Drug and alcohol rehab in Hertfordshire

Drug and alcohol addiction rates are increasing year-on-year in the UK. Despite common misconceptions, addiction has nothing to do with choice, but is caused by a range of underlying causes which vary person to person. To help deal with the escalation, there are some amazing rehab centres in Hertfordshire and surrounding areas offering both alcohol rehab and drug rehab programmes. These comprehensive treatment programmes can enable you to overcome your addiction once and for all, and start a whole new life.

To help you decide between the different treatment options, here is everything you need to know about drug and alcohol rehab in Hertfordshire.

Types of addiction treatment and rehab programme in Hertfordshire

Everyone who is looking to overcome their addiction must first decide between outpatient treatment in Hertfordshire and inpatient treatment in Hertfordshire. Local treatment centres offer both recovery approaches, and so it is vital that you understand the similarities and differences before you decide which kind of treatment to sign up for.

Outpatient addiction treatment (day rehab)

The main difference between inpatient and outpatient treatment is that when you undergo outpatient treatment, you only need to attend day rehab for scheduled treatment sessions. This means that you can continue to live at home, go to work and do all the other things you normally do. Unfortunately, this also means that you will be exposed to your normal addiction triggers, whether those are stressful situations, financial worries or people who may be a negative influence. Therefore, the most effective addiction treatment for drug and alcohol addiction is usually one that allows you to distance yourself from those triggers.

Inpatient addiction treatment (residential rehab)

This approach is usually easiest to achieve through inpatient treatment at a residential rehab centre, because you will stay at the centre while completing your treatment programme. This will enable you to distance yourself from your triggers, focus solely on your addiction treatment and build lasting bonds with the staff and other clients at the centre. These relationships can be crucial in providing the support you need to overcome your addiction and remain drug and alcohol-free long-term. There are various residential rehab centres in Hertfordshire and surrounding areas, all of which offer excellent accommodation and treatment services. Because of these levels of care and facilities, inpatient treatment is usually privately funded, but if you have private health insurance, this may cover some or even all of the costs. If you don’t know what your plan covers, speak to your provider, who will be able to explain the financial help available to you.

Why inpatient rehab?

Not only does inpatient treatment provide an environment that is more conducive to addiction recovery, but it also has various other advantages compared to outpatient treatment in helping you to choose the right clinic and treatment programme.

CQC ratings

One huge advantage of signing up for private treatment is that you get to choose between the different residential rehab centres. This choice is not given to outpatients through the NHS, where limited spaces mean that patients are assigned to whatever day rehab clinic has availability. To help you choose between the different treatment options, you can look up each clinic’s Care Quality Commission (CQC) ratings. These are given to rehab centres by an independent body called the CQC, and they rate everything from accommodation to the effectiveness of treatment. You can compare the ratings given to any rehab centres that you are interested in to help narrow down your options.

Mixture of therapies

The causes of addiction vary from person to person and so it is vital that every physical, mental, emotional and psychological aspect of addiction is addressed systematically in order to overcome them. Unfortunately, outpatient treatment is usually only able to focus on the physical side of addiction, with perhaps some group therapy to help people cope with the emotional strain. Inpatient treatment, however, will provide you with both group therapy and individual therapy sessions. In addition, you will be offered various other treatment approaches such as mindfulness sessions and breathing exercises to help cope with triggers, and even special activities like yoga for improving stress management. This holistic approach will help you to overcome your physical dependence in the short term, and ensure that you have the tools needed to stay drug and alcohol-free in the long term.

Family support programmes

What makes drugs and alcohol addiction so damaging is that it can cause relationships between individuals and their loved ones to become incredibly strained. Watching a loved one go through the rehab process can also take its toll on friends and families, and so the best inpatient treatment centres offer family support programmes to help them on each step of your recovery journey. While ultimately it is up to you to stick your treatment out and make the changes necessary, having the love and support of your family can make a huge difference, and so it is vital that they get all the tools and strength they need so that they can support you in turn.

Conjoints

As well as supporting families through rehab, it is also vital to help repair relationships which have been affected by addiction. That is why Banbury Lodge and all other UKAT centres offer all our clients and their loved ones special sessions called conjoints, where you can talk about your feelings and take steps to come together again as a family. These conjoint sessions are guided by one of our addiction treatment experts and many of our clients and their families have testified to how useful they found them in helping them heal from the damage caused by addiction.

What should I expect from a detox in Hertfordshire?

Every effective addiction treatment programme begins with a full detox. This is when you remove all of the drugs and alcohol from your system so that you can start your therapy. Detox can cause potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms, so you should always speak to a medical professional first.

Medical detox

In order to reduce the risk of severe withdrawal symptoms, every client who enters residential rehab receives a full medical assessment to decide whether they need extra assistance. If your general health and the extent of your addiction mean you are at risk of dangerous withdrawal symptoms, you will undergo medically assisted alcohol or drug detox, with detox medication and 24/7 supervision. This will ensure both your comfort and safety until all the drugs and alcohol have left your system.

Some people are worried about this process adding extra time to their treatment, but it is a vital step in addiction treatment that will strengthen your recovery process. Because of the levels of care required for a medical detox, it can only be done as an inpatient, so day rehab patients usually have to wait for an NHS bed to become available, which, due to the high demand, can take a long time.

Drug and alcohol rehab programme

The most effective addiction recovery approach is always one that takes a holistic view of addiction rather than just treating the physical side of it. At UKAT, we follow a 12-step programme that incorporates one-to-one therapy, group therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), so that all clients’ recovery needs are met. Other treatment centres may follow a non-12-step programme but this does not address the various nuances of addiction. The longer you can commit to rehab, the better, but we recommend at least four weeks so that you can complete the first steps of the programme and get to know the staff and other clients.

Is rehab free?

There are free addiction treatment services that are accessible through the NHS but they are extremely limited. In order to get a place, you will need speak to your GP, but they may instead recommend detox or drug counselling. NHS rehab services will accept patients through self-referral but the waiting lists are often incredibly long due to a lack of government funding. If you want to get started with your treatment straight away but are worried about private fees, contact the charity Turning Point, who may be able to help you with the costs of residential rehab.

Free addiction treatment services in Hertfordshire

In addition to rehab, head along to your local AA meeting and you will be able to connect with other people who are on their own recovery journeys.

The downside to free services

Unfortunately, major cuts in government funding over recent years have left free NHS addiction services lacking in every area. The limited resources mean that only outpatient services can be provided, and even these are hugely oversubscribed. Many people who choose day rehab as a more convenient option than going to residential rehab find that they end up waiting a long time to be admitted, and even then, there are few appointment times available to fit their schedule. In addition, there is no medical detox available to outpatients, and so anyone needing assistance must wait even longer for an inpatient bed to become available.

The benefits of residential rehab in Hertfordshire

No long waiting lists for admittance
Medical assessment to determine risk of severe withdrawal symptoms
Fully supervised medical detox with all necessary medication
A range of therapies including one-to-one and group sessions, as well as CBT
A holistic 12-step recovery programme
Time and space needed for recovery
Top-quality food and accommodation provided
Full support given to family and loved ones through the recovery process
Conjoint sessions to help families come together and repair damage caused by addiction
The use of CQC ratings to help clients decide between the different rehab options available
Full aftercare programmes to support clients long-term

What happens after a rehab programme?

Successfully completing rehab is a huge achievement, and you should be incredibly proud of yourself. It’s important to remember, however, that rehab is just the start, so after celebrating, the next thing you need to do is look forward to the next stage of your recovery.

Aftercare programmes

UKAT’s comprehensive aftercare programmes have been designed to support and assist our clients after they leave residential rehab. You will come back for further group therapy and will also be connected to our online Alumni network. These steps will ensure you have all the support you need going forward.

Support groups

You may also want to consider meeting up with some of the local support groups in Hertfordshire where you will be able to meet other people in recovery. Try reaching out to these groups: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA) and SMART Recovery.

Long-term recovery from addiction

Everybody has a different rehab experience, and for some lucky folks, they leave rehab and never experience another craving or difficult moment. For most people, however, long-term recovery is a series of further steps, each one putting more and more distance between you and your addiction. Just remember that everyone here at UKAT is going to be by your side no matter what obstacles you face in the future. With our support and guidance, you will have all the help you need to overcome your addiction once and for all.

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

Telling your family you have decided to go to rehab can be very daunting but it is another important part of the process. Sit them down and be honest about the negative effects that alcohol or drugs are having on your life and happiness. Our loved ones want the best for us, so they are sure to support your decision.

How do I get a loved one into rehab?

It can be equally daunting speaking to a loved one whose addiction you are concerned about. You cannot force anyone to seek help, so the best thing to do is have an honest conversation with your loved one about your concerns and perhaps show them this article. Then they will know what help is available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are rehabs open in Hertfordshire 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 Hertfordshire?

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 Hertfordshire?

Hertfordshire 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.