Addictions & Substance Abuse — Foundation
"Understanding addiction as a brain condition, not a moral failing — grounded in South African reality."
About Addictions & Substance Abuse — Foundation
Addiction touches almost every South African family. Whether you are trying to understand what is happening to someone you love, navigating your own recovery, or building the skills to support people affected by substance use in your community or profession — this programme meets you where you are.
The Short Learning Programme (SLP) in Addictions and Substance Abuse is a comprehensive 20-week, 17-module online programme delivered by VARSITORIUM. It is grounded in the science of addiction, informed by the South African context — tik, nyaope, alcohol, the dop system, the role of Ubuntu in healing — and built for real people navigating real situations.
The programme is structured across four levels, each with its own focus and audience.
Foundation and Level 1 are for everyone.
Level 2 is for family members and supporters.
Level 3 is for people navigating their own recovery and those who want to contribute to prevention and advocacy in their communities.
Modules
DSM-5 and ICD-11 diagnostic frameworks · The neuroscience of addiction · Dopamine, reward and neuroplasticity · Debunking myths · Person-first language · Stigma and its consequences
Alcohol, tik, nyaope, Mandrax and cannabis in South Africa · The dop system and its legacy · FASD and the Western Cape · Gambling and gaming as behavioural addictions · Poverty, inequality and ACEs as drivers · Ubuntu and traditional healing
Is this programme right for you?
The Foundation level is mandatory for all learners. It establishes the scientific, social, and ethical foundations that every subsequent module builds on — covering what addiction actually is, how it differs from habit or choice, and the specific South African context of substance use and structural harm.
Who you will learn from
Ready to take the next step?
Secure your place in the next intake or request a full programme information pack before you commit.