Drug and alcohol rehab in Gloucestershire

It is an unfortunate reality that alcohol and drug addiction are on the rise in the UK, and the consequences are being felt by so many families. Each addiction has its own triggers and underlying causes, but the best way to overcome them is always with a comprehensive treatment programme. Whether you are in need of alcohol rehab or drug rehab, there are excellent rehab centres in Gloucestershire that can provide the treatment you need to begin your journey to recovery.

To help you choose between the different options, here is our guide to drug and alcohol rehab in Gloucestershire.

Types of addiction treatment and rehab programme in Gloucestershire

The first decision you will be faced with is whether to undergo outpatient treatment in Gloucestershire or inpatient treatment in Gloucestershire. Both approaches are available through your local addiction treatment centres, and in order to make the right choice for you, it is important that you fully understand what each involves.

Outpatient addiction treatment (day rehab)

There are a lot of people who choose outpatient treatment at a day rehab centre because it seems the most convenient option. For example, if you choose this approach, you will only need to attend your addiction treatment centre for scheduled appointments, and the rest of the time, you can go about your normal routine. The major downside of this approach, however, is that outside your appointments, you will be left alone to cope with your drug and alcohol cravings. It is important to give yourself the time and space you need to focus on your recovery, otherwise there can be a high chance of a relapse.

Inpatient addiction treatment (residential rehab)

The best way to get that time and space is usually through inpatient treatment at a residential rehab centre. This will provide you with a completely immersive experience where the only thing you need to think about is overcoming your addiction. There are various residential rehab centres in Gloucestershire offering the highest standards of care and accommodation. You will be able to spend time getting to know the rehab centre staff and the other clients, which is the ideal way to build a network of people to help support you during difficult moments. Unlike day rehab, which is usually free through the NHS, you will need to pay for your inpatient treatment programme, but if you have private medical insurance, your plan may cover part or even all of the costs. If you are unsure what your plan covers, speak to your provider.

Why inpatient rehab?

As well as providing the immersive experience which is so important for addiction recovery, inpatient treatment has numerous other advantages over outpatient treatment when it comes to choosing the best rehab clinic and treatment approach.

CQC ratings

One major benefit of inpatient treatment is that you can choose between the different rehab centres available. Due to limited places, this is not possible with NHS treatment, where you will be assigned a place at whichever day rehab has available appointment times. However, this does present you with the problem of how to decide which is the right rehab centre for you. To help make this choice easier, the independent Care Quality Commission (CQC) gives all health and social care organisations special ratings based on their treatment options, staff numbers and standards of care. By comparing the CQC ratings, you can narrow down the choices available and find the perfect rehab centre to complete your treatment.

Mixture of therapies

Drug and alcohol addiction is complex, and so effective addiction treatment requires a holistic approach. As well as a fully immersive environment, residential rehab also offers a far more diverse range of therapies and treatments than are possible through day rehab. This will include both one-to-one and group therapy sessions, in addition to other special sessions to help you with every aspect of your addiction. Many people’s addictions are triggered by stress, and so inpatient treatment programmes often include teaching clients new stress management tactics in order to reduce the impact of cravings. These may be simple breathing techniques, mindfulness exercises, or even yoga. This all-encompassing approach means that every aspect of your addiction and its underlying causes will be addressed, giving you a far better chance of achieving long-term recovery.

Family support programmes

One of the most tragic things about drug and alcohol addiction is that it doesn’t just affect the individual but can also cause huge pain and suffering for families. It is therefore incredibly important that loved ones are also provided with support while you are undergoing your treatment. Comprehensive family support programmes will help your family understand what you are going through, and will also provide them with advice on how they can make your recovery process easier. The support that families can give can be critical in helping you to stay drug- and alcohol-free, so it is so important to involve them every step of the way.

Conjoints

In addition to supporting families through the rehab process, it is also very important to help loved ones rebuild bonds that may have been damaged by addiction. At UKAT we provide our clients and their families with conjoint sessions, which are an opportunity for everyone to talk about their feelings and repair relationships. These sessions are guided by an addiction treatment professional, and many of our clients have attested to how useful they found them.

Conjoints provide a safe space for both you and your loved ones to discuss how addiction has impacted your lives, the toll it may have taken on your family and how you hope the future can be a better time for you all.

What should I expect from a detox in Gloucestershire?

Detox is a vital first step in the addiction recovery process, because it removes all substances from your body so that you can begin your addiction therapy drug- and alcohol-free. However, detox can be potentially very dangerous so you should always consult a medical professional before you begin detox.

Medical detox

The safest way to detox from drugs or alcohol is as part of a comprehensive treatment programme at a professional rehab centre. When you enter rehab to start your inpatient treatment, you will immediately undergo a full medical assessment so that the doctors and addiction treatment professionals can judge your detox risk levels. If they are concerned that you may experience severe withdrawal symptoms, then you will undergo medical drug or alcohol detox. This is done with round-the-clock medical observation and with the aid of detox drugs. These extra measures will ensure that you remain safe and comfortable until your alcohol or drug detox is complete. Due to the required medical observation, medical detox can only be provided as an inpatient procedure, so NHS addiction treatment patients usually have to wait a long time for an NHS inpatient bed to become available if they require medical detox.

Drug and alcohol rehab programme

A holistic recovery approach is always the most effective way to treat addiction. At all UKAT clinics, including Banbury Lodge, our clients follow a 12-step programme which features one-to-one therapy, group therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). This programme has been designed to address every aspect of addiction in order to give you the best chance of long-term recovery. Other addiction treatment services provide a non-12-step programme instead but this does not take a holistic approach to recovery. We recommend you commit at least four weeks to your stay in rehab in order to recover from your detox and complete the first few steps of the programme.

Is rehab free?

While there are free addiction treatment services available through the NHS, the available spaces are unfortunately few and far between. You will be able to be admitted via self-referral if a space becomes available, but you will have to apply through your GP. They may instead prescribe you drug counselling or a detox programme, and this will lack the holistic approach that is usually needed for effective recovery from addiction.

If you want to go to residential rehab but are worried about the costs, speak to the charity Turning Point, who may be able to help fund your treatment.

Free addiction treatment services in Gloucestershire

As well as rehab, you can also try reaching out to your local AA meeting in Gloucestershire where you will be able to meet other people who are going through the same recovery process as you.

The downside to free services

Unfortunately, many of the problems with NHS services come from a critical lack of government funding. The staff who work in these services are incredibly dedicated and hard-working but their hands have been badly tied. All services are now outpatient services, and even these are so oversubscribed that people who need immediate help are often left waiting for months for a place in rehab to open up. One of the main advantages of day rehab is that it is supposed to be more convenient, but due to the lack of available appointments, even those lucky enough to get a place often find they are unable to book a treatment time that works for them.

The benefits of residential rehab in Gloucestershire

Immediate admission to rehab
Full medical assessment to identify potential detox risks
Medical detox with round-the-clock supervision and detox medicine
A mixture of therapies to provide a holistic recovery approach
A 12-step addiction treatment programme
High standards of room and board for all clients
Family support programmes to help guide loved ones through the rehab process
Expert-led conjoint sessions for all clients and their families
Care Quality Commission ratings to help you choose between treatment centres
Comprehensive aftercare programmes to help all clients stay drug- and alcohol-free

What happens after a rehab programme?

Completing a rehab programme is a huge achievement, so the first thing you will need to do is celebrate. Once it has all sunk in, you can then start looking forward to the next steps on your recovery journey, with the help of our dedicated UKAT aftercare team.

Aftercare programmes

Aftercare is just as important as all the other stages of rehab, and our programme is designed to help you achieve long-term recovery. You will participate in further group therapy as part of your aftercare, and will also be introduced to our online Alumni network so you can meet others who are going through the same process.

Support groups

In addition to our aftercare team, there are other support groups who can help you stay alcohol- and drug-free after leaving rehab. Try contacting some of these organisations and you will be able to make some useful contacts: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA) and SMART Recovery.

How do I tell my family I’m going to rehab?

For many people, telling their loved ones that they are planning to go to rehab can be the most daunting part of the whole addiction treatment process. Some people are worried about their family judging them, while others may have been hiding the extent of their addiction from their loved ones. If you are worried about telling your family, try to look at it as just another step on your road to recovery. Sit down with your loved ones and explain to them your reasons for seeking help and the types of treatment you will undergo during your time in rehab.

How do I get a loved one into rehab?

As well as talking to your family about your own addiction, it can be just as difficult speaking to a loved one about theirs. If you have a friend or family member who you are worried about, it’s important to address the situation in the right way. You cannot make someone go to rehab who isn’t ready, and even if you could, the treatment would not be effective. Speak to your loved one about your concerns and try to help them see that they need help. The conversation may be the wake-up call they need to make a change in their life.

Long-term recovery from addiction

Overcoming a drug or alcohol addiction is not something that happens overnight, but the most important thing is that you have already taken the first and biggest step by reaching out for help. The best thing is that our team of dedicated UKAT professionals is going to be by your side for the rest of your recovery journey. We are here to provide support and guidance, and at any stage when things seem difficult, you can rest assured that you don’t have to face them alone. Together, we can help you to build a bright new future, totally free of drugs and alcohol.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are rehabs open in Gloucestershire during Coronavirus lockdown?

While many businesses have been affected by Covid-19 restrictions, Banbury Lodge is recognised as an essential healthcare provider. This means that the clinic has been able to remain open, and will continue to do so no matter what happens with potential future restrictions. Some private rehab centres have closed on a temporary basis during the pandemic, but Banbury Lodge and all local NHS rehab centres have been able to remain open by closely adhering to the government’s guidelines on safety.

How much does an alcohol/drug rehab cost in Gloucestershire?

There are a range of factors that affect the cost of addiction treatment such as how long you need for your treatment and which therapies and services you receive. A 28-day residential rehab programme usually costs between £4,000 and £12,000, but you may be able to offset some of this with private medical insurance depending on your policy’s terms.

How do you sign up to a rehab?

To be admitted to NHS rehab, you usually need a GP’s referral, but for private treatment, you can simply refer yourself. As soon as you are ready to start a new life free of addiction, just contact Banbury Lodge for a full medical assessment and to discuss the best possible course of treatment.

How can I pay for a rehab?

You will need to cover private rehab fees yourself, but some private health insurance policies cover all or at least part of addiction treatment costs. If you have private health insurance, check your policy and speak to your provider to find out what your options are.

What rehab programmes are there?

There are rehab clinics in Essex offering various addiction treatment programmes, which follow the holistic 12-step recovery method. In addition, many of these clinics offer additional therapies and wellness activities including CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), DBT (dialectical behavioural therapy), mindfulness sessions, and yoga.

Can you force someone to go to rehab?

Nobody can be made to go to rehab, and you should never try to force a loved one to seek treatment if they are not ready. This rarely ends successfully, and so it is vital that they first arrive at the point in their life where they recognise and accept that they need to make a change.

Can I sign up for rehab for someone else?

As much as you may want to help, you cannot sign someone else up for rehab. Not only will all rehab clinics refuse, if your loved one isn’t ready to tackle their addiction, the treatment is likely to fail. Trying to force a loved one to receive help that they are not ready for may ultimately just end up pushing them further and further into isolation.

How long does a rehab process take?

The length of various rehab programmes can vary dramatically with some lasting only a week and others continuing for up to three months. There are various factors which can affect the length of your treatment such as the extent of your addiction and which treatment approach your programme follows. You will most likely complete a detox before you start residential rehab treatment, so it is usually best to give yourself at least four weeks to recover from detox, get comfortable, and dedicate yourself to your treatment.

What is treated in rehabs?

The modern world is full of potentially harmful things that are designed to get people hooked. Alcohol, drugs, pornography, and gambling can all be incredibly addictive and so there are rehab programmes specifically designed to help people overcome these dependencies. Banbury Lodge also helps clients with eating disorders through special recovery programmes which can help with both dual-diagnosis and co-dependency situations.

Which drug addictions can be treated in rehab?

There are effective treatment programmes for addictions to all types of drugs, both prescription and illegal. These include cocaine, heroin, and other commonly used “recreational” drugs, as well as sleeping pills, painkillers, and other legally prescribed medications. Alcohol addiction is sadly ever-present in society, but it can be treated both as an isolated dependency or as one element of a wider substance use issue.

Is rehab confidential?

When you receive any treatment through the NHS, addiction treatment included, your records are always confidential, with only medical professionals able to check them if there is a medical issue. When you receive treatment through a private rehab clinic, there is no one but yourself and the clinic’s professionals who will be able to access any of your records.

Can I visit a person who is in rehab?

Most rehab clinics facilitate and encourage visits during the course of an addiction treatment programme. At Banbury Lodge, there are usually weekly family visitations on Sundays. It is an unfortunate consequence of the pandemic that these visits have had to be temporarily suspended to protect clients and staff, but the process of getting them safely started again is now in advanced stages.

Are there free rehabs in Gloucestershire?

Gloucestershire has various addiction treatment centres which offer free recovery programmes as outpatient services. While outpatient treatment is less intrusive and easier to fit around a normal schedule, effective addiction treatment usually requires a more holistic approach which is only possible through inpatient treatment.

Can I get rehab funding through the NHS?

The NHS may be able to help with private funding but you will need to speak to your GP. This is very rare, and can also take a long time, which can seriously delay your treatment.

Why is going to a rehab important?

Rehab can be life-changing with effective treatment programmes designed to help you overcome the physical aspects of addiction, as well as addressing the underlying causes. You will be provided you with all the weapons you need to fight cravings and will also be taught alternative ways of dealing with life’s difficulties rather than using drugs or alcohol as a crutch.

What is the difference between rehab and detox?

Detox is the process of abstaining from a substance so that your body is able to clear your system and start to heal. This is a very important first step in alcohol and drug addiction treatment because it will provide you with a clean slate. Rehab is the name giving to everything that comes after detox including addiction therapy and aftercare services which will enable you to start out on your journey to long-term recovery.