Drug and alcohol rehab in London

If left untreated, drug addiction and alcohol addiction can cause huge devastation to your life, as well as to your loved ones. It causes damaging behaviours and can affect how your brain works, which can fuel your addiction. We understand that times of crisis are unique to each person and affect each area of your life differently, but the principals of addiction treatment remain the same. Whether it is drug rehab or alcohol rehab that you require, support is available no matter what your situation. Drug and alcohol rehab can provide you with the help you need to stop taking addictive substances and rebuild your life and relationships. There are many rehab centres in London that can offer this type of support and provide you with a personalised treatment programme to address your individual needs. If you would like to hear more about drug and alcohol rehab in London, continue reading this guide.

Types of addiction treatment and rehab programmes in London

Addiction treatment programmes can vary across different treatment centres, with private rehab offering more diverse programmes. Choosing a rehab programme can feel overwhelming at first, but taking the time to understand the types of addiction treatment available can support your decision making. Identifying the right programme for you can give you the best chance of meaningful engagement and successful recovery. The treatment provided at private rehab facilities is inpatient treatment (which is also known as residential rehab). The alternative to this is the option of outpatient treatment, which allows you to continue to stay at home during your treatment programme.

Outpatient addiction treatment (day rehab)

Outpatient treatment is a type of drug and alcohol rehab provided at treatment centres (accessible through the NHS, or through private funding). With outpatient treatment, you will attend a treatment centre to receive your addiction treatment and go straight home after each session. This is why it is also referred to as day rehab. You might prefer this type of treatment because you do not have to give up any life commitments to receive the support, so it is less disruptive to your current lifestyle. The treatment that is offered in day rehab consists of the usual treatment methods for drug and alcohol addiction, which are: individual therapy, group therapy and a detox. These treatments can be found in many London rehab facilities, with varying therapy techniques.

Staying at home whilst receiving your treatment may seem like the more desirable method to some, but it can make your commitment to treatment more challenging, especially during your detox. The withdrawal symptoms experienced during an alcohol or drug detox can be extremely uncomfortable. Without thorough medical observation in safe accommodation, you could be vulnerable to an unstable withdrawal. However, the medical professionals will explain all of the risks and safety measures with you prior to embarking on your treatment, and help you during each of your planned rehab sessions.

Outpatient treatment is the main form of addiction treatment available on the NHS as a free service. As with many free healthcare services, it does come with disadvantages including a lack of choice, delays in treatment and less support. We do not provide any outpatient treatment services as we value holistic treatment as a treatment method with excellent rates of successful recovery. We advise you to consider the level of support that you think you will need when deciding which treatment type to choose.

Inpatient addiction treatment (residential rehab)

Inpatient treatment offers intensive levels of support by removing you from distractions in your life. Many people find the detox process more successful in residential rehab because you face challenging withdrawal symptoms in a therapeutic environment with around-the-clock access to support. Inpatient treatment at an addiction treatment centre is mostly privately funded, such as our rehab centres, and the treatment programme involves an increased variety of therapies offering more holistic support. You will also have the chance to build relationships with other clients staying at the treatment centre, who may be facing similar challenges to you.

How does residential (inpatient) rehab work?

When you arrive at your chosen rehab facility, you will be shown to your room and have access to all of the standard living amenities that you require for a comfortable stay. This can help you to settle into your new surroundings. Feelings of nervousness are completely normal before embarking on addiction treatment in residential rehab, so gaining a sense of calm can help to ease your anxieties. Inpatient rehab can provide a greater sense of community and growth, which can be difficult to achieve in an outpatient setting. You will build close professional relationships with the treatment team, as well as with peers also embarking on treatment. In the free time during your treatment schedule you can build relationships with other clients who may be facing similar challenges to you. These peer relationships can be extremely powerful and help motivate you during challenges in your treatment.

Why inpatient rehab?

Inpatient rehab is often the preferable option because it can provide you with holistic support from a wide team of professionals who are specially trained in their discipline. Having a treatment team on hand during your detox and therapies can provide you with reassurance and confidence during your recovery process to help you through abstinence. Many of the professionals who will be supporting you have experienced addiction in their own lives, so you will receive non-judgemental support in a friendly environment.

CQC ratings

All addiction treatment facilities are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), who are the national regulator of all NHS and private health and social care settings. To promote and protect your safety, CQC monitoring ensures that a high quality of care is being provided in services. The CQC assesses each addiction treatment centre, and scores it using one of the CQC ratings: outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate. Selecting inpatient rehab means you can choose a clinic based the CQC or provider’s website, whereas accessing outpatient treatment through the NHS entails settling for the first available facility, regardless of its rating.

Mixture of therapies

Unlike outpatient treatment, you are offered a mixture of therapies within a single treatment programme for inpatient services. This works really well for people who are unsure of which therapy type will suit them best, because you can engage with a variety of therapies to find out what works for you. Even people who feel sure of which therapy they think will work best are often surprised at the benefits of the other methods. For example, someone who usually prefers one-to-one therapy could reap more benefits from group therapy. The therapies included in our inpatient treatment are: one-to-one talking therapy, family support programmes, conjoints, holistic therapies and group therapy. Some of these will be explained further below.

Family support programmes

Family support programmes are an important part of the treatment programme because they enable you to repair relationships. Drug and alcohol addiction almost always affect others around you, so your loved ones will also need information, advice and emotional support to help with their own healing. Your family can be supported through groups, workshops and signposting, and many find it an extremely valuable element of the support we provide. As well as supporting themselves, it will also help your family to continue to support you outside of rehab by increasing their understanding of addiction.

Conjoints

We use conjoint meetings as a tool in our family support programmes. A conjont is a meeting between yourself and your loved ones to open dialogue and express what effect the addiction has had on your relationship. Addiction can cause you to act out of character, and there may be things that have happened that have upset your loved ones, so conjoints can help you to repair harm and move forward. It can be difficult to know how to encourage open discussions with your loved ones, so our conjoint meetings are facilitated by a member of our team to provide you with extra support.

What does a typical day in rehab look like?

You can engage in a range of activities in rehab. At first, this may be heavily focused around a detox, with an increased variety of therapies once you are free from addictive substances. Your day could involve workshops, group work, reflection and study time as part of your 12-step programme.
At our treatment facilities, we provide you with a therapy schedule that includes time for breaks, meals and socialising with other clients at the rehab centre. The therapies you embark on may consist of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), yoga, mindfulness and group sessions (all of which can vary during each week). This mix of interactive physical activity, one-to-one therapy and group therapy aims to treat your addiction from all angles. Time to relax in communal areas will also support your recovery through building relationships with peers and feeling a sense of belonging, which we find can help to motivate our clients during challenging times.

Rehab admissions

To be admitted to rehab, you can simply contact the admissions team to find out the next steps. The process from self-referral to admission into inpatient rehab is usually extremely quick, whereas free services accessed through the NHS can have long assessment and admission processes, causing a delay in support.

How do I prepare for rehab?

Embarking on addiction treatment is a big commitment, so the best way you can prepare for rehab is to fully commit to embracing change. Therapists and support groups are there to give you the tools you need to leave addiction behind you, but they cannot do the work for you. Entering rehab with an open mind is the best way to let yourself adapt comfortably and make the most of the support.

It’s beneficial to conduct as much research as possible prior to your admission into rehab. That way you can gain a better understanding of what treatment type will help you most, and what to expect once you enrol. The admission process varies for inpatient and outpatient treatment, so it is a good idea to contact your rehab provider beforehand to find out the exact process.

For free NHS rehab, your GP can provide you with further information, or direct you to your treatment provider. However, admission can take a considerable amount of time from referral to beginning rehab, leaving you at risk of your addiction worsening before help is available. This is caused by the high demand for free services, which leaves you with less choice about where you receive your treatment. Private rehab gives you choice and control of how fast you are admitted, with the possibility of being admitted after just twenty-four hours from your initial phone call.

What should I bring with me?

Do
Do bring any prescribed medication and share these with professionals upon your admission.
Do bring comfortable clothes and outdoor wear.
Do bring small leisure items such as books.
Do bring small, sentimental personal items.

Don’t
Don’t bring any sharp objects.
Don’t bring any items that contain alcohol.
Don’t bring any illicit drugs.
Don’t be concerned by turning your phone off or handing in your laptop on arrival (this helps you to focus on treatment).

What should I expect from a detox in London?

A detox is the first part of treatment that you will embark on in rehab. It is how you become free of addictive substances through abstinence. This means that you will stop taking drugs or alcohol until all traces are removed from your body, and you can do your usual daily tasks without feeling the need to take addictive substances. Many people worry about completing a detox because they often experience withdrawal symptoms during the process. However, a detox it crucial for a successful recovery, and a medical detox can be offered for people who have more severe withdrawal symptoms.

Medical detox

It can be dangerous to detox without professional support because of the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms arise from the shock of no longer putting drugs or alcohol in your system, and the body working to remove these substances. You might feel nauseous, confused or experience hallucinations, but this will depend on your level of addiction. The withdrawal symptoms are only a temporary experience until you are free of addictive substances, but you may be offered a medical detox that can help ease these feelings. During a medical detox you will be prescribed with detox medication from a doctor at the rehab centre, which will substitute the addictive substance you are no longer taking. You will receive constant support from professionals to help your detox and manage your withdrawal symptoms. However, due to this increased monitoring, it is not always possible to have a medical detox during outpatient treatment.

Drug and alcohol rehab programme

The drug and alcohol rehab programmes offered at our facilities use the 12-step programme as the main treatment method. A 12-step programme is a highly popular recovery approach that is used to treat addiction. Its ethos is based on clients working through each step from acceptance to a spiritual awakening. Although the programme can be linked to religious connotations, there is no requirement to follow a religion, and your higher power can be anything that resonates with you. Our 12-step programme includes one-to-one therapy such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which is a talking therapy that aims to change the way to think and to positively influence your thoughts and actions. We also use a range of group therapies to build a holistic treatment programme to accomplish each step. Other treatment providers may use a non-12-step approach that may include elements of the therapies mentioned above.

How long does a rehab programme last?

The duration of a rehab programme largely depends on your progress on the treatment programme. We find that longer programmes have a greater chance of successful recovery being maintained because they allow a person more time to reflect and incorporate changes into their life. Our stays can range from two weeks to twelve weeks, but we always welcome our clients to stay longer if they would like to. You will also leave rehab with some of your 12-step programme remaining, to continue working on at home. The duration of other inpatient and outpatient programmes may vary.

Is rehab free?

Free addiction treatment services are available on the NHS but will mostly offer outpatient services. Due to this, you may not find a suitable detox programme because not all outpatient services will provide a medical detox. There are some free inpatient beds that can be offered through a charity called Turning Point. However, places for free inpatient treatment are competitive due to demand outweighing supply. This means that these beds are only offered to those who are most in need of addiction treatment. Most inpatient services are accessed privately through self-referral, offering more choice and control over your treatment programme.

Free addiction treatment services in London

There are other free services in London providing group therapy sessions. We have included some Alcoholics Anonymous groups below:

North West London Intergroup
City of London Intergroup
South London Intergroup

The downside to free services

Free services are a valuable provision and enable anybody in need to access some form of addiction support, but they do have some disadvantages. There are waiting lists to access treatment that can be as long as eight months, which is not helpful when you require support immediately. There is also less flexibility in where and when you go for treatment, resulting in potential difficulty in accessing the service. We encourage anybody who has the financial means to access private rehab to do so, as the support provided is holistic and personalised, which can lead to a more successful recovery.

How do I help get a loved one into rehab?

You cannot book a place in rehab on someone’s behalf, nor can you force them to go, which may seem frustrating. Although addiction can cause stress for the whole family, some people may not be ready to receive help, so they would not engage in the treatment or be open to detox. If you have a loved one who is struggling with addiction, it is crucial that they themselves identify that they are in need of support. This is because the person must be willing to accept help for the treatment programme to work. You can, however, encourage a loved one to seek support by explaining your concerns, and listening to how they are feeling. When doing so, it is important that you are not too forceful in your communication, as this could damage your relationship with them. Being supportive with open dialogue can help them recognise they need help.

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

Accepting that you need support for addiction is a significant achievement, but you may feel clouded by the stress of telling your loved ones about going to rehab. Your family might not know the extent of your substance misuse habits, or your addiction may have damaged your relationship with them. In any situation, it is really important to inform your loved ones about your decision to get help in rehab. Once you have opened the dialogue, you will feel like a lot of stress and pressure has been lifted. Your loved ones will only want what is best for you, so despite the challenges, your decision will likely be praised.
You could try and have the conversation in a calm environment, where you won’t be distracted. That way, you can focus on what you would like to say and minimise any disruption. You can even invite them to be a part of your recovery journey, which can be a good way of beginning to repair the relationship. The conjoint meetings and family support programmes that are included within our treatment can help your family to understand your addiction, so that they can support your long-term recovery.

What happens after a rehab programme?

After a rehab programme, you may be flooded with emotions such as pride, fear and excitement. It is a huge achievement to complete a rehab programme, but recovery does not end there. You may have spent time reflecting and learning new ways of life during rehab, so leaving will present the new challenge of implementing and maintaining your new lifestyle.

Aftercare programmes

Most inpatient services provide aftercare to all clients who successfully complete their treatment programme, so support is always accessible to help you stay sober. Our aftercare programmes include information and advice from our professionals, and access to our Alumni network. This network includes peers who have all completed their rehab programme, and who are now continuing with their journey at home. This support can be extremely valuable because other clients may be facing, or have overcome, similar challenges to you. Often clients are able to build strong connections with the Alumni network, with communication being relatable and supportive.

Support groups

You can access support groups to improve your recovery journey (alongside your aftercare programme). Community groups involve others in recovery, and a professional to lead the group. We encourage clients that have completed any rehab programme to engage with support groups. They can be empowering and a great source of support from new faces. Sometimes it can help to maintain your new lifestyle with support from new people to signify a new chapter in your life. Some examples of support groups that you can access in London are: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA) and SMART Recovery.

Long-term recovery from addiction

Adjusting to your new lifestyle after rehab can be quite daunting. That is why it is important to continue accessing support from community groups and your aftercare programme. Your recovery could take a considerable amount of time even after leaving rehab, so do not be disheartened if you face challenges or triggers. The coping mechanisms and problem-solving techniques that you learn in rehab will be crucial in combating any obstacles you face. You can use mindfulness or yoga to reduce stress and utilise CBT techniques to approach problems in a methodical manner. The Alumni network and local support groups can offer you motivation and help you to apply your tools and techniques in your times of difficulty.
The time it takes to make a full recovery from addiction can vary dramatically between clients. Some may not need to use aftercare services, and others may access support for the rest of their lives. There is no right or wrong way to feel once you have completed your treatment, except for feeling proud at how far you have come since your initial admission. Support from us and other local services will be available no matter how much you require it.