Drug & Alcohol Rehab in Gateshead

Addiction is a disorder which is often misrepresented in the media or misunderstood by many.

This may be due to the lack of information available concerning the effects of addiction, but may also be due to the pre-conceived idea that addiction is a moral failure of the individual.

This is not the case – addiction is, plain and simple, a disease.

Addiction can have strong effects on the brain, often changing neural pathways depending on the substance that is consumed.

Because of this, individuals will consistently seek the substance they are addicted to, worsening the effects that it has as well as strengthening the new connections in the brain that are associated with addictive behaviours.

With alcohol addictions specifically, serotonin is one of the chemicals in the brain that is affected, meaning that individuals struggling with an alcohol addiction may not be able to function in their day-to-day life without consuming this drug.

Due to these changes in the brain and the vicious cycle of addiction, it is very hard to recover fully from addiction.

However, with the right care, right service providers and right attitude, it is possible for anyone to enter drug and alcohol rehab in Gateshead and begin their journey to recovery.

What Is Rehabilitation?

In general, the process of rehabilitation refers to the recovery from a specific disorder or disease.

In the case of addiction, it is the recovery and withdrawal from a specific substance or substances.

Through alcohol rehab in Gateshead, individuals will work through addiction treatment programmes in order to find the root cause of addiction and treat it through various therapies and alternative treatments.

This is split into three stages in most cases:

• Detoxification
• Therapy and Treatment
• Aftercare

By following these stages thoroughly with a strong motivation to engage and recover, individuals are far more likely to make an efficient and effective recovery.

Pre-Rehab Steps: The Use Of Interventions

For some individuals, the thought of entering or beginning alcohol rehab in Gateshead can seem like a big step.

In these cases, using a pre-rehab step such as an intervention may help the individual to understand more about the effects of their addiction and what may be most suitable for them in terms of future rehabilitative care.

An intervention is when a mediator – usually a counsellor/interventionist – helps the individual and their close friends and family to share their experience of addiction.

Traditionally, interventions are thought to be very confrontational, often blaming the individual for their actions and behaviour.

However, more modern approaches such as the CRAFT (Community Reinforcement And Family Training) method are far more invitational.

By using the CRAFT method, individuals are encouraged to build relationships with those around them, sharing experiences and taking recommendations and suggestions for the future of their rehabilitation.

This is often far more successful than traditional approaches, increasing the rate of success for encouragement of further care from 30% to around 75%.

How Much Does Residential Rehab Cost In Gateshead?

For many individuals, the cost of rehab is something that can have a big influence on the choices they make about the future of their care.

However, it is important to consider the cost of their current habits, comparing this to the cost of rehab in the future.

One factor that is often not considered when thinking about private residential care is the type of accommodation that individuals may opt to reside in.

Although not a commonly thought-of factor, it is one that has a strong effect on the total cost of alcohol rehab in Gateshead.

Consider the averages at the time of writing below:

• Single occupancy rooms – more expensive of the two options, costing around £10,000 for the recommended 28-day stay or around £4,500 for a 10-day detox.
• Multiple occupancy rooms – lesser expense of the two options, costing around £6,000 for the 28-day recommended stay or around £3,000 for a 10-day detox.

Other factors such as insurance may also influence these costs, as will the specific addiction treatment programmes chosen and the location and luxuriousness of the facility itself.

Is Drug And Alcohol Rehab Available Through The NHS?

In most cases, the National Health Service (NHS) does provide some forms of rehabilitative care in place of alcohol rehab in Gateshead.

Often, this only refers to the enrolment in specific types of therapy or counselling, which are extremely beneficial for the treatment of addiction, but are often not enough for individuals with a more severe addiction.

For example, accessing residential rehab is very difficult through the NHS due to the increased cost associated with this type of care.

In some cases, it may be necessary for individuals to raise their own funds to pay for their treatment which, when combined with struggling with addiction simultaneously, can be incredibly stressful and strenuous.

Although there are some types of care more commonly recommended through the NHS, these are often limited by the funding received by this service from the government.

How Long Does Rehab Last?

Depending on the individual’s experience of addiction, including history of substance use, type of substance they are addicted to, and the severity of their withdrawal symptoms, every individual case will take a different amount of time to progress through alcohol rehab in Gateshead.

The most amount of deviation in time spent in rehab is due to the time spent in the detoxification stage.

This is because a detox can take anywhere from 7 to 14 days or more, with some symptoms persisting for up to a year after withdrawing.

Because of this, estimating an overall amount of time spent in rehab is incredibly difficult.

However, Rehab 4 Alcoholism recommends a stay of 28 days to fully engage with a variety of specialised addiction treatment programmes and get the full experience of time within a dedicated rehab centre.

Not only does this amount of time allow for time spent in the detox stage of rehab, but it also allows individuals to progress through treatment programmes and meet individuals in a similar situation, functioning similarly to an addiction support network such as Alcoholics Anonymous in terms of sharing and learning from experiences.

Comparing NHS Treatments To Private Residential Care

There are many differences between the rehabilitative care received through the NHS and private residential care, mainly due to the funding differences as outlined in the previous paragraphs, but also due to the suitability of each type of care.

These are essential to understand before making any further decisions about the rehab you choose or the treatment you pursue.

The main differences are described below:

• NHS/council funded treatments – Often the first port of call for individuals seeking help for addiction, these services are also some of the most popular. As they are often local, convenient, and free of charge, these services unfortunately often come with a lengthy waiting list. Additionally, individuals may not be able to access the same regular addiction specialist or may have to travel long distances for different treatments or meetings
• Private residential care – Quite the opposite, private residential care can be accessed immediately after just one initial telephone assessment for those who need it most. In addition, these centres often have some of the most expert staff in the field of addiction and all the care is available in one place, including dedicated detox clinics in some cases. However, as mentioned they can be prohibitively expensive.

The Differences Between Inpatient And Outpatient Care

Knowing where to start looking for different types of addiction care across alcohol rehab in Gateshead is challenging due to the sheer amount of information available in the modern world.

Luckily, there are some decisions that can be made at the very start of an individual’s rehabilitation journey that can lead to further decisions, helping to streamline the process and make the individual’s experience more imaginable.

One of these decisions in the choice between inpatient and outpatient care – whether the individual will progress through a residential rehab centre or outside of a dedicated establishment.

Inpatient care has been proven time and time again to be the most effective form of rehab, but is not always the most suitable.

In general, it is more suitable for those who have a severe history of substance use, or those who may struggle to rehabilitate without support.

Inpatient care makes up the individual’s daily routine, engaging in various rehabilitative activities and therapies throughout the day.

Alternatively, an individual may choose to progress with outpatient care – care outside of a residential centre.

This makes the care far more part-time, and although many of the treatments may be similar, they do not make up the individual’s daily routine.

This type of care is more suitable for individuals who are independent with their recovery and those with a less severe history of addiction.

Alcohol Detoxification And Rehabilitation In Gateshead

As mentioned in the opening paragraph, alcohol can have serious effects on the physical and mental wellbeing of individuals who are addicted.

As well as having a strong impact on the way that the brain functions and produces various essential chemicals and hormones, alcohol is also physically addictive.

This means that the detoxification process can be life-threatening in cases of long-term alcohol addiction.

Through alcohol rehab in Gateshead, it is therefore highly likely that individuals with a longer history are more likely to be recommended some form of medical intervention during this crucial stage of rehab.

Including administration of drugs such as Librium, medical interventions are effective at combatting the negative physical withdrawal symptoms of an alcohol withdrawal and allowing the individual to focus solely on their rehabilitation journey.

Cocaine Addiction And Rehabilitation In Gateshead

As well as providing support for addictions to alcohol, Rehab 4 Alcoholism also provides support for a number of other substance use disorders such as those outlined in the following few paragraphs.

Cocaine, for example, is known to be a powerful stimulant, causing or worsening a variety of mental health disorders if consumed in the long-term.

Additionally, extended use can also lead to a psychological crash, something which can take a long time to recover from.

When it comes to drug and alcohol rehab in Gateshead, cocaine addictions are treated just as seriously as any other substance, even if it is not physically addictive like some other substances.

Because of this, the detoxification process carries far fewer risks and allows the individual to focus more clearly on the future of their rehabilitation.

Common follow-up treatments include therapies to focus on the psychological and mental health effects that long-term cocaine usage can have.

Heroin Addiction And Rehabilitation In Gateshead

Heroin remains one of the most addictive substances available today, causing a great number of issues across the world but also specifically in the UK.

Originally given to soldiers during both World Wars, heroin derives from morphine and causes a strong euphoric high.

Whilst this is only a short-term effect, the long-term dangers are far more prevalent.

For example, with long-term use, heroin can cause serious physical issues such as the development of liver disease, heart complications, blood clots and seizures.

When it comes to detoxification, heroin is physically addictive, meaning that additional care and supervision must be made available.

In the case of long-term addictions to heroin through drug and alcohol rehab in Gateshead, individuals are likely to be transitioned from heroin to heroin-like substitutes such as methadone to counteract the harmful physical withdrawal symptoms.

From this, it is always recommended to follow up with further rehabilitation to focus on the mental health effects of heroin usage.

Cannabis Addiction And Rehabilitation In Gateshead

Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug across the UK.

Although perhaps not as commonly considered as an addictive substance when compared to cocaine or heroin, cannabis still poses a risk to the health of those who are addicted.

In general, cannabis affects the central nervous system (CNS), resulting in a range of effects from increased appetite to paranoia and differing in every individual case.

Through drug and alcohol rehab in Gateshead, there is no official procedure for a cannabis detox, but slowly cutting down on the amount consumed is an essential first step before beginning any further rehabilitative treatments.

In most cases, it is recommended that individuals focus on the mental health effects of long-term cannabis use due to the strong psychological impact this drug can have.

This includes a variety of therapies such as those outlined in the following paragraph.

Types Of Therapy On Offer In Gateshead

Not all types of therapy will be suitable for every individual, and therefore each person’s experience of rehab will be different.

However, there are some types of therapy that are more commonly recommended due to their success and effectiveness in treating addiction and its range of effects.

Below are some of the most common forms of therapy in Gateshead:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)
• Brief Interventions
• Group therapy
• Individual Therapy
• Family Therapy
• Holistic Therapies (e.g., equine therapy, music therapy, art therapy, adventure therapy)
• Co-Dependency Treatment
• Twelve-Step Facilitation Therapy (TSF)

Dual Diagnosis: What Is It And Why Is It Important?

In some cases when an individual is diagnosed with addiction (also known as a substance use disorder), they may also be diagnosed with an additional mental health disorder.

This is known as a dual diagnosis and occurs due to the interaction between addiction and mental health issues.

In many cases, addiction is understood to be the result of underlying mental health issues, such as:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Bipolar Disorder
• Schizophrenia

This list is not extensive, but mentions some of the most common co-occurring disorders found alongside addiction.

When it comes to rehabilitation, it is therefore important that alcohol rehab in Gateshead focuses on both of these disorders in order to properly address them.

This allows individuals to make the most effective recovery, as both of these areas are being treated accordingly.

How Rehabs Help With Relapse Risk Prevention

As an essential part of preparing the individual for life outside of rehabilitation, most rehabilitation service providers in alcohol rehab in Gateshead will help individuals to complete a relapse risk prevention plan.

Using a combination of the physical, mental and emotional factors associated with recovery, individuals will create a plan to help them cope in the case of a relapse after leaving rehab.

Though not every individual is guaranteed to relapse, every individual should prepare a plan such as this to ensure their safety and reduce the chance of a relapse in specific situations.

As part of the plan, individuals should consider their triggers and cravings, as well as including emergency contact information for a close friend or family member, addiction support officer, or addition support network member.

Aftercare And Further Support After Leaving Rehab

No individual will be left to cope with their addiction alone after leaving rehab.

In addition to the help received in creating a plan such as the one outlined in the previous paragraph, individuals are also likely to receive one or more of the following types of support and aftercare:

• Regular contact/meetings with an addiction supervisor or officer.
• Promise of return to a residential centre or reintroduction to addiction treatment programmes if needed.
• Help enrolling into an addiction support network such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous.

Getting Help Today

To learn more about anything read on this page today or on the remainder of Rehab 4 Alcoholism’s website, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0800 111 4108 to ask any questions relating to addiction or rehabilitation.

Addiction is a debilitating disease, but with our expertise and your intrinsic motivation, we can overcome it together.