'In South Africa we have almost adopted alcohol as a family member'
It is Day 12 of the 21-day lockdown in South Africa where buying alcohol during this period is prohibited.
Refilwe Moloto speaks to Doug Kemp, programme director of Cape Town-based rehab centre Recovery Direct, about the impact the prohibition of alcohol sales will have on some alcohol dependants.
There's a lot of things that people could be experiencing right now. It just depends on whether they are actually in states of withdrawal or not.
Doug Kemp, Programme director - Recovery Direct
Certainly, alcohol use disorder is quite prevalent in our society and a lot of people will be going into 'seeking' behaviour.
Doug Kemp, Programme director - Recovery Direct
He explains 'seeking' behaviour.
People who have become reliant on alcohol have almost a 'relationship' to it. And when alcohol is removed from their day to day life, they start seeking that relationship that fulfills a certain function in their emotional state, to be restored.
Doug Kemp, Programme director - Recovery Direct
That 'seeking' behaviour is almost looking for another relationship to fulfill that emotional state, he explains.
South Africa is a country that has gone through a lot of past trauma and trauma is the crux of what one deals with when dealing with a substance use issue.
Doug Kemp, Programme director - Recovery Direct
He says when alcohol is actually removed, it raises many questions for people about how dependent they may really be on the substance.
Questions like how dependent am I on this and for what reason did I used more alcohol than I thought I would use? These are really the borderline questions that one starts to ask as to whether one has an alcohol use is or not.
Doug Kemp, Programme director - Recovery Direct
As people run out of alcohol during this period, it may highlight this issue for them, he explains.
A lot of those questions are coming up at the moment.
Doug Kemp, Programme director - Recovery Direct
In South Africa, we have almost adopted alcohol as a family member. It is so ingrained in our culture. Many generations have adopted this 'family member'.
Doug Kemp, Programme director - Recovery Direct
People are using alcohol to self-soothe in many ways, sef-sooting from an emotional disparity that is likely stress-related. And we have a society with so much stress.
Doug Kemp, Programme director - Recovery Direct
For more info and help go toRecoveryDirect
Listen to the interview below:

Source : https://previews.123rf.com/images/bialasiewicz/bialasiewicz1711/bialasiewicz171101329/90575022-lonely-man-with-dark-circles-around-his-eyes-holding-a-bottle-of-liquor.jpg
More from Covid-19 coronavirus explained

Catastrophe unfolds in North Korea as COVID-19 runs rampant
John Maytham interviews international correspondent Adam Gilchrist.
Read More
With waning immunity, more severe flu season expected this winter
John Maytham interviews vaccinologist Professor Shabir Mahdi of the University of the Witwatersrand.
Read More
New Covid-19 variant 'Omicron XE' emerges in UK
Refilwe Moloto interviews Dr Jeremy Nel, an infectious disease expert at Wits University.
Read More
'You MUST still wear a mask indoors in public'
Tshidi Madia asks Advocate Modidima Mannya where we stand with the remaining Covid-19 regulations.
Read More
[WATCH] President Cyril Ramaphosa ends Covid-19 National State of Disaster
Watch a recording of the President’s address, right here.
Read More
Panic buying in Shanghai, as the city of 25 million loses its grip on Covid-19

UDM joins AfriForum in court challenge against Covid-19 State of Disaster
Mandy Wiener interviews United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holomisa.
Read More
Expect 5th wave of Covid-19 by early May - Professor Salim Abdool Karim
Refilwe Moloto interviews clinical infectious diseases epidemiologist Professor Salim Abdool Karim.
Read More