Drug and alcohol rehab locator service throughout England and Wales.
* This page was medically reviewed by Dr Robert Lefever, June 2021.
Rehab refers to specialised programmes which help people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol recover from their addiction. Treatment is also becoming common for those suffering from mental illness, depression and anxiety.
You should find all you need to know about rehab and your options in this article. If you want immediate help to quit drugs or alcohol, call us on 0203 955 7700 as soon as you are ready.
What is rehab?
Rehab is short for rehabilitation and these programmes have been designed to work through a person’s particular issues surrounding their addiction, withdraw from the substances they are addicted to and provide them with new mechanisms and skills to cope without it.You can read out what is rehab page for a more in depth look.
What services should you expect throughout rehab?
The day to day structure of activities will vary from one rehab centre to another and this is something you can ask about when you are choosing a suitable centre. The rehabilitation process will generally follow quite a rigid timetable of activities to keep the patients occupied, which can help with breaking the addiction.
When you first arrive, you will be given a daily timetable which you will be expected to keep to. This will include group educational talks, some individual and group counselling sessions, and sessions when family members are invited to attend to understand how they can help you. In addition, you will be encouraged to undertake some daily exercise, eat healthy food, and get involved in daily leisure activities.
Most rehab centres will also expect you to share a room, as this will ensure that you are not left to your own devices. You and your roommate can also offer each other emotional support through the process and people often find that lasting friendships are made in rehab as you go together on your journey to recovery. Learn more
What are the Four stages of rehab?
Most rehabilitation programmes will go through four main stages
The Initial Assessment
During your initial assessment, a professional will determine the type of treatment that will work best for you. They will take a full personal history to enable them to understand not only your current level of dependency but some of the reasons why you might have become addicted in the first place. People often use drugs or alcohol to escape from life circumstances that they don’t know how to deal with. Once this initial assessment has been done, they will be able to recommend a suitable plan of treatment which will be tailored to your circumstances.
The Detox Process
The second stage of the rehab process will be detox. This is when you have to withdraw from using the drugs or alcohol to which you have become addicted. During this stage you are likely to suffer from withdrawal symptoms and detox is best managed under medical supervision, as some of these symptoms can become life threatening.
Counselling and Therapy
After you have gone through detox, the next stage in your rehabilitation will be counselling and psychotherapy. This can be both group and individual therapy to identify the issues and negative patterns of behaviour which surrounded your addiction. This will help you to address them and replace them with new strategies to create lasting change.
Secondary Treatments and Aftercare
Once you have completed your in-patient stay, a programme of ongoing support will be created for you. This will include joining a local support group as well as regular visits to the rehab centre to make sure you are still on track. Rehab does not finish once you leave the rehab centre. It is a lifelong process if you are going to avoid relapse.
How much does Rehab Cost in the UK?
The cost of rehab varies depending on several factors including time spent, location as well as the addiction you need support for. You find more detailed information on the costs of rehab in the UK page. You can also find out about how long rehab takes in our pages, too.
Rehab Statistics (UK)
Alcohol abuse is a huge problem in the UK with around 38% of men and 29% of women in the UK believed to be regularly drinking over the government agreed safe limits. The latest figures show that there were 288,843 adults (18 and over) in alcohol and drug treatment in 2015-6. Of these, 144,908 people were treated for alcohol dependency.
In the 2019-2020 year period, there were no real changes, although numbers are in gradual decline. According to government figures[i], 270,705 adults were in treatment for drug or alcohol use in England and Wales. The impact of the coronavirus in 2020/21 remains to be seen.
Rehab techniques
Below we have tried to describe some of the common rehabilitation techniques that some rehab centres will use.
Group therapy
Group Therapy sees you talk out your troubles with a group of similar people[ii]. They will be peers, people trying to break their own addictions. Their experience can help you to avoid pitfalls and learn how to live life free from addiction.
The 12-step program
The 12-step program has been made famous as the 12 stages to getting off alcohol that Alcoholics Anonymous came up with in the early 20th century[iii]. It is a tried and tested method which has proven to work, time and time again. It forms the basis for many rehab techniques, courses, or programs.
Psychotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapies
CBT and psychotherapy are some of the best ways for you to work through your psychological drug and alcohol addictions. There are both physical and mental aspects to an addiction. These therapy types will allow you to tackle both, head on.
Holistic approaches to rehab
Holistic approaches range from acupuncture to art therapy. They focus on reliving stress, providing a calming environment, and occupying the mind. If you are absorbed in a task, then you aren’t craving drugs. It’s a sound principal employed by many.
The personal development approaches
Finally, if you are invested in your studies, then you aren’t taking drugs or drinking. The personal development approach[iv] to rehab focuses on making improvements to yourself, such as attending the gym, learning a new skill, or getting better at an old one.
Is detox part of rehab?
Detox is the first stage of rehab and differs if you are a drug or an alcohol addict. You can learn more about either on our specialised pages for drug rehab and alcohol rehab in the UK.
What to expect from rehab?
The whole purpose of the rehab programme is to prepare you for move back home and to provide you with the necessary coping skills to adapt to your new way of life without alcohol. This can be a challenging time because whilst in the rehab centre you have not been able to access alcohol and you have been kept busy. You have also been away from the stresses of relationships, work and other life challenges which may have led you to drink in the first place.
Returning Home
Once you return home you will have access to alcohol and you will have less support around you, so it will be essential that you adhere to the plan that will have been developed for you by your counsellors, to avoid relapse[v]. This will include trying to change certain patterns of behaviour which led you to addiction in the first place.
If you come out of rehab and feel trepidation about how you are going to cope, this is probably a good thing, because it means that you understand your journey is not over. People who come out of rehab feeling as though they have conquered their addiction are more likely to relapse because they will just fall back into their old ways. If you know you need to continually work towards maintaining your sobriety, you are more likely to achieve lasting success.
What are the benefits of going to rehab for drug or alcohol addiction?
The benefits of rehab include an effectively managed, well-structured treatment plan to get you off alcohol or drugs, holistic therapies to take your mind off your addiction, and a nutritious meal plan while you recover[vi].
Going to rehab gives you every possible chance to quit once and for all. It is easier and safer than going cold turkey. You could be free from drugs and alcohol in a shorter time and benefit from ongoing support.
Rehab gives you a better chance at staying away from substance abuse[vii]. It is worth the effort if it gives you a higher chance of success.
The types of rehab clinic on offer
When you choose to go to rehab you can expect the following types of rehab centre to offer your help:
- Private rehab clinics
- Medically assisted detoxification centres
- Outpatient treatment as is often given through the NHS
- Full-time residential rehab
- The quasi rehab model, where you commute for treatment
Help4Addiction’s Rehab Selection Service
Help4Addiction will put you in touch with a choice of rehab clinics which can support you through your recovery from drugs or alcohol.
Another useful resource for post rehab is https://theonlinerehab.co.uk/ which provides a unique online Recovery Support Programme which can be used to support you once your recovery is well underway and can be a useful tool to help you adapt to being at home again.
For free independent and confidential advice on choosing the best solution for your alcohol addiction call us today on 0203 955 7700.
[i] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/substance-misuse-treatment-for-adults-statistics-2019-to-2020/adult-substance-misuse-treatment-statistics-2019-to-2020-report
[ii] https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-group-therapy-2795760
[iii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve-step_program
[iv] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272835663_Development_and_Evaluation_of_Self-Management_and_Task-Oriented_Approach_to_Rehabilitation_Training_START_in_the_Home_Case_Report
[v] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relapse
[vi] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rehabilitation
[vii] https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/frequently-asked-questions/how-effective-drug-addiction-treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
