Drug and alcohol abuse can not only harm you but take a toll on your loved ones too. If you are seeking addiction treatment, whether it be for drugs (e.g cocaine, heroin, cannabis, prescription drugs), or alcohol, we can help.
At Help4Addiction, we’re in contact with a variety of Manchester rehab treatment centres that can help you kick your addiction once and for all – both NHS-operated centres and private rehab clinics. Read on to learn more about drug and alcohol addiction, as well as the drug/ alcohol rehab treatment process.
What is Addiction?
In terms of drugs and alcohol, addiction is characterised by the lack of control over taking a substance despite the negative physical, social, and mental consequences it may present. Although addiction is most frequently associated with smoking, drugs, and alcohol, you can be addicted to pretty much anything, from work to chocolate. [i]
Last year, over 275,000 people contacted drugs and alcohol services [ii]. However, at Help4Addiction, we think this figure should be higher – after all, there are over 600,000 dependent drinkers in the UK alone – and only 18% of them are receiving treatment. [iii] Read on to learn more about drug addiction including the different types – cocaine, heroin/ opiates, cannabis, ketamine, and prescription drugs – as well as alcohol addiction.
Drug Addiction
Knowing about drug addiction is the first step before you begin treatment or even seek treatment. Substance abuse can lead to addiction, which can have negative consequences in all aspects of your life.
Many drugs can be addictive, whether you take prescription drugs such as sedatives, opiates, stimulants, antipsychotic medications, depressants, and antianxiety medications – or illicit drugs/ illegal drugs such as heroin, cocaine, cannabis, ketamine, crack, etc.
Cocaine Addiction
Cocaine is one of the most commonly used drugs in the UK second only to cannabis. [iv] Cocaine changes the way your brain works – it alters the signal process between your neurotransmitters and the receptors such as dopamine.
Frequent cocaine use and cocaine abuse can lead to you developing cocaine dependence and ultimately cocaine addiction. If you’re looking for treatment for cocaine addiction in Manchester, contact us today.
Heroin/ Opioid Addiction
Heroin is an illicit drug that enters your brain quickly, causing an intense (and fast) high. Long-term and repetitive heroin and opioid use can lead to you developing a tolerance – so you’ll feel the need to take more of the drug to feel the same effect, or to simply feel ‘normal’. [v]
Opioids such as heroin are highly addictive – and excessive consumption and opioid abuse can lead to overdose and even death. Prescription opioids such as codeine are chemically similar to heroin and produce a similar high.
Opioids affect your CNS (central nervous system), binding to the opioid receptors in your body to block certain signals – acting as effective pain relief. This can also lead to feelings of euphoria – that can contribute to the addiction. Contact us today to find out how we can help you kick your heroin addiction.
Cannabis Addiction
Long-term and frequent use of cannabis can lead to you developing a cannabis addiction. In fact, as many as 30% of those who use cannabis will develop symptoms consistent with cannabis addiction/ cannabis use disorder. [vi]
This includes changes in lifestyle, relationship issues, cravings for cannabis, and being unable to stop smoking or consuming cannabis/ marijuana. If you think you may be addicted to cannabis, we can help – contact us today to learn more.
Ketamine Addiction
Frequent ketamine use can lead to you developing a psychological dependence on the drug that can be tough to break. At Help4Addiction, we can find the right ketamine addiction treatment for you in Manchester.
Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic that is used in the medical field and the veterinary field – however, it is also used in the ‘party’ scene. In the UK, ketamine is illegal for recreational use and is considered a controlled substance. [vii]
Prescription Drug Addiction
Prescription drugs can be as addictive as alcohol and illicit drugs. The key types of prescription drug addiction include sedatives, opiates, stimulants, antipsychotic medications, and antidepressants and antianxiety medications.
Just because you have been prescribed a drug, that doesn’t mean that you can’t get addicted to it or that it’s not dangerous – especially if you abuse your prescription drug.
The risk of becoming addicted to prescription drugs is increased if you abuse your prescription – this could involve taking more than recommended, taking somebody else’s prescription, or mixing your prescription with any other drug or substance such as alcohol. Prescription drug abuse is essentially taking prescription drugs in any way other than being advised by the doctor.
Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol addiction is a form of alcohol use disorder – informally known as alcoholism. It’s a recognised mental and physical illness that is characterised by the urge or need to drink alcohol despite the negative effects. Those addicted to alcohol typically abuse alcohol and are dependent on alcohol.
This can affect your life in many ways, including your finances, relationships, career, and mental and physical health. If you think you or a loved one is addicted to alcohol, contact us today to discuss how we can help you lower and control your alcohol consumption.
What To Expect From Manchester Drug and Alcohol Rehab
Read on to learn more about the different rehab treatments available in Manchester, from detox to secondary treatment.
Depending on your preferences and addiction, you may want to undergo inpatient rehab at a residential treatment centre with medical professionals – or outpatient rehab and attend sessions at a centre. The rehab process can vary from centre to centre – but the main structure of addiction treatments remains the same: detox, therapy, and aftercare.
Drug or Alcohol Detox Manchester
The aim of the detox process is to free your body of the drug and break the physical addiction. This stage aims at dealing with the physical aspect of addiction as opposed to the social and behavioural aspects. [viii]
The detoxification process can be difficult and you may experience unpleasant and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. You may choose to undergo an inpatient detox at a residential rehab facility with medical supervision (medically assisted detox).
Drug and Alcohol Addiction Therapy Manchester
Once you have successfully detoxed from drugs or/ and alcohol, you can proceed to the second stage of drug and alcohol rehab. This stage aims at dealing with the psychological and behavioural aspects of addiction by promoting your well-being, your mental health, and building your confidence and mental strength.
You may be offered a range of therapies, whether it be group therapy, counselling, or one to one therapy. CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) is a popular form of therapy in rehab, aimed at breaking the negative patterns of behaviour, actions, thoughts, and feelings, and dealing with existing mental health issues.
Some rehab clinics also offer holistic therapies such as sports or art therapy – however, you’ll usually only find this in a private rehab facility.
Secondary Treatment/ Aftercare Manchester
Upon completing therapy, you may wish to continue secondary treatment as an outpatient – with the aim of easing your transition back into your normal life and preventing relapse.
The recovery process can be long, but aftercare can ease the transition. You may want to undergo individual therapy or attend support groups (such as alcoholics anonymous) and/ or group therapy.
Finding The Right Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Manchester
It can be a difficult step to contact alcohol rehab services and other addiction treatment services – but we can make the process easier for you. We can find the right drug and alcohol treatment for you to help you kick your addiction once and for all.
At Help4Addiction, we’re in contact with treatment facilities in and around the Manchester area. Whether you have a drug or alcohol addiction, there’s a rehab centre in Manchester for you.
When browsing for rehab clinics, you may want to consider the location – is it commutable? Will you be staying there as an inpatient or visiting as an outpatient? Does the facility offer aftercare? What therapies are available?
We can take your needs and preferences into account when finding the right Manchester rehab centre for you – whether you’re looking for alcohol rehab in Manchester or drug rehab. We want you to make a full recovery and live a drug-free life, so be sure to contact us so we can help you.
[i] https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/addiction-what-is-it/
[iii] https://alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/fact-sheets/alcohol-statistics
[iv] https://www.statista.com/topics/7547/drug-use-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/
[v] https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/heroin
[vi] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02530-7
