Free drug addiction treatment
The five most commonly abused drugs leading to an addiction are Alcohol, Opioids, Stimulants, Benzodiazepines and Hallucinogens. For those that look for or ask for professional help for their addiction unfortunately there is limited availability. Every county in the UK has a drug and alcohol service but they are sadly underfunded. They have long waiting lists for an appointment and so getting into residential care via this route can be a long and complicated one. Getting treatment in hospital, even by calling an ambulance or going to A and E, will only usually, at the most, result in being admitted for a maximum of 24 hours to be hydrated and then discharged. Generally, hospital policy is for a person with an addiction to not block a bed. GPs will usually refer to the local drug and alcohol service or, more commonly, just prescribe anti-depressants.
Fast drug addiction treatment
Therefore, the only option for immediate help is to be admitted to a private residential drug rehab. A key advantage of this is that usually an admission can be arranged within 24 hours and, in some cases, on the same day. Obviously this will depend on the person’s physical and mental condition as it is important that the chosen drug rehab is able to care for them and is suitable for that individual. This is usually ascertained by an assessment of that individual either over the telephone or face to face.
Detox in drug rehab
It is virtually impossible to cut down or try and stop taking our drug of choice within the home environment. A drug rehab will usually offer a medically overseen and clinically safe detox which will reduce virtually all withdrawal symptoms. For example, an alcohol detox usually takes 7 – 10 days, a heroin, opiate or codeine detox takes 10 – 14 days and a benzodiazepine detox can take up to 6 weeks or longer. Generally the longest detoxes are for prescribed medication and the length of these depends on what is being taken, for how long and in what quantity. Often in the case of prescribed medication – diazepam, pregabalin and gabapentin detox, for example – the individual is topping up the prescribed medication by tablets bought off the internet or black market.
A drug detox in itself is not sufficient to maintain abstinence. It will deal with the physical need to use but not with the psychological obsession. That requires counselling and a new way of looking at life.
Drug addiction treatment
In drug rehab we start to establish a better structure in our day to day living. The daily programme allows us to follow a routine that guides us on the first steps to recovery. The recommended residential time in drug treatment is 28 days. This not only breaks the addictive cycle but allows us the time needed to establish a change in our addictive thinking and behaviour.
The vast majority of residential drug addictions units in the UK have their treatment based on the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. This has proven to be an extremely successful foundation for recovery. The 12 Steps have also been adopted by other support groups such as Cocaine Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. The 12 steps help many people find a life free from their daily drug addiction.
The daily treatment will usually consist of group and one to one therapy. Drug rehab provides a safe space to start to take an honest look at yourself, your addiction and how it has affected you and others close to you. You will look at your behaviour and mental wellbeing and what needs to change. You will be able to discuss your thoughts and feelings within a non-judgemental group environment, facilitated by therapists who are in Recovery from their own addiction .
There are lectures to help get an understanding of the 12 Steps plus written work and assignments to further that understanding. Another important facet of residential drug treatment is attending support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous with other people who are also in treatment. Many people will go to a 12 Step meeting before coming into treatment and, because they don’t understand what is going on, will immediately decide that particular route is not for them. However, having been to 12 Step meetings while in treatment, you will get to understand and appreciate how important they are for an ongoing Recovery plan.
What happens after drug addiction treatment
Whilst in treatment, you will prepare your individual Recovery plan based upon your needs, circumstances, hope and strengths – and taking into account your ‘blocks’ or weaknesses – what could go wrong. This will help you to daily navigate and strengthen your Recovery by reinforcing what you have learnt. It can be argued that if you maintain this personal recovery plan then it is impossible for you to relapse.