Cost of Drug and Alcohol Rehab

When an individual is struggling with an addiction, knowing how, when, and where to get help are all difficult challenges.

This is why Rehab 4 Alcoholism provides free and confidential advice and support services for individuals struggling across all stages of addiction and its associated risks to physical and mental health.

Through our services, we can recommend and make suggestions about the future of the individual’s rehabilitation.

These recommendations will always follow the abstinence approach to rehab, and this refers to the complete cessation in the usage of the substance that the individual is addicted to – be it alcohol or other drugs, or lifestyle choices and activities e.g., shopping and gambling addictions.

During an individual’s time in rehab, either in a centre or through outpatient treatment programmes, they will take part in a variety of treatments and therapies in order to get to the root cause of their addiction and begin to treat its associated symptoms.

Rehabilitation is not designed to ‘cure’ addiction, but with the right environment, treatment programmes, and courses of therapy, any individual can learn to cope with their addiction in the long-term.

Determining the Cost of Rehab

For some individuals, a key concern about the future of their rehabilitation may concern the financial situation they may be left in during treatment or after undergoing a full treatment programme.

Though this is not the case in every situation, finances are often a key factor that individuals consider before entering rehab, especially when it comes to residential rehab and other forms of private treatment.

Not every individual will experience rehab in the same way. This is due to the different treatment programmes, therapies, and other holistic activities that the individuals take part in during their stay, as well as other factors such as accommodation type and any emergency treatments.

Before entering rehab, it is important to go over these factors, ensuring that the addiction treatment service provider understands the individual’s situation in terms of finances and lays everything out clearly in order to make any decisions easier.

No individual should start any form of treatment (private rehab treatment or otherwise) without ensuring full understanding and assurances of the total cost.

The Cost of Detox

The detoxification process is the first stage of rehabilitation through any form of care – both inpatient and outpatient.

This refers to the process in which the individual withdraws from the substance they are addicted to, often resulting in withdrawal symptoms and effects that vary depending on the individual’s history with addiction and the substance they are addicted to.

This stage of the process can take anywhere between 7-14 days depending on the factors mentioned above (history, type of substance etc.), though some effects – such as those associated with disorders such as alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) – can last for up to a year or more (1).

Depending on how long the individual spends in rehab, and whether or not the individual is undergoing a detox within a dedicated residential rehab centre, both contribute to the final cost.

If the individual is suitable for a home detox (only for those in very specific situations), then this can cost anywhere between £1,500 to £2,000 depending on the location, individual’s needs, and the type of medically-assisted withdrawal programme (medical care) they are on.

Can I just go for the detox?

As mentioned above, detox is only the first stage of rehabilitation. Detoxification prepares the body for the later stages by removing the harmful chemicals within the body that may still be present as a result of long-term addiction.

Although the individual may be successful in undergoing a full detox, this does not mean that they are rehabilitated.

Addiction affects both physical and mental aspects of the individual’s health and detox is solely for the physical side of treatment.

For example, during a detox, it is shown that the individual’s BMI and levels of haemoglobin will also begin to return to pre-addiction levels (2).

Any mental health issues that the individual may have will not be treated effectively or efficiently purely through a detox, meaning that additional rehabilitation such as treatment programmes and therapies should also be considered.

The detox process provides an opportunity for individuals to think more clearly about the future of their rehabilitation, especially in the later stages of rehab when they are beginning to feel closer to sober and their minds may be clearer to consider the options ahead of them.

The Cost of Therapy

Therapy (also known as the main stage of rehabilitation) is the stage in rehabilitation in which individuals will engage with the majority of their treatment programmes and therapy courses.

More recently, this also includes more and more holistic therapies such as the inclusion of art, music, and equine therapy.

This approach boosts the teaching of treating all parts of the body, not just the physical body and mind and is shown to be especially effective when combined with other addiction treatments such as counselling and other therapies (3).

If the individual is residing within one of many private centres across the UK, then the cost of therapy may not be so focussed on the exact treatment programmes that the individual takes part in, but rather the type of accommodation that they stay in while doing so.

Single occupancy rooms, for example, are often the higher cost of the two options, with an average cost of around £10,500 or more for the recommended 28-day stay or around £4,500 for a 10-day detox.

For a multiple occupancy room, however, this may be slightly less costly, with a 28-day stay having an average cost of around £6,000 on average or £3,000 for a 10-day detox.

All of these figures should be clearly laid out by the addiction treatment programme provider and the individual should take into account other factors such as medical insurance and different payment plans which may also affect the overall cost of rehab.

This should be discussed with the appropriate external source e.g., the insurance company, as soon as possible.

How long does rehab last?

As mentioned above, Rehab 4 Alcoholism recommends a stay of 28 days within residential centres and care.

This is the amount of time dedicated to a full detoxification as well as the opportunity for the individual to take part in specialised and tailored treatment programmes.

Individuals should keep in mind that this amount of time is not set in stone and the duration of treatment will vary in every case.

Once an individual enters rehab, they are not trapped there and restrained from leaving as many TV and film adaptations may depict.

Some individuals may decide that inpatient treatment is not suitable for them and opt for outpatient treatment instead whereas others may not find the 28 days a long enough time period, leading to additional time spent within a centre.

No matter the individual’s needs, residential centres are designed to provide whatever support the individual may need during their time in rehab, including the ability to shorten or lengthen their time within a residential centre.

The Cost of Secondary Rehab Treatment/Aftercare

As with the treatment programmes and therapies that the individual takes part in while in a residential centre, these will also vary after the individual leaves rehab.

The cost of treatment received after leaving rehab as part of an aftercare programme depends solely on the type and regularity of the aftercare services they engage in.

For example, entering an addiction support network such as Alcoholics Anonymous is generally free, as they are run by volunteers or local councils.

However, other aftercare programmes such as engaging in SMART (Self-Management and Recovery Training) may incur a low average cost. These are programmes designed to continue the individual’s learning in the field of addiction as well as continuing their care in a more independent fashion.

An individual may also continue some of the treatments they experienced within rehab such as family therapy, individual therapy.

As with therapies and other treatment programmes, there will be chances to choose payment options and other plans that suit each individual’s needs.

Is alcohol rehab covered by the NHS?

When it comes to paying for rehab, many individuals may choose to go down the NHS route of rehabilitation treatment.

Although the NHS does cover some forms of rehabilitative treatment, these are often limited by the funds and costs associated with these treatments.

The NHS is a government-funded service, meaning that all of its funding comes from government taxes and budgets, often limiting the services that are available to those who need them most.

Through the NHS, accessing services such as counselling and other therapies that focus on mental health is generally relatively easy.

Counselling services are now widespread across the UK and the rest of the world, meaning that these services are often readily available.

However, other forms of treatment such as those that focus on the physical health side of the individual’s rehabilitation may be more difficult.

For example, accessing residential rehab services is not very common, meaning that although these are the most

What are the benefits of private rehab?

Through private rehab centres and other inpatient rehab centres, individuals who are suitable give themselves the best possible chance at a full and effective recovery.

Unlike other forms of care, private rehab offers 24/7 care, with an expert staff and appropriate medical interventions available at all times.

This allows for the complete security and safety of the individual during their time in rehab.

In addition, treatment programmes taken part in as a part of residential care are often specialised and tailored to the individual’s specific needs.

Most individuals are suitable for residential care, and in cases where it is necessary, individuals are able to be admitted to residential care after just one initial telephone assessment.

After this, they can enter and begin treatment as soon as possible.

Why is the cost of rehab higher in some centres than others?

Some centres, especially those that classify themselves as luxury centres, often charge more on average than other centres due to their increased level of service.

Although many of the treatments and therapies on offer will be the same, the ‘luxury’ aspect is often related to the environment and facilities that the centre may have.

For example, for holistic treatments such as art, music, and equine therapies, specialised space is required to take part in these activities within a centre.

Though most centres without these facilities will outsource patients to establishments where they are available, those that have these facilities are often referred to as ‘luxury’ or specialised rehab centres.

For this reason, the cost associated with these centres specifically is generally higher for the individual.

What types of rehab centres are available to me?

To find out which centres the individual may be eligible for, or to find out which centres offer the treatment that the individual is looking for, they should feel free to contact Rehab 4 Alcoholism for free today.

Through our thorough and expert referral service, individuals are able to access free and confidential advice for their specific situation or for the situation of someone they know.

Additionally, individuals will often be able to access trial sessions within residential centres or treatment programmes in order to determine whether or not they are suitable for their individual needs.

This is a great way to effectively ‘test’ a rehab centre, as well as have the opportunity to converse with the staff there to ask any questions or bring up any queries that the individual may have.

How Can You Pay for Rehab?

Through Rehab 4 Alcoholism, we also provide financial advice for those who may be struggling with the financial side of rehabilitative treatment.

This service is available for all and will give individuals the opportunity to learn more about the cost of rehab, how this can be broken up, and how the individual may experience rehab in general.

To ask any questions relating to the cost of rehab or addiction or rehabilitation in general, please do not hesitate to call Rehab 4 Alcoholism today on 0800 111 4108.

References

[1] Hall, W. and Zador, D., 1997. The alcohol withdrawal syndrome. The Lancet, 349(9069), pp.1897-1900.

[2] Islam, S.N., Hossain, K.J., Ahmed, A. and Ahsan, M., 2002. Nutritional status of drug addicts undergoing detoxification: prevalence of malnutrition and influence of illicit drugs and lifestyle. British Journal of Nutrition, 88(5), pp.507-513.

[3] Adedoyin, C., Burns, N., Jackson, H.M. and Franklin, S., 2014. Revisiting holistic interventions in substance abuse treatment. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 24(5), pp.538-546.

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