If you’re hooked on drugs and alcohol, you will know just how damaging it can be. A key part of addiction is that you will continue to use drugs or alcohol despite knowing there may be negative consequences and there can be plenty of those.

A drug or alcohol addiction can cause untold damage to your physical and psychological well-being. It can wreck relationships and tear families apart. It can affect your job, your social life and many other aspects of your life.

Attending a drug and alcohol rehab in Balham could be your key to a way out. Whether you are addicted to alcohol, prescription drugs or illegal drugs such as heroin, cocaine or marijuana, we can help find the right place and the right drug and alcohol treatment for you.

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Are you suffering from Addiction and need help? Addiction Advocates are leading UK based experts in Private Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Treatment. Find out how we can help by getting in touch with our friendly team today.

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Finding the right treatment for Drug and Alcohol Addiction

Addiction does not just have a negative impact on the individual involved, or even their loved ones and others around them. It also has a society-wide impact with huge costs to the NHS involved in treating health conditions affected by drug and alcohol abuse, links to crime, domestic abuse and a whole range of other social issues.

As a result a lot of research has been carried out in the field of addiction recovery and modern treatment programmes are backed by observation and evidence. The best place to participate in a treatment programme is generally in a private drug and alcohol rehab.

 

The Admissions Process and getting started

The admissions process is very easy to start, with a simple initial enquiry. Part of the process will involve screening and assessment so your treatment can be tailored to your own unique situation and also to ensure that any treatment programme is safe for you to start.

We also offer family and friend referrals if you are worried about a loved one. In certain cases, family intervention may even be required in order to get the person to face up to their addiction and the impact it is having on those around them.

 

The Benefits of Inpatient Rehab in Balham

There are numerous benefits to attending an inpatient or residential addiction treatment programme as opposed to outpatient rehab. For a start you will be in a comfortable and controlled environment that gets rid of the temptations of easy access to drugs and alcohol.

The treatment programme will be delivered in a structured and organised way, allowing you to actually participate in more treatments over a shorter period of time. You will have round the clock support and access to medical supervision when this is needed. This can be particularly important when going through drug or alcohol detox.

With outpatient treatment, by contrast, you will be responsible for turning up to treatment sessions and managing your own detoxification. You will also be surrounded by all your usual triggers and temptations, which can make it very hard to get through that detox process in the first place and to avoid relapsing moving forward.

Residential rehab in Balham is not the correct choice for everyone but it is generally the most effective way of dealing with a severe alcohol or drug addiction.

 

Getting through the Detoxification Process

An alcohol or drug detox is an important step but it can be one of the trickiest to get through for any recovering addict. Over time you can build up a dependency on the drugs or alcohol and when these chemicals are suddenly withdrawn you will experience a range of physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms.

These can vary widely depending on the substance involved and other factors such as the length and heaviness of use. Alcohol withdrawal, for example, could lead to the infamous delirium tremens (DTs). Physical effects could include shaking, shivering, irregular heart rate and sweats while psychological effects such as anxiety and hallucinations are not uncommon.

You could even experience seizures and extreme temperatures that in the worst cases could prove fatal. Despite the fact that it is legal and generally socially acceptable, alcohol withdrawal can be one of the worst kinds but all drugs can cause unpleasant and potentially dangerous side effects and withdrawal symptoms. This is why it is always best to undergo this process in a medically supervised detox clinic if possible.

 

Addiction Therapy Options in Rehab

Detox is important but in order to make a long-term recovery you will also have to think about relapse prevention and face up to the root cause of your addiction and substance misuse.

This can be explored through addiction therapies, which could include techniques such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), group therapy and one to one counselling. Mental health treatments may also be an option in some rehab centres.

This can be valuable as mental health and addiction can interact in different ways, with each side having an impact on the other.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Substance and Behavioural Addictions?
With substances such as alcohol and illegal and prescription drugs you can build up a physical as well as a psychological dependency to the substance itself. This is what most people think of when they think of addiction but you can also develop behavioural addictions to behaviours such as gambling, shopping or sex. These are often misunderstood but they can be very destructive and can be treated like other addictions in specialist rehabs.
Does Addiction affect Mental Health?
There is often a complex relationship between mental health and addiction, with each element affecting the other in different ways. Substance misuse and addiction could trigger a mental health condition or make an existing one worse, for example, while an existing mental health condition could fuel substance misuse, potentially leading to addiction. Co-existing mental health conditions and addictions can often be treated at the same time via dual diagnosis treatments.
What happens after Rehab?
The time after rehab can be very tricky. You will hopefully leave with the tools and strategies you need to stay clean and sober, but relapse can be a constant danger. A good aftercare plan can be invaluable in providing you with the support you need during the months after you first leave rehab.