Alcoholism and addiction treatments can be accessed in a number of ways, but the most available to the general public in the UK is through the NHS. Although the National Health Service is underfunded, this does not mean that help is not available to you. All you need to do is ask your GP.
However, there is no such thing as an NHS rehab. Instead, government funding for individuals to attend a private rehab can be applied for but is considered a lengthy and challenging process. Waiting lists can be long and have strict criteria that will need to be met before you are awarded a place.
This process can be hard, and you will need to be committed and motivated. Being on this waiting list can be very difficult for a person who is in the grips of addiction to go through; however, the NHS offer alternative treatments within this waiting period.
Some treatments the NHS can offer alongside or in place of rehab include counselling, local drug and alcohol services, local mental health teams, and medications prescribed by a GP.
Once you get to the NHS rehab centre, you may be a little confused and not know what to expect. Usually, our knowledge about rehab centres stems from movies and coverage of celebrity rehab centres. Most think that these centres are either luxurious, all-inclusive and accommodate every need or resemble a prison where those in need of help are locked in. NHS rehab isn’t like this. Most of the NHS rehab services allow you to arrive in the morning and leave whenever you want to. It is all dependent on your individual situation.
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Where Do I Start to Get Rehab Treatment?
Most people’s rehab journey will start with a trip to their GP. As cliche as it may seem, the first steps that you need to take is to admit you need support and talk to your GP about the life changes you want to make. But, of course, a GP is duty-bound to try to help you recover, so don’t feel worried about this meeting.
If you live in the UK, then you are able to get free support for drug or substance abuse through the NHS. once you have met with your GP and discussed your individual circumstances, your GP will make a referral to the relevant support for you.
Your GP will likely offer some medications to help you stay off the substances you are addicted to while you are waiting for other support services. These will most likely help you treat the symptoms of withdrawal, but, sometimes, they can be addictive themselves. For example, the use of mephedrone in heroin addiction has led to many people wondering how to beat mephedrone addiction in its own right. If you are worried about this, talk to your GP.
There are other free support services besides the NHS that could be an alternative if you don’t want to start your journey by talking to your GP. There are a number of charities and self-help groups available such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Families Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous. However, these support groups are not run by professionals but are run by volunteers. More alternative support can be obtained by contacting Talk to Frank.
Community Resources
The vast majority of addiction treatment is carried out in the community. This support is aimed at helping you if you are still mixing with others that are very much active in their addiction.
Services that are available to you in the community include; drop-in day centres, key working sessions, counselling, local drug and alcohol services, and local mental health teams.
Suppose you want information on the local services that are available to you. In that case, you can do this by calling NHS Direct on 111, speaking to your GP or by contacting the Talk to Frank website. In addition, you can access local support groups, charities and services for free if you are on a rehab waiting list or if you are still deciding on how to start your journey.
Is NHS Treatment the Same as a Private Rehab Centre?
There are two main differences between private and NHS rehab centres that you need to consider. The first is money.
Private rehab facilities can be expensive but come with a higher quality of service. The second is the type of treatment. Private rehabs are tailored to the individual and can offer more intensive residential services.
Private, residential rehab clinics can cost about £4,000 to complete a 21-28 day course in the UK. If you feel you would like to know more about the costs of private rehab centres, you should give us at Addiction Advocates a call on 0800 012 6088.
Due to funding, the NHS is rarely able to offer residential rehab. In some people’s opinion, the NHS is not intensive enough or specific enough to meet the needs or the demands of treating alcoholism and addiction. The NHS has been known to focus on improvements as opposed to complete recovery. This can work well for some people, but others may require a more intense and absolute approach.
There is a middle ground. The NHS will be able to help you with some of the costs but not all if you choose to go private. This route can still be expensive, and a demand to come up with, but the treatment you will receive will be more thorough and more in-depth. In addition, you will have more one-on-one time with any addiction counsellors you may need.
When you are deciding what rehab centre would be best for you and your situation, it is important to take both money and the level of support you need into account. Be aware that the process will not be any easy. Still, through the help and support available in a drug and alcohol rehab centre, you will be able to achieve long-term recovery.
It may not feel like it now, but you are able to make a positive change in your life.
Seth is an author, addiction recovery expert and fully accredited member of the national counselling society. He has experience working with a wide range of addictions and mental illnesses using a number of evidence-based therapies and programmes such as the SMART models of addiction recovery.
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