Living with addiction can be a daily struggle, as it can cause so many problems in life. Many of us find ourselves struggling alone because we feel totally cut off from friends and family. If you are in this situation and are looking to change your life, drug and alcohol rehab in the West Midlands is just what you need. There are rehab centres in the West Midlands which offer the best alcohol rehab and drug rehab anywhere in the UK, and we are going to explain some of the different options available so that you can make an informed choice.
Choosing the right recovery path can be difficult with so many different treatment centres and programmes on offer. There are various treatment clinics that offer outpatient treatment in the West Midlands or inpatient treatment in the West Midlands, so the best thing to do is to compare the two options.
Outpatient treatment, also known as day rehab, is a popular choice for many people because it is less intrusive than residential rehab. When you undergo outpatient addiction treatment, you can live at home and carry on with your chosen routine, and only need to go to the rehab centre when it is time for your appointments. Another advantage is that there are free outpatient treatment services for drug and alcohol addiction available through the NHS. Despite these benefits, however, addiction treatment often requires a more immersive approach which is all but impossible when you are only attending day rehab.
Inpatient treatment is an immersive approach to alcohol and drug addiction which many people find beneficial, as it enables them to escape their triggers and give all their attention to their recovery. There are various residential rehab centres in the West Midlands which offer a comprehensive inpatient treatment programme. Resident rehab offers both effective, holistic treatment but also the perfect surroundings for residents to relax and switch off from the world during the course of their programme. UKAT has centres across the West Midlands and the whole of the UK, so if you are considering your options, make sure to give us a call or send us a message, and we can help you find the best location for your treatment.
Inpatient treatment at a residential rehab centre is usually privately funded, but your insurance company may be able to cover some of the costs depending on your plan.
As well as the benefits explained above, there are various other reasons why many people choose residential rehab over outpatient treatment.
While it is a positive thing that there are so many different addiction treatment options available, it can make it difficult for people to choose. One useful tool is the ratings system given by the Care Quality Commission based on a range of factors such as safety, staff care and the effectiveness of their recovery programmes. If you undergo rehab through the NHS, you will be assigned to whichever local clinic is available regardless of its CQC ratings. When you choose private inpatient treatment, however, you can use the ratings to compare different clinics.
Different treatment centres take their own approaches when designing and implementing their recovery programmes, but most will offer a mixture of individual and group therapies. Researching the different types of therapy and other activities offered by treatment centres is important, but you will still need to keep an open mind. Many people have gone into rehab expecting individual therapy will help them the most only to find they make their real breakthroughs during group activities. You should be able to find details about each treatment centre’s programme on their website or by getting in contact with their advisors and admissions teams.
A drug or alcohol addiction often affects loved ones as much as it affects the individual with the substance dependency. Addiction experts know how important family support can be in making a successful recovery, and so private inpatient treatment centres offer special programmes to help loved ones. These often include group sessions and workshops, as well as much-needed emotional support, to guide them through the rehab process and also to provide the tools and strength they need to support you.
Conjoints are specially organised meetings between clients and their loved ones which are overseen by an addiction professional. They are usually offered to residents with longer treatment programmes, but they are sometimes made available to residents with shorter stays where they may be of benefit. Conjoints are designed as a safe place to open up and share feelings and also as a way to start strengthening relationships that may have been damaged by addiction.
Before you can start your addiction treatment, you will first need to go through detox to remove all of the addictive substances from your system. This can lead to some unpleasant and occasionally dangerous withdrawal symptoms, so it is very important that it is always done with medical guidance.
When you are admitted to residential rehab, that medical guidance will begin immediately. First, your overall health will be assessed so that medical professionals can determine whether you are at risk of severe withdrawal symptoms. If they deem this to be the case, you will be offered medical alcohol or drug detox. This involves round-the-clock observations by medical professionals and the administration of detox drugs to keep you safe and comfortable.
Drug and alcohol medical detox is available for both outpatients and inpatients, but day rehab will usually have fewer beds and observing nurses and physicians. This can result in a long wait for outpatients, which will mean delays to the start of addiction therapy. At a private treatment centre, you will be able to get started on your detox straight away so that you can begin your therapy as soon as possible.
Choosing the right treatment programme can have a huge bearing on your recovery, so it is crucial that you research the recovery approach of every treatment centre available. At UKAT, our centres follow a 12-step programme with one-to-one therapy, group therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). This is a holistic approach, which focuses on long-term recovery and positive lifestyle changes. Other centres may adopt a non-12-step programme, which, while effective for many people, will focus only on the causes of addiction.
The first few steps of the 12-step approach take around four weeks to complete, so it is recommended that you commit at least that amount of time to a residential stay.
It is a sad reality that the benefits of private rehab are not financially feasible for everyone, and so you may need to consider free addiction treatment services through the NHS. Unfortunately, these are predominantly outpatient services, and there is often a long wait for admission. When a space becomes available, the majority of clinics will admit you through self-referral, but you will need to confer with your GP, who may refer you to receive counselling or start a detox programme instead. If you want private treatment but cannot afford it, try speaking to the charity Turning Point, which may be able to help.
As well as the NHS, there are some other groups doing fantastic work to help people in the West Midlands. Get in touch with your local AA meeting, and you will be able to get some much-needed support.
Unfortunately, the limitations of free addiction treatment services come from a lack of resources rather than a lack of care or dedication. There are many amazing people working in both the NHS and groups like the AA, but they simply do not have the tools they need to reverse addiction. The vast majority of free services are outpatient, and these will not enable you to distance yourself from distractions or addictive triggers. Furthermore, individual therapy is not available through free services, and if you need medical detox, you may have to wait a long time for an NHS space to open up.
Completing a treatment programme is a massive achievement, so of course, the first thing you need to do is celebrate! After that, you will need to think about getting back to your loved ones and taking advantage of all the support and care which will now be available to you.
The majority of private rehab centres will offer their clients aftercare to help them on their recovery journey. At UKAT, we are committed to helping every client maintain their sobriety with further group therapy, peer and staff support, and access to our UKAT Alumni. This enables clients to support and encourage each other on their recovery journeys.
Following the completion of your treatment programme, you can also get help from other local support groups who do incredible work across the West Midlands. Depending on the nature of your previous addiction, you may want to contact some of these organisations:
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
Cocaine Anonymous (CA)
SMART Recovery
Leaving rehab and returning to your everyday life can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. It will potentially be your first time facing your old addictive triggers and dealing with cravings outside of the safety and sanctuary of rehab. Long-term recovery is different for everyone, but you will have all the support and care you need from our team at UKAT.
For many people, the scariest thing about going into rehab isn’t detox or therapy; it is telling their loved ones about their decision. This is understandable, and the first thing you need to remember is how courageous a decision you have already made. Sit down with your family and friends and explain your reasons for seeking help. Acknowledge the effects that addiction is having on you and tell them all the things you want to change in your life. You will find that your loved ones are happy that you are seeking the help you need.
Being on the other side of the coin and approaching a loved one who needs help with their addiction can be just as daunting. The important thing to recognise is that you cannot force anyone to get help. Sit down with them and explain your concerns kindly but firmly. Hopefully, hearing this will help them recognise that they need treatment.
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