So, you have decided you need to find an alcohol rehab centre. How do you go about this and what sorts of facilities and treatment do they offer? What do they cost?
There are a number of addiction treatment centres located around the country and if you do a google search you should be able to find one near you. However, not everyone goes to the closest treatment centre. There may be reasons why this is not the best idea. Whether you choose to go to one relatively close by or not, the important thing is to ensure that, as far as you can tell, it is the right one for you.
Rehab
Treatment centres vary from those that tend to be more like spas and health clubs, where the focus might be on detox, relaxation, destressing and having a healthy lifestyle, to hard core rehabs. The latter provide treatment based on the fact that we need to change just about all aspects of our lives. From learning to take responsibility for personal care and our immediate environment (cleaning up after ourselves for example). To learning to prepare our own healthy meals. The focus is on taking responsibility and action. Based on the fact that we have not been mindful of good living standards while in active addiction.
It is generally ‘horses for courses’ though having tried the spa type centres and a more traditional based rehab, I know which type got me well. My second stint at a rehab was somewhere inbetween the two of these extreme types. Going to the spa was nice and got me detoxed but did not deal with the reasons why I drank. So inevitably some weeks after leaving I drank again and within a week was back to square one. And the spa type centres tend also to be the most expensive (think £5000 a week and you will not be far off).
Costs
There are a number of treatment centres which are not spas but nor do you have to scrub the floors on your hands and knees! Some have chefs, others may give you freedom to (learn to) prepare and cook your own meals. Some have cleaners, some may expect you to keep your own rooms clean and tidy while in treatment. Ones may be set up as a single location clinical environment (think old people’s residential home suitable for all ages with your own bedrooms and common areas for treatment and relaxation). Others may have off site living accommodation away from the clinical environment. Allowing clients to leave the workplace clinic environment and return ‘home’ for their evening meal and to rest. Costs for these treatment centres will not give you change from £1000 a week and may be up to £3000 a week or more.
Rehab – Recommended 28 Days
The vast majority of alcohol treatment centres will require you to be in residence – and ideally for a minimum of 28 days. This will give you time to detox and to work on the reasons for your alcohol addiction – and to give you the tools for ensuring that there is no need for you to relapse and drink again. The most successful tend to be based around the 12 Steps Recovery Model, originally introduced in Alcoholics Anonymous. They will promote total abstinence based recovery meaning no mood altering substances again, including certain prescription medications.
Aftercare
The advantages of going to a treatment centre close by are that you can take advantage of their aftercare (many offer this free if you have completed the full 28 day course) and you will get introduced to local AA meetings which you can continue to attend once you leave treatment. The disadvantages are that if the going gets tough (and it probably will!) if you are too close to home, the temptation may be to bale out and go home if that is a viable option.
The best place to start when looking for an alcohol treatment centre is to do a search online and to visit the selected centre(s) if you can. That way you will know straight away by the attitude of the staff and the ambience if this is the right sort of treatment centre to suit your needs.
Call the Haynes Clinic on 01462 851414 for free confidential advice.
