The treatment approach at Addington House is based on the understanding that drug and alcohol dependence can best be treated if the complexity of the condition is acknowledged. This means taking into consideration the interactive nature of cultural, social, psychological, physiological, and genetic factors. Thus, Addington House is a non-medical facility aimed at treating and detoxing its clients through a behavioural and a cognitive approach. Therefore, we do not accept clients who are on the methadone maintenance program.

The approaches used are designed to promote changes in thinking, behaviour, feelings, emotions, reactions, and to increase self-worth. As well, we enable residents to seek out and utilise treatment support systems, including the House itself, their fellowship sponsors, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Cocaine Anonymous. We view lifestyle change including abstinence as the cornerstone of our residents’ recovery, given the severity of the dependence they exhibit.

Our role is to help the residents achieve and maintain a substance-free state, therefore improving their overall quality of life. We provide the residents with a warm, family-like atmosphere and a comfortable style of living to enhance their motivation towards recovery.

Combined with nutritional home cooking prepared by the residents themselves, a lovely ambience and a very busy schedule, the addict has an opportunity to recover under quality conditions. Supervised at all times, the addict, as a resident of the House, undertakes all domestic responsibilities in the household.

This not only keeps the resident conscientious about his or her environment, but it also increases the resident’s own life skills. This helps the resident to see that independence is extremely important towards his or her own survival and prepares the resident for living as comfortably as possible and independently on the outside. Coupled with the family-like lifestyle at Maison Addington House, the residents undergo intensive therapy provided by the Director and Counsellors.

The recovery process targets the goal of permanent sobriety. Usually within a minimum period of twelve weeks, we are successful in having supplied the addict with enough information, education, and insight into their behavioural patterns so that they can begin the process of recovery. During the period of rehabilitation the addicts are also introduced to the various fellowships such as A.A., C.A. and N.A.