Choosing a Drug and Alcohol Rehab in the UK

Watching someone you love struggle with an alcohol or drug problem is never easy. Battling substance abuse yourself is even more difficult. Excessive drinking or drug use can cause irreparable damage to a person’s life. Anyone who has witnessed a friend or family member succumb to a drug or alcohol addiction knows just how devastating it can be. While addiction and substance abuse can shatter a person’s life, drug and alcohol rehab can help them turn it around. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, getting help is one of the best decisions you can make.

While some people can quit using drugs or alcohol without a problem, there are countless people all over the world who find it impossible to stop. For someone prone to addiction, moderation simply doesn’t exist. Once a person has developed a tolerance to alcohol or drugs, they need a higher dosage to achieve the high they desire. Once a person reaches this point, dependency to a substance is almost inevitable. Recognising the signs and symptoms of addiction is vital if you believe you have a problem with substance abuse. No one deserves to live addicted to drugs or alcohol. Knowing what to look for is the first step in getting the help you need to take your life back.

Does Addiction Always Lead to Rehab?

An addiction to drugs or alcohol can go unnoticed for years, oftentimes until it’s too late. It’s important when recognising an addiction in a loved one or yourself, that you know what to look out for. Some symptoms of an addiction to drugs or alcohol will be blatantly apparent, while other signs won’t be as obvious. Following are some of the typical signs of drug and alcohol addiction to look out for if you believe you or a loved one might have a more serious problem.

  • You tend to have a hard time stopping their use once they’ve started. If you can’t stop drinking once you’ve started or always finish the last of your drug supply, this indicates a problem with addiction.
  • You can’t stop using even though you want to. You’re aware of the negative consequences of your drug or alcohol abuse, but it doesn’t stop you from using.
  • You need more and more of a substance to achieve the desired effects. This is known as tolerance.
  • You find yourself thinking about drugs or drinking all the time. You think about how to get it, where to get it, and the next time you can use.
  • You experience withdrawal symptoms when drugs or alcohol wear off. This could include physical symptoms like shaking, headaches, and cold sweats. It could also include psychological withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, depression, or even suicidal thoughts.
  • You’ve lost interest in activities you once enjoyed.
  • You experience problems in your close relationships. Friends and family members might distance themselves from you or voice their opinion about how they believe you’ve changed.
  • You hide or lie about your drug or alcohol use.
  • You steal from others to support your habit.
  • You engage in risky or dangerous behaviour while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This may include driving a car or operating heavy machinery while intoxicated.
  • You have problems with co-workers and experience trouble at work. You might miss work because you were abusing substances.
  • You are doing poorly in school and see a drop in grades or attendance.
  • You’ve stopped hanging out with your friends and have new friends with whom you use drugs or alcohol.

Recognising these common signs of addiction in yourself or someone you love could very well indicate a problem with drugs or alcohol. Because addiction is a problem that can progress very quickly, it’s important to look into different treatment options if you recognise these symptoms in yourself or a loved one.

All cases of addiction start with simple experimentation. If a person likes the way drinking or a certain drug makes them feel, it often isn’t long before they begin using this substance on a regular basis. While some people can maintain their drug or alcohol consumption, there are others who can’t. For the people who are prone to addiction, innocent experimentation can quickly lead to a full-blown dependency problem.

The progression of addiction will vary amongst different people. There are some people that can maintain a substance abuse problem for years, functioning relatively normally while continuing to do drugs or drink to excess. While unfortunate, these people may go their entire lives dependent on a substance without even realising they have a problem. Other people slip quickly into negative patterns of abuse and suddenly find their entire world has changed dramatically because of their drug or alcohol use.

For some, the consequences of drug and alcohol abuse can be devastating. In such cases, getting treatment is vital. Drug and alcohol rehab is something that can help a person out of the darkness of addiction and give them their life back. While going to rehab is a huge step, it is nothing compared to the devastation a person will experience if they continue living life addicted to drugs or alcohol.

image showing a group therapy session at a rehab centre

How Does Drug and Alcohol Rehab Helps Achieve Sobriety?

Overcoming an addiction to drugs or alcohol can be impossible to quit alone. While some people have success with stopping their substance abuse by themselves, the majority of addicts cannot stop alone. They may quit using for a bit, but it isn’t long before something triggers the urge to use and they’re immediately back to their patterns of abuse.

Addiction is a complicated, multi-faceted condition that needs to be approached in a number of different ways in order to be effectively overcome. If quitting drugs or alcohol was easy, there wouldn’t be any problems with addiction. Addiction however, is something that roots deep within a person psyche.

In order to defeat an addiction, a person’s addiction must be explored in depth. This is where going to drug and alcohol rehab helps tremendously. Because therapy is a major aspect of addiction treatment, a person is able to better understand their addiction. Through various therapy sessions (both individual and group) a person can discover the underlying reasons of their addiction, talk openly about these problems, and learn the various ways to overcome them.

Addiction treatment is designed to help a person get over their dependency on drugs and alcohol. When a person goes to treatment, they are ensuring they are receiving all the tools they need to successfully overcome their addiction for good. From therapy with a professional therapist or counsellor trained in addiction to various treatments created with the addict in mind, going to drug and alcohol rehab is the best way for a person to take a serious look at their addiction and take the steps to get over it for good.

What Are the Different Types of Rehab?

The vast number of treatment options can become overwhelming when seeking out various rehab centres throughout the UK. Addiction is an unfortunately prominent reality that many people face, increasing the need for available treatment centres. While making a decision can be difficult, it’s important to first realise the differences between different types of treatment. While each centre is unique and will do things according to their own programme, the basics of alcohol and drug rehab are universal.

Residential Alcohol and Drug Rehab

Residential rehab is when a patient stays at the rehab centre the entire duration of their treatment. Also known as inpatient rehab, residential rehab removes a person from their immediate environment and places them in an atmosphere where the only thing they need to focus on is getting well. At residential rehab, a person will eat, sleep, and receive all therapies and treatments at the centre.

For people battling serious addictions to drugs or alcohol, a residential rehab is often the best choice for their treatment needs. This is because they are removed from their normal environment where the temptation to use will be faced on a daily basis. And although residential rehab doesn’t get rid of the urges a person going through the recovery process will face, it does remove them from the situations that can be a trigger the desire to use. Residential rehab allows a person to “get away from it all” which can be extremely conducive to the healing process.

image showing a man relaxing during Drug and Alcohol Rehab
Why choose eata.org.uk?

If someone you care about is exhibiting signs of addiction – whether it’s excessive marijuana use, long-term dependency on pharmaceuticals, binge drinking of alcohol or even financially damaging levels of gambling – contact us for immediate rehabilitation help.

Outpatient Drug and Alcohol Rehab

There are a number of reasons a person seeking help for addiction won’t be able to go away and stay at a residential rehab. From family obligations to those that can’t take time off work or school, going to an outpatient rehab is a viable alternative. In an outpatient setting a person still gets treatment, but they stay at home for the length of it.

All treatments and therapies are done at regularly scheduled times throughout each week, and the patient is responsible for making it to each one. Detox, therapy, and treatment might take place at different locations, but the bottom line is the same. To heal from drug or alcohol addiction.

Because outpatient treatment is less intensive and doesn’t remove a person from the environment they’re accustomed to using in, it is best suited for people who have addictions that are less severe. It can feel impossible trying to overcome a hardcore addiction when faced with outside temptation, even when you are receiving treatment. This is why outpatient rehab is best suited for those who believe they have the willpower to overcome the urges to use that will definitely come up during their time in rehab.

Is Detox Part of Rehab

Detox is the very first step in the treatment process. After a person is admitted to either an inpatient or outpatient centre, they will begin the physical withdrawal process of coming off drugs or alcohol. It’s very important to note that detox is just a part of a comprehensive approach to treating addiction. Many people believe that once they’ve detoxed that the urge to use drugs or alcohol will go away. And while detox does help with the physical aspects of a person’s addiction, it does nothing to address the psychological side of things.

The experience of a person’s physical withdrawal will depend heavily on the nature of their addiction. The abrupt cessation of some drugs can be extremely dangerous, especially in people involved in acute cases of addiction. Daily use of drugs or alcohol over an extended period of months or years can cause severe cases of withdrawal. In situations such as these, a medically-assisted detox may be recommended to ensure the safety of the patient.

People that choose to go to an outpatient rehab will detox at a separate detox facility. For mild cases of addiction, detox can even take place at home. People getting treatment at a residential rehab will detox at the facility. This option is often preferred as it offers a seamless transition to the rest of the treatment programme.

It is very important to discuss your options for detox before making a final decision of which rehab to attend. The nature and severity of your addiction will have a big impact on the detox process, and it is important to be completely prepared for this very crucial first step.

Contingent upon what type of drug you’ve been using, you’ll find there are different options when it comes to the detox process. A method that works for one person might not be the best option for another, which is why it is vital to know your different options. A person’s drug of choice, how long they’ve been using, how much they use, and whether or not they’re using other drugs are all important factors when deciding on the best method of detox.

image showing young people enjoying their time at a Drug and Alcohol Rehab

The length a person experiences detox also depends on the nature of their personal use. Someone who has a mild addiction to cocaine will experience a much shorter detox than someone who has heavily been using heroin for months on end. Detox typically lasts from 24 hours up to a couple weeks or more depending on the nature of a person’s drug or alcohol use.

What Are the Therapies and Treatments Available in the UK?

After a person has successfully completed detox, the rest of their addiction treatment can begin. Drug and alcohol rehab is comprised of various therapies and treatments all designed to help a person overcome their addiction. Not only do these different therapies give a person the tools they need to stay sober, but they are also designed to help them better understand addiction itself. When equipped with a better knowledge of addiction and substance abuse, it can be much easier to overcome.

The therapy a person receives when going to rehab is unprecedented when it comes to lasting change. The ability to talk to a professional therapist or counsellor is one of the reasons getting treatment for addiction is so highly recommended. Therapy can help a person uncover the underlying issues of their addiction, which plays a tremendously important role in overcoming addiction for good. Once a person better understands the reasons behind their addiction, the better equipped they will be to take the steps to heal from these issues.

Going to therapy in rehab will most often be done in both an individual and group setting. Individual therapy offers the individual a chance to privately talk openly about their problems, which is something vital for the healing process. Group therapy gives them a chance to connect with others who share a similar experience. This connection can be lifesaving for those who have found their addiction has ruined their relationships with those they love. It is also a connection that allows the addict to understand they aren’t alone in their struggles.

Aside from receiving therapy, a person in rehab will also be involved in various treatments designed for addiction recovery. While treatment modalities will differ in various rehab settings, every type of treatment used in addiction recovery has proven to beneficial for countless others who have overcome addiction. The treatments used will be based upon the individual’s pattern of abuse.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a common form of treatment used in many rehab centres worldwide. CBT helps people in rehab focus on the thoughts or feelings that might get in the way of their sobriety. It’s these thoughts and feelings that are often a cause of relapse. Through CBT, a person will be able to better recognise these behaviours so they can form a better awareness of avoiding relapse.

Holistic treatment is becoming more commonplace amongst many rehab centres across the UK. Holistic therapy focuses on the overall wellbeing of the individual and offers various natural treatments to help them overcome their addiction. Modalities such as yoga, cranial-sacral therapy, acupuncture, massage, meditation, and Tai Chi are all popular holistic treatment options.

Integrated nutrition and fitness programmes are also a large part of the treatment process. Because addiction to drugs and alcohol can destroy a person’s health, they will often be taught about proper nutrition as part of their treatment. Physical activity is integrated into most rehab centres, as well. A regular fitness routine helps a person rebuild their strength and produces natural endorphins in the brain that help tremendously with the healing process.

The treatment a person receives at rehab is contingent upon their addiction and the centre they attend. It’s important to discuss the various treatment options a drug and alcohol rehab centre has before making a decision on attending. We can help you navigate through the various treatment options offered at different rehab centres and assist in finding what will be best for your own individual needs.

Does Alcohol and Drug Rehab Include Aftercare?

Treatment for drug or alcohol addiction wouldn’t be complete without a detailed aftercare programme. Where going to rehab helps a person get over their addiction, aftercare ensures they stay over their addiction. Aftercare will consist of various treatments that ensure a person has the tools necessary to maintain their sobriety.

Aftercare offers continued therapy and support once treatment is over. Recovery is an ongoing process and will continue long after a person leaves rehab. For some, aftercare might only last a few weeks or months before a person feels confident they can sustain sobriety on their own. For others, aftercare may be a lifelong commitment. Everyone responds to treatment differently, and aftercare is no different.

Various methods of treatment will be used in an aftercare setting. 12-step programmes such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are popular options for aftercare and offer free services in an anonymous setting to recovering addicts. Sober living homes are also considered part of an aftercare programme and can offer a smoother transition to life outside of rehab.

No matter what type of aftercare programme a person attends, it is vital they attend something. Not only does aftercare help a person with the transition to a sober lifestyle, but can help tremendously when the temptation arises to use drugs or alcohol after treatment is over. Aftercare is the bridge between rehab and permanently embracing a sober lifestyle. For those embarking on a new lifestyle after rehab that doesn’t involve drugs or alcohol, aftercare is a crucial component in helping them get there.

How Much Does Rehab Cost?

While the cost of rehab will vary between each centre, there are affordable options for everyone who chooses to go to rehab. When it comes to getting quality addiction treatment, there truly is an option to fit everyone’s budget. A very basic residential rehab can cost just a few hundred pounds a week, while some of the finer, more luxury residential centres can cost thousands of pounds each week.

For someone who cannot afford long-term rehab, there are a variety of free services for outpatient treatment available through NHS. Private outpatient centres are also more affordable than residential rehab treatment. We believe that everyone should have access to addiction treatment no matter what their financial situation might be. For this reason, we are happy to help you find a centre that fits your budget. No one should forgo rehab simply because they think they can’t afford it. There is truly an affordable option for anyone who wishes to get the help they need for a drug or alcohol addiction.

What is Included in a Standard Residential Rehab Treatment?

Because residential treatment can be expensive, it’s important to realise exactly what you’re getting when you pay for treatment. When you pay for residential rehab, you’re essentially paying for the following services:

  • Housing Expenses

Residential treatment means you stay at the rehab centre for the duration of treatment. What a patient pays for in housing expenses goes toward their room and board and the costs required to maintain housing at the facility.

  • Food

All meals are included in a residential setting. Part of the cost of rehab will go towards the meals that are provided for a patient while they receive treatment. Most inpatient centres will offer three meals a day.

  • Therapy

Residential rehab often comes with some of the highest trained therapists and counsellors there are. Part of the cost goes to pay these professionals for the services they provide.

  • Treatment

Various treatment modalities cost money. From exercise equipment and art supplies and various medications and other treatments that might be utilised during rehab, the cost of a patient’s stay will go toward them.

Choosing a Drug and Alcohol Rehab in the UK

It’s true that there are many choices when it comes to choosing a rehab centre in the UK. Addiction and substance abuse have become widespread, and the need for effective treatment has never been greater. We’re here to talk to you about the many different options you have and lead you in a direction that will ultimately give you your life back.

Why choose eata.org.uk?

If someone you care about is exhibiting signs of addiction – whether it’s excessive marijuana use, long-term dependency on pharmaceuticals, binge drinking of alcohol or even financially damaging levels of gambling – contact us for immediate rehabilitation help.

Let Us Help You Pick the Ideal Rehab for You and Your Loved Ones

Ultimately you are the only one that can decide what type of rehab centre will best fit your needs. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week however, to answer any questions you might have. Our knowledgeable and friendly staff understands that you’ll want to know everything you can before making a final decision. We’re here to guide you through the process, making it as easy as possible for you to take your life back.

Making the decision to get help for yourself or a loved one battling addiction is one of the best decisions that could be made in the situation you’re facing. When it comes to rehab there truly is something to fit anyone’s personal needs. With the vast number of rehab centres located throughout the UK however, it can be difficult to navigate through the various choices you have. Deciding to go to rehab and get treatment can be difficult enough. Choosing a rehab can feel next to impossible We’re here to make the process easier by helping you every step of the way. We are in contact with some of the finest drug and alcohol rehab centres across the UK, and have successfully placed countless people facing similar situations in rehab centres that have helped them turn their life around.

 
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