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If you’re struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, you might be considering rehab programmes and how they could help. Although this can feel tough, it’s always a brave and positive step forward.
Addiction is incredibly difficult to beat alone or without expert help and treatment. There are a number of different treatment programmes and approaches available, though, and this can be overwhelming, especially when you are already struggling to deal with your drug or alcohol problems.
So why do rehab programmes differ so much, and how can you decide which is the best one for you? In this article, we provide a detailed overview of this topic to answer this question.
What Are Rehab Programmes?
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines rehabilitation as “a set of interventions designed to optimize functioning and reduce disability in individuals with health conditions in interaction with their environment”. This could involve adapting or recovering after an accident or serious illness. A broader definition of rehabilitation can even involve re-establishing your life and functioning after time in prison.
In terms of alcohol and drug rehabilitation – commonly shortened to drug and alcohol rehab – the term refers to a programme of treatments aimed at helping you overcome your addiction and make a full and long-lasting recovery. There will generally be a number of elements involved in this process. Detoxification or detox will help you to actually sober up and deal with the cravings and withdrawal symptoms that generally come along with detoxing.
This is an important step but far from the end of the journey. You will also have to deal with the root causes of your substance misuse and learn how to deal with cravings and pressures in order to maintain your recovery.
This may involve a range of therapies and other treatments. There might also be workshops in areas like well-being and nutrition, as well as relapse prevention sessions. Aftercare programmes might also be provided to help recovering addicts in the crucial weeks and months following the main part of the rehab programme.
Understanding Different Rehab Treatment Programmes
Not alcohol and drug rehab programmes will cover all the same elements, and some will take different approaches. There are a number of reasons for this, one of which might be the cost and resources available.
Rehab programmes provided by local drug and alcohol services via the NHS, for example, are usually offered on an outpatient basis. This could mean that the detox stage may have minimal supervision, and the person in rehab would have to attend treatment sessions at a clinic or similar location.
Any therapies offered may be less intensive, and there are other disadvantages. With community-based rehab, for example, you will still be around the same people, places, temptations and triggers associated with your drinking or drug use.
With residential or inpatient rehab, you stay onsite for the duration of the treatment. This puts you in a situation where you can really focus on your recovery, away from those temptations and triggers. The environment will be pleasant and tranquil but focused and organised, allowing for participation in numerous treatment sessions in a limited amount of time.
There are still lots of variations in different residential rehabs, however. The duration of rehab programmes can vary; many will last for 28 days, but they can be considerably longer or shorter. Some might follow the 12-step programme, for example, while others might have a therapeutic programme based on the cornerstone of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Most will offer a mix of treatments depending on individual requirements, and programmes can vary between different people being treated within the same rehab centres. This is because addiction can be very complex and difficult to treat. The most effective way to treat addiction and substance misuse is to tailor any programme to the individual.
Individual Needs and Tailored Treatment
Some people might respond differently to certain treatment methods than others. Family therapy, for instance, can be useful for some people depending on their circumstances but could be less useful and even counter-productive for others.
The person’s medical history and substance misuse history can also have a bearing on the most effective treatments offered. Any stay in rehab will be preceded by an admissions process that will help addiction recovery specialists assess your suitability for treatment and tailor a personalised treatment programme to your own individual needs. Your physical health and the type, duration and heaviness of substance use could all have a bearing on how much medical assistance you may need during detox, for example.
Another important aspect might be any mental health issues that you might have alongside addiction. There is often a complex relationship at play between mental health, substance misuse and addiction, with each influencing the other to different degrees. If one part is treated without addressing the other, it could lead to relapse in the future. The simultaneous treatment of addiction and mental health conditions is generally known as dual diagnosis.
The Impact of Different Substances on Treatment
There are some elements of addiction treatment that are common to different substances, but the details of treatments can vary. The experience of detox can vary greatly depending on the substance involved, with substances like alcohol and heroin associated with severe physical withdrawal symptoms, while those associated with cocaine and cannabis may be more purely psychological.
The Role of Support Systems in Rehab
Alongside elements like supervised detox and therapies, the support systems available in rehab can be very important. This can involve all the professionals involved in your treatment but also fellow residents, especially if the programme involves group therapy. Support can extend beyond the stay at residential rehab with a tailored aftercare programme.
Find the Right Rehab Programme For You Today
It can be difficult to know how to find the right rehab programme when there are so many variations on offer. It always pays to speak to experts, and at Rehab Clinics Group, we have a range of rehab centres and treatment programmes offering personalised treatment plans. Reach out today to talk to our admissions team, who will guide you through the best treatment options for you.
