Drug addiction and alcohol addiction can be difficult for everybody involved – not just the person with the addiction. If you think that you or a loved one may be addicted to alcohol or to drugs, we can help. At Help4Addiciton, we can find the right addiction treatment in Brighton, whether it be at a private rehab centre or an NHS-operated rehab treatment centre.
Knowing about drug and alcohol addiction is the first step toward finding treatment. On this page, we are going to talk about alcohol and drug addiction, including the different types (e.g cocaine addiction, prescription drug addiction, etc), as well as what to expect from rehab treatment. Read on to learn more about drug and/ or alcohol addiction and how we can help you on your recovery journey.
What is Drug Addiction?
Drug addiction can affect the circuits in your brain that impact self-control, stress, and reward – it is considered a chronic and relapsing brain disorder. This is because drug addiction can affect your physical health and cause organ damage in the long term.
However, with the right drug addiction treatment, the physical damage to your body caused by drug abuse and drug addiction can be both treatable and preventable. That being said, if you don’t seek help for addiction, the negative effects can last and can even be life-threatening. [i]
Drug addiction is characterised by the lack of control over taking a drug, whether it be a legal drug, prescription drug, or illicit drug. Read on to learn about heroin and opioid addiction, ketamine addiction, cocaine addiction, cannabis addiction, amphetamine addiction, and prescription drug addiction.
Heroin and Opioid Addiction Brighton
Heroin is an addictive opioid drug that is made from morphine – taken from opium poppy seed pods. Although heroin is an illicit drug, some opioid drugs are available on prescription such as codeine, hydrocodone, and oxycodone. [ii]
Opioids alter your central nervous system, binding to your opioid receptors. It can be difficult to break a physical dependence and psychological dependence on heroin and other opioids – which is why we can help to find the right heroin rehab centre for you in Brighton. Contact us to learn more about the heroin and opioid detox and rehab programs available to you in and around the Brighton area, whether it be an inpatient detox or outpatient detox.
Ketamine Addiction Brighton
Ketamine, just like other drugs such as cannabis or opioids, can be addictive. Ketamine has a similar chemical structure to drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines and works to alter your brain’s chemistry.
Because of this, ketamine abuse and long-term ketamine use can cause you to develop a psychological dependence and ultimately ketamine addiction. It is a dissociative anaesthetic that is used in the medical field and veterinary fields – although it is often used recreationally.
Ketamine is no less dangerous than other drugs, which is why it was upgraded from a Class C drug to a Class B drug back in 2014. [iii] If you are struggling to control your ketamine use, we can find the right ketamine addiction treatment for you in Brighton. Scroll down to ‘Finding The Right Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Brighton’ to learn more.
Cocaine Addiction Brighton
Cocaine is a highly addictive drug that can impact both your physical and mental health. Cocaine abuse can even lead to death – and long-term or frequent cocaine use can lead to you developing physical dependence and addiction.
Cocaine is one of the most commonly used illicit drugs in the UK – in fact, around 7/10 of drug users use cocaine on a regular basis. However, only 14% of these people seek help from addiction charities or medical professionals. [iv]
At Help4Addiction, we think this figure should be higher – more people should seek help for their addiction instead of suffering in silence. If you think you have a cocaine addiction, or experience drug withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop using cocaine, contact us today to find the right Brighton rehab for you.
Cannabis Addiction Brighton
Cannabis is considered a habitually addictive drug, and it is possible to develop a psychological dependence on the drug. If you are struggling to control, limit, or stop your cannabis use, then you may have a cannabis addiction.
Cannabis addiction isn’t as uncommon as you may think. Roughly 30% of those who use cannabis may develop symptoms consistent with addiction – for example, drug cravings, lifestyle changes, and damaged relationships. [v] Contact our dedicated team today to learn more about cannabis rehab, and how we can help you on your journey to recovery.
Amphetamine Addiction Brighton
Amphetamines can increase your alertness – which is why they may be prescribed to treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), narcolepsy, and other medical conditions. However, they can be abused and used illicitly. Sometimes known as ‘party drugs’ and ‘smart drugs’, amphetamines can be addictive.
If you are struggling to stop or control your amphetamine use, contact us to find local drug treatment centres in Brighton.
Prescription Drug Addiction Brighton
Prescription drug abuse can not only be dangerous and lead to overdose but can lead to physical dependence and addiction. If you take prescription drugs in any way other than prescribed (e.g taking more than recommended, mixing with other drugs or alcohol, taking someone else’s prescription), then you are abusing prescription medications.
Opioids such as Oxycontin and Codeine are some of the most commonly abused prescription medications, as well as stimulants such as Adderall or Ritalin. [vi] Call us today to learn more about how we can help you overcome prescription drug addiction.
What is Alcohol Addiction?
Alcohol addiction (aka alcoholism) is recognised as a mental and physical illness, characterised by the urge to drink alcohol despite the negative consequences. Alcohol addiction can lead to various physical health issues – and has been found to be a causal factor in over 60 medical conditions. [vii]
At Help4Addiction, we can find the right alcohol rehab for you in Brighton. Contact us today to take your first step into recovery and to find alcohol rehab in Brighton.
Drug and Alcohol Rehab: The Process
The three key steps in any alcohol or drug rehab involve detoxification, therapy, and secondary treatment – however, not all rehab services will offer the latter.
With quality rehab centres for drugs and alcohol located in and around the Brighton area, we’re sure to find you the right treatment centre for substance abuse and addiction. Read on to find out what to expect from the rehab process, from start to finish.
Brighton Drug and Alcohol Detoxification
The first stage of drug or alcohol rehabilitation involves detoxing from the substance you’re addicted to. During this stage, any access to drugs and alcohol will be cut off – allowing you to free your body of the substance.
You’ll liaise with addiction specialists to discuss the best treatment plan for you. You may experience withdrawal symptoms during a drug and alcohol detox. At Help4Addiction, we can find the right detox for you – whether it be a 7-day detox, 14-day detox, 28-day detox, or even longer.
The length of the detox can vary depending on a variety of factors such as the severity of your addiction. With more severe addictions, you may benefit from a longer detox with medical assistance (medically assisted detox) at a residential facility.
Brighton Drug and Alcohol Therapy
The next stage of drug or alcohol rehab can only usually begin once you have successfully detoxed from the substance that you’re addicted to. Once you have dealt with the physical aspect of addiction, you will begin to work on the physiological side to improve your confidence and mental health. If you have existing mental health disorders or mental health issues, this stage can be particularly helpful.
Some forms of therapy that you may be offered in Brighton drug and alcohol rehab include CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), counselling, interpersonal therapy, and group therapy. CBT can be used for a wide variety of addictions – whether it be alcohol addiction, drug addiction, and even food addiction.
It’s based on the belief that your thoughts, actions, and feelings are linked – and that you can break negative patterns/ cycles with therapy. [viii] Some private rehab facilities also offer holistic therapy such as arts or sports therapy. You may also be offered family therapy.
Brighton Secondary Treatment
Many rehab treatment facilities offer secondary treatment – a form of treatment that you continue once you have completed drug or alcohol rehab. The aim of secondary treatment (also known as aftercare) is to ease the transition back into society and your regular life, as well as to prevent relapse. Some common forms of aftercare can include support groups, group therapy, and counselling.
Finding The Right Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Brighton
At Help4Addiction, our addiction experts can work to find the right rehab treatment for you in and around the Brighton area. We have extensive knowledge of drug and alcohol abuse and addiction and can take your personal circumstances and preferences into consideration when locating the right treatment for you.
If you live in or around Brighton, contact us today to find the right rehab for you – whether you’re looking for rehab on an inpatient basis (inpatient residential rehab), or you’d rather attend rehab as an outpatient (outpatient treatment). However, outpatient rehab is generally only recommended for less severe addiction. We can guide you through the process, and find you the addiction support you deserve.
[i] https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drug-misuse-addiction
[ii] https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/heroin
[iii] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26151459
[v] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02530-7
[vi] https://www.verywellmind.com/commonly-abused-medications-67818
[vii] https://alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/fact-sheets/alcohol-statistics
