Find out how to get help for an addiction through inpatient treatment.
We want you to have the best choice in rehab, so we researched every inpatient drug rehab centre or alcohol recovery centre that we could find within England and Wales. We took detailed notes on their provision of care, the therapies they offer, and even the recreational services that they contain. Since 2008, we have been able to help thousands of addicts into recovery and we could be helping you, too.
In this page, you will find everything you need to know about inpatient addiction treatment in the UK. Have a read through it and contact us via our online consultation facility if you feel you want to seek a rehab clinic near you.
What is inpatient drug and alcohol addiction treatment?
Private residential rehab is sometimes referred to as inpatient alcohol rehabilitation/inpatient drug rehabilitation/inpatient psychiatric services. This is because of the nature of rehabilitation. Private residential rehab means that you live on site, under the constant supervision of medical staff.
Residential rehab means that you do not go home at the end of the day. Rather, you receive therapy sessions in the same building that you eat and sleep in. Recreational activities may be provided but this is especially true if you opt for private care. Private residential rehab is used in place of alcohol home detoxes, online therapies, and other outpatient drug or alcohol treatments.
What addictions can you get inpatient treatment for?
There are several types of addiction that can be treated this way. Here are some of the conditions which are the most common recipients of inpatient rehab:
- Alcohol addiction
- Cocaine and crack cocaine addiction
- Heroin and opioid painkiller addictions
- Cannabis Addiction
- GHB Addiction
- Ketamine Addiction
- Mephedrone Addiction
- Steroid Addiction
- Narcotics Addiction
- Eating Disorders
- Gambling Addiction
- Sex Addiction
What Happens During Inpatient Rehab Treatment?
A range of therapies will be used to increase your chances of recovering from your drug or alcohol addiction, and this range of therapies is likely to be extended if you are in private residential rehab for a psychiatric disorder. Some of these therapies include DBT, CBT, and motivational interviewing. When you opt for private over NHS rehab services, you are given access to a greater range of therapies. So you might also have contingency management therapy, use of the matrix model for relapse prevention, or REBT.
As well as therapies, your private residential rehab programme is likely to include a tailored range of recreational facilities and activities. What these facilities or activities are, depends entirely upon your choice of rehab. Where some facilities favour equine therapy and the use of animals in recovery, other facilities prefer art therapy, sports as a recreational activity, or even cooking, to help patients stay calm and forget about their cravings.
Alternatives to inpatient treatment
If inpatient treatment seems like too much of a commitment to you, there are other options.
Private residential rehab
Private residential rehab allows you to live on-site and removes you from the triggers in your life which made you use to drink or drugs, to begin with. Many find this easier because it allows them to break free from past habits. You will have access to all the on-site extracurricular facilities, which might mean a spa or a pool, sports facilities, or holistic therapies like massage and reiki.
Private outpatient rehab
This allows you to go home at the end of the night, but outpatient treatment clinics have less chance of success than residential rehab clinics do, although this is very dependent on the individual. Also known as Dayhab, the main benefit is that they are easier to fit in around your lifestyle if you have commitments like work or children. When you opt for private outpatient rehab you still have access to all those extracurricular facilities, but since you are travelling back and forth you will be balancing your treatment with life, so if this is best for your situation and rehab is not feasible due to commitments than Dayhab is an ideal solution.
Quasi-Residential Rehab
With this option, you reside in one location and travel to rehab in another. It is used to keep you away from your triggers at home, while allowing you to take rehab sessions at a different location from where you are temporarily living.
Partial Hospitalisation
In this instance, you are in a rehab clinic for part of the time and spend the rest of the time at home. Some people find this model helpful as it allows extra support at weekends and flexibility during the working week. This method is favoured by those that want to ease the return to a normal life[i].
Therapies Available in Inpatient Addiction Treatment Care
Should you choose to seek rehab help as an inpatient for your addiction, you can expect to have the following treatments made available to you.
Group Therapy
Group therapy sessions allow you access to peer support which has proven an effective method of addiction recovery treatment in clinical trials[ii].
CBT
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy has proven to consistently produce ‘small but noticeable’ improvements in the patient’s ability to stay away from alcohol and illicit drugs in studies[iii]. CBT is a talking therapy that helps you explore your problems and their underlying thoughts.
DBT
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy is like CBT, but it is aimed at those who are highly sensitive or particularly vulnerable/emotional[iv]. Studies[v] have found it to be of benefit to those with severe dependencies to drugs or alcohol, and to those who have co-occurring illnesses.
ACT
ACT stands for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy[vi]. It uses mindfulness and self-acceptance to help those suffering from addiction to learn to love themselves again. Again, clinical studies have backed up the effectiveness of ACT. It has shown to cause a significant reduction in substance misuse after a 6 month period[vii].
MET
Motivational Enhancement Therapy is used to prevent apathy in patients receiving rehab treatment. It is used as a tool to help addicts engage in their recovery program[viii]. In scientific studies MET was given to Alcoholic Hep C patients, who experienced a significant rise in abstinence levels after a six month period[ix].
MI
Motivational Interviewing[x] focuses on helping addicts to remember what their goals were in life before they turned to drugs or alcohol to help them cope. In a review into the efficacy of MI on addicted patients, 95% of studies showed a positive effect[xi].
12 step programs
If you are interested in the AA model of the 12 steps treatments for rehab recovery, you can find out more about this at almost any rehab clinic. If you choose to complete the 12 steps to recovery while in rehab, you may be asked to return to the group sessions as a leader when you are recovered.
Family Sessions
You may be able to do some work with your family members when you are in rehab. Take advantage of this facility if you can, since we are not the only ones that have suffered at the hands of our addiction. These sessions will go a long way towards healing some of that damage and giving you firmer foundations for when you finish your inpatient stay.
Mental Health Help
You will have access to a psychotherapist at least once a week throughout rehab. If you engage in online therapy sessions for 28 days, you will have 4 one-on-one sessions. This allows you to have the complete focus and attention of a trained specialist for a few hours, in between all the other sessions. They will keep track of your treatment and adjust it if needs be.
Holistic Treatments
The idea behind provision of holistic treatments in rehab clinics is that they relax you. Things like acupuncture, reiki sessions and crystal healing are available across a different blend of rehab clinics.
Exercise and Diet
While in an inpatient rehab clinic, you will be issued with a dietary meal plan which is highly nutritious and suits your treatment needs. You will also be encouraged to take part in exercise daily, whether that be outdoor sports, yoga classes, or long walks.
Education and Workshops
There are several workshops and educational sessions run in rehab clinics. The idea is that the more you understand about your addiction, the easier it is for you to recover from. Workshops might include relapse prevention classes, returning to work sessions, and fitness and nutrition courses.
Can you get Secondary Rehab Treatment as an inpatient?
The point in secondary treatment is to ease your transition back into normal life after rehab has concluded. If you can get inpatient treatment at this time, it would mean that you were back in rehab again. Secondary treatment can be given after you leave inpatient care though and should consist of telephone and group support.
How Much Does Inpatient Rehab Cost?
If you are looking for rehab on a budget, you may be able to get the NHS to help you out with the costs. If you can afford it, private residential rehab clinics are better equipped to tackle your addictions. On the high end of the scale you have the option for luxury inpatient rehab, which is similar to a 5 star hotel experience with therapy added in.
Free Consultation on Addiction
If you think you need help to combat an addiction and you want to know more, you can contact our team of expert advisors to familiarise yourself with your choices. There’s no obligation to quit and you can contact us online.
How to Get Inpatient Rehab Care?
In the UK, getting inpatient treatment for addiction on the NHS is a rare thing. It is far more likely that you will receive rehab for an addiction through private residential care. If you need help to discern which of the hundreds of rehab clinics in your area is right for you, then we can guide you through the process. Contact Help4Addiction for aid today, on 0203 955 7700.
[i] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partial_hospitalization
[iii] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2696292/
[v] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2797106/
[vi] https://positivepsychology.com/act-acceptance-and-commitment-therapy/
[vii] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7524566/
[ix] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25040898/
[xi] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1463134/
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have questions about inpatient services for rehab treatment in the UK? Check the answers below or call us, on 0203 955 7700.
What’s an inpatient service?
What’s an outpatient rehab clinic?
Is inpatient rehab or outpatient rehab better for me?
Do you still get aftercare services from outpatient rehab clinics?
How long does inpatient rehab take?
What’s the cost of inpatient rehab clinics?
Can I get inpatient rehab on the NHS?
What is the difference between inpatient and outpatient rehab?
My doctor will not send me for inpatient rehab on the NHS, what do I do?
I can’t afford inpatient rehab, what other options do I have?, what do I do?