Finding Drug Rehab in the UK

Last updated on June 30th, 2021 at 10:54 am

All you need to know about getting help for a drug addiction both privately and on the NHS.

*This page was medically reviewed by Dr Robert Lefever on 9^th April 2021.

If you, or somebody you know, is struggling to cope with drug addiction, you don’t have to try and soldier on alone. At Help4Addiction, we’re here to provide support, tailored advice, and recommendations for drug rehab services and treatment centres in your local area.

We offer a free helpline, and we have an extensive network of rehab contacts throughout the UK. If you don’t know where to turn, or you’re worried about a loved one, we are just a phone call away.

What is Drug Rehab?

Drug rehab is something we do when we are addicted to drugs and we want to stop the habit. You can go to rehab for lots of things, not just a drug addiction. Other common rehabilitation programs help you recover from an illness, an eating disorder, or a mental health problem. Drug rehab is one option from a long list.

Drug rehab in the UK involves several stages. First, meet with a medical professional to discuss your options. Second, call a service like ours, and we can help you find the ideal detox and rehab programs for your addiction. Next, discuss a time and day that suit you to start your program, and check into detox when you are ready.

Once you have freed your body of toxins through drug detox, you are ready to begin your rehab program. It will aim to teach you everything you need to know to keep away from drugs in future.

Drug Rehab Statistics and Facts

As of the 2020 ONS reports[i], it is estimated that 1 in 11 UK adults have taken recreational drugs in the last year. This amounts to another alarming statistic – that 7.4% of all adults have used a Class A drug in the last 12 months.

NHS Digital[ii] back up these alarming statistics with a few of their own. In the same period (that’s 2019-2020) they experienced 16,994 admissions for poisoning by drug misuse. Remember, though, that these statistics don’t include Scotland or Northern Ireland.

The NHS don’t stop there, either. They record 99,782 drug-related mental or behavioural hospital admissions. We can also correlate this data with the government’s own findings from previous years, here.

Why do Drug Addicts Go to Rehab?

Many people might assume that they could stop abusing drugs if they wanted to, but in truth, drugs are controlling their lives and they have lost the ability to manage a habit. People go to rehab to get off drugs when the ability to do so has become too much for them to control. There is no shame in rehab.

Inpatient Drug Rehab Vs Outpatient Drug Rehab

We can split our addiction recovery treatments into those issued as an inpatient and those issued as an outpatient, although you do get quasi-residential rehab, too.

What is Inpatient Drug Rehab?

Also known as residential drug rehab, inpatient drug rehab involves staying in a rehab centre and undergoing treatment provided by a team of specialists. When you go to a rehab clinic, you’ll stay for a period of time, usually at least 28 days, and you’ll be provided with a programme, which will be adjusted and customised to suit your individual requirements.

What is Outpatient Drug Rehab?

Inpatient rehab is generally considered the best option for anyone who is battling an addiction to drugs. However, residential treatment is not always a viable option. In this case, outpatient rehab treatment may be recommended. With this option, you attend a drug rehab centre as an outpatient, meaning that you don’t stay over. In most cases, you’ll attend pre-booked sessions and appointments, but you will also have access to professional advice and help if you need it.

What is Quasi-Residential Rehab?

Quasi-residential rehab is your third option in drug rehab programs. In this type of rehab clinic, you live in one residency, and you travel to a place that gives you therapy and other rehab treatments. This will remove you from the circles you have been travelling in that led to your drug use, while simultaneously allowing you to ‘go home’ after a hard day of rehab.

What happens in Rehab? 

There are various options available for people who are seeking drug addiction treatment in the UK. Drug rehab is widely regarded as the best option, as professional treatment boasts much better results than trying to give up on your own.

Drug rehab encapsulates a range of different treatments[iii], which are selected based on the needs of the individual. Some people may have quite different treatment plans to others. In most cases, drug addiction treatment involves three critical phases. These include the following.

1 – Detoxing and coping with withdrawal symptoms

When your body becomes reliant on drugs, or it adapts to processing drugs daily, taking drugs away suddenly results in withdrawal symptoms. The first stage of drug rehabilitation treatment involves removing drugs from the equation. This is known as drug detoxing. This is when drug withdrawal symptoms are at their worst. These include:

• Nausea and sickness
• Sweating
• Hallucination
• Heavy, rapid breathing
• Seizures and shaking[iv][v]

2 – Therapy

Once your withdrawal symptoms are under control, and you’ve stopped taking drugs, the focus of drug rehab treatment turns to preventing further problems in the future and encouraging you to build up strength and confidence. Addiction doesn’t just happen, and often, there are causes or life events that contribute to losing control of drug taking. The aim of therapy is to identify potential triggers and gain an understanding of what caused you to take drugs in the first place.  

3 – After rehab

Unfortunately, drug addiction cannot be cured overnight, and most people require help for a long period of time. After intensive rehab treatment, support isn’t just cut off. After rehab, most people will continue to see a therapist, and many are actively encouraged to join groups that take place every week or a couple of times a month. Building friendships and being around people who know what you’ve been going through can be amazingly helpful and reassuring in the outside world.

Drug Rehab and a Dual Diagnosis

Often, drug addiction is linked to existing mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety. If an individual does have symptoms of a psychological condition, a dual diagnosis may be confirmed. Dual diagnosis drug rehab is specially designed to tackle both the signs and symptoms of addiction and the mental health condition. It’s incredibly important to seek professional help for addiction and mental health problems because there are certain treatments, for example, some forms of medication, that could make symptoms of underlying illnesses worse.     

Can you get Drug Rehab for Free in the UK?

Treatment for drug addiction is available through the NHS, but this usually relates to medication and talking therapies, rather than rehab. In most cases, patients are encouraged to seek treatment at private drug rehab facilities. NHS rehab is only ever issued as a last resort.

There are private drug rehab centres all over the UK, and most provide intensive, residential treatment programmes. There are luxury drug rehab centres on offer, as well as those that are more affordable. If you don’t know where to turn, and you need advice about finding a drug rehab centre in your local area, we are here to help.

Drugs that You Might Need Rehab to Quit

Some drugs can be quite without rehab. For example, if your doctor takes you off aspirin for your heart condition and moves you to something stronger, you should have no problem. It is only certain types of drugs that require detox and rehab to quit.

Some of these drugs include:

•       Heroin and opioids
•       Opiate painkillers such as Tramadol and Codeine, which have been prescribed from a doctor.
•       Antianxiety or antidepressant medications and other psychiatric drugs
•       Cocaine and crack cocaine
•       Benzodiazepines
•       Amphetamines
•       Marijuana
•       Crystal meth
•       Hallucinogenics like mushrooms or acid.

·        Party drugs like MDMA, GHB or Ketamine.

How Long does it take to Rehab for Drugs?

The time it takes to complete drug rehab will vary according to your genetics, metabolism, height, weight, and sex. It also depends on the drug you take. On average, drug rehab can take 7 days, 14 days, or 28 days. It can take a lot longer, too, depending on the nature of your addiction.

Signs you Might Need Drug Rehab

Taking drugs from time to time, whether they are legal (prescription drugs) or illegal, does not constitute an addiction. One of the most difficult, but crucial steps somebody who is addicted to drugs can take is to realise and accept that they have a problem. If you’re worried about how often you take drugs, or you have concerns about a friend or relative, here are some common signs of drug addiction:

•       Becoming withdrawn and spending less time with friends and family
•       Lying about your drug taking habits
•       Getting into debt or stealing to fund drugs
•       Continuing to use drugs even if you’re anxious or scared about the consequences
•       Thinking about drugs all the time and planning your days around the next hit
•       Losing interest in hobbies
•       Hiding drugs from friends and family
•       Changes in your sleep habits[vi][vii]

Moving from Rehab to Aftercare/Secondary Treatment

Addiction treatment for drugs or alcohol is not a quick and easy process. The longer you have been in addiction, the longer you should consider staying in Treatment. It can generally vary from 2 weeks to 3 months. Having a thorough aftercare plan in place for when you leave the treatment Centre is crucial to someone’s recovery.

Aftercare, or secondary treatment, usually involves ongoing group support, telephone hotlines, and can even include a sponsor.

What’s the Cost of Private Drug Rehab in the UK?

For many people, cost is a major concern. While the NHS does provide free treatment for drug addiction, this doesn’t usually include rehab programmes. If you want to go to a rehab clinic, you’ll usually have to pay for private care. The cost of drug rehab treatment varies according to the clinic you choose, and the treatment programme you follow. Typically, you can expect to pay around £1,000 per week for residential rehab, but prices for luxury rehab can be ten times the amount.

Is Detox part of Drug Rehab?

Drug Detox is the first step of your rehab journey. You can do the detox without going on to rehab, although we don’t recommend it. Although they are separate issues, they are intricately linked. You cannot go through rehab unless you detox from drugs, even though you might do a detox and not go to rehab.

So yes, detox is part of rehab… but rehab isn’t part of detox.

Get Help finding Drug Rehab Today

Drug addiction is incredibly dangerous, and the sooner you seek drug rehab help, the better. At Help4Addiction, we work closely with drug rehab clinics all over the UK, and we can recommend treatment centres in your local area.

Give us a call and let our rehab selection service guide you through your choice in drug rehab clinics throughout England and Wales.

[i] https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/drugmisuseinenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2020

[ii] https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/statistics-on-drug-misuse/2020

[iii] https://www.verywellmind.com/what-can-i-expect-at-a-drug-and-alcohol-rehab-program-67865

[iv] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310652/

[v] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_withdrawal

[vi] https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/drug-addiction-getting-help/

[vii] https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/signs-of-drug-addiction

Frequently Asked Questions