How Much Does Rehab Cost In The UK?
Are you looking for rehab but unsure whether you can afford it? Let us make this decision easier for you by outlining how much rehab costs in the UK.
It’s important to address substance abuse issues, whether it be drug addiction or alcohol addiction. Reaching out for help and attending rehab is the best thing you can do.
Knowing the drug and alcohol rehab cost can prepare you for any unpleasant surprises, allowing you to ensure you get the right treatment for you.
This article was last reviewed and updated by Nicholas Conn in April 2024.
Rehab Cost UK Explained
Inpatient treatment is more expensive than outpatient treatment. This is because you are paying for additional costs such as utilities and food.
Private rehab can vary in length – you may stay at a private rehab centre for a minimum of 28 days – however, if you have a severe addiction, you may spend upwards of six weeks in rehab.
The amount that addiction rehab costs pretty much depends on the length of your stay – the longer you receive addiction treatment, the more it will cost you.
There are a range of rehab options available, from outpatient rehab to luxury rehab. This can make it difficult to give you a price estimate.
However, as a ballpark figure, we’ll estimate that live-in rehab typically begins at around £2,000 per week of treatment. This means that a 28-day treatment plan can cost around £8,000.
Rehab prices can fluctuate – with some private clinics charging over £10,000 per week. If you are considering rehab, speak with us to get a more accurate estimate of how much it will cost you.
| Rehab Service | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Initial Assessment | Free with Help4Addiction |
| Private Home Detox | Approx £1,850 |
| Outpatient Rehab | Approx £1,000 per week |
| Online Rehab | Approx £2,500 for a month-long programme |
| Comprehensive Residential Rehab | Between £8,000 and £30,000 per month |
| Luxury Residential Rehab | £3,000+ per week |
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Cost of Detoxification
Alcohol and drug abuse can quickly turn into a physical dependence, which can be difficult to overcome without treatment. This is why detoxification is so important; it addresses the physical aspect of addiction – dependence.
This is the first stage of alcohol and drug rehab treatment. Depending on the severity of your addiction, you may benefit from a thorough medical detox with the assistance of medical professionals. Sometimes, detox medication is administered to ease the withdrawal symptoms.
In some cases, if you have a mild addiction (for example, mild alcoholism or a mild cannabis addiction), you may be eligible for a private home detox.
This costs £1,850 – however, if you are detoxing as part of a larger rehab plan, whether it be a 7-day plan, 14-day plan or 28-day plan, the cost of detoxification will be included in the overall rehab cost.
We usually recommend that you undergo a detox as part of a larger plan – detoxing without counselling can increase the risk of relapsing, which can be more expensive in the long run.
The Cost of Addiction Therapy
Therapy is a necessary stage of rehab in the UK – not only can it improve your confidence and mental strength, but improve your mental health overall. Likewise, addiction therapy sessions can teach you valuable and effective coping techniques that can help to prevent and manage relapses.
There are a range of therapies offered in rehab – for example, group therapy, counselling, CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), interpersonal therapy, and many more. Private rehab clinics may also offer holistic therapies.
Generally speaking, the more therapies that a rehab clinic offers, the higher the cost of the rehab programme. Each week of rehab will cost you approximately £1,400 in the UK.
The Cost of Secondary Treatment
Upon leaving rehab and being discharged, you can continue to receive ongoing support in the form of secondary treatment. The transition from rehab to your everyday life can be difficult, but a secondary treatment programme can help you manage, aiming at relapse prevention.
Aftercare is on an outpatient basis – you’ll be residing at home, resuming your regular life, but receiving ongoing care as part of an outpatient programme.
It’s important to factor in the cost of secondary treatment/ aftercare. The aftercare options offered to you will vary from clinic to clinic.
Some will point you in the direction of free support groups (e.g Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous), whereas others may provide you with private psychotherapy and ongoing counselling.
Use our online consultation service and get a call back from us, or contact us directly to learn more. We will talk you through your options and give you all the knowledge you need to make an informed decision.
Can You Get Rehab for Drug and Alcohol Addictions On The NHS?
Yes, you can get rehab for drug and alcohol addiction through the NHS. You may receive support and counselling, and you may also be prescribed medication that can assist you throughout your recovery.
However, NHS treatment differs from private treatment in several ways – for example, you may not have access to as many therapy options, and you may not have access to residential rehab.
It’s also important to note that the waiting list for NHS rehab is very long – you could be waiting months for a space to become available with the NHS, whereas, with private rehab, you could check in the next day.
If you are looking for rehab in a treatment centre, it’s unlikely that the costs will be covered by the government. You may have to consider payment plans or private health insurance options instead.
You’ll need to complete steps such as counselling and group therapy beforehand and prove that it isn’t working for you. In most cases, you will be required to pay for private rehab yourself.
As a British citizen, you are entitled to alcohol addiction treatment on the NHS for free – however, it may not be as effective as private rehab treatment – and won’t usually involve residential treatment.
Is Rehab In The UK Worth The Cost?
When you pay for rehab, you are paying for a better chance of living a sober life, and ultimately, you can’t put a price on sobriety.
If you’re worried about the cost or rehab, consider how much you spend on your addiction per month. Many people dependent on cocaine will spend upwards of £800 per month to fund their addiction. With rehab, you will pay a large sum of money – but in the long run, you will not only save money, but save your life.
Rehab can be expensive for a range of reasons – when you pay for your rehab treatment, you are also paying for:
- Food provided (with inpatient rehab/ residential rehab)
- Rental fees
- Insurance
- The cost of governmental compliance
- Utility costs
- The cost of therapists, addiction specialists and trained professionals
- Medication fees
- Property maintenance
- All that is included in your stay at rehab
If you opt for luxury rehab, the cost will be a lot higher. It will be similar to staying in an expensive, private hotel, with access to many facilities.
However, you’ll also have medical professionals and addiction experts on hand who can give you the best chance of overcoming your addiction to drugs and alcohol.
Finding The Right Alcohol and Drug Rehab Treatment
At Help4Addiction, we have been helping people addicted to drugs and alcohol get the treatment they need for a number of years – and can do the same for you.
Call us to discuss your needs and to determine the best treatment plan for you. We’ll discuss the costs and provide you with an estimate during our initial consultation, and take into account your needs, preferences and history to find the best place for you to recover from your addiction.
Nobody should deal with alcohol dependence or drug addiction alone – and with Help4Addiction, you won’t have to. Call us on 0203 955 7700 for recovery support today.
About Author
Nicholas Conn
Nicholas Conn is a leading industry addiction expert who runs the UK’s largest addiction advisory service and is regularly featured in the national press, radio and TV. He is the founder and CEO of a drug and alcohol rehab center called Help4addiction, which was founded in 2015. He has been clean himself since 2009 and has worked in the Addiction and Rehab Industry for over a decade. Nick is dedicated to helping others recover and get treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. In 2013, he released a book ‘The Thin White’ line that is available on Amazon.
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