Drug & Alcohol Rehabs in Colchester

When it comes to looking at addiction, it is important to start with the statistics.

In Colchester and Essex, there are approximately 5,463 people currently addicted to opiate drugs.

This number has increased significantly since the last study carried out in 2012, by approximately 26%.

On top of this, there were approximately 3.6 deaths due to drugs per 100,000 people.

There were also 12,000 people currently dependent on alcohol in Essex and Colchester, with a lot more dying due to alcohol than drugs across the country.

Shockingly, there were approximately 43.6 deaths per 100,000 people in Essex and Colchester.

On top of this, approximately 583 people per 100,000 people were admitted to hospital due to an alcohol related disease and issue in Essex in total.

When it comes to Colchester specifically, this number was even higher, sitting at 723 people per 100,000 people.

Drugs, Alcohol And Crime In Colchester

Unfortunately, alcohol and drugs are the root cause of a lot of different societal issues, including crime.

Unfortunately, 40% of all crime victims say that the person responsible for the crime was drunk, with 45% of all crime committed by regular opiate users.

When it comes to domestic abuse and alcohol, approximately 48% of all domestic abuse perpetrators either use or used to use alcohol on a frequent basis.

72% of those addicted to alcohol are unemployed, whilst 80% of drug users are unemployed.

Due to this, 39% of people who are homeless actively take drugs, and 27% are addicted to alcohol.

The Disease Model of Addiction

The disease model of addiction looks at addiction as a disease, just like cancer or diabetes

Looking at addiction in this way is really helpful, as it helps people with little experience in addiction to understand that addiction is complex.

An addiction is a disease because it changes the way the brain works and functions, so that individuals become dependent on the substance and lose significant control of their actions.

Just like with other diseases, addiction needs treatment in order to fully recover.

That is why people need to attend drug and alcohol rehab in order to overcome their addiction for good.

During rehab, most people will be treated for both the physical side of the disease and the psychological side of their addiction.

What Is Dual Diagnosis?

A dual diagnosis is when someone is suffering from an addiction problem whilst also suffering from a mental health condition at the same time.

This could include virtually any disorder, though the most common are:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Bi-Polar Disorder
• PTSD
• Schizophrenia

Unfortunately, suffering from a mental health condition alongside an addiction is very common, as one often causes the other.

For example, a lot of people who suffer from a mental health issue try to use drugs and alcohol to get away from its symptoms, and a lot of people with an addiction issue later develop a mental health issue.

The key to solving a dual diagnosis is getting diagnosed with one in the first place.

Without a knowing what to tackle, both your addiction and mental health issues will get a lot worse.

It is incredibly important to get help from trained doctors and professionals if you’re suffering from an addiction alongside a mental health problem.

Abstinence over Moderation

Selecting a goal when you are suffering from an addiction to drugs or alcohol can be an incredibly important and motivating thing.

However, a lot of people think that simply cutting their alcohol or drug use down will be enough.

This simply is not the case.

In order to recover from an addiction, a person must commit fully to the process.

This means that you should be aiming for absence from alcohol and drugs, rather than drinking and using drugs in moderation or trying to just reduce their harm.

Studies have shown that if you simply moderate and cut back on your consumption of harmful drugs and substances then you will be much more likely to relapse than if you remained abstinent.

The Benefits Of Attending Residential Rehab In Colchester

There are many different benefits to attending residential rehab in Colchester.

Whilst it might not be for everyone, most people who attend residential rehab will leave having taken significant positive steps towards recovery.

Some of the benefits of attending residential rehab are listed below.

Mixing with Others

One of the best things people find about rehab is that they are able to mix with people who know and understand addiction, and are able to help each other through lived experience.

Professional Treatment

Whilst at rehab, people are given a chance to receive one to one, professional treatment from well experienced doctors and specialists.

They will be offered a range of treatment options such as CBT, Group Therapy and Family Therapy.

Detox

For those who suffer from an addiction to heroin and other drugs, they will be offered a medical detox.

This is where individuals are slowly weaned off of their addictive substance in an attempt to allow their body the chance to overcome the physical side of their addiction.

Whilst at rehab, this will be carried out in a calm and steady way, whilst being surrounded by doctors and professionals throughout.

Relapse Prevention Plan

Lastly, doctors and specialists will help you to create a relapse prevention plan in order to ensure that they are able to stay sober in the outside world.

There is more information below on what a relapse prevention plan should consist of and how it might help to ensure your sobriety for the future.

Private Rehab VS Council Funded Rehab Treatment

Unfortunately, attending private rehab in the UK is getting increasingly expensive.

Due to this, the council and NHS are able to provide a few spaces of NHS funded rehab treatment in each area each year.

Whilst the NHS provides a great service, there are many pros and cons to both NHS funded and private rehab treatment

It is important to understand that there are no specific NHS funded rehab centres in the UK, due to a lack of funding.

Instead, the NHS is able to fund spaces and beds within private rehab centres in order to allow people who cannot afford private rehab to get the treatment and help that they desperately need.

The biggest positive to attending NHS funded rehab treatment is that it is free.

This means that it becomes accessible to all who qualify.

It is also just as professional and confidential as private rehab treatment.

However, NHS funded rehab does involve a tedious waiting list, meaning that it could take weeks or months before you are admitted into a rehab centre, allowing time for your addiction to get worse.

On the other hand, private rehab treatment is often so expensive that a lot of people cannot afford it and therefore are unable to get the help they need.

It is also just as confidential and professional as NHS funded rehab treatment.

Through private rehab treatment you will be seen almost immediately, usually within a few days.

That is why if you are suffering from a severe addiction, then private rehab treatment might be best for you.

Why Residential Rehab Is Not For Everyone

Although inpatient rehab treatment is a fantastic option for many people, it simply isn’t suitable for everyone.

For example, some others might be best suited to a home detox or outpatient treatment.

Residential and inpatient treatment is a huge commitment and takes a lot of time, effort and motivation in order to overcome.

For some people, they simply do not need to attend residential treatment, as their addiction is not as severe.

Before you are admitted into rehab treatment, you will be assessed and asked the following questions:

• Do you have suicidal thoughts?
• Have you ever tried to recover in the past but failed?
• Have you ever acted violently when you are drunk or on drugs?
• How often do you drink more than 25 units of alcohol per day?
• Have you ever suffered from confusion or tremors?

If you can identify with some of the above questions, then you might be deemed what is known as a ‘high risk’ client, and will be suited to residential rehab.

The Alternatives To Residential Rehab

Luckily, if residential drug and alcohol rehab in Colchester is not for you, then there are many different alternatives.

Some of these are accessible to most people, and others will very much depend on how severe your addiction is and what treatment options are available in your area.

Outpatient Treatment

Lots of people who are unable to attend inpatient treatment find themselves in outpatient treatment.

Outpatient treatment allows people the chance to gain rehab treatment whilst living at home by visiting rehab centres each day.

Home Detox

A home detox allows people with a mild addiction to recover from the comfort of their own home.

They will be sent any medication through the post and will receive daily phone calls from doctors and therapists to check up on you and make sure that you are detoxing well.

Al-Anon Family Group Meetings

Al-Anon Family Meetings allow individuals who struggle with an addiction and issues in the family the chance to come together and talk through their issues in a calm environment, with trained professionals to help get them through.

Self Help Groups

Many people who do not qualify for inpatient treatment and with a mild addiction find that self help groups are a great benefit.

There are many different options for group support in Colchester, from Narcotics Anonymous to Alcoholics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous and SMART meetings.

The Admissions Process In Colchester

Everyone who attends rehab is assessed through the ASAM criteria before they are admitted.

This helps to determine how severe their addiction is and what type of treatment they might need.

The ASAM criteria consists of six different dimensions, that are detailed and explained below.

Dimension 1 – Detox Potential

Dimension one will look into your ability and potential to detox successfully.

This will be particularly important if you are struggling with a physically addictive substance such as heroin, which will require a medical detox.

Dimension 2 – General Health

Your general health will also be assessed, as your physical health will be challenged during your detox and treatment.

Doctors will therefore assess your physical health and determine what things can be put into place to help you during treatment.

Dimension 3 – Mental Wellbeing

Your mental health will be given just as much attention as your physical health, as any treatment will put a huge strain on both.

Doctors will ensure that you are in the right mental space to recover before proceeding, and will identify any potential co-occurring mental disorders.

Dimension 4 – Commitment to Your Recovery

Doctors and professionals will also try to understand how committed you are to recovering from your addiction, as this will determine how successful you will be.

Dimension 5 – Relapse Potential

Doctors will also assess your release potential.

This will assess how many times you have relapsed in the past and how often you give in to cravings and triggers.

Dimension 6 – Environment at Home

Doctors will also try to gauge and assess your environment at home, so that they can put things in place for you when you leave rehab in order to help ensure how you can overcome cravings and triggers.

Each dimension is scored – if you identify with 2 of the above dimensions, then your addiction is said to be mild.

However, if you identify with 6 or more than your addiction is severe and treatment will be tailored appropriately.

Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test

Upon admission, doctors and other healthcare professionals will also use the AUDIT to assess what form of treatment a recovering alcoholic may need.

The AUDIT test is a 10 question test, all about your addiction and habits.

• Have you ever abused anyone whilst intoxicated with alcohol?
• How many drinks do you consume each week?
• How often would you say you consume six or more drinks in a single session?
• How often do you drink each day?
• Do you ever struggle to stop drinking?
• How often do you have to drink alcohol the morning after drinking heavily to function?
• Do you ever fail to turn up for work or school when drunk the night before?
• Have you struggled to remember the night before?
• Do you ever regret your alcohol addiction?
• Have your friends or family members ever asked you to get help for your addiction?

If you tick 8 or more of the above questions and boxes then your addiction is said to be severe and you will need drug and alcohol rehab treatment in order to recover.

When Is An Intervention Needed?

When your loved one suffers from an addiction to drugs or alcohol, there might come a time that you need to step in with an intervention.

Although it might be hard to face the facts and explain how concerned you are directly to them, sometimes it is the only way that people can overcome their doubts and get the help they need.

If your loved one is refusing help, or even refusing to admit that there’s a problem in the first place, then it might be time to step in and hold an intervention.

An intervention is a scheduled meeting with loved ones, with the sufferer present to discuss your mutual concern for them and to lay out their treatment options.

However, there’s a right and a wrong way to hold an intervention.

If you are going to invite other people, make sure their hearts are in the right place.

Although they may mean well, a lot of people might try to minimise the issue rather than confront it head on.

You should always try to hold an intervention in a quiet place so that it won’t be disturbed and so that your loved one feels comfortable to speak freely.

You should also consider inviting an intervention specialist to the intervention, to help the conversation stay on track and healthy.

If you are unsure of what to say, then you could also read up on CRAFT.

CRAFT stands for Community Reinforcement And Family Training and gives family members and loved one tips on what to say and how to say it.

How Much Does Private Rehab Cost In Colchester?

There’s no hiding the fact that attending drug and alcohol rehab in Colchester and throughout the rest of the UK is expensive.

Unfortunately, this means that a lot of people are unable to attend private rehab, and instead will need to opt for NHS funded rehab treatment.

However, if you are interested in attending private rehab in Colchester then it might be useful to know and understand the differences in price, so that you can be best prepared.

The price of drug and alcohol rehab in Colchester depends greatly on how long people need to stay in rehab for, which depends on what they are addicted to, how severe their addiction is and whether they need to undergo a medical detox or not.

For example, a 10 day stay in rehab costs approximately £6,000 for a single room.

However, there is always the option to share a room which reduces the cost to just £2,000.

Nevertheless, most people end up staying in rehab for a bit longer, often 28 days.

A 28 day stay in a rehab centre in Colchester could cost up to £12,000 for a private room and £6,000 for a shared room with other people.

If these costs are simply unattainable, but you still need rehab treatment quickly, then you could look into a home detox which is a lot cheaper, at approximately £1,500.

How To Choose The Right Rehab Centre In Colchester?

Considering rehab is so expensive, it’s always a good idea to do your research into how to find the right centre for drug and alcohol rehab in Colchester for you.

Whilst every person is different, every addiction is too, which is why it’s important that you find the right rehab and treatment options for your specific addiction and needs.

Below are some tips on how to find the right rehabilitation establishment in your area:

• Do your research into your specific addiction online.
• Do your research into each rehab centre online.
• Visit each rehab centre to see what it’s like.
• Speak to your local GP to see what your treatment needs might be.
• Speak to a member of the team at Rehab 4 Alcoholism for advice on where to go.

What Is A Detox?

A drug and alcohol detox is the process of withdrawing from the substance until all drugs and alcohol are removed from the body.

This allows people to start the rest of their treatment (such as therapy) with a clean slate physically, as their body is now free of the substances that are doing it harm.

A detox is necessary because a lot of addictive substances create a physical dependence on the drug, meaning that the only way the bodies are able to function normally is if they continue to abuse the addictive substances that are ruining their lives.

Unfortunately this creates a very strong dependence and a dangerous physical reaction when the drugs are not consumed on a frequent basis.

This is why it is important to undergo your detox in a safe and controlled environment like a rehab centre, so that your withdrawal symptoms remain manageable.

You will also be surrounded by doctors, who can keep an eye on you and prescribe you drugs such as Librium should you need them to help you overcome your detox.

How Long Does Rehab Last?

How long a stay in rehab lasts for depends on a number of factors.

These include how severe your addiction is, what drug you are addicted to and how long you have been addicted to the substance for.

If you simply require a detox, then this will last approximately 3 – 7 days, depending on how your body reacts to the detox.

If you opt for a short term, residential treatment then you will stay approximately 28 – 30 days.

A long term residential treatment could last anywhere between 60 – 90 days, and outpatient treatment lasts anywhere between 120 – 150 days.

Rehab For Cocaine In Colchester

Cocaine is commonly abused in the UK, with thousands of people across Essex suffering from an addiction to cocaine.

Whilst a lot of people think that cocaine is physically addictive, it is not.

Instead, cocaine creates a very strong mental addiction, meaning that although people don’t need a medical detox to recover, they will need therapy to help overcome their psychological addiction.

Rehab For Heroin In Colchester

Just like cocaine, heroin creates a very strong mental addiction which requires different forms of therapy in order to recover.

However, heroin is also physically addictive, meaning that the body becomes dependent on heroin.

This means that if you want to recover from an addiction to heroin, you will need to undergo a detox before receiving any therapy.

Rehab For Cannabis In Colchester

Cannabis is like cocaine, in that it is not physically addictive.

Thankfully, this means that people do not need to undergo a detox in order to recover.

Instead, once they arrive at a rehab centre they will go straight into therapy such as CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, Family Therapy and one to one therapy. 

Therapies On Offer In Rehab Centres Across Colchester

As every addiction is different, there are now many different types of therapy techniques on offer in most centres for drug and alcohol rehab in Colchester.

It’s important to remember that addiction is often a symptom of an underlying mental health issue, so a lot of the therapy techniques on offer aim to target these issues at the root:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Twelve-Step Facilitation Therapy
• Brief Interventions
• Holistic Therapy
• Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
• Motivational Interviewing
• Group Therapy
• Family Therapy
• Individual Therapy
• Co-Dependency Treatment

It is important to understand that not every rehab centre will offer all of the above therapy techniques, and you might not need to experience all of them in order to recover.

The biggest factor is to keep an open mind and take the opportunity to try different therapies, until you find the technique that works for you.

Relapse Prevention Plan

One of the most invaluable parts of a rehab treatment programme is designing the relapse prevention plan that people take home with them when they leave rehab.

A relapse prevention plan helps people to hopefully stay sober and in recovery for the remainder of their life.

The reality of leaving rehab is hard, as the outside world contains many triggers that did not exist inside the rehab facility.

Within your relapse prevention plan, you should ensure that you include tips and tricks that work for you, as well as self care methods such as mindfulness techniques.

You should also ensure that your relapse prevention plan contains the HALT method to avoid cravings.

HALT stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely and Tired.

The idea behind HALT is that if you feel a craving coming on, you should check to see if you are any one of the HALT sensations.

You should correct one of these needs, and you will often find that your craving has now gone.

Getting Help Today

For more information on alcohol and drug treatment options in Colchester, contact Rehab 4 Alcoholism today on 0800 111 4108 or via our website.

We offer a free assessment and free advice.

Following this initial assessment, we then assist you in selecting the most appropriate treatment provider in Colchester for your unique needs.