Resident counsellor and house manager of the Iris Place Rehabilitation Centre in Accra, Allan Mends, has shed light on the facility’s approach to addiction recovery, highlighting its focus on willingness, structure and personal responsibility.
Speaking to Channel One TV after they donated to the centre on Monday, April 6, Mends explained that Iris Place, established in October 2019, is dedicated to supporting individuals battling substance use disorders as well as behavioural addictions such as gambling, screen addiction and pornography.
“Iris Place started in 2019 and is a facility that takes care of persons with substance use disorder and other behavioural addictions,” he stated.
According to him, admission into the facility is intentionally simple, placing emphasis on the individual’s readiness to change.
“We just need the willingness of a person to check in, as that is the only requirement,” he said.
Mends described addiction as a disease without a definitive cure, noting that recovery is a continuous, daily process built on commitment and discipline.
“What we have is a daily reprieve based on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Each client makes a daily commitment to staying clean, and we take it one day at a time, just for the next 24 hours,” he explained.
He added that this daily commitment helps clients remain mindful of emotional triggers and behavioural patterns that could lead to relapse.
“This commitment serves as a constant reminder for the person to look out for emotional imbalances or character defects that may lead them back to substance use,” he noted.
Outlining the daily routine at the facility, Mends said clients begin their day as early as 6:00 a.m. with chores, followed by personal hygiene and morning meditation sessions focused on reinforcing their commitment to sobriety.
After breakfast, clients either rest or work on assigned tasks before participating in structured therapy sessions.
“The second session runs from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., which we call recovery dynamics, and it encompasses the 12-step recovery programme,” he said.
He disclosed that the minimum duration for treatment is between four and six months, although extensions may be recommended based on individual assessments or family input.
Mends also addressed common misconceptions about rehabilitation centres, stressing that such facilities are not for “crazy people,” as often perceived.
“It is a serene environment created to enable a person to go through a therapeutic process to make recovery possible,” he clarified.
He further dismissed beliefs that addiction is caused by supernatural influences, emphasising personal responsibility in the recovery journey.
“We don’t believe someone is responsible for another person’s addiction. We believe the client is responsible for his recovery,” he stated.
Through its structured yet compassionate approach, Iris Place continues to position itself as a safe space for individuals seeking recovery, offering hope and a pathway to rebuilding lives.
