Alcohol & Drug Rehabs in Aberdeenshire

There is a concern about underage drinking in Aberdeen and its surrounding areas, with strategies being considered to change attitudes toward drug and alcohol consumption.

In a recent survey over 40% of 13-year-olds had both claimed to have had an alcoholic drink and been drunk, with 77% of 15-year-olds stating they have had an alcoholic drink and 67% claiming to have been drunk.

This is a worrying revelation for local policymakers, particularly because alcohol use costs the local economy around £120 million per year.

Aberdeenshire has one of the lowest rates in Scotland for drug-related deaths in the period 2016 to 2020, with 9.3 deaths per 100,000 people, the city of Dundee had the highest rate in Scotland with 43 deaths per 100,000 population.

Don’t let addiction control your life – get the help you need from a drug and alcohol rehab in Aberdeenshire by calling us on 0800 111 4108

The disease model of addiction

Drug and alcohol professionals working in Aberdeenshire rehab centres follow a model of care that aligns with the disease model of addiction.

The key principle in addiction treatment according to this model is that addiction is a malady like any other physical illness, such as arthritis or liver failure, and anyone diagnosed with an addictive disorder should be treated the same way as patients with these conditions.

It is incorrect to assume that a person diagnosed with addiction has low moral principles or is badly behaved.

Anyone who has developed an addiction should be treated with compassion as they have become unwell through no fault of their own and cannot get better just by trying harder, just as anyone with a physical illness cannot.

Overcome the disease of addiction at a drug and alcohol rehab in Aberdeenshire by calling us on 0800 111 4108

Dual diagnosis patients in rehab

Rehab centres have to cater for the fact that a high proportion of clients that they treat will also have been diagnosed with another mental health condition(s) on top of their SUD.

Treatment teams develop an bespoke treatment plan for each client based on their observations of how these two conditions affect each other.

The treatment teams will use evidence-based interventions to treat dual-diagnosis patients which can be pharmacological and psychological.

There are many approved medications for mood and anxiety disorders available and, as far as psychological interventions are concerned, CBT and mindfulness-based approaches have been shown in research to be effective in reducing anxiety and depression.

Make sure that you attend a drug and alcohol rehab in Aberdeenshire that supports your mental health by giving our team a call on 0800 111 4108

Rehab treatment centres and abstinence

The preferable treatment option for rehab centres is to facilitate each client’s path to recovery by using an abstinence-based approach.

As all clients who enter rehab will have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder (SUD), it would be not in their best interests to use a harm reduction approach because ultimately this will not allow them to overcome their addiction.

This is because any substances consumed on a casual level are likely to trigger a relapse which could see their behaviour spiralling out of control again due to the biological mechanisms involved in the addictive process.

Find the support you need from a drug and alcohol rehab in Aberdeenshire – call us today on 0800 111 4108

The advantages of attending residential rehab in Aberdeen

There is a higher success rate for clients who have been through residential rehab treatment, this is probably in part due to the removal of environmental triggers.

Most of your time will be devoted to thinking about your recovery by engaging in therapy, reflective exercise and educational sessions, which should help you focus on getting better and gaining new skills.

The experienced rehab staff fully understand the needs, thoughts and emotional state of all clients and are on hand to support you around the clock.

Every type of treatment you receive will be based on reliable research findings and delivered by qualified professionals.

Not sure if residential drug and alcohol rehab in Aberdeenshire is right for you? Talk it over with our experts on 0800 111 4108

Private Rehab vs. Council founded rehab treatment

Benefits of Private rehab

There is no waiting time to disrupt your motivation, clients can start their detox programme instantaneously.

The rehab treatment team will carefully formulate your detailed, personalised plan.

A thorough aftercare programme with regular monitoring will help you to stay sober after you leave.

There will be a greater selection of therapies and activities available to benefit from, including alternative therapies and leisure activities.

You will receive care in a calm, peaceful setting far removed from the triggers and stressors associated with your normal environment.

Treatment can be expensive, but the success rates for recovery tend to be significantly higher for residential rehab patients.

NHS / Council funded addiction treatment

For those people who have been diagnosed with a SUD but have no means of financing their treatment, there is funding available for treatment through NHS and local government funding.

The funding does allow highly committed people who can’t afford to pay for treatment themselves to receive effective and established interventions.

Anyone receiving treatment via funding can live at home, close to their family and friends whilst undergoing treatment.

Unfortunately, NHS funding is not without its disadvantages.

The whole application process is convoluted and time-consuming and can demotivate people.

Unlike clients in private rehab, NHS funded clients will not receive a tailored plan that matches their treatment requirements.

There are a limited number of funded places for residential rehab, so many funded clients will only be awarded outpatient treatment.

There is unlikely to be consistency in their treatment pathway, the location of their treatment may change and clients may not always have sessions with the same practitioner.

For help choosing between private and NHS rehab in Aberdeenshire, call us on 0800 111 4108

Other free organisations to consider

Below is a list of other organisations offering free support for drug and alcohol addiction in and around Aberdeenshire:

1. Addaction

Address: 480 Union St, Aberdeen AB10 1TS

Telephone: 01224 218120

Website: https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/help-and-advice/

2. Aberdeen in Recovery

Address:  Credo Centre, 14-20 John St, Aberdeen AB25 1BT

Telephone: 01224 638342

Website: http://www.aberdeeninrecovery.org/

3. Teen Challenge UK

Address: Sunnybrae, Woodhead, Fyvie AB53 8LS

Telephone: 01651 891627

Website: https://tcns.org.uk/sunnybrae/

4. CAMHS

Address: Urquhart Rd, Aberdeen AB24, UK

Telephone: 01224 550139

Website: https://www.nhsgrampian.org/service-hub/child-and-adolescent-mental-health-services-camhs-grampian/camhs-aberdeen/

Other organisations include Change Grow Live and Turning Point.

You can also call various helplines, including Mind UK, YoungMinds, Rethink Mental Illness, Samaritans and Papyrus, SMART Recovery or find an Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, Al-Anon or Alateen group near you.

The NHS are also there to help with any support you need.

Inpatient rehab IS NOT suitable for everyone

Engaging in residential rehab for 4-6 weeks is psychologically very challenging for people and rehab centres are resourced to facilitate their progression towards recovery.

Not everyone who requires residential rehab will be able to meet its demands due to their distinctive circumstances. For example:

• Dual diagnosis patients are common in rehab but if any of their disorders are classified as severe by the DSM-5, then they will be signposted to alternative services.
• Rehab centres work with highly motivated people, so any individual who has tried on several occasions to become sober and had many failed attempts at detox may be referred to another support service.
• High-risk patients who are considered a suicide risk or susceptible to violent behaviour would need to be approved by a mental health practitioner before entering rehab.
• Some addiction rehab services may not have the medical resources to look after people diagnosed with severe alcohol-related disorders such as delirium tremens and Wernicke’s disease.

Find your way to sobriety at a drug and alcohol rehab in Aberdeenshire by giving our team a call on 0800 111 4108

The alternatives to going to rehab

If you feel that engaging in rehab services is not for you then there are fortunately many other organisations that can help you.

These organisations offer free services which you can start engaging with immediately.

Support Groups

Throughout Aberdeenshire, there are many self-help groups run that can provide a level of personal and peer support for those looking to recover from addiction.

As well as traditional Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, there will be Narcotics Anonymous and Cocaine Anonymous meetings available, and a city the size of Aberdeen is likely to have many meetings available to attend.

Each support group organisation will have the times, dates and locations of each meeting on its website.

There are also support groups for family members of substance users to attend, such as Al-Anon Family Meetings, and specialists like Alateen who cater exclusively to adolescents.

National specialist charities

Several national charities offer support services for people seeking to overcome addiction, homelessness and poor mental health.

Change, Grow, Live aims to make a difference in people’s lives by dedicating time, resources and enthusiasm to provide people with what they need to turn their lives around.

They have a wide range of services and information available that people can draw on, including links to specialist addiction services, online chat and forums and detailed advice for the different challenges people encounter.

SMART Recovery has designed a recovery programme which aims to equip people with the cognitive skills to resist cravings and manage negative emotions.

Their programme also helps clients to define their own life goals and to develop the confidence to pursue these goals.

Local drug and alcohol teams offer outpatient services

There are local substance misuse teams available in Aberdeenshire that provide services on an outpatient basis.

Clients will live at home whilst receiving treatment, but they may have to engage in a programme that requires a daily commitment from them over a period of several weeks.

Each client will receive their own programme which is dependent on their specific circumstances but will usually consist of detox treatment, individual, group or couples therapy, relapse prevention and personal improvement sessions, as well as specialist care if they have a co-existing mental health disorder.

Whatever help you need to beat addiction – whether from a drug and alcohol rehab in Aberdeenshire or an alternative service – let our experts help you by giving us a call on 0800 111 4108

The admissions process in Aberdeenshire rehab centres

The role of ASAM criteria

The American Society of Addiction Medicine is acknowledged as an important source of advice and guidance for addiction professionals. They have proposed that when treating clients, 6 dimensions need to be considered when formulating their care.

Drug and alcohol professionals working in Aberdeenshire refer to these 6 dimensions as part of the admissions process for clients entering treatment.

The 6 dimensions help to build up a profile of each client’s strengths, weaknesses, their particular areas of concern and any other relevant information that could affect their recovery.

Each dimension is awarded a risk rating and any dimensions, with a high risk rating needing give extra attention in their treatment plan.

The information that assessors seek to gather includes,

• The client’s current substance use levels
• The state of their physical and mental health
• The perceived commitment they have towards treatment
• If there are any legal, financial or family complications that may affect their state of mind.

The DSM-5 Three Levels of Severity

When designing interventions, the rehab treatment team are keen to establish the severity of each patient’s SUD.

To ensure standardisation in treatment practices across the UK, treatment managers will compare the person’s behaviour and history with the 11 criteria for a SUD which features in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders -5th Edition (DMS-5), which is a recognised reference for diagnosing a psychiatric disorder.

Anyone displaying 6 or more of the 11 criteria statements will be judged as having a severe SUD, whereas if they have 4-5 then they will be classified as having a moderate SUD.

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDITs).

Anyone concerned about whether they are drinking alcohol at levels that may indicate they have developed alcohol dependence can complete a screening questionnaire called the AUDIT to assess if they are drinking at harmful levels.

The AUDIT consists of 10 questions which ask the responder to record the level of their current alcohol consumption levels and the social and physical consequences that these consumption levels have for them.

The AUDIT is a useful tool for establishing the next course of action for someone concerned about their drinking habits.

A person scoring over 8 would be advised to sign up for brief intervention counselling and read literature on the harmful effects of excessive drinking, whereas a score of over 14 may lead to that person being advised to book a further assessment with a substance use practitioner or GP.

Begin the admissions process at a drug and alcohol rehab in Aberdeenshire by giving us a call on 0800 111 4108

The use of professional intervention services

In addiction recovery terms, an intervention is a planned course of action which draws from behaviour change theory to help family members persuade a close relative into receiving treatment.

It is hard for some people to acknowledge that their behaviour is out of control, and even harder for family members to sit back and do nothing, so intervention services play a key role in working with families to achieve a positive outcome.

Intervention professionals are highly skilled in understanding the complex dynamics involved in family interactions and use their specialist knowledge when devising interventions.

The CRAFT method is a frequent method used and involves training family members to respond to the behaviour of the relative of concern in a specific way in a bid to influence the way they act.

This method has been successful as family members are in a unique position to influence their relative, who eventually feels compelled to seek treatment as they become adversely impacted by the negative behaviour directed toward them from family members after they use substances.

Give your loved one the best chance of receiving help from a drug and alcohol rehab in Aberdeenshire by calling us on 0800 111 4108

Tips for choosing a suitable residential rehab centre in Aberdeenshire

Here are a few tips to make sure that you pick the right rehab centre in Aberdeenshire for your unique needs:

• A rehab centre that has been operating for over 20 years can be seen as a safe and reliable service.
• Acquire evidence of the experience and qualifications of rehab centre staff.
• Research their success rates for treating your type of addiction (SUD).
• Read reviews on the treatment centres you are interested in, and make sure they are neutral reviews and not reviews from their website.
• If possible, have conversations with people who have been through rehab there.
• Thoroughly research each treatment centre and do not be afraid to speak to staff members on the phone or visit them in person to assess if you feel a rapport with them. It is important to trust and feel safe with people who are caring for you.
• Analyse how the treatment cost for each rehab centre(s) you are interested in fits in with your financial abilities.

Make sure that you get help from your ideal drug and alcohol rehab in Aberdeenshire by calling us on 0800 111 4108

What is an alcohol detox and do I need one?

A detox is a pharmacological procedure carried out on people who have developed alcohol dependence.

Detox aims to gradually reduce the quantity of alcohol in a person’s body over several days which lessens the effect that alcohol has on the nervous system.

People become physically dependent when they regularly consume large quantities of alcohol and build up a tolerance to it.

When they stop drinking they will then experience withdrawal symptoms.

To combat these, medical professionals use substitute drugs and medications which share some chemical characteristics with alcohol but are neither physically addictive nor produce rewarding psychological effects (e.g relaxation)

Alcohol is a very dangerous drug to stop taking suddenly after prolonged use and so the medical team at Aberdeenshire rehab centres prescribe Librium to protect clients going through the early stages of withdrawal.

This drug has anticonvulsant properties which will reduce the chances of them having a seizure.

The detox treatment for alcohol tends to last for 7 -10 days after which time clients can begin their psychological rehabilitation.

To learn more about detox at a drug and alcohol rehab in Aberdeenshire, call us today on 0800 111 4108

Rehab for Cocaine addiction in Aberdeenshire

Cocaine is a stimulant drug which people take for a burst of physical and mental energy as well as to boost their mood.

Records indicate that a high percentage of people who enter treatment for cocaine addiction do manage to overcome it.

Due to its chemical structure and the effect it has on the nervous system, there is no pharmacological intervention needed for cocaine addiction.

The withdrawal symptoms people experience when giving up the drug are not as difficult to bear as compared with an opioid drug, and any uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms clients experience will be treated with symptom-specific medication.

The staff will be there every step of the way to offer psychological support and advice on how to reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Once this has been brought under control, clients will engage in group and individual therapy to help process the emotional experiences that contributed to their cocaine use.

Overcome cocaine addiction at a drug and alcohol rehab in Aberdeenshire – call us today on 0800 111 4108

Rehab for Heroin addiction in Aberdeenshire

Drug practitioners in Aberdeenshire rehab centres have developed effective and safe practices to treat the ever-increasing problem of heroin addiction.

Heroin is an opioid drug known for its pain-relieving properties, but it also generates highly pleasurable feelings, making it a very addictive drug.

Because of its psychoactive characteristics, users can quickly become physically dependent on the drug and so the first stage of the recovery process will be organising a medical detox for clients to ensure their physical dependence is eradicated.

This is achieved by prescribing a course of methadone (or Buprenorphine) which is chemically similar to heroin and so prevents withdrawal symptoms, but is not physically or psychologically addictive.

Once their detox programme has finished, clients can begin the next treatment phase which involves engaging in various psychological therapies and workshops where they can learn important psychological skills.

Overcome heroin addiction at a drug and alcohol rehab in Aberdeenshire – call our team on 0800 111 4108

Rehab for Cannabis addiction in Aberdeen

Cannabis is a highly consumed drug that most users take to relax.

Cannabis is not considered as harmful as many other drugs, but it can significantly impair aspects of people’s cognition and lead to poor mental health if taken regularly.

There is no specific pharmacological detox treatment for cannabis addiction, so the main aspect of the treatment schedule involves offering regular emotional support for clients as they withdraw from the drug.

It is not very likely that anyone ceasing cannabis intake after prolonged use will suffer from severe withdrawal symptoms, but they can be uncomfortable for several days or weeks, so a medical support team will be on hand to help manage any difficult symptoms relating to anxiety, insomnia, headaches and nausea with medication or alternative strategies.

After this, clients will follow their programme of psychological therapies and educational classes to provide them with psychological techniques to overcome their psychological dependence on cannabis.

Overcome cannabis addiction at a drug and alcohol rehab in Aberdeenshire by reaching out to us on 0800 111 4108

Psychological interventions and therapies in Aberdeenshire rehab centres

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

Cognitive and mindfulness-based therapies help clients change their internal, automatic thought processes which may have been hindering their psychological well-being.

People may have developed low self-esteem and have as a result internalised this into their inner belief system, which encouraged addictive behaviours.

By adjusting these unconscious beliefs, behaviour may be changed and therefore addiction may be overcome.

Psychodynamic counselling

Psychodynamic counselling can also help clients unearth unconscious negative influences in their lives that may be directing their behaviour and causing them significant anxiety.

Counselling sessions will enable them to make sense of these influences and to understand how this has contributed to their addiction.

Dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT)

DBT is very a very valuable form of therapy for people with a SUD as it teaches them the psychological skills required to deal with difficult emotions.

These skills are very important to acquire as they reduce the risk of relapsing, as research has indicated that people with a SUD are more vulnerable to relapse when they are experiencing negative emotions.

Brief interventions

Brief interventions are used as a short, sharp behaviour change intervention to inform heavy substance users of the harmful consequences of their excessive use.

The therapist will present the client with medical evidence of the harm they are doing to themselves and then engage them in a dialogue to explore their views on what they have just heard.

This has been proven to be very effective as a short-term strategy to change clients’ health beliefs.

Motivational interviewing (MI)

MI is an intervention used when clients are seemingly disengaging with treatment and showing a degree of apathy in their behaviour.

There could be many reasons for their apathy which may be out of their conscious awareness.

However, by showing empathy and support for the client and engaging them in an honest dialogue therapists can help clients pinpoint the reason(s) for their drop in motivation and help them to regain it again.

Group based therapies

Group therapy sessions are a common intervention in many rehab centres as clients can monitor their thoughts and feelings in the group setting, which can help them understand their psychological processes.

This can help them uncover what feelings they may have been repressing and why they may have turned to substances.

Group therapy will help clients develop key communication skills and to experience being part of a mutually supportive group that has been through similar challenging experiences.

Group members will realise that they are not alone in their struggles and therefore begin to trust other people and build meaningful connections with them.

Family therapy will help clients understand how early, negative communication patterns in their family unit may have become absorbed into their consciousness and negatively impacted their psychological well-being.

It’s not uncommon for people with a SUD to have experienced insecure attachments as a result of difficult family relationships during their early developmental years.

Family therapy would help to tackle these issues and undermine a core driving force of addiction.

Therapy for Co-dependency

Many rug and alcohol rehab centres in Aberdeenshire have specialist therapists working for them who can offer therapy for people with Co-dependence.

These therapy sessions will help build their low self-esteem which usually is a consequence of childhood trauma.

As a result of this trauma, co-dependent people find it difficult to express their own psychological needs, so they become preoccupied with attending to the needs of others.

Therapy will help them get in touch with their own needs and how they can get these needs met.

Twelve-Step Therapy

The AA’s 12 step programme is seen as a key element of many recovery plans, as it involves clients contemplating a series of psychological challenges relating to their substance use.

Some of these steps involve making an honest inventory of their character traits and reflecting on the people they have caused harmed with their addiction over the years.

The 12 steps are recognised as enabling clients to do the therapeutic activities necessary to enhance their chances of recovery, and providing them with a higher power to lean on when addiction seems overwhelming.

Holistic therapies available for substance misuse treatment

Co-ordinators of addiction treatment programmes have recently recognised how beneficial holistic therapies can be in aiding recovery and facilitating positive mental health.

The use of the Buddhist principle of mindfulness is one example of integrating spiritual principles into mental health practices.

Mindfulness training sessions allow clients to control their internal mental processes so that they are not so disturbed by negative thoughts which can lead to overwhelming emotions.

Through practising meditation, substance users can find inner calmness and start to regain control of their minds.

The areas of art and music therapy also offer another route to helping clients deal with the damaging emotions resulting from traumatic experiences.

Everyone has a unique style of processing emotions as not everyone can convey their feelings freely in counselling sessions.

Art and music therapy allow a person to access any negative, unconscious experiences in a less direct way.

Rehab centres are also able to arrange equine therapy and adventure therapy for any clients that they feel may benefit from this.

As beneficial as these therapies are, it is likely that only privately funded clients will be able to access these treatments as they will not be available to NHS funded clients.

Equine therapy has produced excellent improvements in people’s self-esteem, their ability to withstand challenging emotions and enhanced their communication skills so that they have better relationships.

Any clients who struggle socially and who have a poor self-image will benefit from adventure therapy, which has a team-building element to it as well as providing an opportunity for participants to learn new skills and benefit therapeutically by being in stimulating outdoor environments.

To experience all of these treatments and more at a drug and alcohol rehab in Aberdeenshire, give our team a call on 0800 111 4108

Rehab services and relapse prevention strategies

Clients admitted to rehab treatment centres in Aberdeenshire can be assured by the fact that the treatment team will help them prepare for life in the outside world once they have completed their rehab programme.

Part of this preparation will involve the coaching of psychological skills, which will enable them to repel any influences from the environment that may lead them back into using substances.

Identifying vulnerable situations

There are two significant influences that clients need to build in strategies to help them.

The first involves identifying social scenarios that could be categorised as high-risk.

This could be social events where alcohol is likely to be present or a group of people who you previously took drugs with when in their company.

These situations will challenge the self-control of most people so it is important for clients to learn drug refusal skills and develop a more assertive style to their personality in rehab workshops, to help ensure they can remain mentally strong and resist temptation.

Physiological states – HALT

Rehab staff use up to date research when developing their relapse prevention courses, and a strong body of evidence suggests that people are particularly susceptible to relapsing when they are Hungry, Lonely, Angry and Tired.

Clients will be able to reflect on how these body states tend to influence their actions and implement rehearsed psychological strategies to counteract these negative states as opposed to taking substances to alleviate these negative feelings and states.

Beat addiction once and for all at a drug and alcohol rehab in Aberdeenshire – give our team a call today on 0800 111 4108

Get in touch

Getting in touch with our team at Rehab 4 Alcoholism couldn’t be easier.

Simply call us on 0800 111 4108 to speak to one of our experienced counsellors.

Alternatively, send us a message through our website and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

We’re here to make finding an alcohol rehab clinic in Aberdeenshire as simple as possible.

All drug and alcohol rehabs have to be registered and audited by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England and Wales or Care Inspectorate in Scotland. 

We have connections to rehab services across Aberdeenshire, Scotland the rest of the UK, so we can be sure to connect you to the best services for your unique needs.

Rehab 4 Alcoholism also offers drug and alcohol rehab services in a variety of places within Aberdeenshire, Scotland and across the UK, including Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Perth, Paisley, Hamilton, Livingston and Stirling.