Contact us today for drug and alcohol treatment in London. We can find the right drug or alcohol addiction rehab for you and your requirements and preferences, whether you want to attend a private rehab clinic or NHS-operated rehab.
There are inpatient treatment facilities and outpatient treatment centres located all around the London area. Read on to learn about drug addiction and alcohol addiction – and the addiction treatment process from detoxification to aftercare.
Types of Drug and Alcohol Addiction
Drug addiction and alcohol addiction can be debilitating, affecting all aspects of your life – from your relationships to your career and finances.
Both can also negatively impact your physical and mental health. You don’t have to go at it alone – we can find the right treatment for you, whether it be in North London, South London, West London, or East London.
According to the NHS, addiction is characterised by the lack of control overdoing something, taking something, or using something – despite the negative consequences that may occur. [i] In terms of drug and alcohol addiction, addiction is when you can’t control your substance use – and may relapse if you try to stop taking a drug or drinking alcohol.
Drug and alcohol use can turn into abuse and ultimately addiction; it can become a slippery slope that may be difficult to recover from.
If you want to reach out for help for your alcohol or drug addiction – you’re not on your own. Over 275,000 people contacted drug and alcohol services last year [ii]. Read on to learn more about the different types of drug and alcohol addiction, from heroin addiction to cannabis addiction.
Heroin Addiction/ Opiate Addiction
Heroin is highly addictive. It works by altering your central nervous system, binding to the opioid receptors to block certain signals to your brain (pain signals). Prescription opioids such as codeine or tramadol are chemically similar to heroin and produce similar highs. Substance abuse can be deadly when it comes to abusing opioids and heroin.
Treating a heroin addiction and addiction to other opioids can be tough, and the detox period from heroin may be particularly uncomfortable. For most opiate addictions, we recommend inpatient treatment and a medically supervised detox. Contact us to discuss your treatment options today.
Prescription Drug Addiction
Anybody could become addicted to prescription drugs, even if you follow the doctor’s advice and take your drug as prescribed. However, the chances of developing dependence and addiction to prescription drugs are greatly increased if you abuse prescription medication. Prescription drug addiction can count as taking prescription medication in any way other than prescribed.
This can include taking a higher dose than recommended, taking the drug more frequently than prescribed, taking other people’s prescription drugs, or mixing prescription drugs with alcohol or other drugs. If you are struggling to stop taking your prescription medication, we can find the right London treatment centre for you.
Ketamine Addiction
Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic that is used in the medical and veterinary fields. Despite this, it is a controlled drug in the UK [iii] and is illegal to use on a recreational basis.
The drug can leave you feeling relaxed and sedated – and frequent or long term use can lead to you developing a psychological dependence that can be tough to break. We can help to break your psychological dependence on ketamine by finding the right London rehab facility for your ketamine addiction.
Cocaine Addiction
Cocaine is one of the most used illegal drugs in the UK – second only to cannabis [iv]. Cocaine is highly addictive, and frequent or long-term cocaine use can lead to you developing a physical dependence on the drug. Cocaine affects your dopamine system which can result in you feeling the need to take more cocaine just to feel pleasure. [v]
If you are addicted to cocaine and stop taking the drug suddenly or lower the amount you take, you may experience uncomfortable and unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. If you or somebody you know is addicted to cocaine, we can find the best cocaine rehab centre for you in and around the London area.
Cannabis Addiction
Cannabis is the most used illicit drug in the UK and has been for a while. [vi] Cannabis is typically smoked, but can also be ingested (edibles), or taken orally using drops.
If you find yourself unable to stop using cannabis or unable to manage/ control your cannabis use, we can find the right treatment centre for you. You’re not alone – as many as 30% of those who take cannabis develop symptoms consistent with cannabis addiction. [vii]
Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol is one of the most common forms of addiction in the UK – and also one of the most dangerous. There are an estimated 600,000+ people in the UK who are addicted to alcohol, and only 18% of these people receive treatment.
Alcohol can have negative effects on all aspects of your life, especially your physical health. In fact, alcohol is a causal factor in over 60 medical conditions. [viii]
Alcohol addiction is characterised by the lack of control over your alcohol consumption and is the most severe form of alcohol use disorder. Contact us today to find out what local rehab clinics and alcohol rehab treatments are available to you in London.
The Drug and Alcohol Rehab Process London
Drug and alcohol addiction treatments can vary from clinic to clinic – however, the three main stages remain the same. The process starts with detoxification, moves on to therapy, and finishes with secondary treatment.
You may wish to undergo alcohol or drug rehab as an inpatient at a residential treatment centre or attend as an outpatient at an outpatient rehab facility.
Drug and Alcohol Detox London
At Help4Addiction, we can find you a London drug or alcohol detox treatment that lasts 7-days, 14-days, 28-days, or even more. The detoxification process is the first stage of the drug treatment process and aims at dealing with the physical aspect of addiction.
While you are detoxing from drugs or alcohol, you may experience unpleasant and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Depending on the severity of your addiction, the withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous and even life-threatening. You may benefit from inpatient treatment at a residential rehab centre – a medically assisted detox.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction Therapy London
Upon completing a detox, whether it be from drugs or alcohol, you may proceed to the next stage of rehab. Therapy aims at dealing with the psychological aspect of addiction, as well as the behavioural aspect – however, this stage is only recommended once you have broken the physical dependence, as it aims at dealing with addictive behaviours.
Therapy during rehab can help you to build your confidence, promote your well-being, and improve your mental health in general – whether it be existing mental health conditions (e.g post-traumatic stress disorder) or addiction-related mental health problems.
Most rehab centres will offer a range of therapies, including counselling, interpersonal therapy, group therapy, and CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy). CBT is a form of therapy that can be effective in treating a wide range of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, as well as alcohol abuse and drug abuse. [ix]
Group therapy is effective as it can introduce you to others who are in a similar situation. Private rehab treatment may offer a wider range of therapies – e.g holistic therapy and mindfulness.
Secondary Treatment London
After you have completed alcohol or drug rehab, you may find the transition back into your normal life difficult. Addiction recovery can be tough – which is why many alcohols and drug rehab centres, both NHS rehab and private treatment, offer secondary treatment/ aftercare.
Secondary treatment often involves support groups such as AA (alcoholics anonymous), group therapy and counselling – and can be effective in terms of relapse prevention and drug and alcohol recovery.
Helping You Find London Drug or Alcohol Addiction Treatment
At Help4Addiction, we have relationships with many local rehab treatment centres in and around London – so can find you the best drug or alcohol rehab in London. We understand how hard that first step towards treatment for addiction can be, which is why we will discuss your treatment options with you in a friendly and sympathetic manner.
Wherever you are based in London, we can find the best rehab treatment for you. Whether you’re addicted to heroin, struggle with cannabis abuse, or can’t control your alcohol consumption, we can guide you and find the right rehab clinic for you and your circumstances. Contact our addiction specialists for support in London today.
[i] https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/addiction-what-is-it/
[iii] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ketamine
[iv] https://www.statista.com/topics/7547/drug-use-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/
[v] https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/cocaine
[vii] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02530-7
[viii] https://alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/fact-sheets/alcohol-statistics
[ix] https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral
