Drug & Alcohol Rehabs in Ealing

There is a significant opiate and crack cocaine problem in Ealing, with 2,009 opiate users and 1,441 crack cocaine users in 2019.

Unfortunately, many of these victims of drug and alcohol addiction are not receiving the help they need.

64% of opiate users and 67% of crack cocaine users are either suffering in silence, or have requested help but been subject to long waiting lists.

Alcohol-related crime has been a significant issue in Greater London for many years.

In 2006-2007, there were 13.5 alcohol-related crimes per thousand people in Greater London, compared to the national average of just 10.2 crimes.

What Is Addiction?

According to the disease model of addiction, when you develop an addiction, you are not choosing to be a substance user, but rather you are a victim of chronic disease.

Addiction occurs as a result of chemical changes in the brain, so the sufferer cannot be held responsible for their tendency towards drugs and alcohol.

What’s more, many of the causes of addiction are completely outside of the user’s control.

For instance, as well as biological causes such as genetics, certain environmental factors that we do not choose to experience can increase the likelihood of an addiction developing.

Some examples are:

• Childhood trauma
• Chronic stress
• Divorce
  The death of a loved one

Trauma is defined in many different ways, so you do not necessarily have to have been exposed to extreme abuse to develop trauma.

Other scenarios that increase the likelihood of trauma are:

• Being a victim of bullying
• Being a scapegoat sibling
• Being neuro-divergent

Having said that, there is  always still hope for people with an alcohol addiction or a drug addiction.

With the right motivations and enough resources, anyone can get sober and, more importantly, stay sober.

Unfortunately, simply desiring to get sober is not enough, which is reflected in the 40-60% relapse rate of substance users in the 30 days following their inpatient treatment.

However, drug & alcohol rehabs in Ealing do all they can to ensure the risk of relapse is as low as possible for their patients by crafting a personalised relapse prevention plan while the patient is in their care.

How Can I Tell If I Have An Addiction Or Substance Dependence?

If you have noticed that your consumption of drugs and alcohol is negatively affecting your life, you most likely have a substance dependence problem.

This means you are reliant on substances in order to function.

This reliance looks different to everyone.

For some people, they use drugs and alcohol as a way to escape their issues and experience a high that their day-to-day life cannot provide for them.

Others use substances to numb the pain they experience as a result of a mental health condition.

Substance abuse involves being physically addicted to a substance, i.e. not being able to go a day without alcohol, or binging on drugs every weekend.

If a person with a substance dependency problem tries to get sober, they may experience withdrawal symptoms as their body struggles to function without substances.

However, when the symptoms cross over into the psychological territory, this means you are suffering from an addiction.

People with addiction are not only physically reliant on substances, but also psychologically reliant.

This means they experience changes in their brain when they use drugs or alcohol, and equally when they try to stop taking substances.

It is possible for someone with a psychological dependency to not have a physical dependency, and in this case, they do not need to detox from the substance.

Some examples of physical symptoms of dependency or addiction are:

• Extreme fatigue
• Insomnia
• Excessive sweating
• Rapid weight gain or weight loss
• Tremors
• Pale skin

As for psychological symptoms, substance users may exhibit signs of:

• Defensiveness
• Paranoia
• Denial
• Aggression
• Anxiety
• Depression
• A significant changes to their personality or moods.

The end result of experiencing these symptoms is often a change in the victim’s behaviour.

People with addiction are likely to struggle to juggle their responsibilities, so we may notice that their relationships are weakening, their social life is deteriorating, or they cannot hold down a job.

Diagnostic Tests For Substance Dependence And Addiction

If you decide to go to a drug or alcohol rehab in Ealing, the team at the facility will use diagnostic tests to determine how severe your addiction is, as well as to learn more about the nuances of your addiction.

Some examples of tests they may use are:

1. The ASAM Criteria

There are six categories that make up the ASAM criteria, and they are referred to as dimensions.

These dimensions cover key concepts that directly relate to addiction, such as biomedical conditions, relapse potential and recovery.

Physicians will walk the patient through each of these dimensions and ask them questions to learn about how each concept affects the patient’s life.

They will then rate each dimension in terms of how much risk they believe it poses to the victim.

A risk rating of 4 indicates imminent danger, 3 suggests a serious issue, 2 means they are experiencing moderate challenges to their functioning, and 1 indicates mild problems.

If a patient is assigned the risk rating of zero in any dimension, this means the physician believes there is very low risk in this area of the patient’s addiction.

2. The DSM Criteria

The DSM has provided us with an extensive list detailing the common signs of substance dependence, such as substance use affecting one’s relationships, social life and career.

When physicians use this test, they will record how many symptoms their patient identifies with, and compare this to the following scale devised by the DSM:

• 6+ symptoms = severe substance use issues
• 4-5 symptoms = moderate substance use issues
• 2-3 symptoms = mild substance use issues

There are also additional labels the physicians can use to distinguish between different types of substance dependence, such as ‘in early remission’ and ‘in sustained remission’.

3. The AUDIT Test

As well as general tests for substance dependence and addiction, there are tests that directly relate to specific substances, such as the AUDIT, which is only applicable to people with an alcohol addiction.

The AUDIT asked you particular questions in order to help medical professionals decide if you are dealing with an addiction, and if so, how much this is damaging you.

They may ask questions such as:

• How many units of alcohol do you drink on the average day?
• Has a friend or family member ever confronted you about your alcohol use?
• How many times, if any, have you tried to give up drinking and experienced withdrawal symptoms?

As with the other criteria, there is a scoring system that indicates how much harm your addiction is doing to you.

A score of 0-7 means low risk, 8-15 represents an increasing risk, 16-19 is a higher risk, and 20+ indicates possible dependence on alcohol.

What Is Residential Rehab In Ealing?

The decision to go to residential rehab in Ealing should not be taken lightly.

Though it is highly recommended for people with a moderate to severe addiction, it requires total commitment otherwise it is likely to be unsuccessful.

When you make the decision to enter rehab, you are committing to giving up substances completely.

We believe it is essential for people with an established addiction to take this abstinence route, as it is naïve to believe they will be able to overcome their addiction without help.

You may have noticed that some treatment centres do promote moderation management and harm reduction as a way of reducing the damage caused by addiction.

However, the drug and alcohol rehabs that we work with only promote abstinence, so you must be prepared for this if you agree to attend a rehab clinic.

We can assure you that you will not be alone in this challenge, as the staff and the other patients will support you all the way.

At the end of your time in rehab, after an initial detox and plenty of therapy, you will be provided with an aftercare plan to support you through your life post-rehab.

This plan is designed by staff, who will also ask for your input.

It takes into account your needs and preferences in order to determine the best ways the rehab facility can help you to stay sober, such as offering helplines and therapy sessions.

You will also be advised on how to take control of your own sobriety, such as by attending self-help meetings.

Some popular examples are:

• Narcotics Anonymous
• Smart Recovery
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• AI-Anon Family Meetings

Other tips may include removing yourself from triggering situations, helping your family to understand your addiction so that they know how to support you, employing distraction techniques, and perhaps even moving house to have a fresh start.

What Is Outpatient Treatment In Ealing?

Inpatient treatment is not for everyone, so fortunately there is also the possibility of receiving treatment as an outpatient in Ealing.

This means you will still have access to the detox and therapy, but you will be able to return home at the end of each day.

The benefit of this is that it is extremely practical.

You may have a very short commute to the rehab centre, leaving you with plenty of time to spend with family and friends, relax or work.

If you have a supportive family, you may prefer to stay at home while you recover rather than living with other victims of addiction.

We only recommend outpatient treatment to people who have a mild drug or alcohol dependency, as it requires more self-control than rehab, given that you are afforded more freedom and flexibility as you recover.

If you are unsure whether this is an appropriate option for you, we can tell you more over the phone.

What Is Home Detoxing?

Home detoxing is even less intense than outpatient treatment, so it really is only advisable for people who are in the early stages of drug or alcohol dependence.

It is also only recommended to people who are consuming less than 30 units of alcohol a day, have never had an alcoholic seizure, and have someone at home who can support them through the process.

When you detox at home, you may be prescribed some medications to reduce the risk of seizures and to ease your anxiety.

A common medication that patients take is Librium, which is a benzodiazepine that prevents seizures.

You will also have access to a team of medical professionals who will keep track of your progress and ensure you remain as healthy as possible while you are withdrawing from substances

A helpline will be provided in case you are in need of immediate support.

Which Treatment Option Is Best For Me?

In order to make an informed decision on the best treatment option for you, you need to consider both inpatient and outpatient therapy.

On the whole, inpatient treatment is ideal for people suffering from a moderate to severe addiction, as it provides the intensity that is necessary to stay sober.

You will benefit from round-the-clock care from doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, and therapists who will treat your physical and mental health.

Residential rehab is also successful because of its community experience.

When you are recovering alongside fellow victims of drug and alcohol addiction, you may be less likely to develop low self-esteem as you know that addiction can affect all kinds of people.

There are also a wide variety of rehabs you can choose from, with everything from basic, clinical facilities to the most luxurious ones.

This means you will benefit from treatment that is tailored to your needs.

Finally, the individualised treatment plan is one of the most compelling aspects of residential rehab.

You will follow a programme that has been designed with you in mind, vastly increasing your chances of long-term recovery and reducing your risk of relapse.

Having said that, certain people are not eligible for treatment at inpatient rehab, such as:

• People with severe mental health struggles.
• People with a history of drug or alcohol related violence.
• People who have relapsed frequently.
• People with a history of delirium tremens (DTs), a dangerous form of alcohol withdrawal.
• People who drink more than 30 units of alcohol a day.
• People with Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE), a neurological condition related to high alcohol consumption.

These people may thrive in an outpatient setting, or with a home detox.

Outpatient treatment is the second-best option in terms of success rates, but people with a mild dependence may find that a home detox is sufficient for their recovery.

What Therapies Are Available at Drug & Alcohol Rehab In Ealing?

It is important that you learn about the different therapies offered by rehab facilities in Ealing before you select a particular facility.

This is particularly important for dual diagnosis patients.

Dual diagnosis patients are people who suffer from addiction as well as a mental health condition, which is referred to as a co-occurring disorder.

Many of the clients we work with have these conditions, the most common being:

• Bipolar disorder
• OCD
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Schizophrenia

This means it is essential that the therapy sessions they have at rehab are well-suited to their mental health condition as well as their addiction.

Fortunately, at drug & alcohol rehab clinics in Ealing effective evidence-based treatments are employed, and we will ensure that the rehab facility is fully informed if you are a dual diagnosis patient.

Most treatment centres expose you to a range of therapies, so you will not be limited to just one type.

Some examples of therapies you may have the opportunity to try are:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is an evidence-based therapy that is proven to help with addiction, as well as mental health struggles such as low self-esteem, anxiety, depression and PTSD.

This type of therapy keeps the patient focused on the present rather than the past, though the past may be discussed in the sessions.

Therapists encourage the patient to acknowledge their negative thoughts and challenge them, which alters their feelings and behaviours.

For example, if a patient has the thought ‘I am a failure because of my addiction’, they can challenge this by reminding themselves that addiction is a disease, which makes them feel more confident and encourages them to alter their behaviour, i.e. not give into substances as a result of low self-esteem.

CBT provides patients with practical strategies to overcome their addiction, and is very well structured so patients can learn how to apply the key concepts themselves, outside of the context of therapy.

On the other hand, patients with a history of trauma may find other treatments more beneficial, as it may be necessary for them to delve into their past struggles in order to better understand their current addiction.

Holistic Therapies

Holistic therapies aim to treat addiction and mental illness in a natural way, though they can be used alongside medication and traditional therapy.

Some popular examples of holistic therapies are:

• Massage therapy
• Acupuncture
• Reflexology
• Equine Therapy

Each of these treatments involves stimulating the body in order to induce relaxation in patients.

This is intended to help treat anxiety and depression.

On one hand, these therapies are less evidence-based, so it could be argued that traditional therapy should be favoured for people with addiction.

However, on the other hand they can work very well with other therapies as they place an emphasis on both physical and mental health.

Art Therapy

Art therapy encourages patients to take part in creative activities to reduce their stress, such as painting, dancing, acting or listening to music.

As people with addiction engage with these activities, they may learn more about their mental health, allowing them to access their feelings more easily.

For example, if they always end up painting distressing paintings, this could point to anxiety issues.

This list is not exhaustive, so get in touch if you want to discover other treatments you could request, such as group therapy, EMDR therapy, co-dependency treatment, 12 step programmes and family therapy.

Can I Help My Loved One to Secure a Place at Rehab?

Sometimes, people are reluctant to attend rehab, but the encouragement of their inner circle is enough to convince them that it is the right thing to do.

This is the idea behind the concept of intervention.

Interventions can be arranged by family, friends, colleagues, or employers – essentially, anyone who is affected by the victim’s addiction-related behaviours.

They can work with a professional interventionist using an intervention model of their choice.

For people who value positive reinforcement, the CRAFT model may be the best form of intervention to do, or for a more direct approach the Johnson Model may be preferable.

Another popular intervention model is the Invitational Model, also known as the Systemic Family Intervention Model.

This model is family-oriented, so it is advisable for people who have a strong family network, even if this has been damaged by addiction.

The idea is that the entire family attends a two-day workshop with an interventionist and learns how to deal with their family member’s addiction.

A key reason that the Invitational Model works is that it teaches family members how to avoid enabling their loved one, which means encouraging them in their addiction, whether voluntarily or involuntarily.

Some examples of enabling are:

• Hiding your loved one’s addiction from others.
• Giving your loved one money when they have spent all of theirs on substances.
• Excusing any episodes of violence as you justify it through the lens of addiction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Should I Expect to Spend on Treatment?

This depends entirely upon the type of treatment you decide to have.

For a home detox in Ealing, you are looking at around £1,500.

A 28-day stay at a private rehab tends to cost between £8,000-£12,000 for a single room, or £6,000 for a multi-occupancy room, whereas a 10-day detox at rehab is between £3,000-£6,000.

If you are in the position to afford a place at a luxury rehab facility, you could be spending up to £74,000.

It all depends on the specific rehab facility you choose to attend, and this is where we come in.

Once we know your budget and your ideal form of treatment, we will make the most of our contacts with rehabs in the area and search for a rehab that provides exactly what you need.

This includes making a note of your budget and ensuring we do not refer you to a rehab that is too expensive.

How Long Do I Have to Stay in Rehab?

Most treatment centres advise that you stay for a full 28 days as their programmes are designed to offer everything you need in this time, provided that you also follow the aftercare programme.

However, if you do not require a detox as you are addicted to a substance such as cannabis or cocaine, you could stay at rehab for a shorter period of time.

The same applies if you only require a detox, as this will last between several days to 10 days.

Many people are concerned about attending rehab for a full month as they do not want to take time off work.

However, we encourage you to prioritise your health over work, as continuing to work while battling addiction will not produce good results.

You would be surprised about how supportive many employers are when their employees need to seek treatment.

Inform your employer of your struggles as soon as possible so that they are prepared if you do decide to opt for a stay at rehab.

How Do I Prepare For A Stay In Rehab?

It is important that you are prepared to be immersed in a pro-abstinence environment, so we recommend speaking to one of our advisors to learn about what exactly this entails.

This means that if you want to attend rehab for a legal reason, you should consider whether you will manage to complete the programme before committing to it.

We recommend challenging some of your misconceptions about rehab by reading this article.

It will reassure you that anyone with a substance dependence problem is welcome at rehab, regardless of their background.

Finally, decide when you would be willing to start treatment, as this is useful information we can pass on to the rehab facility.

We also encourage you to consider what you will bring to rehab, as some facilities do not allow mobile phones and laptops, whereas others are more relaxed about this.

Do I Have To Have A Detox?

If you are experiencing physical symptoms of addiction, you will need to have a drug or alcohol detox so that toxins can be removed from your body.

This may sound scary, but you will receive all the medication you need to control the process.

Some examples of substances that require detox are heroin and alcohol.

On the other hand cannabis and cocaine, other common addictive substances, only require psychological aid.

It is vital that you are aware of the dangers of detoxing at home, without medical intervention.

Many people attempt to do this to avoid rehab, but it can be life-threatening due to the potential of experiencing lethal withdrawal symptoms.

How Can Rehab 4 Alcoholism Help Me?

From the moment you first contact one of our advisors, we are committed to helping you secure a place at a leading rehab centre in Ealing, or alternatively, to have outpatient treatment or a home detox.

We do this by asking all the right questions, such as:

• How long have you been struggling with addiction?
• Which substance are you addicted to?
• Have you ever been to rehab before?
• Would you prefer to recover in your local area or elsewhere?
• What is your budget for treatment?

These questions will be asked in the context of a friendly conversation, so do not worry that you will be pushed to reveal everything about your addiction.

We also want to remind you that our advisors deal with people with addiction every day, so there is nothing they haven’t heard.

To get help as soon as possible, call us on 0800 111 4108 today.

When you do this, you will have the opportunity to have a free initial needs assessment that aids us in deciding which treatment option would be best for you.

Whether you want a private rehab stay in Ealing, a 10-day home detox, or you are completely undecided as to what you would like to do, we are ready to help.