*This article has been medically reviewed by Dr Robert Lefever
Want to know how much rehab costs in the UK? We have all you need to know about drug and alcohol recovery, right here.
Rehab is the most effective addiction treatment. Whether it’s alcohol or another addiction, there’s no denying the benefits of going to rehab clinics. For most people, your only experience of recovery comes through the media. Celebrities are pictured going to rehab, group therapy is shown in soap operas, and so on.
Consequently, there’s a lot you don’t know about addiction treatment. Addiction support is still avoided by some individuals who are suffering. Often, this is due to the cost of rehab.
This brings us onto arguably the most frequently asked question of all; how much does rehab cost in the UK? It’s not as simple as naming a figure – there are many factors that may contribute to the overall costs.
Why Isn’t UK Rehab Free?
In an ideal world, rehab would be free. We believe that it should be, particularly when considering the thousands of UK people who die every year from alcohol/drug addiction[i].
We found that it helps an individual to know what their money is buying. Here are a few of the things you buy when you go to rehab:
- All the food provided
- The cost of therapists, chefs, and mental health/addiction trained professionals
- Utility expenses
- Rental fees
- Insurance
- Cost of governmental compliance
- Medication fees
- Property maintenance
- All the above for the whole of your 28 days+ stay
Rehab is akin to staying in a private hotel with few guests. You have medical professionals and a clinic built into that hotel, with numerous staff. So, it seems reasonable that there will be numerous expenses involved over the 28 days of life spent there.
Determining the Cost of Rehab
One of the key factors in answering are the drug and alcohol treatments on offer. Rehab is split into three different phases: Detox, Therapy, and Secondary Rehab Treatment. Each will provide you with different types of treatment to give you the best help to overcome drug addiction.
The Cost of Detox
Drug and alcohol addictions happen when you become dependent on a substance. Your body gets used to having these substances in your system. When you go without, you start to experience withdrawal symptoms.
With detox treatment, you’re essentially weaned off drugs or alcohol, long term. This is the first phase of your rehab treatment, and it begins when you check in. You’re cut off from any access to drugs or alcohol, meaning your body has a chance to cleanse. This can take a couple of weeks. Your doctor will provide medication to help.
If your addiction problem is mild enough that you can do it at home, private home detox costs £1,850.
If you are detoxing as part of your 7, 14, or 28 day rehab program, it will be absorbed into the overall cost.
Can I just go for the detox?
Yes, it is possible to go to rehab for short-term detox treatments. These last for around a week and can be effective. We recommend the full 28-day treatment instead. If you get the detox without the counselling, then you’re more likely to relapse. This is stressful and ends up being more expensive.
The Cost of Therapy
Detox can last up to two weeks, after which you’ll move onto therapy. Here, you can experience loads of different treatments. Most rehab clinics offer counselling, group support, and CBT[ii] to get you the best help.
Different clinics offer different forms of therapy, which significantly influence the cost of treatment in the UK. The more extensive the list of therapy treatments, the higher the cost of the rehab programme.
Expect to pay anything upwards of £1,400 per week for rehab treatment in the UK.
How long does rehab last?
Perhaps the biggest cost-influencer is the length of your treatment. Most alcohol rehab UK prices will rise when the duration of treatment extends. Generally speaking, you will attend rehab for a minimum of 28 days.
However, in extreme cases, you could be checked into rehab for up to 6 weeks or more. It depends on your response to treatment and how serious your addiction is long term. Get in touch if you need help with this. Call 0203 955 7700 to get help.
The Cost of Secondary Rehab Treatment/Aftercare
Therapy can last another two weeks – or more, it may depend on the severity of your drug addiction. Next, you will be discharged from rehab and provided with aftercare. These include more therapy sessions, but you no longer stay at the rehab centre. You’re back home living your life, and they’re offered as an outpatient programme.
The extent of aftercare varies from place to place. Some point you in the direction of Alcoholics Anonymous groups, others provide detailed private psychotherapy sessions and support. For example, you can save money by opting for a free aftercare programme that is included in overall costs.
You need to attend an alcohol rehab clinic that can offer the right treatments for you. You can call us today, on 0203 955 7700, or use our available online consultation service and we will call you back. Our advisors will talk you through the many options. This allows you to figure out what treatments will benefit you, so you can attend a treatment centre that works.
What is the cost of rehab in the UK?
You’ve seen the different types of rehabs, what’s covered by the NHS, treatment programmes, and so on. Now, we can look at the rehab UK cost. As mentioned, it’s impossible to put one figure on the costs. However, we can give you some average recovery prices.
We discovered that the cost of live-in rehab starts from £1,000 per week. If you opt for a typical 28-day programme, then it adds up to around £4,000 for the 4 weeks of recovery treatment.
Prices fluctuate, with many private rehab centres charging up to £10,000 per week. Many people opt for fewer weeks to solve cost issues.
Can you Save Money on the cost of Rehab with the NHS?
To get free treatment, you need to see your GP. Tell them you have an alcohol or drug problem, and they will refer you to a community service group. This will save money, but there are drawbacks.
You may receive counselling and support, and your doctor might offer drugs to help with withdrawal symptoms. For some people, this is enough to overcome drug use, but we find it’s usually only of much benefit for people who realise they’re addicted very early.
In a treatment centre, it’s rare to have your treatment covered by the government. It’s not impossible, but you have to go through your GP, attend the free counselling and group therapy for a specified period of 6 weeks or more, and prove that nothing is working for you. Your local addiction team may then provide you with addiction treatment at a rehab clinic. Often, you will need to pay for private treatment by yourself.
For those worried, attending rehab keeps your rights reserved. You keep your rights reserved for treatment even if you deliberately overdose. UK rehab centres, doctors, and medical professionals, all are duty bound to treat you.
You can read about NHS rehab access here.
Is alcohol rehab covered by the NHS?
When people ask how much does rehab cost in the UK, they hope it’s covered by the NHS. We’re blessed to have one of the best healthcare systems in the world, with free treatment offered for many things. Is rehab covered?
As a British citizen, you are entitled to alcohol addiction treatment on the NHS for life. This treatment is free but won’t necessarily include residential rehab.
What are the benefits of private rehab?
Don’t be put off by paying for private rehab treatment. Paying the cost of rehab might seem daunting, but multiple centres offer payment plans to allow you to pay over time. Regardless of whether you choose quasi or full-time, you will get help – alongside multiple benefits of attending UK rehab.
Here are some of the main benefits of private rehab: 
- Professional treatment 24/7
- Healthy, nutritious meals
- Comfortable accommodation
- Leisure facilities to help you relax
- Life in an enclosed environment, free from triggers
- Group sessions for at least 6 weeks
- No judgement
All these things contribute to high success rates in a lot of patients that attend private rehab. This can greatly reduce your chances of relapsing after the rehab treatment.
Why is the cost of rehab higher in some centres than others?
The time you spend in rehab alters the fees regardless of which centre you attend. Below, you’ll find the main factors that influence prices:
- Rehab location: individual treatment centres cost more than others purely because of where they are.
- Specialist treatments: if the private rehab clinics offer specialist treatments – such as holistic therapies – then they will charge more.
- Emergency help: the speed at which you get help can affect price.
- Level of luxury: we find this to be the biggest factor in determining how much does rehab cost. Some private centres will offer luxury living conditions complete with loads of leisure facilities – like pools, tennis courts, gardens, etc. The accommodation can feel much like a 5-star hotel!
- The staff: this relates to the specialist treatments and level of luxury. In places with an emphasis on luxury they may have much more qualified and experienced staff. This leads to a price increase.
What types of rehab centres are available to me?
When we talk about going to rehab, this assumes that you’re willing to pack your bags and move into a rehab centre. This is known as residential rehab, and it basically means that you live in an environment that’s closed off from the outside world.
It’s been proven that this benefits patients as it restricts you from coming into contact with things or people that trigger your drug and alcohol addiction. As a result, it allows the people there to carry out detox treatment without worrying about relapses.
Amongst the residential clinics out there, you will be faced with two addiction treatment options:
Full Residential Rehab
Here, you will live in one place for a few weeks, available at all times for treatment.
Full residential rehab is the more expensive of the two options. You receive a higher level of care[iii] and your living quarters are of a better standard. Statistics show that people in full residential rehab get more help and have the best mental health. As such, rehab prices can be justified here.
Quasi-Residential Rehab
A rare form of rehabilitation programme that still sees you move out of your home. The difference is that your treatment takes place in a different location to where you sleep. There are separate sleeping quarters off-site, so you must make your way to the rehab centre every day for treatment. These quarters are still enclosed and managed by the clinic.
This is the cheaper of the two options and still yields positive results. The only issue is that it can be hard to move between two places. For this reason, it has a slightly higher relapse rate.
We strongly advise that you give us a call if you’re having trouble deciding which option is best for you. We are always available to talk to you on the phone. With our help, you’ll soon know the best course of action to kick your addiction.
We offer locations for rehab clinics nationwide. To contact us, call 0203 955 7700 or view our locations for Rehab centres to get help.
How do you pay for rehab?
It’s possible to have your rehab programme funded by sponsors or family members. However, it’s recommended that you pay it yourself.
This seems daunting as rehab clinics are hardly cheap. The good news is that lots of alcohol addiction programmes provide payment plans, so you can get help. This ensures that you don’t have to pay for it all in one go.
Contact Us for Free and Confidential Advice
If you need help choosing the right treatment plan individual to you, then please get in touch. Our hotline is always open and doesn’t cost a penny to use. We’ll talk to you for as long as it takes to find the perfect solution to your problem. Ask us about payment options, rehab centres near you, or anything else relating to addiction.
To contact us today, call us on 0203 955 7700. We’ll help you on your way to recovery.
Frequently Asked Question
What’s the cost of rehab for alcohol?
Does the NHS charge for rehab in the UK?
How much is it to get help for addiction in the UK?
Do rehab clinics let you pay in installments?
What are the costs of rehab near me?
What is the cheapest type of rehab?
Next, part-time rehab clinics, sometimes known as ‘dayhab’, allow you to come and go as you need to, throughout the day. This is the cheaper option in terms of private rehab, because it lets you get the therapy you need without the added cost of living on-site.
The most expensive rehab option is full time residential rehab clinics. These centres invite you to stay with them while you recover, making it rather like a stay in a hotel with therapy thrown in.
What rehab type is most luxurious?
Can you go to a rehab clinic for free?
How much does private rehab cost in the UK?
