Addictions to drugs and alcohol are the cause of many issues for the person as well as the people around them. This is a disease that ripples out. The effects are felt far and wide. Both physical and mental health are affected, families fall apart, and communities are strained.
Wherever a person might be on their journey with drugs and alcohol, there are benefits to being in contact with rehabilitation services. Those who are casually involved with psychoactive substances find harm reduction techniques as well as general information useful. The earlier the intervention, the easier it is for people to successfully reach abstinence.
For those who are living with moderate to severe addictions, rehabilitation is essential. This is especially so when a person also suffers from the following:
- Mental health problems
- Repeatedly failing to quit and remain abstinent
- Becoming violent when under the influence of the substance
For people living in the Three Rivers area, there are many rehabilitation options available. Call the OK Rehab team today on 0800 326 5559 to find out more.
What addictions are people treated for?
People are treated for many different types of addictions. Some are treated for psychoactive substances. In the UK, the most common substances people are treated for include:
Increasingly, people are entering treatment for addictions to spice, a synthetic cannabis. People also often enter treatment for illegally consumed prescribed medications.
As well as psychoactive substances, people are regularly treated for behavioural addictions. These might exist along with the addictions mentioned above. Behavioural addictions include the following:
It’s also common for people to enter treatment for addictions when they have mental health problems or an eating disorder. In these instances, the person will likely be given a dual diagnosis by a psychiatrist or doctor.
This is essential for the person to access a more in-depth approach to treatment. It will also mean that the treatments will be more specialist in terms of them being adapted to address the needs of two conditions.
How are people assessed about drug and alcohol addiction?
There are various assessments that doctors and psychiatrists use to understand the level of addiction and what treatments are required.
- The DSM-5 scale is used to identify the severity of the addiction. It asks questions about how a person uses substances, whether there is a loss of control or a dependency, and what social problems have developed.
- The ASAM assessment considers the various aspects of a person’s life that have created the conditions for a drug addiction to exist. It looks at a person’s history of health, cognitive processes, current living environment, and approach and attitude to recovery amongst other areas.
- AUDITS is an assessment that defines a person’s relationship with alcohol. It considers how much a person drinks, whether there is a dependency and how this is affecting other areas of their lives.
The difference between NHS and private rehab services
When a person accesses drug and alcohol rehab in the Three Rivers areas, there are two routes they can take: the NHS route or the private rehab option.
Sadly, in recent years the government has made decisions meaning that there have been many budget cuts in the addiction field. This means that NHS services are increasingly strained by a reduction in treatments being offered, staff availability and length of time people can access services.
There are, however, usually provisions made for those wanting to access 12 Step and SMART groups. Some people going the NHS route might also access some counselling treatments through the drug and alcohol workers at the hub.
Private rehab options offer a service where people can access a fully immersive approach to rehabilitation. As an inpatient, 24-hour care is offered. There is a wide range of therapies and activities available that are provided by highly skilled and specialist staff. Outpatient services are also an option at private clinics.
Rehab treatments that are available to you locally
In the Three Rivers area, you have lots of options. This can be a little confusing, especially as it’s unlikely you’ll know what treatments are going to address your addiction the most effectively. OK, Rehab can support you in this area.
It’s helpful to know, though, that the following therapies are on offer:
- Cognitive behavioural therapy: This is where therapists support a person to see where the addiction came from and how to change their thoughts about it. This is where deep-rooted work takes place in changing how you think about the substance.
- Dialectical behavioural therapy: When a person has an addiction, it’s often developed as a type of coping mechanism to deal with extremely distressing events. What this means is that emotions in connection to this can be hard to process. This type of therapy can support a person to heal in this area.
- Motivational interviewing aims to support a person to build self-confidence in their abilities to quit using drugs and alcohol. It’s also a useful place to start understanding what you want to get out of life in terms of positive goals.
- Art and music therapy: Where words can be difficult, alternative therapists offer a different approach to helping you understand your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. This can be incredibly helpful in supporting you in recovery.
What’s involved in a detox?
A detox is essential for all people who have a physical dependence. This is often the case where alcohol, heroin, and benzodiazepines are used. A detox will last up to ten days and is usually addressed by offering the patient a tapered approach to reducing substances by using medications that manage withdrawal.
A managed detox can take place at home if clinical staff assess the person as being low-risk and able to do this.
Where physical dependence exists, people must access a medically supervised detox under rehabilitation services. When people try to quit dependencies alone, it can be extremely dangerous, resulting in seizures, hallucinations, and even death.
Accessing support for addiction in Three Rivers
There are many questions you probably have about rehab services in the Three Rivers area. The OK Rehab team is here to talk you through these and support you towards accessing treatment.
Call us now on 0800 326 5559 to find out more.
