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Drug & Alcohol Rehab Watford

At Help4Addiction, we are here to offer free advice and information to help you find the best drug & alcohol rehab services throughout Watford. With the growing accessibility of drugs and the increasing awareness of the dangers of addiction, we know that a helping hand is often the best way to effectively combat dependence on drugs and alcohol. For that reason, we offer free, impartial advice, taking into consideration your needs, the severity of your addiction, lifestyle factors, and budget. By finding the best and most cost-effective options, we can help the road to recovery all the more accessible.

Let’s explore some of the most common questions you might have about finding alcohol & drug rehab in Watford. From what to expect to how long the process takes, we hope to educate you on the journey ahead so you’re more comfortable in making the change that you need.

What is residential rehab

Most people that get in touch with Help4Addiction eventually choose residential rehab. It’s sometimes funded by the NHS, but most regularly privately funded, and offers quick access to some of the most effective treatments available. In residential rehab, you live in the rehab centre for the duration of treatment. Family and friends can visit once the detox process is complete, especially thanks to the range of accessible locations in Watford. Despite the seclusion, residential rehab is often recommended as the quickest way to get back to an addiction-free life.

The first step in rehab

When you first arrive at a residential rehab facility, you begin with the detox process. This is a medically assisted step in which drugs and alcohol are effectively flushed from the body. Depending on the substance being detoxed and the severity of the addiction, it can take anywhere from a few days to three weeks. During the detox process, you are very likely to experience a range of withdrawal symptoms, too.

Some may only experience emotional withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, panic attacks, and mood swings. Others can experience heart palpitations, sleeplessness, nausea, sweating, the shakes and more. The medical staff on hand will be there to monitor you to ensure that you are kept safe and that the worst of the side effects are properly treated with the right medication.

What happens after detox?

When detox is complete, the rehab program tends to focus on counselling and therapy to help you beat the other side of addiction. This includes developing behavioural tools and habits that help you avoid the triggers that lead to relapse. It also includes tackling negativity and ways of thinking that lead to addictive behaviours. It can also include treating the underlying stress, anxiety, depression, or past traumas that have become linked to addiction. From psychotherapy to cognitive behavioural therapy, from group to individual therapy, there is a range of techniques that can be included in your rehab plan.

Types of treatment on offer

Which types of treatment, including counselling and therapy, are recommended to you may depend on the personal factors playing a role in your addiction, as well as which centre you are considering seeking treatment from. Before you begin any program, you are very likely to go through a personal assessment during which your options are laid out and a professional guides you to help choose the best ones for you.

There are a wide range of medical treatments that have been proven to significantly improve your chances of recovery. There are also holistic services that aim to improve your wellbeing in mind, body, and soul, and also work to develop positive mindsets and develop hobbies and interests that give you distance from your addiction.

The treatments on offer from drug & alcohol rehab centres in Watford include medically assisted detoxification, cognitive behavioural therapy, trauma counselling, group therapy, family and couples’ therapy. Following the intensive weeks or months of treatment at the residential centre, you can also expect a longer-term program to be drawn up for aftercare and relapse prevention, which may involve ongoing therapy or attending a support group. This is to ensure that the techniques learned, and benefits gained from rehab are kept long after you leave.

How long does rehab last?

The answer to this question differs from person to person. Factors that contribute to the length of a rehab program include health issues, age, the severity of addiction, and personal circumstances like family, education, and occupation. On average, it’s recommended you take 28 days at a minimum for any rehab program, whether residential or outpatient. However, sometimes, a program may last for up to three months. It’s best to let rehab take as long as it takes.

How much does rehab cost?

On the NHS, you may receive free access to counselling, detox services, and more that can help you fight addiction. With help from local addiction assistance groups, you may even get some funding to pay for a residential treatment but, in most cases, treatment through the NHS is strictly residential.

Private treatment can cost anywhere from £1,000 to £10,000 a week. For the most expensive. The factors that play into price include not only the kinds of treatment available, but the location, the comfort, and the luxuries available. Not everyone will find a private pool necessary for their recovery, after all, so treatment can be a lot more affordable than you might expect.

Other forms of support.

Most drug & alcohol rehab centres in Watford offer over a year of free aftercare once the program is complete. This can include check-ins to ensure that you are keeping to the plan and access to support groups that help you further celebrate victories and address your struggles, making sure that the healthy lifestyle you have developed is sustained as best as possible.

If you believe that you need help with a drug or alcohol addiction, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Help4Addiction. We’re here to provide the free advice that can help you better look at the options available to you and to help you understand what you can expect from the recovery process. We have strong ties to a range of medical professionals, counsellors, support groups, and drug rehab facilities in Watford and are glad to provide all the information at our disposal.

 

Other Related Areas To Consider For Rehab

London,Greenwich, Croydon, Slough, Barnet, Chelsea, Fulham, Hampstead, Highgate, Knightsbridge, Notting Hill, Hackney, Essex, Surrey, West Brompton, Hertfordshire, Luton

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Detoxification (detox) is the medical intervention required for someone who is physically dependent to drugs or alcohol. If required, medical detoxification would be the first step taken in residential rehab. Detox is used to prevent uncomfortable and dangerous (even fatal) withdrawals symptoms resulting in suddenly becoming abstinent from alcohol/certain drugs.

The goal of a medical detox is to aid in the physical healing required following long term addiction and rid the body of all together of substance whilst providing a cushion for unpleasant symptoms of withdrawals. Detox is not considered the whole treatment for drug/alcohol addiction and it is always recommended that a comprehensive rehabilitation program is used along side to help maintain long term abstinence.

Medication is often required for alcohol detox. If you are dependent on alcohol and experiencing withdrawal symptoms it is vitally important to seek medical advice prior to stopping. There is a long list of medications used when treating alcohol addiction and the exact medication given to an individual will depend on their needs/medical history. Some of these include;

  • Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
  • Lorazepam (Ativan)
  • Diazapam (vailium)


Librium and Valium are the most commonly used detox medication in the UK. All medication used to help with alcohol detox have been proven to help reduce the effects of withdrawal symptoms.

There are also a number of drugs recombined by the NHS to help treat alcohol misuse. Some of these include:

  • Naltrexone
  • Disulfiram (Antabuse)
  • Nalmefene
  • Acamprosate (campral)

Medication is always required for heroin detox. For someone suffering from heroin addiction, the thought of detoxification (detox) can be exceptionally daunting. Withdrawal symptoms from opiates, such as heroin, can be severe and include pain, vomiting, nausea and shaking.

There are different ways that heroin detox can be carried out, most usually either ‘maintenance therapy’ or ‘full medical detox’.

Attempting to switch from heroin to a heroin substitute, usually on a controlled prescription, is known as Maintenance therapy. Subsites used are most often methadone or buprenorphine.

A full medical detox from heroin will always be carried out in a residential rehab setting and will allow the individual to switch form heroin to a substitute and slowly withdraw completing treatment free of all substances. Someone using a heroin substitute can choose to have a full medical detox at any time, however detoxing substances such a methadone can often add to the length of detox required. Drugs most commonly used to fully detox from heroin are, Subutex, Suboxone and Methadone. Much like alcohol, the exact drugs used will be dependent on the individuals needs/medical history.

Once detoxed from heroin the risk of overdose is much higher following relapse due to tolerance following withdrawal.

The length of treatment in a residential rehab depends on a number of elements. Some substances require longer periods of detox than others.

Private paying patients will also often choose a length of stay that suites their therapeutic and financial needs. As a rule, a full treatment program in a rehab is considered to be 28 days (often referred to as a month), however, treatment is offered in several different ways and lengths starting at 7 days.

Treating alcohol addiction will always require a minimum of 7-10 days, this would be considered the detoxification (detox) faze. The length required for treating drug addiction can vary drastically depending on the substance being used. Detox for Heroin addiction is generally around 14 days minimum, with more time required if substances such a methadone are being used. Treating prescription drug addiction can often take the longest. The time required for treating gambling addiction, eating disorders and sex addiction will be based on the individuals needs.

Rehab programs can be as long as an individual requires but primary treatment is normally caped at 12 weeks, with the offering for further secondary and tertiary treatment thereafter.

*based on average rehab stays, everyone will vary dependant on needs and medical requirement/history.

There is no need for your employer to know that you are seeking help for trauma and addiction unless you choose to involve them with the process. All employers should have a policy that explains what you do if you cannot come to work due to illness – illness to include treating alcohol addiction/treating drug addiction.

If your work absence extends over 7 days your employer is likely to require an official statement of fitness to work which would be obtained from your GP. This would need to supply evidence of your illness as well as any adjustments required for returning to work, fazed return or reduced hours, but does not need to specify in detail the reason why you have been absent.

If you are absent from work for 7 days of less, for example entering rehab for a detoxification (detox) on a Saturday for 7-10 days taking a full week away from work, you can self-certify your illness by letting your employer work you will not be attending work for that period of time. Exactly how an individual would do this would be dependent on a specific companies’ policies on taking sick leave.

Any time longer than 7 days it is likely an employer will require a note from the individuals GP certifying their sickness and a fit note on return. Most companies have a clearly outlined policy on sickness and receiving sick pay so the exact requirement can vary. A rehab will always be willing to advise on time off work.

How much does rehab cost is a very frequently asked question. The cost of treatment can range from £1,000 per week upwards depending on the place, with luxury rehab being the most expensive.

There are free options available on the NHS but the waitlist of those looking for free treatment is longer than that for privately paying patients. Some private health insurance policies will cover treatment in some rehabs around the country.

Choosing the right rehab centre will often be based on priced but it is important to follow guidance on the most suitable treatment centre for an individual’s needs which our expert team of advisers are on hand to offer.

There are certainly pro’s for both treatment near by and traveling for treatment with one of the most asked question being should I get rehab near me? There are rehabs all over the UK and around the world that all offer expert programs, let’s look at how to choose a rehab.

Local treatment

Being close to home gives certainly has benefits. Visitors are normally permitted in rehab following the first 7 days stay, therefore if an individual is in treatment for a length of time longer than that being local will make it easier for loved ones to visit.

Most rehab centres will also provide a full aftercare plan for someone following treatment, this will include ongoing aftercare in the specific treatment centre. Living close by can make it easy to take full advantage of ongoing aftercare. There can also often be the option for ongoing care with an individual therapist, again being close by will allow that treatment to be carried out face to face.

Some individuals wish to be local but are willing to look broader, for instance the greater city of residence (London, Manchester, Liverpool, etc)

Treatment Away

Getting treatment away from home can be very appealing to some. Being out of the local area makes it a lot harder to just walk out of treatment as resources locally are unknown. Some also take comfort in knowing that they are not near home and focus more on treatment.

As the price for treatment can vary so much from one residential treatment centre to another, private paying patients often would rather travel to keep the cost down. Those using private health insurance may also have to travel to find a treatment centre covered in their policy.

When opting for treatment away from home this can be anywhere in the UK and also abroad. Aftercare can still be carried out and very successful using tools such as The Online Rehab.

There is no right or wrong when choosing where to go to residential rehab, but our expert advisors are always on hand to help provide information on all possible options.

Whilst millions of people in the UK have taken recreational drugs (amphetamine, cannabis, cocaine, crack, crystal meth, GHB, heron, ketamine, methadone, and prescription drugs) and drank alcohol not all become ‘addicted’. Most recent reports show that 279,793 individuals were in contact with drug and alcohol misuse services in the last year with over half of that being from opiate addiction and a quarter for alcohol.

There are several risk factors invoiced in addiction and those using drugs and alcohol socially, simply take the risk. These risks are as follows;

Tolerance – basically, if a substance is used repeatedly an individual’s tolerance to it will build. This will result in more of the same substance being required to get the same effect. In the long run this can easily lead to addiction and physical dependencies.

Environmental risks – these can include influences such a peer pressure and stress as well as physical or mental abuse of an individual (particularly as a child). Overall, those who live with frequent pressures and stress are more likely to reach for a substance to cope and are therefore at higher risk of becoming addicted.

Drug type – it is very well known that certain drugs are simply more addictive than others. Using substances such as heroin increases the risk of becoming addicted for need to ‘chase’ a high as well as physical dependency.

Drug administration – how a drug is administered can affect its addictive qualities. A drug injected rather than smoked or snorted will release a quicker and more intense high thus making it psychologically (and in many cases physically) more addictive.

Biological factors – it is now widely reported that being an addict is not only psychological but also biological. This includes your genetic makeup, mental health, sex and age. It is also reported to be 8 times more likely for the child of an addict to become an addict themselves.

Its believed that addiction is approximately half genetics and therefore some are 50% more likely to become addicted than others.

How do you help a loved one trapped in addiction?

The first step is to help and encourage the individual to become willing to accept help. They do not need to be shouting this off the rooftops, but they do need to be willing to go into treatment. There are ways to help someone become willing to get treatment for alcohol or treatment for drugs.

Set boundaries – set boundaries and stick to them. Once you have laid them out follow through with whatever consequences you have set however hard it is.

Stop finances – if you are financially supporting someone stopping these finances can be the quickest way for the addict needing to ask for help. With no money to acquire a substance an addict’s options become very limited.

Intervention – getting together with other family members/friends/colleagues and staging an intervention is often very successful in the fist stage of acceptance and gaining an admission to residential rehab.

You can’t make them quit, this can lead to dangerous withdrawal. Boundaries are very important in helping someone become willing to get help. Unfortunately you cannot do someone’s recovery for them and without self-motivation it is very hard to make it work.

The next step is to call our highly trained advisers 0203 955 7700.

There is a huge range of rehab options available and where to start can be completely over whelming so let us help.