiazepines suddenly if you may be physically dependent, because withdrawal can cause seizures; get medical advice before you reduce or stop. Is Sierra Recovery based in Johannesburg? No. Sierra Recovery is a registered health centre in Humilladero, Malaga, in southern Spain (Junta de Andalucía, N.I.C.A. 67331). We are included on this page only as one clearly-marked option for people who would consider treatment abroad, after the local Johannesburg picture. This is not a directory and our mention is not influenced by paid placement. Should I choose treatment at home or abroad? For most people the free or means-tested local route is the right first step: the SADAG helpline, a state clinic, SANCA, and NA or AA meetings. Private inpatient care in South Africa suits people who need detox and rehab together and want to stay near home. Treatment abroad is worth considering only if a local stay is out of reach or if distance from familiar triggers would genuinely help, and only if you can travel and do not need an immediate hospital detox. ### From Johannesburg, admission can happen within days Where no medical detox is needed first, the usual sequence is a free assessment, an itemised written quotation, and a flight. Málaga is around three hours from most UK airports. Where a detox is needed it is arranged first and that changes the timing, and we will tell you so at assessment, before you book anything. [How admission works](/admissions/) [Getting here from the UK](/travelling-to-spain-for-treatment/) ### Still not sure which option fits you in Johannesburg? Tell a clinician what is going on and they will talk it through with you, including the free routes above, before anything is booked. [Speak to a clinician](#talk)[+44 1202 653136](tel:+441202653136) + ## Talk to a clinician today You will speak to our admissions team, English-speaking clinicians who know the programme and the people in it. Callback within 24 hours. Step 1 of 3 Confidential, and no obligation Registered health centre. Authorised by the Junta de Andalucía, N.I.C.A. 67331. ### Other areas we cover - [Pretoria](/drug-and-alcohol-rehab-in-pretoria/) - [Durban](/drug-and-alcohol-rehab-in-durban/) - [Gqeberha](/drug-and-alcohol-rehab-in-gqeberha/) - [Bloemfontein](/drug-and-alcohol-rehab-in-bloemfontein/) - [Cape Town](/drug-and-alcohol-rehab-in-cape-town/) See every location in our [local treatment guides](/local-treatment-guides/), or compare what treatment costs in [other countries](/what-does-rehab-actually-cost/). ### Related pages [Assessment & detox](/medical-assessment-and-detox/)[Our programme](/our-programme-at-sierra-recovery/)[Rehab: UK vs Spain](/rehab-uk-vs-spain/)[Pricing](/pricing/)[Regulation & licensing](/regulation-and-licensing/)[Admissions](/admissions/) --- Source: https://sierrarecoveryspain.com/drug-and-alcohol-rehab-in-johannesburg/ Retrieved: 2026-08-27 Canonical HTML version of this page: https://sierrarecoveryspain.com/drug-and-alcohol-rehab-in-johannesburg/