Drug & Alcohol Rehab in Farnham

Despite its reputation as a quaint market town in the southeast, Farnham’s proximity to London means it has experienced a ripple-effect wave of substance addiction.

Counties surrounding the capital such as Surrey continue to feel the damaging effects of drug and alcohol use on its healthcare system, crime rates and the overall health of its residents.

Addiction Statistics In Farnham

National crime statistics have revealed that  illicit drug-related offences have accounted for 2.5% of all criminal activity in Surrey.

However, alcohol is the more influential substance when it comes to crime rates in the Farnham area.

The Surrey County Council’s JRSA report identified alcohol as a higher need area (54%) than drugs amongst Surrey offenders linked to the Probation Trust.

Of the 592 Surrey-based offenders with violent convictions, a worrying 53% had a diagnosable alcohol treatment need.

Unfortunately, the criminal justice system isn’t the only sector of the Farnham community under addicted-related pressure.

Drug and alcohol addiction continues to impact Farnham’s hospitals, with the families of addicted individuals needing emergency treatment as well as the SUD victims themselves.

According to the Local Alcohol Profiles 2020 report of the Surrey area, local hospitals received 405 admissions for alcohol-specific conditions, and 1,176 counts of alcohol-related conditions.

Harrowingly, the same year saw 33 individuals lose their lives to alcohol-related conditions in the Farnham area.

What Is Alcohol Addiction?

With regular drinking a normal recreational behaviour in UK society, many people fail to recognise their alcohol addiction.

While the line between habit and addiction is often blurred, the critical difference lies in the chemical changes that occur in the brain.

The feeling of calm we experience when drinking is because alcohol triggers dopamine release in the brain.

However, the more alcohol we consume, the less of this pleasure hormone the brain releases.

This leads someone’s alcohol tolerance to climb and is often the first stage of an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).

By consuming more alcohol in the hopes of regaining this euphoria, individuals are exacerbating the problem.

Their bodies become so accustomed to the effects of alcohol that, without it, the cells cannot properly function.

Before they know it, they are no longer drinking to chase a feeling of calm, but to prevent physical withdrawal symptoms such as vomiting, headaches, muscle aches and shakiness.

In addition to physical discomfort, those harbouring an alcohol addiction will experience intense cravings that affect their decision-making.

If they try to abstain from drinking, the compulsive urge to consume again will eventually take over without the clinical assistance provided by detox.

As can be expected, estimating the amount that someone drinks can be a useful preliminary step in gauging severity.

Anyone can access certified clinical guidelines such as this available via the NHS.

They state on their website that anyone drinking over 14 units of alcohol over one week may have a diagnosable problem.

To simplify this: one unit is considered to be 10ml of pure alcohol, or roughly one small glass of wine in consumption terms.

However, such self-assessments shouldn’t replace the advice provided by addiction specialists at a drug and alcohol rehab in Farnham.

If any of the above-mentioned symptoms strike a chord with you, don’t hesitate to reach out and access your free medical consultation.

What Can I Expect From A Drug And Alcohol Rehab In Farnham?

With the amount of misinformation surrounding rehab, it can be difficult to pin down exactly what the process involves.

At its core, rehab describes the extensive therapy that an addicted individual undergoes to rectify their drug or alcohol-seeking behaviours.

While attending a drug and alcohol rehab in Farnham, patients will foster physical healing through detox, and recuperate mentally by learning healthier coping skills and how to prevent relapse.

They’ll also have the chance to dig deeper into the root causes of their addiction, with the help of certified therapists.

In most cases, addicted individuals will start their rehab journey as either an outpatient or an inpatient.

In the latter style of treatment, individuals will live at the rehab centre and complete a daily schedule of individual therapy, group therapy, and time for physical activity and meals.

In contrast, outpatient rehab allows clients to live at home while they complete treatment at a drug and alcohol rehab in Farnham.

Those in recovery attend up to several outpatient group meetings every week, which are hosted by professionals specialising in remote treatment for SUD.

Private VS Public Treatment For SUD in Farnham

When making the preliminary decision between privately funded and publicly funded treatment, there is a range of pros and cons to consider.

The best type of addiction treatment for an individual will depend on their treatment history, the severity of their SUD, financial ability and other personal factors.

The NHS offers treatment for addiction that is free at the point of use, making a notoriously pricey recovery process accessible for all.

Those unable to pay for a private drug and alcohol rehab in Farnham can begin treatment safe in the knowledge that the cost is covered.

Moreover, while the NHS cannot offer the same range of treatment as a private clinic, the outpatient care it offers in most cases is optimal for many people.

Outpatient rehab on the NHS allows for more flexibility if patients need to continue working or care for children.

Therefore, NHS treatment is often preferred by those who are high functioning in their substance addiction.

Having stable living conditions or a supportive family surrounding them may make the residential nature of private care inappropriate.

This can work the other way, too, with many individuals finding that NHS outpatient care doesn’t meet their needs or provide the comprehensive treatment they need to recover.

Moreover, those receiving NHS treatment must return home in between appointments to potentially negative environments.

One of the biggest advantages of inpatient treatment at private rehab is that clients are provided with a safe, constant environment away from triggers.

Another major disadvantage of publicly-funded treatment is the length of time people must wait to access its services.

As of 2022, NHS waiting times have reached a record high, with thousands of patients waiting weeks or months to see a specialist, and facing further treatment delays.

In contrast, private rehabs  experience less burden in terms of numbers, meaning patients can benefit from shorter wait times.

In most cases, clients are seen almost immediately, without unnecessary potentially dangerous delays to their recovery process.

As previously mentioned, perhaps the main advantage of private rehab is that treatment is entirely residential.

By staying as an inpatient, individuals can escape the stresses and strains of modern living, and remove themselves from relapse-inducing exposure to drugs or alcohol.

Another hallmark of residential treatment in private rehab is the fact you are under constant care and clinical supervision.

This extends beyond the initial detox period, with patients benefiting from a concise, personalised programme designed to treat a range of complex issues.

However, patients considering care at a private drug and alcohol rehab in Farnham must consider the cost of such a decision.

As each clinic offers a different experience, speciality, location and a wide range of treatments, the final price will differ depending on your preferences.

Costs in the UK can range from £2,000 for a temporarily residential detox, to £14,000 for a luxury rehab programme.

Opting for a standard 28-day recovery programme will cost clients between £5,000 to £15,000 depending on how luxurious the facilities are.

Patients can also reduce the cost by selecting multi-occupancy accommodation rather than a single room.

Furthermore, many rehab clinics nowadays are working to reduce the financial impact of addiction recovery.

Clients can access payment schemes on a sliding scale basis and financial plans, including the option to split payments into instalments.

If you’d like to find out more about which financial assistance is available in the Farnham area, contact a member of our expert team today.

We can help you select a private drug and alcohol rehab in Farnham to suit your unique budget and needs.

Arranging An Intervention For a Loved One In Farnham

While an addicted person may seek out treatment independently, it’s also common for those needing help to reject professional assistance.

In these situations, families are forced to watch as their loved ones decline both mentally and physically as a result of their substance misuse.

Whether someone is denying their SUD, believes they aren’t worthy of help, or fears that going sober is too difficult, an intervention is the best way of reaching them.

Concerned Significant Others (CSOs) can plan an intervention to break through the SUD victim’s denial and defence mechanisms so that they see their situation in a new light.

In an intervention, family and friends come together to encourage their addicted loved one to accept treatment, often in the form of a drug and alcohol rehab in Farnham.

As part of this process, group members may give examples of an individual’s destructive behaviour and the impact it had on them, before offering pre-researched treatment options.

Effective interventions are usually led by certified intervention specialists or mental health professionals who are trained in staging these meetings.

They’ll use their knowledge of addiction treatment to pre-determine a location for the intervention, based on a family’s unique situation.

Additionally, interventionists help the addicted person understand what triggers their drug or alcohol use, learn positive communication skills, and ultimately decide to seek help.

During sessions, these professionals mediate discussions using counselling methods often informed by an intervention framework.

One kind of commonly utilised intervention model is CRAFT.

This approach is considered both a direct and indirect form of intervention, as it focuses on the individual but without forcing a confrontation.

By using non-confrontational methods in its approach, a CRAFT intervention focuses more on improving the lives of the addicted person’s and their loved ones.

Interventionists using this method will include problem-solving, goal-setting, and self-care in their workshops.

Co-occurring Disorders (COD) And SUD

Comorbidity, Co-occurring Disorders, and Dual Diagnosis are all terms used to describe the co-existence of various diseases alongside substance use disorders.

While addiction is an all-encompassing condition in itself, having another illness alongside it is incredibly common among those seeking treatment at a drug and alcohol rehab in Farnham.

Several combinations have been recorded, with new ones cropping up all the time.

Someone’s co-occurring disorder could be Hepatitis, HIV, or cancer, but it’s more common for people to suffer from mental health issues.

These can occur as a direct or indirect result of their substance use history.

Regardless of the illness forming their dual diagnosis, it’s often necessary for individuals to find a treatment programme that addresses both conditions in tandem.

This is because those with COD have a complex range of needs, often requiring additional therapeutic or medical support and more supervision during detox.

At a drug and alcohol rehab in Farnham, a consultant psychiatrist will assess the individual to gauge whether their COD has manifested as a result of their addiction, or pre-exists their SUD.

For instance, substance use often mimics the symptoms of a mental illness, such as in the case of drug-induced psychosis.

By the same token, many people with pre-existing mental health concerns have developed the habit of self-medicating through using substances.

They might turn to mood-enhancing drugs such as stimulants or amphetamines to battle depression, or calming drugs such as alcohol and cannabis to quell their anxiety disorder.

If you’re concerned that you or someone you love might harbour co-occurring disorders, the first step is to obtain an appropriate diagnosis.

This process is called screening and is an important chance for healthcare professionals to assess someone’s symptoms before starting formal treatment.

How Long Should Someone Stay At A Drug And Alcohol Rehab In Farnham?

Here at Rehab 4 Alcoholism, two of the most common questions posed to our team are “how long should I stay in rehab?” and “how long does it take to treat an addiction?”.

Due to the personal nature of SUD recovery programmes, it’s difficult to estimate exactly how long you’ll spend rehabilitating.

Moreover, someone could choose to extend their rehab stay or leave earlier than planned.

Addiction specialists usually recommend that their patients remain at an inpatient rehab until they are stable enough to return home without risking relapse.

However, it is possible to estimate how long someone might expect to remain at a drug and alcohol rehab in Farnham.

The average length of residential rehab is 28-30 days, which may or may not include a detox depending on the clinic.

This length of time is usually recommended for those who have been battling SUD for less than 10 years.

It allows time for both physical and psychological healing while learning how to live a sober life in the outside world.

However, 28 days in rehab isn’t an optimal time frame for everyone.

Those who have been addicted for over a decade, or who are addicted to especially powerful drugs such as heroin should consider spending 60 or even 90 days rehabilitating.

Rehab For Alcohol And Heroin In Farnham

Though hard to believe in light of their differences, these two substances share many similarities that make treating the addictions they cause a similar process.

While heroin is one of the most addictive illegal drugs, alcohol is considered the most addictive legal substance.

As such, both alcohol and heroin cause physical addictions, whereby the body is so used to functioning with a substance, that bodily illness will manifest without it.

Drugs like alcohol pose potentially life-threatening withdrawal, including seizures and delirium tremens, while heroin addictions cause cramps, vomiting, and severe flu-like illness.

Those wanting to make a full recovery from these substance use disorders must undergo a medicated detox before considering further treatment.

During a medicated detox, staff at a drug and alcohol rehab in Farnham use pharmaceutical intervention to help patients withdraw safely from opioids or alcohol.

Detox centres for alcohol and heroin are safe, comfortable environments where patients receive 24-hour supervision for the duration of their time there – a process usually taking around 14 days.

During this time, patients will typically undergo a three-step process: evaluation, stabilisation, and preparation for future treatment.

After receiving their consultation and bespoke detox plan, subjects will enter the stabilisation period, wherein certain medications are prescribed.

Drugs used to assist alcohol or heroin detox include Naltrexone to inhibit cravings, anticonvulsants to stop seizures and calm the nervous system, and beta-blockers to reduce anxiety and restlessness.

After detox, patients are healthier and more able to focus on the next phase of treatment,  typically including behavioural interventions or psychotherapy modules.

These therapeutic activities help addicted individuals to overcome the psychological causes of their heroin or alcohol dependency.

Behavioural therapy such as CBT or DBT teaches patients to change those behaviours that lead to addiction – this might mean avoiding those who continue to use substances or situations that cause certain stressors.

Rehab For Cannabis And Cocaine In Farnham

Both cocaine and cannabis are substances thought to have a higher chance of causing psychological addiction, as opposed to the physical dependencies of heroin and alcohol.

For example, cannabis does not contain any physically addictive ingredients but, like cocaine, many people develop a strong mental desire for it that causes psychological withdrawal symptoms when they stop using.

Programmes offered by a drug and alcohol rehab in Farnham for these substances are therefore similarly carried out.

The initial detox period is often shorter than other substances, usually lasting less than one week.

Moreover, the phase of ridding toxins from the body often won’t include medical intervention, due to the psychological nature of withdrawal symptoms.

As those withdrawing from cocaine or cannabis may experience anxiety, restlessness or low mood, their detox plans include more holistic aid.

They’ll be provided with a safe and comfortable space away from modern stressors in which to start their sobriety.

This includes the option to receive one-to-one counselling, support sessions, fitness therapy, and a range of nutritious meals every day.

Despite the efficacy of inpatient detox, it’s not a guarantee of long-term abstinence from cannabis or cocaine.

After detox, patients often need additional support to continue learning new ways to deal with stress, cravings and triggers that can lead to relapse.

Individual psychotherapy or counselling is a primary component of programmes at a drug and alcohol rehab in Farnham.

Usually, this comes in the form of Motivational Interviewing to foster hope for the future, followed by a course of personalised CBT.

Types of Therapy At A Drug And Alcohol Rehab In Farnham

Therapy in its myriad forms is an integral part of rehabilitation for addiction and allows individuals in recovery to make positive mental and behavioural changes.

While many people are already familiar with methods such as CBT, someone attending a drug and alcohol rehab in Farnham will encounter multiple therapeutic methods, each one chosen to suit their unique needs.

Motivational interviewing (MI)

Unlike behavioural interventions that focus on cognitive distortions, Motivational Interviewing helps patients find their desire to complete treatment.

In MI sessions, a counsellor seeks to motivate the subject to maintain abstinence by identifying their unique values and intrinsic motivations.

Rather than directing the discussion themselves, MI therapists encourage the patient to find their own drive to recover.

During sessions, clients are given the freedom to make choices for themselves, which helps evoke an internal change to instil long-term recovery.

When discussing what motivates their client, therapists must refer to the four fundamental principles of Motivational Interviewing – Focusing, Engaging, Evoking and Planning.

Each of these guiding principles fosters a collaborative relationship between therapist and patient, helping them to build a list of recovery goals in the final sessions.

Oftentimes, Motivational Interviewing takes only a few sessions to complete effectively and is typically used to build an individual’s motivation before starting other therapies.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Many addicted individuals battle negative thinking patterns, which can make it very difficult to stop using drugs or alcohol.

To help individuals move forward with their lives and gain control over these thoughts, CBT was created as a form of therapeutic behavioural intervention.

CBT techniques aim to change these thinking patterns by teaching patients how to recognize and revaluate them, use problem-solving to deal with tricky situations, and cultivate self-confidence.

In CBT sessions, clients and therapists work together to identify negative thinking patterns and develop healthy ones.

These skills can be easily transferred into daily life to deal with cravings, stressful situations beyond their control, and other triggers.

Participants are also taught how to gain a better understanding of the behaviours of others.

This can help them to navigate relationships with friends, family, and work colleagues in the outside world.

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

DBT is a type of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy that was originally designed to treat those with suicidal intentions or severe personality disorders.

However, it’s since been used to therapeutically treat substance use disorder and many more mental health conditions.

DBT help people overcome addiction by learning to live in the moment, find healthy ways of coping with stress, regulate their emotions, and improve the relationships in their lives.

It does this by working closely with the philosophy of dialectics.

The dialectical method makes use of contradictory statements or ideas to reach an ultimate truth or a more cohesive outcome.

In the context of Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, this requires subjects to accept their intense emotions while changing certain aspects of their behaviour.

Unlike the CBT methodology of prioritising one-to-one therapy, DBT can be used in a variety of settings.

Therapists specialising in this form of behavioural intervention utilise individual sessions, group sessions and treatment interventions in between sessions.

Contingency Management (CM)

Contingency Management is another popular form of behavioural intervention in which individuals are rewarded for making positive changes in their lives.

In this context, CM participants at a drug and alcohol rehab in Farnham receive tangible incentives for maintaining their sobriety.

CM is based on the principle that positive reinforcement is more likely to increase someone’s motivation to remain sober, especially in the face of potential relapse.

As a result, CM increases retention rates for treatment programmes and improves the likelihood of someone remaining sober after rehab when used in aftercare programmes.

Examples of rewards include vouchers for negative drug tests, gym passes, additional therapies or even monetary incentives.

Family Behavioural Therapy (FBT)

Family Behavioural Therapy is a counselling method designed to address not only someone’s SUD, but the co-occurring problems and issues related to the relationships within their family unit.

This family unit doesn’t always mean those genetically related – FBT groups include any concerned significant others who are important forces for good in an individual’s life.

The philosophy behind Family Behavioural Therapy is that an addicted person’s behaviours are influenced by their familial relationships.

As such, implementing FBT is often instrumental in someone’s recovery programme.

Sessions help improve relationships and communication while reducing stress and enabling behaviours among participants.

Professionally undertaken FBT will occur in a structured environment such as a drug and alcohol rehab in Farnham, and will have an experienced therapist present.

This provides a safe space for individuals to voice their concerns, communicate their emotions, and ask questions about addictive behaviours.

FBT also gives families the unique opportunity to tackle any co-occurring issues that could be negatively impacting their relationships with one another.

Common examples include additional substance use disorders, and unresolved trauma relating to abuse.

Holistic Therapy (HT)

On top of delivering psychotherapeutic methods, a drug and alcohol rehab in Farnham may also take a holistic approach to treatment.

This means they’ll utilise Holistic Therapy to enhance an individual’s wellness via their mind, body, and spirit.

Because of this multifaceted approach to treatment, patients often complete HT feeling relaxed, content, and more able to take on the challenges of addiction recovery.

Individuals participating in HT will learn more techniques for reducing stress than those only partaking in traditional treatment methods in rehab.

While those familiar with HT might think yoga is the only option for participants, there is something for everyone and a wide range of choices to appeal to unique interests.

Your therapist or caseworker will help you find therapies that resonate with you and complement your treatment programme.

Examples of activities that are considered holistic include:

• Music therapy
• Art therapy
• Equine therapy
• Nutritional counselling
• Breathing exercises
• Weight-lifting
• Martial arts

Group Support Therapy

While individual therapy is beneficial for its directive, one-to-one approach, it usually works best when supplemented with Group Support Therapy.

When recovering from any chronic illness, it’s crucial to feel supported emotionally and have a group of peers going through the same process that you can turn to, and Substance Use Disorders are no exception.

At an inpatient drug and alcohol rehab in Farnham, group therapy is an important element of each individual’s routine, often occurring on a daily basis.

Sessions typically involve a licensed counsellor and between 5 and 12 other individuals undergoing similar treatment.

Individuals participating in group therapy benefit from the input of both the therapist, as well as other group members.

Some may be further along in their recovery, providing tangible evidence that recovery is possible through further treatment.

A typical session can cover a wide range of topics, or hone in on a specific shared problem, such as sharing coping skills that did or did not work to prevent relapse.

Participants take turns listening to each other and sharing their own experiences to give back and help others in similar scenarios.

Get Help Today

For more information on any of the topics covered here, or for any help or advice regarding addiction and recovery in Farnham call a member of our team today on 0800 111 4108.

We are always available to take your call.