According to leading charity Alcohol Change, prolonged and consistent alcohol consumption is a casual contributing factor in over 60 serious medical conditions, including high blood pressure, cirrhosis of the liver, cancers of the mouth, throat and breast, and even dementia.
In the period of 2018/19, there were 1.26 recorded hospital admissions related to the over-consumption of alcohol (a figure that accounts for 7.4% of all hospital admissions) and a further 358,000 admissions where alcohol was the main cause of illness.
The statistics regarding drug addiction are just as concerning. Like alcohol abuse, the overconsumption of drugs is linked to a wide range of debilitating illnesses, but the most present danger is that of overdose.
As stated in a report by the Pharmaceutical Journal, there were just under 4,400 deaths caused by drug poisoning in 2019, an awful figure that represents a standardised mortality rate of 76.7 deaths per one million people. These are tragic numbers, and we need to do all that we can to tackle this terrible scourge.
Drug and Alcohol Rehab Treatments
If you have a drug or alcohol addiction, you need to confront it as soon as you can. If you ignore the problem it will only get worse, and with every day that passes the likelihood of falling victim to the dangers outlined above goes up and up.
Overcoming substance dependency is a struggle in and of itself. The compulsion to continue drinking or using drugs is hard to resist, and often the withdrawal symptoms that occur when the body is craving a missing substance can be just as dangerous and painful as the effects of overconsumption.
If you want the best possible chance of successfully recovering from your addiction, and if you want the process to pass as smoothly and painlessly as it can, then you should consider applying for rehabilitation.
Private drug and alcohol rehab centres offer safe spaces where you can focus entirely and solely on your recovery, without the stresses, worries and triggers of everyday life. Detoxification clinics ensure that you are cared for and protected throughout the withdrawal period, removing the uncertainty of ‘going cold turkey’ on your own.
Comprehensive, holistic aftercare programmes geared towards relapse prevention are part and parcel of residential rehab, meaning that once the drugs are out of your system you will have the discipline, willpower and self-understanding to stay sober afterwards.
Addiction Advocates is a service dedicated to helping sufferers find a drug and alcohol rehab centre that suits their needs. We are firm believers that every addict is a unique individual, and no two cases can or should be approached in the exact same way.
We work with many high quality rehabilitation facilities across the UK, and by contacting us first you can be sure that you will find a place in a clinic that works well for you.
A Holistic Approach
Alcohol and drug rehab centres implement a wide range of different therapies when treating sufferers of addiction. One of the main methods is counselling.
Counselling can take place on a one to one basis with your counsellor, but sometimes it can be incredibly helpful to talk through the issues affecting you with others who are going through the same thing.
It is important to remember that you are not alone in this struggle, and a healthy support network is integral to a full, lasting recovery. Through counselling you will be encouraged to identify and explore wider issues in your life, giving you an appreciation for the mechanics and triggers of your addiction.
Addiction is often deeply connected to wider turmoil within the victim’s life, with issues surrounding poor mental health and depression generally coinciding with the development of dependency.
Self-understanding is a large part of the battle. Once you properly understand why it is that you fell into the cycle of substance abuse, you can begin to take steps to distance yourself from your triggers.
Another common treatment is CBT, which means cognitive behavioural therapy. CBT, in laymen’s terms, is a form of talking therapy designed to positively change the way in which you think and, critically, the way in which you address your problems.
Once you have undertaken a course of CBT, you should be able to rationalise and compartmentalise the problems you face, breaking down overwhelming issues into smaller, much less frightening components.
In many cases, people turn to drink and drugs as a response to severe anxiety. When things go wrong in a person’s life, it can be incredibly tempting to drink or use drugs as a form of escape. CBT is mainly used to treat the psychological condition of anxiety, so it is a particularly helpful tool for treating substance addiction.
It is important to acknowledge that recovery does not begin and end at rehab. Recovery is a slow and gradual process, one that goes on, arguably, forever. It requires great determination and sustained willpower, and there will always be a danger of relapse.
This is why many clinics offer extensive aftercare programmes, maintaining contact with patients once they return to normal life and offering continued support. There will always be help available, should you ever need it again.
Getting in Touch
Our teams of advisors operate a 24 hour helpline, so whenever you feel ready to take the first step on your road to recovery, do not hesitate to call.
We will listen to you, assess your circumstances, and find a facility with a programme of treatment well suited for your particular needs.
Overcoming substance dependency is difficult, but we can help to make it easier. With rehab, recovery is achievable.
References
- [1] a further 358,000 admissions where alcohol was the main cause of illness. - https://alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/fact-sheets/alcohol-statistics
- [2] an awful figure that represents a standardised mortality rate of 76.7 deaths per one million people. - https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/news/drug-related-deaths-in-england-and-wales-remain-at-record-levels-ons-report-shows
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