If you find you have developed a reliance on drugs or alcohol, you do not have to face any difficulty alone. While each person has a different story behind their addiction, everybody should have access to drug and alcohol rehab in Essex and have clear and easy-to-access information about how to get help.
Throughout the Essex area, there are plenty of treatment options available, whether you require alcohol rehab or drug rehab. Whether it’s inpatient or outpatient services, there are rehab centres in Essex that will start you on your recovery journey.
It can seem like a daunting prospect to choose the right sort of treatment for you, but once you understand the various treatment options available to you, you will be in a much stronger position to make an informed decision. Every addiction service will fall into either inpatient or outpatient care. Inpatient treatment in Essex means that you will spend your time in the treatment centre for the entirety of your rehab, while outpatient treatment in Essex means that you will visit the treatment clinic on a daily basis.
If you were to opt for outpatient treatment, you would be required to attend planned sessions at your chosen treatment centre or clinic, but after you have finished each session, you would return home rather than staying overnight. This option does allow people to fit their addiction treatment around other commitments, such as childcare, but it doesn’t provide you with round-the-clock medical care. Often, when treating drug and alcohol addiction, a detox will be deemed an appropriate treatment, and this can put you in a vulnerable situation if you have no accommodation to help you stay away from addictive substances. It should be noted that outpatient services are not available through UKAT.
Inpatient treatment, sometimes called residential rehab, is usually the preferred choice when people are looking for a treatment programme. Unlike outpatient treatment, this form of treatment enables you to stay in-centre, in a safe environment and away from bad habits and temptations, as well as spend time with other people who are following a similar journey. You will be provided with a room and board, and often you will find that the staff have all been through similar experiences – it creates a very positive and inclusive environment.
You will often have much more choice when you opt for residential rehab. There are many rehab centres in Essex, so you will be able to find the addiction treatment centre that is most suited to you and your situation. There are both private and NHS options for inpatient treatment. You may find that you have to sit on a long waiting list if you go down the NHS route. However, with private rehab, you could be admitted the following day after calling them.
The biggest advantage that inpatient treatment has over outpatient treatment is that it represents a clean break away from the difficult situations that you have been dealing with. These harmful habits are difficult to get rid of, but by opting for inpatient treatment, all you need to worry about is your recovery – everything else is taken care of for you.
Spending time with people who are going through similar experiences to you has been proven to aid recovery, so the other patients and the staff will help you to reflect and identify areas of your life that may have brought you there.
When looking at the various options available for addiction treatment, it is a good idea to look into the quality of the service that you will be getting. This is where the Care Quality Commission (CQC) can help. As an independent governing body, they regularly assess the quality of caregiving services, focusing on safety, effectiveness, caring, responsiveness and leadership. When looking at your potential treatment clinics, it is a good idea to pay close attention to the CQC ratings. It is worth noting again that if you go through the NHS, you will be given the first available space, rather than picking your preferred centre.
Another benefit of inpatient treatment is the more diverse recovery methods available, which are not accessible through outpatient care. Each treatment centre will have its own programme, and it is a good idea to have a look at a range of options to see which one is right for you. The best advice is to talk with an advisor who will be able to answer your questions and help you establish your best treatment options.
You will probably already be aware, but addiction’s grasp reaches far further than just to the individual. Many people find that involving their loved ones in their treatment helps on a number of levels – to help repair relationships, to help loved ones understand your difficulties and to create a stronger support base for the next stage of your recovery journey.
With this in mind, an option you may want to consider is conjoints, in which meetings are held between a person in rehab and their loved ones. These meetings are great for people to share their feelings and progress, which can aid healing and long-term recovery.
A detox is when you abstain from or rid the body of a toxic or unhealthy substance so that your body can function without it. This process can be a shock to the body and may lead to uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms – but it is a critical stage in the body’s recovery from addiction.
The best way to manage the risks involved with detox, whether it is an alcohol detox or drug detox, is to consult a medical professional before you begin. Once you have been admitted to a treatment programme (either inpatient or outpatient), you will be offered a full assessment in order to determine the best treatment that can be made available to you. If you are deemed to be at severe risk of withdrawal symptoms, medical detox will be offered to you. This will involve the prescription of detox medication, as well as monitoring from medical professionals.
There are many different options when it comes to choosing a drug or alcohol rehab programme, and it is important to look into various options before you make your final decision – every treatment centre will have its preferred recovery approach. The main options tend to be a 12-step programme, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or a non-12-step programme. Whichever treatment you decide on, it will most likely combine one-to-one therapy and group therapy.
In terms of how long a rehab programme will last, the general rule is that the longer a person stays in residential rehab, the more likely they are to remain sober in the long term. Everybody will respond to the treatment at different rates, but generally, a minimum of four weeks is recommended.
It is possible to receive free addiction treatment services through the NHS; however, unfortunately, it is usually just outpatient care, and it is likely that you will have to wait a long time to be admitted, and you will not get any choice in where you receive your treatment. Obviously, not everyone will be able to afford private care or have private insurance, but there are still options available. The charity Turning Point has a limited number of beds available for people who fit their criteria.
Many clinics accept self-referral, but you will need to speak to your GP to start that process. It is also possible that the NHS will refer you to counselling or a detox programme if your case is deemed to be severe enough.
If you are able to travel, there are locally funded support meetings available in Essex, which may offer some respite while you wait for free addiction treatment to become available.
We are, of course, aware that not everyone can afford private addiction treatment. However, cuts to government funding have put many of the free services that are still available under considerable pressure. They have had to change the way they work, with reduced meetings, restricted times and fewer locations.
As the majority of free services are outpatient, you will not be afforded the break from your lifestyle, and it is very unlikely that you will experience any one-to-one therapy. It is so important that you explore every conceivable option when you are choosing which treatment to go for in order to give yourself the best possible chance of long-term recovery.
Once you have finished your rehab programme, it is imperative that you seek ongoing support and care as you return to your life. It is important that you plan for your life after rehab while understanding that your recovery journey is one that is ongoing.
The good news is that there are plenty of aftercare programmes available to you. Many residential addiction treatment programmes will be able to support you with aftercare, which may involve group therapy or peer support. There are also plenty of support groups available in the community that can help you once you have completed your treatment.
It is highly recommended that following your treatment, you seek out a support group. You will find that you will meet a whole community of people who have been through similar experiences and who can help you with your recovery. Groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA) and SMART Recovery all offer local support groups.
It is both exhilarating and daunting to complete your addiction treatment. Everyone will respond to treatment and return to their life, in their own way and with mixed success. Many people find that they require further treatment. Some will only require one – but everybody needs support. There are plenty of people that can help you – you don’t have to face any step alone.
Calls and contact requests are answered by admissions at
UK Addiction Treatment Group.
We look forward to helping you take your first step.
0808 163 9632