Drug & Alcohol Rehabs in England

In England, addiction is a significant problem that has only worsened in recent years.

There are around 3 million drug users in England, and around 3,000 drug-related deaths are recorded each year.

The most common drug that is consumed in England is cannabis, with 18.7% of people between the ages of 16-24 using this substance.

However, if we are including alcohol, the statistics are even worse with 54% of adults in England, most of which were male, claiming they had had an alcoholic drink in the last week according to a 2019 study.

Addiction & Physical Health

It is no secret that consuming drugs and alcohol is detrimental to your physical health.

When you become dependent on these substances, or even addicted to them, you will notice changes in your body.

For many people, their skin becomes flushed, they get unwell much more easily, their speech is slurred, they sweat excessively and their hygiene is poor.

Some of these physical changes occur temporarily, just after the substance has been consumed, whereas others are more long-lasting and can impact the victim for the rest of their lives.

Unfortunately, even if a substance user decides to get sober spontaneously, they cannot be free of these symptoms immediately as withdrawal symptoms are likely to occur.

Some physical withdrawal symptoms are the same as the general symptoms of addiction, but they tend to be more severe and can include hallucinations and seizures.

There are certain conditions that can occur at the time of withdrawal that put the patient’s life at risk.

One of these is known as Wernicke’s Encephalopathy (WE), which is a neurological disorder linked to a deficiency in thiamine.

When patients suffer from this condition, they often present as disorientated and off-balance as well as having problems with eye movement.

Another potential condition that could occur is Delirium Tremens (DTs), which is a severe form of withdrawal that lasts up to a week and usually affects people who have attempted to withdraw in the past.

Most patients with DTs will go to hospital to be treated with benzodiazepines and other medications that will control their symptoms including nausea, fatigue, chest pain and hallucinations.

People with WE and DTs are at risk of dying, and anyone who tries to detox alone is putting their life at risk.

This is why we ask that you to arrange an official detox so that there is support in place in the event that you develop dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

Addiction & Mental Health

Psychological Causes Of Addiction

One significant reason that addiction and mental health can go hand-in-hand is that addiction is often caused by psychological factors.

For example, some people are genetically vulnerable to experiencing addiction as it runs in their families.

Even when addiction is caused by environmental factors, genetics have usually played a part.

Addiction can also be brought on by trauma experienced in childhood or adulthood, which is another link between mental health and addiction.

Some examples of possible trauma include:

• Neglect
• Abuse
• Emotional manipulation
• Divorce
• Grief

Some people develop addiction without having experienced trauma, yet the addiction itself can be a source of trauma as it changes one’s brain and triggers dependency, which makes it incredibly hard to get sober.

Overall, mental illness increases the likelihood of addiction, and addiction increases the likelihood of mental illness.

This is why we see so many dual diagnosis patients at rehab (patients with a mental health condition as well as an addiction).

Psychological Symptoms Of Addiction

Just as addiction causes physical symptoms, it also results in changes to the victim’s psychology.

Often, this looks like being more irritable, paranoid, aggressive, and defensive.

It can also involve experiencing a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety.

Again, the psychological withdrawal symptoms of addiction overlap with the general symptoms.

However, when someone withdraws from drugs or alcohol spontaneously, these symptoms tend to be more extreme and they can include changes in personality.

Are There Any Tests I Can Do to See If I Qualify For Rehab?

It is a misconception that your dependency problem has to reach a certain level of severity before you can be accepted onto a rehabilitation programme.

We are here to reassure you that you are welcome at rehab no matter how serious your problem is.

Though many people at rehab have been battling severe addictions for many years, there are also plenty of inpatients with mild drug and alcohol dependence issues that have developed in recent times.

If anything, we encourage you to consider drug & alcohol rehab in England if you are in the early stages of dependence, as it will target the problem before it gets worse as opposed to sweeping it under the rug.

However, though you do not need to use online tests to be admitted into rehab, they can still be useful so you get an idea of where you are on the hypothetical scale of addiction, which starts at zero dependence and ends at serious addiction.

The DSM Criteria

Observing the DSM criteria is a great way to see how mental health professionals determine dependence.

Some examples of dependence proposed by the DSM are:

• Becoming tolerant to the substance over time,
• Using substances even when it harms your relationships.
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
• Taking larger amounts of the substance.

Having several of these symptoms indicates you have a mild substance abuse disorder, 4-5 means a moderate issue, and more than 6 could mean you are dealing with an addiction.

The ASAM Criteria

When you look at the ASAM criteria, you will see that there are six dimensions listed, and these dimensions are used to decide how much addiction is affecting the patient’s life.

For example, dimension 4 is readiness to change, so a patient who is determined to get sober may be deemed less at-risk in this dimension than someone who is in denial about their substance use.

The AUDIT

This test is widely available online, and it helps alcohol users to decide whether they are reliant on the substance.

You will answer questions about your alcohol intake, the impact of your consumption on your inner circle, and your feelings about alcohol.

At the end, you will give yourself a score from 0-20, with 0 representing no risk and 20 pointing to dependence.

How Does Addiction Affect Your Life?

We have talked about how drug and alcohol addiction can affect your physical and mental health.

However, it’s also important to recognise that this has a knock-on effect on your behaviours and decisions.

Addiction can affect your life by:

• Causing you to distance yourself from friends and family, which sometimes leads to the breakdown of relationships.
• Affecting any pre-existing mental health conditions you had, which can result in a sense of despair and potentially even suicidal thoughts.
• Requiring you to do anything you can to access the substance, which often means spending an excessive amount of money, manipulating your loved ones or turning to crime.
• Causing you to prioritise substances over your career, meaning you could lose your job.
• Making you an unfit parent, which puts you at risk of losing your children.

Some people hide addiction very well, so you will not always be able to tell that someone is struggling with their drug or alcohol intake.

This is particularly true in England, where it is perceived as normal to drink alcohol on a regular basis, and many people even view binge drinking as harmless.

When people manage to keep up with their responsibilities despite struggling with addiction, we refer to them as functioning alcoholics or functioning drug users.

They may appear to have great relationships, excellent career prospects and a huge amount of confidence, but they are secretly struggling to cope with their addiction.

This is why it’s important to avoid stereotyping people with addiction by assuming that everyone who consumes substances will look a certain way and behave a certain way.

Sometimes, you have to look closely to notice that someone is struggling with dependence or addiction.

How Can People In England Beat Addiction?

Self-Help Meetings

Nowadays, there are a huge number of self-help meetings in England, provided by different organisations.

Some of the most common are Smart Recovery, Narcotics Anonymous, AI-Anon Family Meetings and Alcoholics Anonymous.

If you feel comfortable attending these meetings alone you could go to closed meetings, where only substance users will meet to discuss their experiences and learn from one another.

However, if you need to bring a loved one with you, there are open meetings which allow people to learn more about their loved one’s substance abuse issues and to support them in their decision to recover.

You are not obliged to speak at your first time at any of these meetings.

If you prefer, you can stay quiet and listen to other people’s stories as you adapt to the environment around you.

There will most likely be a wide range of people at these meetings, including people who have been battling addiction for many years, so there is plenty to learn.

Having said that, do not discount your value at these self-help discussions, as you could inspire anyone in that room by opening up about your struggles with drugs and/or alcohol.

It is important for people to know that they are not alone in their addiction, and that people all over England are experiencing issues regulating their intake of substances.

Home Detoxing

We have stated that detoxing alone is a very dangerous decision.

However, using a home detox service is a much safer way to withdraw from drugs and alcohol.

When you opt for a home detox, you will be put in touch with a team of medical professionals who will keep an eye on you throughout the detox to ensure your withdrawal symptoms are controlled, which involves prescribing medication when necessary.

Home detoxes are great for people who are physically addicted to a drug but do not yet experience any psychological symptoms of addiction.

Outpatient Treatment

If you need more support than a home detox provides, we recommend outpatient treatment.

This is where you can access detox and therapy services via a drug & alcohol rehab in England without committing to a month-long stay.

Many people select a drug or alcohol rehab clinic that is nearby so that they can easily travel there each day for treatment.

This is advisable as it will put less stress on you during the recovery process.

Residential Rehab

Inpatient treatment at a residential rehab is one of the most common treatments for people with a drug or alcohol addiction as it is immersive, which means it’s easier for patients to stay abstinent.

It is a great option for people who do not trust themselves to stay sober in their home environment, whether this is because their addiction is too severe or because their family are not supportive.

The downside of residential rehab is that it is very emotionally and physically taxing, given that you have to follow a structured treatment plan for 28 days.

For this reason, it is not suitable for the following people:

• Those who drink more than 30 units of alcohol a day.
• People who are violent when under the influence.
• People who have had Delirium Tremens or Wernicke’s Encephalopathy.
• People who have tried and failed to get sober multiple time.
• People with severe mental health issues.

Another reason you may choose to avoid private rehab is that it is too expensive.

It is possible to access more affordable treatment, either by selecting a budget-friendly treatment centre or by trying to secure council-funded treatment.

What Are The Luxury Treatment Options?

We have contacts with some of the most luxurious rehab facilities in England, so if you would like to stay in a luxury treatment centre while you recover from addiction, we can make this happen for you.

It could cost up to £74,000, but for this cost you will have access to a wealth of facilities that will boost your physical and mental health, as well as a stunning private room that you can wind down in at the end of each day.

What Are The Budget-Friendly Treatment Options?

It is widely accepted that home detoxing is the most budget-friendly type of treatment, followed by outpatient treatment and then finally residential drug & alcohol rehab in England.

If you are set on going to rehab but you need it to be affordable, we will do all we can to find a programme that doesn’t break the bank.

You can pay for this outright or through a medical insurance policy.

How Do I Know Which Treatment Option Is Best For Me?

There are a multitude of things to consider before you decide on the specific support you would like to get for your addiction.

We ask you to think about how severe your addiction is, how long it has been around for, and the requirements for the specific substance you are addicted to.

For example, if you have a mild cannabis or cocaine dependence that has developed in the past couple of months, you are a potential candidate for outpatient treatment.

A detox will not be necessary as these substances are not physically addictive, and rehab is not strictly necessary given that you are in the early stages of dependence.

However, you could instead be dealing with a severe alcohol or heroin addiction.

In these cases, we would always recommend private rehab as it offers both detoxing and therapies, and it has the best success rates for people with severe substance abuse disorders and addictions.

If you are in doubt, contact us and one of our advisors will give their opinion on which treatment option you should go with.

They are experienced in advising people of all backgrounds, so you will be in good hands.

Frequently Asked Questions About Intervention

Is intervention the best way to get my loved one to accept help?

There are certainly steps you can take before you decide on an intervention.

Try to talk to your loved one about why you are concerned about them and explain that there are many forms of support out there.

However, intervention is necessary when your loved one is in significant danger as a result of their addiction, and they are not currently willing to do anything about it.

Do I Have To Be A Family Member To Stage An Intervention For Someone?

It is very common for family members to take control of the intervention process as they tend to be the main witnesses to the damage that the addiction is doing to the victim and their inner circle.

However, you do not have to be related to someone to arrange an intervention for them.

It has been known for employers and doctors to do this when they are concerned about their employees or patients.

What Does Intervention Involve?

Each intervention will be different, as it depends which model you follow, i.e. The CRAFT Model, The Johnson Model, The Invitational Model, or another method.

Most interventions require the intervention team to plan a treatment option in case the victim does agree to get help.

They may also write letters to the victim to encourage them to seek help, and read these letters out on the day.

Do I Always Have To Present My Loved One With An Ultimatum?

No – the idea of an ultimatum is present in some models of intervention, including The Johnson Model of Intervention.

It serves to highlight the severity of addiction to the victim and urge them to reconsider their choices.

However, some people find this concept to be too harsh, so they prefer to continue to support their loved ones regardless of whether they get sober or not.

This is also a valid method as it prevents the victim from feeling ashamed and belittled.

There is no correct way to stage an intervention, but as long as you reach out to a qualified interventionist you will be able to select the method that feels the most appropriate for you and your family.

How Can I Support My Loved One If They Still Refuse To Get Help After The Intervention?

If you do not opt for a method involving ultimatum, you will want to show your loved one that you support them and that you are willing to help them as soon as they reach out to you.

To do this, offer practical help to your loved one, such as cooking meals for them and helping them with household chores.

Try to get recovery into conversation every so often, including the mention of detoxing and therapies that would benefit the victim.

What Is The View Of Addiction In England?

If we look at the general view of addiction in society, it is clear that it is often viewed as distasteful, with many people believing addiction is a choice, or at least something that can be easily resisted.

Others may admit that addiction is a disease, but they feel superior to substance abusers as they believe they could never be a victim of addiction.

They may feel sorry for substance users, but it comes from a place of condescension.

This attitude is changing thanks to the work of addiction specialists who promote the disease model of addiction and help us to understand that anyone could become reliant on drugs or alcohol, regardless of their background.

There are also more celebrities coming out about their experiences with addiction, which helps us to see that no amount of money or power can prevent you from falling into addiction.

What Is The View Of Rehab In England?

As most people do not have personal experience with rehab, they are inclined to believe the unhelpful stereotypes that are perpetuated by the media.

One common stereotype is that rehab is always extremely expensive, but this depends on the facility you attend and the type of stay you opt for.

For example, staying in a private room at a luxury facility is bound to be more expensive than having a shared room at a local centre.

Another stereotype of rehab is that it interrupts your life completely and takes up a huge amount of time.

The reality is that it takes an average of 28 days, and then you are expected to make the most of the aftercare programme.

However, you can follow the aftercare programme (which includes a relapse prevention plan) while continuing with your everyday life, such as going to work and taking care of your family.

Some people even decide to attend rehab for a shorter amount of time than 28 days, which is feasible if you either opt for just a detox or just therapy.

This will be cheaper overall, but it may disadvantage you if you need treatment for both physical and psychological issues relating to addiction.

Do I Have To Undergo Therapy?

If you are struggling with addiction, it is always a good idea to try out therapy.

At first, it may seem overwhelming to open up to a stranger and admit to your faults, and this is a normal reaction to have if therapy is new for you.

However, it is essential that you spend time considering why you have developed an addiction and how you can help yourself heal if you want to be able to maintain your sobriety.

Therapists are used to their clients being hesitant to open up, so they will know exactly how to behave if you go in feeling unsure about the situation.

They are not there to judge you and punish you for your mistakes, but to encourage you to learn more about your addiction and your mental health.

What Types Of Therapy Are Available In England?

Many different therapies are used to treat addiction in England, from evidence-based therapies to holistic therapies.

Here are some examples:

Evidence-based therapies

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

This style of therapy comes from the well-known technique of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), but with a greater focus on the symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).

However, the emphasis on assertiveness, stress regulation and mindfulness is beneficial for people who are trying to recover from addiction.

When you meet with a DBT therapist, you will learn how to apply healthy coping mechanisms when you are stressed, how to focus on your current mental and physical state rather than worrying about the past or future, and how to build healthier relationships.

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)

EMDR therapy works very well for trauma patients, and as most people with addiction are traumatised, it has often been used to treat addiction.

Therapists encourage their clients to find where the trauma is in their bodies and pay special attention to it, allowing them to reprocess anything that they have been unknowingly repressing.

Lateral eye movements and/or tapping are used as methods of reprocessing as this recreates the eye movements that occur in the REM sleep stage, which is when we are supposed to naturally process events.

Some people benefit from EMDR therapy as you are not necessarily required to go into detail about your trauma, and this is helpful if you would rather keep the information to yourself.

However, sometimes it is necessary to disclose your trauma in order for you to heal from it, so even if you don’t do this in EMDR therapy, you may do this in a different therapy session at rehab.

Holistic Therapies

Reflexology

Reflexologists will focus on areas of your extremities that allegedly correspond to your internal organs.

They will find these areas and put pressure on them, intending to boost your physical health.

This stimulation is not only physically effective, but it is also believed to reduce stress levels, which is great for people with addiction as they tend to carry a huge amount of stress owing to the challenges that come with resisting temptation.

Acupuncture

When you have acupuncture therapy, thin needles are inserted into your body with the aim of relaxing you and deactivating the logical side of your brain.

Acupuncture is supposed to help with anxiety and depression as these conditions are exacerbated by stress, and can be the cause of stress, so inducing relaxation can keep them at bay.

Contacting Rehab 4 Alcoholism

It isn’t easy to confess that you need help, but we hope that you now know your addiction is not your fault, so when you reach out to us we will not be criticising you.

Instead, we will be delighted that you trust us to help you with your journey, and we will get started with finding a treatment programme for you as soon as possible.

Simply call 0800 111 4108 to begin your recovery journey today.

If you do not yet feel comfortable conversing over the phone, please send us a message on our website and we will respond promptly.

In the meantime, to get an idea of the kinds of towns and cities you could recover in, have a look at our map and you will see the areas that Rehab 4 Alcoholism has connections in.

From Scotland to Dover, there are a wide variety of rehab facilities that are ready to welcome you with open arms.