Alcohol & Drug Rehabs in Berkshire

Addiction can affect anyone at any time, with drug and alcohol abuse affecting individuals, families, and whole communities. Berkshire is a prime example of this with its worsening drug-related crime rate.

In 2018, worrying numbers showed that Reading suffered from one of the highest amounts of heroin deaths in the county. 

New figures by the Office of National Statistics indicate that Berkshire sits well above the national average for morphine and heroin-related deaths in England.

What’s even more worrying is the alcohol problem in Berkshire, with Reading’s drug and alcohol services possibly requiring more focus on alcohol abuse.

A BBC report found that Reading Borough Council has identified around 30,000 residents consuming above the recommended alcohol levels.

You only need to look at these numbers to see that people need access to effective drug and alcohol rehabs in Berkshire.

If you’re worried about your own or a family members alcohol or drug use, you can discuss your options by a simple phone call to our friendly helpline.

Addiction: A Brain Disease

No one ever sets out to become addicted, it is something that happens over time.

For this reason, many people struggle with the thoughts of failure and self-hatred, never seeing addiction as a chronic disease.

Likewise, addiction may have once been seen as a moral failure, but as time progresses, so does our understanding of addiction.

Models like the Disease Model of Addiction now shed important light on how drug and alcohol abuse is a compulsive disorder, with a basis in the brain’s chemical changes.

Moreover, with considerable advancements in neuroscience, clinicians now recognise addiction as a chronic yet treatable brain condition.

The dangers of the failure stigma associated with addiction make it almost impossible for individuals to recover from drugs, alcohol, or behavioural addictions.

When individuals see themselves as failures and are blind to the treatable nature of addiction, they may not seek out treatment.

In contrast, the disease model of addiction claims that free will and control are not a part of the addiction process.

Instead, frequent drug or alcohol abuse causes essential changes to the brain’s chemical structure that takes away the ability to control one’s addiction.

Such changes to the brain mean clinicians must focus on addiction-specific and patient personalised treatments to reverse the brains’ chronic changes.

Abstinence: A Vital Treatment for a Chronic Addiction

When you agree that addiction is a chronic condition, abstinence should be viewed as one of the most effective recovery methods.

Simple reduction of alcohol or substances is often not enough to overcome addiction.

Often, complete abstinence is the only way. This is why rehab facilities always encourage total abstinence from drugs or alcohol.

Putting yourself through rehab led abstinence means your brain has the chance to revert to its healthier, pre-addiction state and leads to a better recovery rate.

When trying to achieve abstinence at home in a ‘cold turkey’ fashion, you’ll have no protection from the stresses and triggers of everyday life.

Instead, surrounding yourself in the haven of rehab means a better likelihood of achieving abstinence as you’re protected from these addiction triggers.

In addition, this protection often re-motivates the sobriety journey.

Abstinence can be immensely more successful than harm reduction or moderation management because it allows your recovery to follow a distinct path with easy-to-follow goals.

Residential Rehab: Is it an Option for All?

Although abstinence through rehab is one of the best options for recovery, it may not be suitable for everyone.

Some may not wish to or may not be able to leave their homes and families for the recommended 28-day stay in rehab.

In this sense, a less structured outpatient treatment plan may be more suitable. This type of treatment is better suited to those with a mild addiction that only require minimal therapy or short-term detox without an inpatient setting.

Sometimes, those who only suffer a mild addiction feel forced or coerced into enrolling on rehab. These patients often don’t fully participate in the programme without the proper motivation, and therefore don’t get the most out of rehab.

Thus, rehab has a lower chance of success for the wrong people.

In contrast, those with a high tolerance to drugs or alcohol, building with frequent use over time, would find much more success in rehab.

For example, alcohol abuse sufferers drinking 30 or more units per day would urgently require the professional help of rehab.

Because alcohol and drug abuse can cause both physical and psychological side effects, addiction sufferers often report problems with their mental health.

These co-occurring mental health conditions can include:

• Depression
• Schizophrenia
• Anxiety
• Personality disorders

Therefore, residential rehab treatment that addresses these co-occurring conditions is preferred.

What’s more, if your partner or family member is becoming violent when under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they will be most likely suited to a rehab facility.

Other high-risk clients benefit from rehab’s therapies due to the dangerous withdrawal symptoms and side effects of frequent drug and alcohol misuse.

The list includes delirium tremens, alcohol seizures, liver damage, cardiovascular damage and Wernicke’s Encephalopathy

DSM-IV-TR

Because determining the severity of a patient’s addiction is vital in ensuring clients receive the appropriate treatment, clinicians often use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR).

Because patients are not always honest about their substance abuse, the DSM-IV-TR is a crucial indicator of substance dependence.

Substance dependence comes from a repeated self-administration of substances, usually resulting in high tolerance, harsh withdrawal symptoms and compulsive drug-taking behaviours.

Using the DSM-IV-TR assessment means clinicians can provide a correct diagnosis as they have specific diagnostic criteria to focus on.

In addition, following the DSM-IV-TR means it is easier for clinicians to suggest specific and personalised treatments.

Demonstrating three or more out of seven symptoms in 12 months suggests substance dependence.

Some of the symptoms revolve around increased tolerance to substances, withdrawal symptoms, and any negative impacts on a person’s responsibilities.

How Much Does Rehab Cost in Berkshire?

Because of its substantial success rates, we always refer our clients to private residential rehab.

At Rehab 4 Alcoholism, we understand that talking about the price of rehab can be uncomfortable.

Regardless, there is a rehab option out there to suit everyone’s budget.

For example, those who don’t mind sharing will only pay between £2,000 to £4,000 for a 10-day rehab stay. But for those with a higher budget, the option of a private room increases the price from £3,000 to £6,000.

Usually, a 28-day stay is recommended depending on a client’s personal needs.

This is because this month-long stay only costs an average of £6,000 when sharing a room. But again, if you have the budget for a private room, a 28-day stay costs between £8,000 to £12,000.

Often a 28-day stay is recommended due to the physical and psychological effects of alcohol addiction or substance abuse.

This stay comprises ten days for a medically managed detox that deals with the physical impacts of addiction. This is combined with three weeks of therapies that tackle the psychological effects.

If this amount is still above your budget, home detox is a good option for anyone with a mild addiction to alcohol or physically addictive drugs.

Because patients don’t usually require a medically supervised detox or therapeutic therapy, the cost is only around £1,500.

If you have even the smallest of questions, try calling our helpline today so we can advise you further.

Other Alternatives to Rehab in Berkshire

If neither inpatient rehab nor outpatient treatment feels the right fit for you, there are other treatment options to suit everyone’s time constraints, budgets, or responsibilities.

These include:

• Group meetings such as Alcoholics Anonymous(AA) and Narcotics Anonymous. The AA and NA programmes can be a vital part of the favourable treatment programme.

During sessions, members have the chance to share their pain and stories, provide and receive emotional support, and inspire change.

• Widely held SMART recovery group meetings can be a preferable form of treatment. These successful meetings are run by a trained organiser and follow a consistent and structured format.

Meetings always focus on treating the behaviour of your addiction rather than the substance while using research-based tools such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing.

• Healing the wounds of addiction and putting your family back together is possible through family group meetings.  These encourage participation rather than just listening.

Families find much comfort and success through Al-Anon Family Group meetings. In addition, research has found that sharing as part of group therapy can be incredibly motivating.

• Often, detox is a vital part of the recovery process. However, it is never recommended to go through detox withdrawals alone at home. 

Finding a drug and alcohol rehab in Berkshire that enables you to go through the medically managed home detox means you can safely and comfortably withdraw from alcohol or substances.

Home detox starts with a simple assessment to ensure your addiction is mild enough to warrant recovery at home, followed by your detox medication sent to you in the post.

For example, anyone suffering from alcohol abuse would receive Librium in the post, followed by essential daily check-ins to ensure your safety.

What is Detox and Do I Need it?

The frequent consumption of any physically addictive drug or alcohol over a long time creates a physical dependency.

This dependency usually requires a detox programme to enable you to free your body of alcohol and substances.

When you stop using drugs or alcohol, your body and mind will go through unpleasant, dangerous and even potentially fatal withdrawal symptoms.

For example, even mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms can include:

• Aches
• Pains
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Paranoia
• Confusion
• Anxiety
• Depression

This is where medically managed detox is vital for recovery, whether you sign up for an at-home detox or medically managed withdrawal through rehab.

The medication you will receive is designed to subdue any uncomfortable and unsafe withdrawals symptoms.

For example, those battling alcoholism often suffer from severe withdrawal symptoms such as unusually high heart rates, delirium, seizures, and tremors.

To treat alcohol withdrawals safely and comfortably, rehab usually administers pharmacological intervention through Librium-based detox.

This detox takes place over ten days, followed by three weeks of evidence-based, therapeutic therapies.

Taking part in these therapies allows you to tackle the emotional causes of addiction and the co-occurring mental health conditions that accompany it.

During your last few days at rehab, your professional support team or clinicians will also aid you in creating your relapse prevention plan.

This plan is essential to identifying and avoiding potential relapse triggers for life after rehab, because it helps you identify your triggers to addiction.

You may wonder if you are ready for a detox or need drug or alcohol detox at all.

We understand it can be challenging, but there are vital signs to watch out for.

For example, you probably need medically supervised detox when you use drugs or alcohol to manage your emotional or physical pain to get through the day.

If your tolerance to drugs or alcohol rises to a state of dangerous dependence, then this is another warning sign. Don’t forget, if you are worried about drug or alcohol consumption, we can help you with a simple phone call.

The Rehab Admissions Process in Berkshire

The first step is always the hardest, but it doesn’t have to be. Our admissions process is much easier than you think.

Our process begins with a short telephone assessment that allows us to learn any essential information about your addiction, circumstances, and the negative consequences it brings to your life.

Being truly honest in your answers will help us find the most suitable rehab for you.

When you are happy with the referral, you will visit the centre and undergo a more comprehensive assessment.

This assessment is vital in ensuring you receive the most personalised treatment plan possible.

During this time, clinicians may use the below assessments:

1. The ASAM Criteria

The six dimensions of the ASAM Patient Placement Criteria are vital to determining a patient’s addiction needs.

Assessments like this allow clinicians to follow diagnostic criteria to systematise treatment planning. To ensure a well-rounded treatment approach, proposed care is split into four levels of care.

Clinicians can do this by verifying which six dimensions a patient meets.

This determines the type and severity of addiction and allows for better treatment diagnosis.

2. DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition)

Clinicians often use the DSM-5 assessment to ascertain the severity of a client’s substance use disorder (SUD), therefore allowing for proper treatment diagnosis.

In addition, clinicians can create more personalised treatment plans by separating the severity of a substance use disorder into three categories.

For example, demonstrating a severe substance use disorder identified as an addiction would suit a recommendation for rehab.

Clinicians can make this diagnosis when asking patients to answer 11 questions regarding their substance abuse as honestly as possible.

This way, professionals can see how many substance abuse symptoms patients demonstrate.

When patients show two to three symptoms, their SUD is categorised as mild. Three to four symptoms suggest a moderate SUD, whereas showing six or more symptoms demonstrate a severe SUD.

3. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)

One of the more preferred assessments by clinicians includes the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT).

It’s so popular because of its practicality and reliability in diagnosing alcohol behaviours, consumption, and the negative impacts of alcohol.

By answering ten questions honestly with a zero to four scoring system, clinicians compile more accurate and successful personalised treatment plans.

In addition, the answers to these ten questions can be split into three sections, allowing for more personalised treatment plans.

Questions one to three focus on alcohol intake, questions four to six on dependency, and seven to ten on consequences. A score of eight or more is a cause for concern, whereas alcohol dependency is indicated by a score of thirteen.

4. The Benefits of Dual Diagnosis

Berkshire’s drug and alcohol rehabs that provide a complete dual diagnosis ensure you receive the best kind of personalised treatment and the best chances of recovery.

Mental health conditions frequently co-occur with drug and alcohol abuse, causing a necessity for dual diagnosis. These often include, though are not limited to:

• Anxiety
• Bipolar disorder
• Depression
• Schizophrenia

Poor mental health often comes as a precursor to the addiction, with the addiction a symptom of the condition or a psychological side effect of the drug or alcohol addiction.

Therefore, you’ll need the correct type of treatment to battle both addiction and poor mental health.

However, individuals are unlikely to achieve life-long sobriety without a proper dual diagnosis and subsequence evidence-based therapies.

How Long Does Rehab Last?

How long you’ll be in rehab depends on the type and severity of your addiction, along with several other determining factors.

What matters is your individual needs, not how long other people usually spend in rehab.

Other factors will determine how long you spend in rehabs, such as whether you suffer from physical dependence on drugs such as heroin, opioids, benzodiazepines, or alcohol.

If so, you would need a minimum of seven days in rehab to go through detox safely via a medically managed withdrawal.

This wouldn’t be needed for those suffering from an addiction to non-physically dependent substances such as cocaine, cannabis, and amphetamines.

Whether or not you suffer from physical dependence, you’re likely to suffer from the psychological side effects of addiction.

Because of this, a 28-day stay in rehab is recommended so you can take part in essential therapies that facilitate full rehabilitation.

When painful recovery requires extra support, you can rest assured that you can extend your stay to 60 or 90 days should you need it. This time may sound excessive, but it’s vital to ensure your life is a long life free from addiction.

Creating a Relapse Prevention Plan

Often, people think completing a spell in rehab is enough to put you on the path to recovery. Unfortunately, this is not true.

Addiction will always be with you.

Finding a drug and alcohol rehab in Berkshire means you have the best chance of life-long recovery through a relapse prevention plan.

Staying sober after rehab is entirely possible with a strong sense of self-awareness, planning and forethought.

This combination allows you to avoid real-world triggers and temptations, preventing the frequent relapse that can accompany addiction.

In the last few days in rehab, the professional staff will aid you in creating your relapse prevention plan.

This plan allows you to identify what parts of your life trigger addiction cravings, develop coping tools and get information on support groups like AA or NA.

Some of the methods that help you adopt relapse prevention models include:

• The HALT method. The acronym HALT stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely and Tired.

Because these are common, everyday feelings that we are likely to suffer from, the HALT method teaches self-care in avoiding these kinds of addiction triggers.

• Similarly, Marlatt’s Model of Relapse Prevention helps addiction sufferers recognise when they may be in a high-risk situation that may cause addiction triggers, threatening their recovery.

This method encourages patients to put in place positive coping strategies to avoid future relapse.

• Finally, staff may recommend you follow the nine practical steps to relapse avoidance proposed by the Gorski-Cenaps Relapse Prevention Model.

When a Professional Intervention is Required

In contrast to the intervention therapies that treat addiction, an intervention is a formal attempt by loved ones, family, and friends to confront someone’s alcohol or substance misuse.

Participants can use the intervention to be honest about how their loved one’s addiction affects their lives and the lives of those around them.

Before you get to this point, it’s common to wonder if the time is right for an intervention.

Perhaps you worry that your loved one will not react well or if their alcohol or substance abuse has become severe enough for intervention.

You may even be wondering if you need to stop enabling your family member or friend.

By asking yourself whether or not the alcohol or drug abuse is beginning to have a detrimental effect on their life, you should be able to see when it’s time for professional intervention.

If you’ve already tried to convince your loved one to seek professional help with no success, again, it’s probably time for rehab.

Professional intervention is beneficial for individuals who have previously refused treatment.

But for the best chance of intervention success, you should obtain the support of an intervention specialist. They enable you to structure the intervention and approach your loved one in the best way.

Intervention specialists are also vital to the process as they can teach participants to create a recovery action plan.

However, an interventional specialist isn’t the only way to get the most out of an intervention. Using the CRAFT approach to intervention (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) can result in a constructive approach to intervention that helps the whole family.

With this method, the family can move towards a sober life with the CRAFT intervention methods. Some methods include life enrichment, motivational building and safety training.

How to Choose the Right Rehab in Berkshire

Choosing a drug and alcohol rehab in Berkshire can feel downright daunting, especially when making this decision alone.

This problem is compounded by the range of different therapies and activities provided by Berkshire rehabs, making it impossible to choose.

A simple phone call to our friendly staff can help you as we can talk you through your rehab options in Berkshire.

However, if you’d like to do some research yourself, you can follow the below steps:

• Research with a budget in mind.
• Ask questions about the type of therapies on offer.
• Check on the success rate of reviews of the centre.
• Always go to a rehab centre with at least 20 years of experience.
• Ensure the staff are fully qualified and have sufficient experience.
• Make sure the centre makes you comfortable when speaking with them.
• Always ensure you choose a centre which can provide a personalised programme.

Rehab for Cocaine in Berkshire

One of the ways you can make it easier to find the right rehab centre in Berkshire is to focus on the type of addiction you suffer from.

Anyone suffering from cocaine misuse will find it helpful to find a rehab centre that provides appropriate treatment for cocaine addiction.

Frequent misuse of cocaine over a long time can result in serious adverse physical and mental consequences.

In addition, its highly addictive nature leads to increased tolerance and consequent radical changes to the brain.

Because cocaine is not physically addictive, rehab for cocaine won’t require a ‘cocaine detox’ because there are no unsafe or uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

However, you will need to participate in therapies in a supportive environment to help you focus and overcome the psychological impacts of cocaine use.

Individuals with a dependence on cocaine or those who mix cocaine with drugs or alcohol should consider rehab for cocaine in Berkshire because of its dangerous nature.

Rehab for Cannabis in Berkshire

Unfortunately, there is a common misconception that cannabis yields positive health benefits.

In reality, cannabis is a psychoactive substance that, with chronic use, puts individuals at risk of mental and psychotic illnesses including:

• Paranoia
• Schizophrenia
• Delusions
• Hallucinations

People also often think that cannabis has a calming effect because it creates false pleasure feelings in the brain. Unfortunately, a hazardous tolerance and addiction then develop that requires professional help to overcome.

Again, like cocaine, cannabis is not a physically dependent drug.

Instead, because of the mental health consequences of cannabis addiction, signing up for a cannabis rehab in Berkshire means you’ll receive access to vital psychological therapies.

These therapies help you to overcome cannabis addiction and avoid relapse after rehab.

Rehab for Heroin in Berkshire

Heroin is quite the opposite of cannabis or cocaine addiction in that it produces a potent and difficult to overcome physical dependence.

Therefore, recovering from heroin abuse is extremely difficult without professional help.

Anyone wanting to achieve sobriety from heroin should never consider doing so without medical supervision due to its hazardous withdrawal symptoms.

However, choosing a rehab for heroin in Berkshire means you can safely go through withdrawal via a medically managed detox.

Giving yourself the best chance at withdrawing from heroin safely means you can then participate in the successful psychological therapies used to deal with heroin’s impacts on the brain.

This means you should always look for a drug and alcohol rehab in Berkshire that provides medically managed detox and research-based psychological therapies.

Private Rehab vs Council Funded Rehab Treatment in Berkshire

Due to the success it provides, at Rehab 4 Alcoholism we always refer our clients to private rehab.

Of course, not everyone can afford the potentially high cost of rehab.

Thankfully there are free, publicly funded council rehab options in Berkshire that you’ll have access to.

However, before you rule out private rehab in preference to free, council-funded rehab treatment, you should consider the pros and cons of each.

Doing so ensures you receive the kind of treatment that suits the severity of your addiction. Factors to consider include:

• Choosing to pay for your rehab treatment means you will have access to immediate treatment, something you will not have access to with free rehab.
• Publicly funded rehab has a long list of addiction sufferers trying to access the same services, resulting in long waiting lists. Opting for swift treatment through private rehab helps you keep your motivation and improve your chances of recovery success.
• A long waiting list also means that council refunded rehab doesn’t always allow for treatment in your local area or in the format you need. For example, your addiction may be severe enough to warrant residential rehab. Instead, you may only be offered outpatient treatment with fewer chances of success.
• Through private rehab in Berkshire, you can ensure you receive a thorough assessment with the most personalised treatment and, therefore, the best chance of success.
• Usually, private rehabs in Berkshire provide you with a thorough relapse prevention plan and a complimentary 12-month aftercare programme. This programme gives you the best chance of avoiding addiction triggers and ensuring you have all the support you need for lifelong recovery.

Statutory-Funded Services in Berkshire

Below is a list of other charities and organisations that offer free help for addiction in the Berkshire area:

1. Yeldall Manor

Address: Blakes Ln, Hare Hatch, Reading RG10 9XR

Telephone: 0118 940 4411

Website: http://www.yeldall.org.uk/

2. Turning Point – Didcot

Address: The Glass Tower, 6 Station Road, Orchard Centre, Didcot OX11 7LL

Telephone: 01235 514360

Website: http://wellbeing.turning-point.co.uk/oxfordshire/hubs/didcot-hub/

3. New Hope

Address: 16, 17 Market St, Bracknell RG12 1JG

Telephone: 01344 312360

Website: http://ihub.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/kb5/bracknell/asch/service.page?id=VFbEd1SZ4J4

For mental health support, reach out to Mind UK, YoungMinds, Rethink Mental Illness, Samaritans and Papyrus, SMART Recovery.

 Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous or Cocaine Anonymous near you. The NHS are also there to help you.

If you would like help attending rehab in Berkshire through the NHS, call us on 0800 088 66 86

Contact Us Today

To benefit from this unique and free service we provide, contact us today on 0800 111 4108 or fill out our contact form.

The services we can refer you to are available across Maidenhead, Basingstoke, Newbury, High Wycombe, Windsor, Slough, Ascot, Bracknell, Crowthorne, Eton, Newbury, Thatcham, Cookham, Bucklebury, Pangbourne, Sonning, Sunninghill, Wraysbury, Lambourn, Ascot, Speen, Twyford, Finchampstead, Binfield, Chieveley, Kintbury, Aldermaston, Boxford, Sunningdale, Great Shefford, Littlewick Green, East Ilsley, Bisham, Datchet, Theale, Crowthorne, Beenham, and even more towns in and around Berkshire.

The free assessment we offer will result in you being placed in the best-suited treatment provider in Berkshire.

We are totally committed to assisting you through your recovery journey and we look forward to hearing from you today.