-Message from Harmony Retreat, Greytown-

Whilst we are deeply saddened by the dramatically inaccurate and blatantly false (anonymous) review of Harmony Retreat on this website - we kindly request that anyone interested in seeking treatment at Harmony Retreat please visit our Facebook Page (facebook.com/harmonyretreatgreytown) to read all the positive reviews from past patients who have battled addictions of many forms and found the help they needed at Harmony Retreat.

https://www.facebook.com/harmonyretreatgreytown

Thank you,
Harmony Retreat (Gad Avnon)

I'm am a recovering heroin addict and am clean not because I went to Harmony retreat. Harmony retreat is a place that allows addicted to do what they want. At my time at Harmony i was able to use almost every drug around while in treatment. Alcohol and Cannabis where available almost all the time. There approach to addiction is based on a christian philosophy and they also implement the NA 12 step program but really have no interest in it at all. My first time at Harmony they did not do the NA 12step program because the owner Gad Avnon told me that he did not believe it works. Harmony retreat is on a what was a dairy farm at one point. They main builds on the farm have been built by addicts so they are of very poor condition. The over crowding is ridiculous and you are forced to share a room that is build for one person with 3 people at a time. This over crowding causes violence and I watched people being stabbed and numerous fights most of the time with some sort of weapon. The food is prepared by addicts and is unsavory to put it nicely. I personally worked in the kitchen and the hygiene conditions were appalling. The shower drains where connected to the washing machine piping so when u showed you would have water up to your ankles with washing detergent and food floating around. There are also a number of mentally ill patients on the farm and they would do strange things like urinate all over the toilets and other things i would rather not go into detail about. At my time at Harmony I used drugs with a large portion of the other patients +-80%. I also was engaged in a sexual relationship on the property with a female patient and even spend the night in her room and it went unnoticed. I also know of 2 date rapes that took place at Harmony and were covered up. I was also give prescription medication that was not prescribed to me by the staff, which a lot of people used to abuse. I watched as hundreds of people came to Harmony wanting help but instead got worse. I believe that harmony is more of a vacation for addicts, that some want help but others just go back because they no that they can do want they want. Harmony is probably one of the worst rehabilitation centers in South Africa. I think it has turned into more of a money making scheme then helping addicts. There is no control and that's the main thing you need in a rehab. Harmony is a joke and If you are a parent or trying to find a addict somewhere to hopefully kick there addiction Harmony is probably the worst place to be!

Patients use drugs/alcohol at the facility but the owner, Gad Avnon does not inform their familys
Numerous other instances of malpractice:
No trained / qualified staff
filthy living condition
overcrowded (website states 'no more than 25 patients' but there are currently over 50.
sex/violence/alcohol and drugs

do not send your family member to this place - the sucess rate is 0 and it is also a risk to their lives.