Drug and Alcohol Rehab Heavitree

Addiction is a serious matter. Most reputable medical bodies, such as the American National Institute on Drug Abuse, consider addiction to be a disease. It is defined as a chronic brain disorder, one which causes functional changes to the brain circuits involved in stress and reward responses.

It is characterised by the compulsive use of drugs, despite the many harmful effects that this consistent and heavy use may cause.

Drug and alcohol addiction should be treated like any other disease. It is not something that addicts choose to go through, it is something that they suffer with, and it can be just as deadly as other illnesses. Indeed, drug and alcohol abuse can significantly increase the risk of debilitating conditions like cancer and heart failure, as well as acute emergencies such as strokes and drug poisoning. In 2020, there were almost 9000 registered deaths related to alcohol-specific causes in the UK. The following year, there were almost 5000 drug poisoning deaths in England and Wales.

Is Drug and Alcohol Rehab for Me?

If you are suffering from an addiction to drugs or alcohol, you should seriously consider professional treatment at a rehab clinic. We understand that there is a great deal of social stigma attached to the issue of substance abuse and dependency. Admitting that you have a problem with drug or alcohol addiction can be extremely difficult, and the thought of reaching out for help can be incredibly daunting. But drug and alcohol rehab offers the best possible chance for achieving a full and lasting recovery.

Benefits of Residential Drug and Alcohol Rehab

The main benefit of residential rehab is that it takes you out of your everyday routine and places you in a safe and regulated space. Whether or not you realise it, your environment has a huge impact on your substance abuse. Substance dependency is often associated with significant stress, with users turning to drugs or alcohol as an escape from other troubles in their life.

If you were to try and overcome your addiction alone, or by receiving the kind of outpatient care offered by public health services, you would still have to deal with the people, places and events associated with your substance use. These triggers can make it much, much harder to resist the cravings, making relapse significantly more likely.

The other issue with trying to beat your addiction alone is the withdrawal period. Addiction literally alters your brain chemistry, and suddenly cutting out the alcohol or drugs can have serious adverse effects on your physical and mental health. At best you might experience uncomfortable symptoms such as headaches, mild pain, and restlessness. At worst, you might have seizures, hallucinations, or even bouts of psychosis. The severity of your withdrawal symptoms will vary depending on a number of factors, including the specific substance you use and the heaviness of your consumption.

Alcohol and drug rehab offers a safe space for you to go through this painful process. If you go through it alone, you might put yourself in danger. At rehab, in a dedicated detox clinic, you will be under medical supervision so you don’t need to fear those worst case scenarios. Furthermore, your access to drugs and alcohol will be strictly restricted, meaning the chances of an immediate relapse in those critical first days will essentially be reduced to zero.

What Treatments are Available at Drug and Alcohol Rehab?

Flushing the drugs out of your system and getting through the withdrawal period is only the first part of the battle. Addiction is just as much a psychological problem as it is a physical one, so in order to achieve a long-term recovery it is important to address the mental aspect of your problems. Following a drug and alcohol detox, rehab clinics offer programmes of holistic therapy to help you get to the root causes of your dependency and develop healthy coping mechanisms to ensure that you can stay on the wagon moving forward.

The most common treatment for drug and alcohol addiction is cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT for short. CBT is a tried and trusted method that is often used to treat mental health issues such as depression and anxiety but it has proven equally useful to help addicts overcome their substance dependency. It is a kind of talking therapy that aims to help patients break free of self-destructive modes of thinking and reacting. CBT can help you identify your triggers and develop healthy coping mechanisms.

Rehab clinics can also offer community and family-based counselling, offering a safe space for you to discuss your feelings and actions. While it may feel like it sometimes, it is important to remember that you are not alone in this struggle. At rehab, you can build a strong and reliable support network, and with professional guidance you can begin to rebuild connections that may have come under strain as a result of your substance abuse.

How Addiction Advocates Can Help

It is important that you receive a programme of treatment that is suited for your own individual needs. The exact nature of your treatment can vary greatly depending on a wide range of factors, including your physical health, mental health, the substance you are addicted to, how long you have been addicted to it and how much you consume. When you are in the throes of addiction, even little things can seem overwhelming, and we know how difficult it can be to figure out which rehab centre, which programme is right for you. It can be daunting, especially considering how much information sometimes gets thrown at you.

Addiction Advocates is here to help. We operate a referral service, directing you to the clinic that is best suited to help you recover. We work with a large network of rehab centres across the UK, all of them trusted clinics offering the highest quality of care. Contact us today and speak to our dedicated referral team, we can answer any questions you may have about addiction treatment and ensure that you are secured a place at the rehab centre that is right for you.