South Africa: Rehabilitation, recovery and residential treatment
Information for British nationals considering travelling to an inpatient rehabilitation programme in South Africa for substance abuse treatment.
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South Africa is a popular destination for British nationals seeking help with substance abuse. Private rehabilitation centres in South Africa are widely accessible to foreign visitors. If you are considering travelling to an inpatient rehabilitation programme in South Africa, this guide can be used to help you:
- learn about the risks and benefits of treatment abroad
- decide which facility you want to attend
- prepare for your travel
- be aware of what to do if treatment doesn’t go according to plan
- decide what to do after your programme
Disclaimer
This information is not meant to be definitive. Neither His Majesty’s Government nor its staff take any responsibility for the accuracy of the information, nor accept liability for any loss, costs, damage or expense that you might suffer as a result of relying on the information. Some of the information may not be relevant to your personal circumstances.
The information contained in this guide is general and aims to provide you with as much information to enable you to make better informed decisions. Please note references to third party organisations are not recommendations and should not be treated as such.
The British High Commission does not usually contact or visit people who have travelled specifically for medical treatment. Further information on medical tourism is available from the National Travel Health Network and Centre.
If you are planning on travelling to South Africa for treatment, you should use this guide in conjunction with South Africa’s travel advice and guidance on mental health and wellbeing abroad before you travel. These highlight significant issues, including around safety and security, that you should be aware of before travel.
If you’re in South Africa and you need advice which is not covered by reading this guide or our travel advice, you can contact the British High Commission Pretoria. If you’re in South Africa and need urgent consular assistance, call us on +27 12 421 7500. If you’re in the UK and worried about a British person in South Africa, call 020 7008 5000.