Drug & Alcohol Rehab in Bedfordshire

Quick Links for help with addiction in Bedfordshire

Signs of addiction in Bedfordshire
What you’ll gain from drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire
Sustainability at drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire
Intervention for drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire
The cost of drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire
Duration of drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire
NHS vs private drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire
Inpatient vs outpatient drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire
Therapy at drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire
Dual diagnosis at drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire

A 2021 report found that Bedfordshire has experienced one of the UK’s largest increases in drug-related crime in recent years.

Whereas many other counties recorded decreases in this statistic, Bedfordshire recorded an increase of over 400 cases since 2018 [1].

The rate of alcohol-related deaths in the East of England has been consistently rising over the past ten years.

Per 100,000 people, the region recorded 9.2 deaths in 2020 compared to 7.7 in 2010. [2]

Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Bedfordshire
Ethnicity	Bedford Borough (%)	England (%)
White	84.4	87.3
Black/Black British	2.0	3.0
Asian/Asian British	5.0	3.9
Mixed	3.4	2.6
Other	0.9	1.0
Missing/Unknown	4.3	2.2

Source: https://www.bedford.gov.uk/media/4220/download?inline#:~:text=Bedford%20Borough’s%20rate%20of%20substance,the%20difference%20is%20not%20significant.

If your life has been affected by drugs or alcohol, OK Rehab in Bedfordshire can help.

Recovery is a long, challenging process, but it is guaranteed to result in more happiness than addiction ever could.

To achieve this contentment, you must first admit that you need help. Do not underestimate your bravery in doing this; it takes tremendous courage to confess that you are dependent on drugs or alcohol.

When you expose your addiction, you will come to realise that you are not alone in your fight.

Bedfordshire is packed with rehab centres that help struggling individuals find their feet daily.

No matter how mild or severe your addiction, OK Rehab can pair you with a premium drug and alcohol rehab treatment centre in Bedfordshire that knows exactly how to treat your specific addiction.

Don’t give your addiction time to deteriorate – reach out for help as soon as possible.

How Do I Know I’m Addicted?

Above: A man with his head in his hands on a Bedfordshire park bench before seeking drug and alcohol rehab

Knowing how to spot an addiction is difficult, but identifying when alcohol or substance use has gotten out of hand can help treat problems before they become more serious.

For a quick indication as to whether you are suffering from an addiction, it is easy to answer the four questions of the CAGE questionnaire. These are:

Have you ever felt the need to cut down on your substance use?
Have you ever felt annoyed at someone commenting on your substance use?
Have you ever felt guilty about your substance use?
Finally, have you ever used a substance as an ‘eye-opener’ (i.e., to wake up in the morning)?

Answering ‘yes’ to any of these questions might signify that your relationship with a substance is unhealthy and in need of treatment.

What will I gain from going to Rehab in Bedfordshire?

When you emerge from residential drug or alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire, you may notice that your mental health is better than ever.

The programme of therapy you complete does not just focus on addiction but on your mental well-being in general, and you will feel the benefit of dedicating many hours to it.

You will be encouraged to keep up this lifestyle by exercising regularly and eating healthily, which is directly linked to positive mental health.

Rehab often gives patients the courage to take back control of their lives.

Addiction is so powerful that it can cause your life to spiral out of control, but rehab encourages you to rebuild a life that reflects sobriety.

Another benefit of rehab is that it fosters close relationships. You will be more honest with your friends and family, which may bring you closer together after a time of great secrecy.

Your relationships will become stronger if you have family therapy at rehab for addiction in Bedfordshire, as this allows each family member to understand one another better.

People are often more financially stable after rehab. This is because addiction results in overspending; therefore when the addiction is treated, you can save money by not purchasing substances.

Finally, drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire provides you with the gift of understanding.

You will learn why you struggle with substance abuse, how different traumas have affected you, and what you can do to undo the damage of addiction.

A better understanding of yourself ultimately leads to more self-confidence and less shame.

Are Drug and Alcohol Rehabs in Bedfordshire Sustainable?

Recovering in residential rehab is the most sustainable way to recover.

Drug and alcohol rehabs in Bedfordshire promote abstinence, so there is no room for a cycle of binging and seeking treatment.

Your personalised treatment programme will be geared towards helping you get to the root of your addiction through various types of therapy at your chosen rehab in Bedfordshire.

Unfortunately, addiction cannot be cured; you will inevitably face temptation after completing your treatment.

However, rehab teaches you how to control your urges by employing healthy coping mechanisms instead of giving in to substances.

You must do this regularly, as recovery requires you to be on guard and prepared to deal with the temptation that will eventually arise.

Pre-rehab steps: Intervention

Denial is very typical for those who develop an addiction [3].

Accepting the presence of a substance use problem can be very ego-bruising, and many who need help can therefore reject the fact that treatment is even needed at all.

This event brings together the individual’s closest allies to tell them they have a substance abuse problem.

While these events can be instrumental to getting the route to recovery going, they can be challenging to organise and execute.

For this reason, individuals may seek the services of a professional interventionist who can assist in several vital aspects of the process.

Getting people together

Interventions are delicate events to arrange, needing to strike a perfect balance between being impactful and intimate simultaneously.

Not only can this be a complex formula to get right, but making sure the event is held at a place and time that works for everyone can also be a headache to arrange.

A professional interventionist, however, can step in and help in these areas.

They can advise who and who not to invite, as well as help contact attendees and find a mutually agreeable time and location to hold the event.

If the person in addiction is willing, you can then arrange drug and alcohol rehab, or another suitable treatment.

Remaining supportive

Because of the prevalence of denial among those who develop addictions, interventions can be frustrating events to hold.

When individuals are told that they have an addiction, it is perfectly normal for them to reject the concerns being voiced to them, ignore the pleas of their family and friends, and even become aggressive towards the attendees.

This takes the event away from the central goal of the intervention, but a professional can help prevent this.

By being present at the intervention, a professional can step in when things are becoming hostile and ensure that the event’s tone remains supportive and effective.

Making the point

Interventions bring together an individual’s closest family and friends, but the familiarity between everyone present can limit the impact of what is said and what concerns are voiced.

Individuals listening to their family and friends can easily dismiss them, argue that they are overreacting, and blame problems on other things.

With a professional standing or sitting amongst their family and friends, an individual is more likely to take the event seriously.

The presence of a professional interventionist can give the event a degree of validity, and the professional can communicate how vital the intervention is.

Talk about the CRAFT Approach to Intervention

The conventional intervention format is a very popular way of helping an addicted individual, but it is by no means the only option available.

Alternatively, those who want to help an addicted friend or family member can decide to conduct a CRAFT intervention, a method of support which takes a slightly different approach to help someone move away from their substance abuse.

What does CRAFT involve?

When the CRAFT approach to intervention is chosen, it involves the family and friends of an addicted individual coming together to establish a reward system relating to their behaviour.

More specifically, this means that the people who care about an individual work together to reward positive behaviour – such as engaging with addiction treatment – and punish harmful behaviour – such as continuing substance use.

When individuals become addicted, they associate drinking or taking drugs with pleasure, so CRAFT’s goal is to reverse this association.

To achieve this, CRAFT depends on the unanimity and consistency of those involved.

Friends and family must keep up their rewards and punishments as only this way will individuals eventually realise the benefits of being sober.

How much does rehab cost in Bedfordshire?

The cost of drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire depends on the kind of treatment that an individual chooses. When choosing where to go for drug and alcohol rehab, considering the price is very important.

Private rehab in Bedfordshire can cost around £14,000 for a 28-day programme, averaging around £495 daily.

For the rehab programmes that are a bit more luxurious – offering a range of additional facilities and services for comfort and relaxation – individuals should expect to pay £100,000 or more for a 28-day programme.

If you are looking to find the cheapest option, we advise that you shop around as the price of rehab does vary from location to location.

To find out more about the options in Bedfordshire, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team, who will be more than happy to help you.

Does health insurance cover drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire?

Paying for drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire can be an unexpected burden on your personal finances, and this can cause a lot of people to wonder if their health insurance can help in any way.

In order to determine whether your health insurance can help with rehab costs in Bedfordshire, you need to consult your policy and see if there are any relevant coverages.

For example, many companies offer mental health or addiction cover, both of which usually contribute to the fees of rehab and substance abuse recovery.

Can the NHS cover the cost of my drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire?

In the UK, the NHS provides treatment without charging individuals. Those requiring drug and alcohol rehab are also entitled to this care but are then limited to the services provided by the NHS.

Some of the most prominent NHS or free addiction treatment services in Bedfordshire include:

1. Path 2 Recovery

Address: 21 The Crescent, Bedford, MK40 2RT

Telephone: 0333 332 4019

Website: https://changeyourtomorrow.co.uk/#areas/elft/pages/Home

2. Aquarius

Address: 23C Carlisle Rd, Bedford MK40 4HR

Telephone: 07467 336203

Website: https://aquarius.org.uk/

3. North Bedfordshire CAHMS

Address: 5-7 Rush Ct, Bedford MK40 3JT

Telephone: 01234 893300

Website: https://www.elft.nhs.uk/camhs/where-we-work/north-bedfordshire-camhs

4. Turning Point Bedfordshire

Address: 25A Shuttleworth Rd, Elm Farm Industrial Estate, Bedford MK41 0HS

Telephone: 01234 219817

Website: https://www.turning-point.co.uk/

For more information about what services the NHS provides and how it can support individuals in funding their treatment, be sure to contact your GP or another medical professional.

How long does rehab last?

When considering drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire, knowing how long the process takes to arrange time away from work and family commitments is essential.

In general, rehab takes around 28 days for an individual to complete. It begins with a seven-to-ten-day detox, tackling physical dependency, followed by a few weeks of addiction therapy.

However, several factors can impact whether an individual’s duration in treatment is longer or shorter than this estimate. These include:

How severe their addiction is when they begin treatment
What substance are they addicted to
How long does it take the team in the Bedfordshire clinic to find an appropriate rehab or treatment for you
What other physical health conditions do they have
What other mental health conditions do they have

NHS vs private addiction treatment

Drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire is expansive, and those requiring treatments have many options regarding how they want to pursue their goal of beating addiction and becoming sober.

But selecting the right treatment option is not as simple as it sounds. First, individuals must decide whether public, NHS-provided treatment is most appropriate for them or whether they should go for that provided by private companies.

Both have pros and cons, so assessing these before making a decision is essential.

NHS drug & alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire

The most obvious route for individuals to take is to select the drug and alcohol rehab treatments provided by the NHS.

The immediate benefit of this option is the affordability factor. With the NHS covering the majority, if not all, of the costs relating to treatment and services, this option is by far the best value for money for the majority of people.

Additionally, NHS services are present in almost every county or town in the UK, including Bedfordshire.

However, the breadth of the NHS across the UK also means that the quality of service in each individual facility is restricted.

As a public service, the NHS is required to spread its resources and staff as far as possible, meaning that each facility is required to make do with the bare minimum.

It also reduces each facility’s patient capacity, meaning people can be left on waiting lists until a space becomes available.

Before making a decision about where you would like to receive treatment in Bedfordshire, we recommend that you do your own research into the rehab services available.

Private drug & alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire

Recovery is not limited to public-funded programmes, however. Individuals also can see what private companies can offer, and there is usually a great variety to choose from.

One of the benefits of private rehab in Bedfordshire is the sense of variety in care and treatment options available to you. Also, these programmes are often focused on providing a comfortable, even enjoyable rehab experience.

When you enter a private rehab centre in Bedfordshire, you can expect to find wellness facilities like; spa treatments, fitness facilities, outdoor recreational spaces, and private accommodation.

The ability of these facilities to pay high wages also means that they are able to attract incredibly talented professionals within the field of addiction and rehab.

However, with all of these facilities on offer, it is important to note that the admission price for these programmes is very steep.

Private companies can charge up to and in excess of £100,000 for treatment, far beyond that of most people’s budgets.

Additionally, fitting in all of the services and facilities means that private drug and alcohol rehab needs a lot of space to work with.

They cannot be in every town in the UK, often being located in remote, picturesque places. Those who want to enrol, therefore, will need to travel.

Inpatient or Outpatient Treatment in Bedfordshire

Drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire is very flexible, being able to adjust to the needs and requirements of different individuals who want to tackle their addictions in a way that suits them.

Quite a significant variation among treatment options relates to where they take place.

Some involve individuals staying with a treatment facility (inpatient) while others allow them to remain living at home (outpatient), and there are benefits and drawbacks to both.

Inpatient rehab treatment in Bedfordshire

When individuals opt for inpatient rehab, they choose the safest option available. Under the constant supervision of medical professionals, they are constantly protected from the dangers of detox.

Detox can be tricky to get right, and individuals can suffer uncomfortable and even lethal withdrawal symptoms as their body adjusts to being sober.

In addition, the amount of time addiction specialists have with patients allows for more thorough treatment to be conducted.

Detox can be carried out with patience, and the following weeks of therapy can focus on identifying the underlying triggers of addiction.

At one of our residential drug and alcohol rehab centres in Bedfordshire, you can go through therapy in an environment which is suited and designed to support your recovery.

However, the supervision and support ensured by individuals residing within a facility also mean they do not have the freedom to do as they wish. They cannot go home or go out when they like.

Outpatient rehab treatment in Bedfordshire

What makes outpatient treatment so attractive to many people is the amount of freedom it allows people to exercise while they go through treatment.

With this style of rehab, individuals meet with addiction specialists on a regular basis to gain advice and support regarding their substance use. In the meantime, they are able to live at home and do as they wish, living how they choose.

While outpatient treatment can be very effective, it is limited in how much support it can offer.

Without supervision or around-the-clock support, these programmes cannot provide detox services, nor can they equal the extent of therapy provided in inpatient facilities in Bedfordshire.

As a result, the scope of outpatient care is very limited, and only those with relatively recent conditions with manageable symptoms are able to benefit from it.

Alcohol detox & rehab in Bedfordshire

Alcohol is regularly consumed in everyday life, but what many people don’t know is that its misuse can trigger one of the most dangerous forms of dependency.

The body can become used to the substance so much that it depends on it to function and survive.

These are the body’s natural response to a chemical imbalance, and alcohol withdrawal is particularly dangerous.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can include cardiac problems, insomnia, intense anxiety, and Delirium Tremens, potentially causing sudden death.

Several medications can be used to reduce harmful withdrawal symptoms. These include Librium, Acamprosate (Campral®), an antidepressant like nefazodone, desipramine, or imipramine, or the opioid antagonist Naltrexone.

Alcohol can have a variety of effects like difficulty walking, blurred vision, slurred speech, slowed reaction times and impaired memory.

The long-term effects of alcohol addiction can be Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, alcoholic neuropathy, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, alcoholic cerebellar degeneration, alcoholic myopathy and fetal alcohol syndrome.

Alcohol also causes damage to your liver and it is reported that about 14% of alcoholics develop liver cirrhosis if they continue to drink heavily for over 8 years.

You should ideally begin your recovery now, as being an alcoholic is thought to drastically lower your age of death. For those who have been hospitalised, it is thought that the average age of death for an alcoholic is 47–53 years in men and 50–58 years in women.

Why should I attend Residential Rehab?

Aside from the excellent success rates tied to inpatient centres, there are many other reasons you should consider enrolling.

We work with rehab centres in beautiful locations around Bedfordshire. You could enjoy 28 days in the serene countryside, with an abundance of activities on offer.

All of our drug and alcohol rehab centres in Bedfordshire and around the country provide round-the-clock care, so you are never left alone to struggle. Day and night, the staff are working hard to ensure your recovery is as smooth as possible.

The detox ensures your physical health is immediately tended to by medical professionals, making it as safe as possible.

As for therapy, you are taught healthy coping mechanisms that you can employ for the rest of your life when faced with temptation.

Relapse rates skyrocket during this time, so your chosen rehab centre will do all they can to ensure you stay sober.

This may include offering therapy sessions, calling to check up on you, providing you with a helpline number, and introducing you to support groups around Bedfordshire.

What happens at residential rehab in Bedfordshire?

Residential drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire is a community of people who all value recovery.

First, there is the personnel, made up of doctors, nurses, addiction specialists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and other healthcare professionals.

Then, you have your fellow patients, who are all taking the brave step of leaving addiction in the past.

In group therapy sessions, you will get the chance to hear other people’s stories and share some of your own, which adds to the community feel of rehab in Bedfordshire.

Two of the biggest challenges you face are detox and therapy in rehab in Bedfordshire.

When you first arrive at rehab, you will be guided through a detox process, where toxic substances are cleansed from your system, and your body learns to function without substances.

Therapy makes up a significant part of your rehab experience. Each day, you will meet with a therapist to delve into your past and consider why you have become addicted to substances.

Everyone reacts to different types of therapy in different ways, and rehab is an opportunity to learn what works best for you out of CBT, DBT, psychotherapy, ACT, art therapy, EMDR, family therapy, group therapy, and countless other types.

One of the benefits of residential drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire is the variety of treatments on offer.

Does residential rehab work?

Residential drug and alcohol rehab is the most successful method of recovery as it protects you from outside triggers, vastly reducing the chances of relapse.

Despite its success, rehab is a huge challenge for everyone involved. You are only ready for rehab if you are passionate about recovering; the motivation cannot come from your friends or family.

If you enter drug and alcohol rehab with the intention to recover for your own reasons, it can be an incredibly successful journey.

You can select the rehab centre with the best services for your personal situation. This could include intentionally choosing a rehab with equine therapy or opting for a rehab located in the middle of the countryside.

In Bedfordshire alone, the options are limitless.

How can alcohol withdrawal be helped?

Of course, the dangers posed by alcohol withdrawal can be a huge barrier for those wanting to reduce or stop their drinking.

In Bedfordshire, there are services available which can help individuals overcome this obstacle, whether it’s alcohol rehab or another treatment that’s right for you.

For example, individuals can access benzodiazepines treatment. These drugs, usually Librium, are taken to reduce the impact of alcohol withdrawal and increase the effectiveness and safety of the detox process.

What comes after detox?

The services available in the Bedfordshire area are not limited to just helping with the process of alcohol detox. They are available to support the entire alcohol rehab process.

Specifically, individuals can access alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire, which not only supports them through the initial phase of detox but follows it up with several weeks of addiction therapy.

This stage of treatment is essential for targeting the emotional or psychological reasons why an individual depends on alcohol, and supporting them in working through these issues.

Rehab for Cocaine in Bedfordshire

Drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire can be specific as well as varied. There are treatment options that attend to cocaine addiction in particular and help individuals tackle this kind of dependency.

When individuals become addicted to cocaine, it is not their bodies that become dependent. Cocaine does not influence the body in this way, and so the addiction that forms is purely psychological.

The treatment implications of this are that there is no such thing as a cocaine detox. Instead, individuals seek to beat the condition by engaging entirely in cocaine addiction therapy.

Cocaine therapy

Therapy is a treatment style that can adapt and mould to suit the needs of whoever is undergoing recovery.

It can involve a range of different people – family members, other recovering individuals, or only a therapist – and target whatever fuels a certain addiction.

This involves an individual working with a therapist to identify the thought processes and behaviour patterns that lead to them abusing cocaine.

Their behaviour can be fuelled by family disagreement, intense anxiety, or work pressures, and the goal of CBT (like with all therapy activities) is to help individuals better handle these issues in future and not see cocaine as a coping mechanism.

Rehab for heroin in Bedfordshire

Drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire is prepared to deal with addictions of every level of severity. Those that are on the more serious end of the scale – heroin addiction is one of these – can be effectively treated.

Heroin addiction is such a dangerous condition because of the substance’s ability to impact the body.

These symptoms can be both harmful and uncomfortable, so appropriate treatment is required to ensure individuals are safe when trying to become sober.

We recommend those who are suffering from heroin addictions in Bedfordshire to seriously consider residential rehab treatment as it is the safest way in which to successfully detox from heroin.

Treating the physical addiction

When individuals become addicted to heroin, their body becomes reliant on the substance’s presence in order to function.

Its absence causes violent imbalance, and this is the first issue that treatment needs to address.

To do this, a process called detoxification is carried out. This involves the suspension of an individual’s heroin use in order to break the body’s dependency on it.

Of course, this is very difficult, but there is support available at residential rehabs in Bedfordshire.

Which Medications are Prescribed at Heroin Rehab in Bedfordshire?

How Long Does it Take for Medicine to Work at Heroin Rehab in Bedfordshire?

After a week or so, the body’s chemical balance tends to right itself once again, leaving individuals with the burden of cravings greatly reduced.

However, this is not enough for treatment to be considered effective.

The importance of therapy in addiction treatment in Bedfordshire

While heroin addiction is primarily physical, there is still a psychological underbelly that needs to be addressed in order for rehab to be effective.

Heroin addiction’s impact on the body is really important to tackle, but there is always a reason why an individual chooses to take the drug so frequently in the first place. This reason tends to be to handle an overpowering mental health issue.

If an individual can be helped in how they perceive heroin, they are far less likely to turn to it again in the future.

For example, if an individual sees heroin as a viable means of relaxing or coping as a result of their demanding work life, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) can step in, help them identify the thought processes that tell them heroin is a good idea, and challenge them.

CBT is a very popular style of therapy for addiction treatment, and if you do decide to admit yourself to residential rehab in Bedfordshire, you will likely benefit from CBT therapy.

Rehab for Cannabis in Bedfordshire

Much like alcohol, cannabis is a very commonly consumed substance in everyday society. Many people use it recreationally, but it is possible to develop an addiction to it.

The body is not changed chemically at all because it is the mind which becomes reliant on cannabis to carry on as normal.

A study by Wayne Hall and Louisa Degenhardt proved that cannabis is not completely harmless, with the adverse side effects of regular use of cannabis during adolescence and into adulthood including ‘a dependence syndrome, increased risk of motor vehicle crashes, impaired respiratory function, cardiovascular disease, and adverse effects of regular use on adolescent psychosocial development and mental health’.

Drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire can help every kind of addiction including cannabis, but also alcohol; caffeine; hallucinogens; inhalants; opioids; sedatives, hypnotics, and anxiolytics; stimulants; and tobacco. It is highly adaptable and so can effectively treat different forms of the condition.

Treating cannabis dependency

When addiction is purely psychological, the approach to treatment is slightly different. Because there is no physical change in the body to attend to, there is no detox process during cannabis rehab. Instead, the primary method of treatment is therapy.

Cannabis is a recreational substance because of the effect it has on the brain. Individuals who take it experience a pleasurable ‘high’, making them feel happier, more confident, and relaxed.

They can develop the belief that cannabis is their only way of feeling happy, making them dependent on it.

Therapy looks to tackle this issue by identifying the feelings, thoughts or situations that make individuals feel like using cannabis.

For example, family therapy focuses on identifying the strains and tensions within a family dynamic that motivates an individual to use cannabis.

These issues are addressed, and individuals are taught methods of better handling such conflicts in the future.

Types of therapies on offer in rehab in Bedfordshire

Individuals can suffer from addiction in so many different ways.

The substance, symptoms, and wider consequences of a condition can be totally unique, and drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire is appropriately varied to tackle such an array of issues.

Exploring what options are available when it comes to the psychological side of substance abuse can help individuals see the multitude of ways they can be supported by rehab in Bedfordshire.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

How an individual thinks can be a huge indication of how their issues with substance abuse have developed.

For many, addiction is the result of thought processes that fuel harmful behaviour patterns.

Individuals can be sad, frustrated, or lonely, and their brains tell them that taking a substance and getting high is the best and most effective way of attaining relief.

CBT is a therapy method available at rehab which looks to identify these thought patterns and tackle them head-on.

Instead of allowing them to repeat themselves, CBT helps individuals challenge their impulse to consume a substance and develop healthier ways of tackling their issues.

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

Those who develop addictions often experience quite intense, unmanageable emotions and impulses.

Whether they are strong waves of anger, anxiety, or depression, they often develop their condition in order to calm what they feel inside.

DBT is another therapy method rehabs deploy which identifies these emotions and helps individuals better handle them.

It focuses on talking through the details of such feelings and giving individuals alternative options for overcoming what they think to be unmanageable.

For example, if an individual experiences intense waves of anxiety at work or in school, DBT can help them understand what the emotion makes them do and support them in developing breathing techniques or mindfulness as new ways of calming down.

Brief Interventions

For individuals taking advantage of outpatient rehab services, brief interventions are a good way of maintaining progress on the psychological side of treatment.

With this option, individuals meet with an addiction therapist and work through the roots of their condition in a way that suits their situation.

They are highly adaptable sessions designed to accommodate an individual’s specific needs.

For example, they can focus on handling cravings if that is the primary concern, or they can revolve around managing difficult emotions.

Motivational Interviewing

All individuals going through drug and alcohol rehab have their reasons for why they want to get better.

These can be related purely to their physical well-being, or they can be more unique, pertaining to an individual’s family or professional life.

In spite of these motivations, individuals can forget why they are in rehab. The physical and psychological demands of treatment can push them to the edge of their endurance, making them want to stop in order to gain relief.

To prevent this from happening, motivational interviewing helps individuals identify what goals they want to achieve in life and establish these motivations at the heart of their recovery journey, keeping them focused.

Holistic Therapies (e.g. equine therapy/music therapy/art therapy/adventure therapy)

Targeting addiction and helping an individual overcome their condition can take more indirect forms at drug and alcohol rehab.

Rather than focus on the specific details of an addiction’s cause and consequences, therapy can be much more general.

These kinds of treatments are called holistic therapies, and their goal is to improve an individual’s overall physical and mental well-being so that they are less dependent on substance abuse in order to gain stability or pleasure.

Individuals can learn to play an instrument, go on hikes, or take care of an animal, all of which help them gain a greater sense of peace and a healthier outlook on the world.

Group Therapy

Rehab is a special environment for individuals to enter, whether that is Bedfordshire or further afield. Not only is it likely the first time that they will have proper support from specialists, but it is also many individuals’ first experience with others going through similar challenges.

There’s a lot that individuals can learn from one another. Memories and emotions can be shared, and techniques for overcoming addiction can be exchanged between those further along in their recovery and those just starting out.

As well as practical advice, the sense of belonging created in these sessions can help individuals feel more at home during rehab.

Individuals can turn to one another for support and camaraderie, improving their odds of succeeding.

Drug and alcohol rehab offers group therapy, and it’s also popular within the NHS and Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous groups.

Individual Therapy

Sometimes, the most effective mode of treatment for an individual is that which is most simple and obvious. Working with a therapist one-on-one, for example, is a very viable way of tackling drug or alcoholaddiction.

Sessions between an individual and therapist involve discussions that look to pinpoint and work through the underlying complications contributing to their substance abuse.

The benefit of this format is that it allows a rapport to develop, increasing the level of trust between the individual and the therapist.

This generates a sense of trust between them, increasing the chances of them taking on the provided guidance.

Family Therapy

Home life is a big contributor to the development of substance abuse problems. Where individuals live, what they are exposed to, and who they live with can all push them towards addiction.

Therapy can address several aspects of home life, but there are limitations to what an individual can work through with just a therapist.

The relationships between family members, for example, cannot be worked out in great detail.

For this reason, family therapy brings members of a household into the sessions.

A therapist helps address the tensions between siblings, parents, or partners and assists in the development of routines and techniques to reduce the odds of challenges arising again.

Co-dependency Treatment

When an individual struggles with co-dependency, it involves them having unhealthy boundaries with the people closest to them.

They can feel a strong desire to control aspects of another’s life or gain their sense of identity through the opinions of relatives.

Addiction can develop this way when a co-dependent individual develops a skewed perception of substance use.

For example, if their partner takes drugs, an individual might take them and abuse them in order to gain their respect or approval.

Conditions that develop this way require co-dependent therapy to address.

This treatment focuses specifically on correcting the boundaries an individual has with others and developing a more realistic perception of substance use as a dangerous activity.

12-Step Facilitation Therapy (TSF)

With these kinds of meetings, individuals work to gain a better understanding of their addiction along with a greater sense of control.

While all meeting-based treatment plans look to help individuals improve their situation with every session.

The Twelve Step Facilitation Programme (TSF) looks to promote a much healthier way of perceiving the recovery journey itself, as well as providing additional support.

Instead of seeing sobriety as an end goal, it promotes the idea that recovery is an ongoing battle, something that individuals will never ‘finish’ but a journey they will continue to progress through with commitment and patience.

This kind of focus helps individuals see treatment as a day-to-day reality and prevents them from being deterred by large, over-arching goals that seem impossible in the beginning.

It makes a recovery feel more manageable and encourages more consistent engagement.

The importance of dual diagnosis for co-occurring disorders in rehab

When we look at the origins of addiction, it is common for an individual’s condition to be closely linked with another mental health condition that they live with.

For example, an individual’s motivation to take drugs or drink alcohol can be to reduce the negative thoughts and emotions triggered by their anxiety, depression, or trauma.

According to the NESARC data, 28.6% of people with a current alcohol use disorder diagnosis had at least one personality disorder like bipolar disorder.

Alternatively, dual diagnosis can also manifest as a result of substance abuse triggering the development of another mental health condition.

Alcohol, for example, is a depressant, meaning that excessive consumption can interfere with mental health, triggering conditions such as anxiety.

Many organisations across the UK offer free mental health support, whether you are also suffering from addiction or not.

Some of the most useful include Mind UK, Young Minds, Rethink Mental Illness, Samaritans and Papyrus.

Why is dual diagnosis so important to identify?

The intrinsic relationship between substance abuse and other mental health condition can greatly impact the strategy of addiction treatment. Identifying dual diagnosis, therefore, is essential.

Drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire tackles both physical and psychological aspects of addiction.

Once detox has reduced the impact of physical cravings, it is the role of therapy to then step in and deal with the causes and motivations of an individual’s behaviour.

The influence of depression, for example, needs to be addressed in order for therapy to know what to focus on and long-term change to be ensured.

Without dual diagnosis being identified, therapy runs the risk of ignoring the impact of these conditions on an individual’s behaviour and allowing them to remain untreated.

How rehabs help with relapse prevention

In many cases, drug and alcohol rehab in Bedfordshire relies on a few core forms of treatment.

Of course, the kind of addiction an individual has developed can greatly influence the style of treatment required, but many rely on the following pillars.

Once this strain on the body has been relieved, therapy is then utilised to tackle an individual’s harmful perceptions surrounding substance use.

Thirdly, there is relapse prevention which is something you will be focusing on before you leave residential rehab in Bedfordshire.

What is relapse prevention?

While detox and therapy are incredibly important to the rehab process, the importance of relapse prevention cannot be overshadowed or understated.

When an individual has undergone a physical and mental distancing from their addictive behaviour, they are almost ready to return to their everyday lives.

However, exposure to the triggers and strains of the real world can be detrimental to their progress.

Relapse prevention, therefore, is designed to prepare individuals for going home.

It looks to give them the best chance of withstanding the pressures of their home and work life, protecting their progress and reducing the odds of relapse.

What strategies are there for relapse prevention?

Relapse prevention is very adaptable, able to cater to whatever an individual needs in order to give them the best chance of remaining sober.

The following are some of the most common techniques for this stage of rehab.

HALT

Am I hungry? Am I angry? Am I lonely? Am I tired? An individual asking themselves these four questions can sometimes be the difference between resisting cravings and relapsing.

The desire to use a substance can be a stubborn physical urge, making an individual feel uncomfortable and causing them to think that relapsing is the only way of relieving the problem. These desires, however, can sometimes get confused.

Instead of resorting straight to substance use, individuals can sometimes ease their discomfort by satisfying a different physical desire that they might not have considered being the real source of the problem.

Eating a meal or going to see a friend, therefore, can sometimes save them from relapsing.

Trigger Identification

This can be anxious feelings, depressive thoughts, or any other source of physical, psychological, or social discomfort.

Once an individual has gone through rehab, it is the triggers that first caused them to fall into addiction that pose the most risk to their newly established sobriety.

They will likely still be present in their daily lives and so need to be considered.

Trigger identification, therefore, involves listing the potential causes of relapse that an individual expects to encounter when they leave treatment and rehab in Bedfordshire and creating plans for coping with them.

This might involve developing techniques for handling these triggers or establishing routines that let individuals avoid or reduce their exposure to them.

Either way, this strategy looks to reduce the risk of their recovery being threatened.

Social Support

Before going into rehab in Bedfordshire, many individuals are completely alone in their struggles relating to addiction.

In the majority of cases, family and friends cannot relate to the difficulties of substance abuse, and individuals can feel completely isolated in their experience.

Addiction treatment always looks to reduce this feeling, introducing individuals to a range of medical staff and other recovering individuals who understand what they are going through and want to support them in getting better.

When rehab ends, however, individuals can find themselves returning to where they first started, not having anyone to talk to.

To combat this, relapse prevention can encourage the development of an individual’s social network.

It can push them to prioritise speaking to friends and family, making them aware of the situation and forming trust in them for support and camaraderie.

Emergency Protocols

In spite of an individual’s best efforts, sometimes relapse prevention strategies don’t work.

This doesn’t mean they haven’t tried or are weaker than others who don’t relapse, but that their circumstances have been especially difficult to get used to.

For the day when individuals face this situation and can’t resist their cravings anymore, they can put emergency plans in place that act as a final attempt to protect their sobriety.

This might involve them going to a friend’s house to be protected from their cravings, or it could see them arranging with a local rehab facility to go into care until they get through the difficult phase.

Aftercare and support services once rehab has been completed

Rehab can radically change the life of someone who struggles with addiction. The treatments it offers and the sense of belonging it provides can alter an individual’s life and worldview, but they do not have to stop their recovery journey when rehab ends.

Once an individual returns to their everyday life, they might find themselves struggling to stick to the guidance and principles given to them by addiction treatment staff.

Everyday life might cause them to forget or abandon what they have learned. To help individuals in this kind of position, there are a variety of aftercare services available in the Bedfordshire area.

12 Step Programs

When people think of treatment for alcoholism or drug use, they might picture groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and Cocaine Anonymous.

These programmes are very present in popular culture and media, but the truth is that they can be very helpful methods of supporting recovering individuals after they have received treatment for addiction in Bedfordshire.

It provides a platform for them to express their feelings, seek advice, and connect with others going through similar difficulties.

In addition to the frequent meetings, individuals are supported by sponsors when they join these programmes.

These are individuals who personally follow an individual’s engagement with the group, ensuring they stay on track and don’t fall into relapse.

SMART Recovery

Another programme centring around meetings, SMART Recovery, is a way for individuals to gain consistent support and advice about their recovery journey.

What makes SMART Recovery unique, however, is the way it helps individuals perceive and approach their ongoing recovery.

SMART keeps individuals focussed on staying motivated, managing their cravings, tackling their day-to-day obstacles, and refraining from substance use.

Doing this keeps them attentive to the present and prevents overarching goals from putting them off.

Home Detox

If relapse does occur, individuals can feel defeated and upset at the prospect of having to start their rehab journey from the beginning. With home detox, however, this might not be necessary.

When an individual falls back into their addictive cycle, home detox can support them in quitting it straight away.

It does this by delivering benzodiazepines – usually Librium – to an individual’s home to reduce the impact of their withdrawal when they stop their usage.

With this method, individuals can stop their consumption and swiftly regain the sobriety that they lost, with the lessons and guidance of rehab still fresh in their minds.

Al/Anon Family Group meetings

Going through recovery and returning to home and work life is stressful for an individual, but it can also have an impact on their family too.

Living with addiction might have been very worrying for them, and living with their recovered relative again can spark new fear.

To support these family members, AI-Anon in Bedfordshire offer sessions which give them the chance to meet and talk to other families going through a similar process.

There they can express worries and exchange advice, develop bonds and establish networks of support.

In addition to helping families cope with the fears and doubts that come with living with a recovered relative, AI/Anon meetings can also improve their ability to support and be there for that person, improving their odds of staying sober.

Outpatient treatment via a local Drug & Alcohol team in Bedfordshire

When looking at rehab in Bedfordshire options, individuals usually have to choose between inpatient and outpatient care.

Even though most cases of severe substance dependency require inpatient rehab, there is no reason why outpatient cannot still be of use.

With this option, they meet with an addiction specialist when they are able to and work through whatever aspect of recovery they feel is most appropriate.

If cravings are becoming too difficult to bear, for example, this can be the focus.

Why should I choose OK Rehab?

For 21 years, we have been helping people abandon addiction and embrace sobriety.

We have dealt with all possible situations, from mild alcohol addiction to severe heroin addiction. Whatever your circumstances, we are equipped to support you.

If you contact OK Rehab, we can arrange immediate help for you. So forget long NHS waiting lists – we will begin searching for a place at a treatment centre in Bedfordshire as soon as you call.

Days or even hours later, we will refer you to a high-quality centre in Bedfordshire or further afield that offers everything you need.

From this point, all you need to do is arrange a start date with the staff at the drug and alcohol rehab and await your month-long stay.

I’m ready to receive help

If you have accepted that you do not want to give in to addiction anymore, you should congratulate yourself. But unfortunately, many people deny their issues, which only worsens the addiction.

Admitting you are ready to receive help shows you have the strength needed to carry you through the taxing recovery process.

OK Rehab can find you a centre in many locations across the UK, so if you do not want to undergo treatment in Bedfordshire, there are plenty of other options out there.

Whatever your preferences regarding location, treatment type, and services, we can help.

Reach out to us today to put an end to your addiction.

We can help you find your ideal drug and alcohol rehab no matter where you live in Bedfordshire, including in Bedford, Leighton Buzzard, Luton, Woburn, Biggleswade, Dunstable, Mauldon, Haughton Regis, Cranfield, Marston Moretaine and many others.

References

[1] https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9039/CBP-9039.pdf

[2] https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/causesofdeath/bulletins/alcoholrelateddeathsintheunitedkingdom/registeredin2020

[3] http://pure-oai.bham.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/25519189/DENIAL_PICKARD_M_L_FINAL_PRE_PROOF.pdf

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