Alcohol & Drug Rehab in Barnet

In the Barnet area, nearly three-quarters of residents stick to the recommended level of alcohol units per week, although this means that 70,000 adults are still drinking at levels above the recommended limit which may have negative health consequences for them.

Just under 20,000 people in Barnet consume alcohol at excessive levels, which, if maintained will be harmful to their physical health.

It is estimated that 6 % of men and 3% of women in Barnet suffer from alcohol dependence.

In recent years Public Health England estimated that there are nearly 75,000 adults in the Barnet area with opiate dependence living with children, with over two-thirds of these being male.

The Disease Model Of Addiction

It is important to view people who have developed a substance misuse disorder as patients who need care and support, rather than seeing them as people with low moral values and unworthy of medical attention.

That’s why medical professionals working in the field of addiction promote the disease model of addiction.

This approach views addiction as a physical disease of the brain and therefore people with such a condition should be treated the same way as patients who are unwell because of a physical condition.

People who have an addiction cannot just think themselves better or try harder to stop taking substances, just like people who have diabetes cannot get better by adopting a different mindset.

Physical illnesses have a biological cause that requires medical treatment.

Dual Diagnosis

It is not uncommon for many people admitted into residential rehab for addiction to have another mental health condition that needs to be treated.

This could be a depressive disorder, or a complicated condition such as an anti-social personality disorder.

People suffering from both addiction and a mental health condition are known as dual diagnosis patients.

Practitioners must take extreme care in devising their treatment programmes, as each mental health disorder can interact with addiction differently.

As part of their treatment regime dual diagnosis patients are treated with evidence-based interventions by rehab staff, these treatments can be either pharmacological (certified medication) or psychological (CBT).

Rehabs Focus On Abstinence

Some schools of thought advocate a harm reduction approach to substance use treatment to reduce the pressure on medical services, and to reduce the UK crime rate.

However, if a person has developed an addiction to alcohol or a psychoactive drug and is seeking treatment to overcome this, then the overriding goal of rehab centres is to facilitate their progress towards abstinence.

Harm reduction approaches will not work with people who have become addicted due to the nature of their physical and psychological dependence.

This approach would see people locked into a cycle of addiction that they could never break free from.

Therefore, it is necessary for clients to completely remove drugs and alcohol from their life.

The Advantages Of Inpatient Rehab In Barnet

The opportunity to recover in an environment where no drugs and alcohol are present will be invaluable.

Your safety and well-being will be paramount at all times, and experienced and qualified staff will be on hand to support you through tricky moments.

Your treatment plan will include safe and reputable interventions, delivered by expert practitioners.

You will have immediate access to medical and psychological support due to the 24/7 monitoring.

You can leave your worries behind and focus on your recovery.

You will be able to work on other aspects of your well-being including, sleep, diet and personal development.

Private Rehab VS Council-Funded Rehab Treatment

Residential rehab is the more expensive route to take, but there are many advantages for people who can access finances to cover the cost of their treatment.

Treatment can be expensive, but there are different payment options available which can spread the cost over a longer period.

Private Rehab

Privately funded clients will not experience any bureaucratic delays and can begin treatment within days.

Overall, there are higher success rates for recovery for people who attend residential rehab, compared to those who receive outpatient treatment.

Receiving your treatment in pleasant, relaxed surroundings means you will not be tempted back into substance use by psychological triggers from your usual environment.

Rehab centres utilise current, up to date research which makes use of technological advancements to help them carry out their treatment plans, which are performed by highly experienced substance-use professionals.

There is a wide range of services on offer, including holistic therapies and other recreational activities.

You will receive your own individual treatment programme which is based on your medical, social and psychiatric history.

Clients benefit from a thorough aftercare service which will continue to monitor their progress after rehab.

NHS / Council-Funded Treatment

The NHS have a “treatment for all” policy which is central to its principles, so there is funding available for people to apply for substance use treatment.

It is possible to engage in addiction treatment and remain close to friends and family and the area in which they live.

There are now established based treatments for addiction that have been verified by medical research, including medicated detoxes and psychological therapies.

On the other hand, there are negative factors associated with applying for NHS funding.

Because the treatment is publicly-funded, there will be less attention paid to your individual treatment needs when compared with privately financed clients

There can be significant hold-ups in your funding being approved, meaning you could experience a long wait before beginning treatment.

A large proportion of people who apply for NHS funded treatment only tend to have funding approved for outpatient treatment.

There are likely to be hitches along the way when you do start treatment – you may not always be located at the same premises, nor have counselling sessions with a regular therapist.

Not Everyone Is Suitable For Residential Rehab

Attending rehab and fully engaging with the treatment process is very taxing, both physically and mentally.

Not everyone is in the ideal position to meet the demands of rehab, and so they would be unlikely to benefit from it.

These include:

• Those with serious alcohol disorders such as delirium tremens or Wernicke’s disease require continuous expert medical care, which is beyond the treatment scope of most rehab centres.
• Any clients considered high-risk would not be thought suitable to enter residential rehab – this includes anyone deemed a suicide risk or those assessed by mental health practitioners as prone to unpredictable violent behaviour.
• Dual diagnosis patients where at least one of their mental disorders falls into the severe category.
• Anyone with significant mental health problems who drink over 30 units of alcohol per day.
• Clients with multiple detox failures behind them as outpatients who were unable to maintain sobriety.

The Alternatives To Going To Rehab

Rehab centres afford people diagnosed with SUD the opportunity to receive effective treatment, but there are other services in the Barnet area that provide beneficial sources of addiction support.

Support Groups

In many ways these are the first port of call for anyone who feels their substance use is spiralling out of control.

Support groups are likely to be the most important resource a person has at their disposal.

The healing properties of support groups are built on the AA notion of fellowship and its importance in helping people achieve abstinence.

The groups provide members with a chance to listen to each other’s personal experiences and to offer support to each other.

There are now hundreds of weekly meetings available for people who need support for substance misuse run by many different offshoots of the AA such as Narcotics Anonymous and Marijuana Anonymous.

The websites of each group provide information regarding the time, location and duration of meetings.

There are now also a range of support groups specifically designed for family members of substance users, such as Al-Anon Family Groups.

Smart Recovery

SMART Recovery has devised a personal development programme to enable its learners to improve their cognitive skills so that they can gain a higher level of psychological resilience, and therefore be less affected by negative emotions and strong cravings.

Their programme is free and can be taken online under the guidance of a trained facilitator.

SMART Recovery also helps people improve their interpersonal skills, develop their strengths and define their career goals.

Outpatient Treatment Via A Local Drug & Alcohol Team In Barnet

It is also an option to engage with local alcohol and drug rehabilitation services in Barnet organised by NHS and local government specialist groups.

They can coordinate a range of psychological, pharmacological and educational treatments to support substance users in an outpatient arrangement.

Due to the depth of their specialist knowledge, they can signpost clients onto relevant services if they do not provide the types of specialist treatment clients are seeking.

Local substance misuse teams can organise home detox treatments in Barnet for those people who do not feel that residential rehab treatment is appropriate for them.

The Admissions Process In Barnet

To develop an accurate and detailed treatment programme for the clients they admit into treatment, rehab centres need to carry out a detailed assessment of a person’s biological and psychological profile.

To carry this out, assessors will refer to the 6 dimensions of the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s set criteria for addiction treatment.

These 6 dimensions provide all the information necessary to help identify the client’s treatment needs, their strengths and areas of risk.

The areas they gather information on include:

• The client’s physical and emotional state.
• Their motivational levels.
• Their relapse risk.
• Their current state of intoxication.
• Other miscellaneous pieces of information whether it be legal, family or employment-related.

The DSM-5 Three Levels Of Severity

To help complete their comprehensive assessment, rehab centres will seek to clarify the severity of each client’s addiction in line with the DSM-5 criteria for an SUD.

A person with the most severe form of SUD is likely to meet 6 or more of the 11 set DSM5 criteria for a SUD, whereas a person with only 2 or 3will be classified as having a mild SUD.

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDITs).

Addiction professionals frequently use screening tools to assess the state of a person’s alcohol dependence.

One such tool is the AUDIT questionnaire, and its shortened version known as AUDIT C.

These contain several questions designed to establish the alcohol consumption patterns of the respondent, and to what extent these drinking patterns have negative consequences for them.

This is only a guiding tool, but it is recommended that anyone who records a score of 14 or over should book an appointment with a GP/alcohol practitioner as soon as possible to gain a more accurate representation of their health.

Anyone scoring over 8 would probably receive information on the harm caused by excessive alcohol consumption and advice on how to cut down.

When A Professional Intervention Is Needed

It can be very distressing to see family members develop a problem with drugs and alcohol, and even more painful when they refuse to admit they have a problem.

Relatives of individuals displaying addictive behaviour can consult with expert intervention practitioners to find a way to coax their loved ones into engaging with treatment services.

An example of an intervention is the Community Reinforcement And Family Training (CRAFT) method.

Practitioners carrying out this method will educate family members to react in certain ways to the behaviour of their loved one who has been diagnosed with a SUD.

For example, they may react negatively when the family member uses substances by withdrawing love and affection, and positively if they remain sober by buying them a gift.

This can be a very effective intervention as family members spend a lot of time together and so are in a prime position to influence their behaviour.

Tips For Choosing The Right Rehab In Barnet

• Only include rehab services on your shortlist that have been operating for 20 years or longer, as these services are guaranteed to have effective treatment protocols.
• Choose rehab centres that can demonstrate a high success rate in tackling the type of substance use that you have been diagnosed with.
• Search for unbiased reviews offering feedback on the practices of the rehab centres you have targeted.
• If possible, try to speak to former clients who have been through treatment at each centre you are looking at.
• Set out your budget early on and select treatment centres whose fees match your budget.
• Establish contact with staff at treatment centres either over the phone or in-person to assess how comfortable you feel speaking with them, as this could provide important clues into how they relate to their clients.
• Investigate the exact qualifications of all staff members and any external therapists/practitioners they use to deliver their interventions.

What Is Detox?

Some clients admitted to residential rehab may have been diagnosed with a severe alcohol disorder.

Clients with this diagnosis will have developed a high tolerance to alcohol and experience strong withdrawal symptoms when they cease drinking, such as depression, anxiety and insomnia.

If a client is at this point then it will be necessary to place them on a detox programme for 7-10 days to gradually reduce the amount of alcohol in their body.

This involves using pharmacological interventions to help them achieve this safely with minimal discomfort.

Alcohol practitioners use a drug called Librium to achieve this as it contains anti-convulsant components which reduce the likelihood of seizures during alcohol withdrawal.

After their pharmacological treatment is over and patients are on a sound physical foundation, they can engage and participate in alcohol counselling sessions to work on the psychological, social and relational factors that led them to their substance use.

Cocaine Rehab In Barnet

Cocaine is a recreational drug that acts as a stimulant on the central nervous system, providing users with high levels of energy and pleasurable feelings.

Because of this, it possesses a high potential for psychological dependence.

Rehab centres in Barnet are highly accomplished in helping clients recover from cocaine addiction, and the success rate for recovery is high.

There is no medical detox process for cocaine addiction so rehab staff will use the latest research to support clients as they withdraw from the drug by advising on symptom relief and management.

They may advise clients on suitable medication, or how to sleep more peacefully if insomnia is one of their symptoms.

They will also provide a range of therapies designed to help clients uncover the emotional reasons behind their cocaine use and provide them with the cognitive skills to cope with life’s challenges.

Heroin Rehab In Barnet

Opioid drugs such as heroin are highly used, very addictive and can wreak havoc on a person’s body.

Thankfully, the medical profession has developed a great deal of expertise in treating heroin addiction, and rehab centres in Barnet take advantage of this expertise in their treatment programmes.

There are two parts to the treatment process for heroin.

The first involves carrying out a pharmacological intervention to tackle the patient’s physical dependence, which is achieved by using a substitute drug (such as methadone) to remove all traces of heroin from the body.

After the patient has completed, this they can begin their timetable of psychosocial interventions where they will receive individual and group therapy, work on their personal development and learn the psychological skills to deal with cravings and strong emotions.

Cannabis Rehab In Barnet

Cannabis is a widely consumed drug throughout Great Britain and it is likely many clients in rehab centres will have smoked cannabis during their lives.

Cannabis is considered a mild drug, but it should not be underestimated as it can severely disrupt cognition and impact people’s psychological health.

Cannabis is a psychologically rewarding drug as it places people in a good mood, making them feel relaxed.

As it is a commonly abused drug that rehab centres are experienced in treating.

Cannabis users who stop taking the drug do not experience strong withdrawal symptoms, but they can be uncomfortable (flu-like) and so rehab staff will support clients as they pass through this challenging stage.

Withdrawing from cannabis also leads to clients experiencing insomnia and anxiety, so rehab staff will offer advice on sleep hygiene and offer emotional support or medication to help keep them comfortable.

It is also necessary to allow clients to openly talk about their circumstances and life experiences in counselling sessions, which will help them understand the reasons for their cannabis use.

Psychological Therapies Used At Rehab Centres In Barnet

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT is an effective form of therapy used in rehab clinics to change substance users’ disruptive, negative thought patterns and challenge the core beliefs that have contributed to the development and maintenance of their addiction.

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

DBT sessions have proven very helpful in allowing clients to tolerate feeling challenging and negative emotions which are a major source of psychological distress for them.

DBT therapists use mindfulness and cognitive techniques to improve clients’ mental skillset.

Brief Interventions

Brief intervention approaches can be as short as 10 minutes or can last for several sessions as they aim to encourage the client to contemplate the consequences of their substance consumption and face scientific facts about its impact.

The client is then asked to engage in a dialogue with the therapist about what they have just heard, as having deeper conversations about the negative consequences of substance use has been known to initiate behaviour change.

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

MI is a therapeutic approach specifically reserved for occasions when clients are displaying indifference towards treatment, reflected in a drop in their internal motivation to engage with therapies.

It is at times like this that therapists need to show empathy and concern for clients and build a positive relationship with them, to help them overcome the mental blocks they are facing that are causing a decline in their motivation.

Holistic Therapies Used By Barnet Rehab Services

Specialist addiction services in Barnet have in recent times integrated alternative/holistic therapies into their treatment programmes to help clients process their feelings and find a state of calmness as they struggle to overcome difficult emotions.

Some of these therapies include:

Art Therapy – Working at a visual level can help some clients communicate their feelings more easily, particularly when this involves exploring their spirituality.

Music Therapy – Musical concepts such as rhythm, tonality and beat also help clients to process any unwanted negative feelings that may reside in them.

Mindfulness/Meditation – These techniques helps clients gain a sort of control over their thought processes and make them able to stand firm in the face of any negative automatic thoughts.

Equine Therapy – Through engaging in a series of activities with horses, clients can learn about themselves and the unconscious patterns of behaviour they tend to exhibit in social situations.

This can help to improve their communication style and help them handle anger and stress more productively.

Adventure Therapy – This works on the assumption that engaging in a series of team-based practical challenges in natural surroundings such as forests, lakes and mountains will bring immense benefits to individuals’ mental health, self-esteem and skill base.

Group Therapy

These sessions are facilitated by therapists who will manage the interactions between group members.

The therapist will be able to help each group member explore their feelings and individual psychological processes within the group.

This should help them improve their social and communication skills and allow them to reflect on their previous social behaviour.

The therapist will also help the group and its members develop a sense of cohesion and belonging as members start to appreciate the many positive consequences of being part of a mutually supportive group.

Individual Counselling Sessions

Individual counselling sessions will enable clients to build a safe meaningful connection with their therapist, which will set the foundation for them to delve into their life history.

This will allow them to assess which aspects of their social, psychological and emotional lives contributed to them seeking solace in substances.

There are many types of counselling available and the type each client receives depends on their circumstances and theoretical preference (psychodynamic, person-centred) of the treatment team.

Family Therapy

Depending on the outcome of the assessment conducted during the admissions process, the treatment team may deem family therapy to be included in their treatment plan.

If it is evident that the client has experienced a poor attachment process during his/her early years or experienced frequent family discord, then it may be useful to help the family improve their patterns of communication with each other.

They can also help them resolve any disputes or help them deal with emotions more effectively as individuals and a family unit.

Co-Dependency Treatment

Many people who develop an addiction may have grown up with, or become involved with co-dependent people, who due to early difficult experiences find themselves attending to the needs of other people at the expense of their own.

Co-dependent people tend to have low self-esteem and do not understand the importance of their psychological safety and how to set boundaries.

By attending specialist therapy clients who display co-dependent traits can develop assertiveness and inner confidence that will enable them to set their own life goals rather than live through others.

Twelve-Step Facilitation Therapy (TSF)

Many rehab centres in Barnet will integrate the 12-step model into their clients’ treatment plan.

This approach adopts the AA’s model and facilitates the client’s progress in working through the 12 challenges (steps) towards achieve sobriety.

Some of the steps involve clients engaging in deep contemplation of their character traits and identifying the individuals who have been harmed by their addictive behaviour over the years.

Rehab Services Play A Key Role In Formulating A Relapse Prevention Plan For Clients

Rehab centres play an important role in preparing clients to deal with social and professional situations they may encounter that may pose a threat to their quest to maintain their abstinence.

They will lay on several relapse prevention workshops during the time clients are in rehab to give them the cognitive and self-development skills that they will need to continue their growth after rehab.

These workshops will focus on:

Recognising Hazardous Situations

There are certain situations in which some people may feel immense pressure to engage in substance use, particularly if the person is in a particular location or in the company of people who are associated with their substance use.

Helping clients identify these risky situations and assisting them in developing a contingency plan to put into action when these situations arise is a main treatment goal of rehab centres.

HALT

When people with a SUD are Hungry, Angry, Lonely and Tired they are in a vulnerable position and therefore at risk of slipping back into substance use.

Clients, therefore, need to be able to develop the reflective skills to recognise when they are in these physical states and to learn and practice what they need to do to help them resist the urge to engage in substance use.

Lifestyle Factors

Many clients who successfully recover and lead fulfilling lives have overhauled many areas of their life to help them maintain their abstinence.

This may involve developing spiritual practices, changing careers, establishing good connections to their local community and developing a good network of family and friends.

Contact Rehab 4 Alcoholism Today

For more information on our fantastic Barnet-based alcohol rehabilitation services please call a member of our team FREE on 0800 111 4108 today. Alternatively please contact us through the contact page and a member of our team will respond shortly.

Whatever addiction you are facing, help is always available.