Drug and alcohol addiction is a serious problem all across the UK. An addiction to alcohol or drugs can wreck lives – not just for the addict themselves but also for partners, children, parents and other loved ones.
Addiction can also affect complete strangers and society as a whole, through issues such as crime, antisocial and dangerous behaviour and supporting a destructive criminal industry.
There are plenty of reasons to try to kick an addiction. Doing so can allow you to rebuild relationships and take back control. It can help you to hold down a job or get your career back on track.
It can improve your finances and your health – NHS Digital reports that in the year from 2018-19 there were more than 25,000 hospitalisations due to drug-related poisoning (overdose) and drug-related mental and behavioural disorders. There were also 2,917 lives tragically cut short by poisoning from drug misuse.
These figures don’t take into account the even more common serious and chronic health conditions related to drug abuse. Alcohol abuse also takes its own devastating toll on individuals and society as a whole.
Those are just a few pressing reasons to try to beat a drug or alcohol addiction. By contrast, there is only ever one real reason to keep taking drugs or alcohol: the compulsive behaviour resulting from addiction.
Some users might say they enjoy taking drugs or alcohol but by the time addiction has taken hold – which can be very quick – the negative consequences will far outweigh any sense of enjoyment. In most cases, the pleasure received dims as the addiction progresses, with the addict having to take more and more of the substance just to feel ‘normal’.
About drug and alcohol addiction
The US National Institute on Drug Abuse says: “Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences. The initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people, but repeated drug use can lead to brain changes that challenge an addicted person’s self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs.”
This is why it is so difficult for people to give up on their own without the help of addiction treatment or a complete drug and alcohol rehabilitation programme in place. Going ‘cold turkey’ alone can be both difficult and dangerous and beating an addiction is not easy, even with the help of family, friends and a strong support network.
The UK charity DrugWise says that there are some issues when it comes to sifting through the evidence to find which kind of treatment options work best.
But, it adds: “Despite these problems, there is evidence that treatment helps people with drug problems. Much of the research is from America. It has found that treatment helps people give up or moderate their drug use and can result in significant reductions in drug-related crime. It has also found that the quicker a person gets treatment the more likely it is they will stay in treatment and that it will be effective.”
What drug and alcohol treatment is available?
There are many different types of treatment programmes, from outpatient or community-based programmes to full residential alcohol and drug rehab clinics. According to Public Health England, the vast majority (97%) of people receiving structured treatment via NHS drug and alcohol services in 2018-19 did so in a community setting.
Treatment program options could include a wide range of therapies. Medical treatments may be available in some cases, such as substitution programmes that provide opioid addicts with a controlled replacement drug such as methadone.
Residential drug and alcohol treatment centres can usually offer a supervised detox clinic to help the addict to flush the substance out of their system, with further support to help them in the aftermath.
What is drug and alcohol rehab like?
Different drug rehab UK clinics have different facilities and treatment options available but there are some common elements.
Detox clinics, for example, will provide a safe and supervised environment for you to detoxify. This is the process of overseeing the drugs and alcohol leaving the system and it can be a difficult and potentially dangerous time. Withdrawal symptoms can be severe and can take a serious physical and psychological toll.
This is only a part of a holistic treatment programme, however, which might also involve therapies such as cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), talking therapy, group therapy and educational workshops on drugs, behaviour and health.
How long is drug and alcohol rehab?
There is no set length for a treatment program but full drug and alcohol rehab programmes will often last for 30, 60 or 90 days. Detox is an essential part of getting clean and sober, but it can be a relatively short part of the whole process. It’s essential that, once the drugs or alcohol have actually left the system, the addict is equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to make a long-term recovery. The days and weeks after detox can also be some of the most difficult to overcome and staying in rehab could help you to get over this huge ‘hump’.
How do I find drug and alcohol rehab near me?
If you’re looking for high-quality, affordable rehab in Chelmsford, Essex or beyond, we have a range of options to suit you. Cheap rehab options might be available and many of our centres offer payment plans that can help you to spread the costs.
We always remember that every person with a drug or alcohol problem is an individual with their own distinct problems and potential solutions. We can find a drug or alcohol rehab clinic that is the right fit for you, whether your primary concern is location, facilities, treatment options or cost.
If you or a loved one has a problem with drugs or alcohol, time could be of the essence. Don’t delay, contact us today to find out how we could help.
0800 470 0382
