Drug & Alcohol Rehab in St Albans

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Drug & Alcohol Rehab in St Albans

Addiction is a worldwide disease, one that can affect any one of us no matter our background.

For those hoping to attend drug and alcohol rehab in St Albans, you are not alone.

In order to understand addiction, it is helpful to look at the statistics.

Addiction Statistics In St Albans

A report carried out by Public Health England highlighted that from the years 2019 – 2020, approximately 1,465 people in Hertfordshire tried to gain access to treatment for a substance use addiction.

Unfortunately, approximately 20% of those admitting themselves into treatment were parents who were still living with their children, and 27% were parents who did not live with their children.

However, 53% of these individuals were not parents and had limited contact with children in general.

When it comes to young people and addiction in St Albans and Hertfordshire, the majority of young people are addicted to alcohol and cannabis.

In fact, 37% of all children interviewed in a study carried out by Hertfordshire public health were addicted to alcohol, and 53% were addicted to cannabis.

Only 50% of these children were actually currently seeking treatment, and of these a large majority were classified as vulnerable people.

A lot of addiction issues develop off the back of mental health issues.

In Hertfordshire and St Albans, there are a shocking 24,000 children (aged between 3 and 19) who were diagnosed with a mental health condition.

Unfortunately, this number is only on the rise and is expected to reach 26,000 soon.

Poor mental health can influence family harmony, education, home life and income.

Once some of these things are affected, the overall health and quality of life declines, encouraging one to turn to drink and drugs for support.

What Is Alcohol Addiction?

Addiction is not a moral failing.

No one is to blame for their addiction, as addiction is a disease.

If you are hoping to attend drug and alcohol rehab in St Albans, it is important to remember that your addiction is not your fault.

When individuals consume drugs or alcohol, their brain releases a substance called dopamine.

This is a pleasant feeling, which over time becomes addictive.

This new pathway in the brain becomes so embedded that it soon takes over your way of thinking.

You begin to feel like you need to consume these substances to survive.

You are now craving this substance and will feel a strong urge to seek it out.

However, as you consume more your tolerance will also increase, meaning that it becomes harder and harder to experience the same ‘high.’

In order to do so, you consume more.

Alcohol Use Disorder

When you are addicted to alcohol in this way is when you would be classified as having an Alcohol Use Disorder.

It is defined as not being able to stop or reduce the amount you consume, regardless of how bad it is ruining your health, mind and social life.

Your addiction can be mild, moderate or severe and can affect people in many different ways.

Regardless of how severe your addiction is, you should consider attending drug and alcohol rehab in St Albans.

Luckily, an Alcohol Use Disorder is treatable and will require a physical detox before any treatment for the psychological aspect of the addiction is treated.

Unfortunately, millions of people across the world are still addicted to alcohol.

In fact, in the UK alone, 14.1 million people are estimated to be addicted to alcohol.

What Is Rehab?

Rehab is short for rehabilitation which is essentially a place people go to receive treatment for a drug addiction or mental health issue.

Most rehab programmes in St Albans are residential, meaning that people need to stay over in the rehab clinic for a few weeks in order to receive their treatment.

All centres for drug and alcohol rehab in St Albans believe in abstinence over moderation.

This means that whilst you are at rehab, you will be expected to stay abstinent from the addictive substance the entire time.

There are many different forms of rehab across St Albans, including residential and outpatient.

Traditional rehab centres make sure that all individuals who are addicted to physically addictive substances undergo detox first before they attempt any other form of treatment, such as therapy.

Once this initial detox is complete, individuals will need to undergo different forms of therapy before creating their very own relapse prevention plan.

Pre-Rebab Steps: Intervention

An intervention is a really helpful tool that helps family members and loved ones of people suffering explain their worries and concerns.

An intervention helps people to understand that they have a problem, realise that people are worried about them and shows them how and where to seek treatment.

It is a good idea for everyone who wants to help to plan the intervention to come together before the intervention to discuss what they want to say and how they want to say it.

This will ensure that the intervention stays on track and is successful throughout.

Addiction is a very emotive topic, and therefore some people can become heated and emotional during an intervention.

That is why it is a good idea to invite an intervention specialist into your planning or intervention on the day to ensure that the conversation stays on track and productive.

You should make sure that the intervention is held in a quiet location, and that everything you say is framed in a positive, calm and helpful way.

By doing so, the individual will know that you are only caring and wanting to help, and will understand that you are not judging them.

CRAFT

If you are looking for an alternative method for intervention, then you could consider CRAFT.

CRAFT stands for Community Reinforcement and Family Training, and aims to help families learn how to better support the individual and motivate them to change.

By learning the ins and outs of addiction, the individual will understand just how much you care and want to help.

How Much Does Drug And Alcohol Rehab Cost In St Albans?

Anyone who knows anything about drug addiction and rehab knows that attending drug rehab is expensive.

Unfortunately, the cost of attending private rehab makes it inaccessible for many people.

You should always check with your local GP to see if the NHS can cover the cost of your addiction treatment.

However, NHS funding is limited so only a select few people qualify for NHS-funded rehab.

Whilst the cost of rehab in St Albans will depend on how long you stay there as well as whether you opt for inpatient or outpatient treatment, there are general set amounts that people pay.

For example, the usual estimated cost of attending a rehab centre in St Albans sits at around £495 per day.

Most people stay in rehab for approximately 28 days, meaning that this stay in rehab could cost up to almost £14,000.

However, some cheaper rehab centres in St Albans might cost as little as just £1,000 per week, depending on the severity of the addiction and how luxurious the rehab centre is.

Is Drug And Alcohol Rehab In St Albans Covered By The NHS?

Some people presume that in order to attend alcohol rehab in St Albans, you have to be rich.

However, this is simply not the case.

People in the UK and St Albans are very lucky to benefit from the services of the NHS.

In fact, the NHS might even be able to cover some, if not all, of the cost of your rehab treatment if you qualify.

Although a recent lack of NHS funding has made it harder than ever to qualify for NHS-funded rehab treatment, it is always worth checking with your local GP to see if you would qualify.

However, it is important to understand the differences between NHS-funded rehab and private rehab treatment, which we will soon explore.

How Long Does Rehab Last?

Due to the media, films and TV, most people in the UK feel anxious about attending rehab.

Most people have wild images of being shut off in a boxed room for hours on end until they no longer crave the addictive substance that has put them there.

In turn, this makes people who need to attend rehab feel very anxious about how long they will be staying in rehab for.

Some people believe that once they are admitted into alcohol rehab in St Albans, their time there will just keep being extended and extended.

However, again, this is simply not the case.

Whilst everyone’s experience in rehab is different, there are generally a set amount of times that people stay in rehab for.

For example, people usually stay in rehab for:

• 10 days (which is usually the minimum amount of time someone could stay in rehab for)
• 28 – 30 days (which is the most common amount of time people stay in rehab)
• 90 days (which is usually for more extreme and complex addictions)

It is important to remember that no doctor will keep you in rehab for a second longer than they need to.

Likewise, they will not allow you to leave rehab until you are ready.

If you leave rehab but will still require care, then there are lots of aftercare and support services available.

NHS VS Private Addiction Treatment In St Albans

Most people are unaware that there are two main types of rehabs in the UK and St Albans, being NHS funded and private.

Private Rehab

If you opt for private rehab in St Albans, then you will be expected to pay the full bill yourself.

If you ask for and qualify for NHS-funded rehab then you will not need to pay a penny.

However, there are some very clear benefits to paying to receive private rehab treatment.

If you pay to go privately, then you will be treated by top-of-the-range doctors and therapists, having skipped any waiting queues along the way.

Nevertheless, the main negative to private rehab is that it is increasingly expensive.

Attending private rehab could set you back thousands, if not tens of thousands of pounds.

NHS-Funded Rehab

NHS funded rehab does have lots of benefits too.

By attending NHS-funded rehab you will be receiving treatment free of charge, often led by the very same doctors and therapists who are treating the privately paying patients.

However, the main downside to NHS-funded rehab is that you will have to endure very long waiting lists, which could mean that you have to wait months and months before you are admitted into the rehab centre.

Of course, this runs the risk of your addiction getting worse in the meantime.

Individuals should consider their own needs very carefully when it comes to this decision.

If your addiction is severe, then you might have no choice but to opt for private rehab so that you do not have to wait to get seen.

Inpatient Or Outpatient Treatment In St Albans

On top of having to decide between private and NHS-funded rehab, individuals also have to decide between inpatient and outpatient drug and alcohol rehab in St Albans.

Inpatient Rehab

Inpatient rehab involves patients staying in a rehab facility overnight for however long is needed until they recover.

They will be fed and looked after by medical professionals during their time in rehab.

Whilst this is a very productive and highly successful form of rehab, it can be very intimidating to many sufferers who are already feeling weak and vulnerable.

If this isn’t for you, then you should consider outpatient rehab.

Outpatient Rehab

Outpatient alcohol and drug rehab involve individuals visiting rehab centres every day for medication and therapy until they feel like they are ready to finish.

The great thing about outpatient rehab is that individuals are able to go back to their daily life each day in order to continue working or looking after children or other people who depend on them.

Only those with a mild or moderate addiction will be considered for outpatient rehab, as individuals will need to motivate themselves every day to make the journey to the rehab centre in order to recover.

If your addiction is more severe, then you will be recommended for inpatient drug and alcohol rehab in St Albans.

Alcohol Detox & Alcohol Rehab In St Albans

If you suffer from alcohol addiction in the St Albans area, then you will need to undergo a physical detox in order to rid your body of alcohol.

Most people who are addicted to alcohol in St Albans dread undergoing a physical detox as they are well aware of the withdrawal symptoms that come with a detox.

However, undergoing detox is the only way that you are going to recover.

You simply cannot recover from therapy alone.

Withdrawal symptoms usually include feelings of:

• Anxiety
• Exhaustion
• Depression
• Flu-like symptoms
• Chills
• Sickness
• Fatigue
• Insomnia

As you can gather, this makes detoxing extremely difficult.

However, it is important that you persevere in order to overcome the worst and recover.

These withdrawal symptoms can last as little as 1 day or as long as 7.

Some people experience these symptoms a few hours into their detox, and it takes others a few days to experience any withdrawal symptoms at all.

It is important to remember that you will be monitored around the clock by medical professionals to make sure that you are staying healthy and are on track.

If your withdrawal symptoms look like they are becoming too much, then the doctor might prescribe you some medication called Librium, which will ease the effects of the withdrawal.

Rehab For Cocaine In St Albans

If you’re addicted to cocaine in St Albans, then you need to attend drug rehab in order to recover.

As cocaine is highly addictive, people need to undergo therapy in order to recover.

However, to most people’s surprise, cocaine is not addictive physically.

This means that individuals don’t have to undergo detox when they arrive at rehab.

Rehab For Heroin In St Albans

If you are addicted to heroin in St Albans, then you will know just how addictive the substance is.

Unlike cocaine, heroin is physically addictive.

This means that anyone who is addicted to heroin will have to detox their body to rid their body of the substance before they can receive any further treatment such as therapy.

Rehab For Cannabis In St Albans

Cannabis is one of the most abused drugs in St Albans and the UK.

Cannabis makes people feel calm and ‘high’, which adds to its addictive nature.

However, cannabis alters the way the brain works over time, making people lazy and sluggish.

Although cannabis is highly addictive mentally, it does not create a physical addiction, so the focus of cannabis recovery is very much focused on therapy.

Types Of Therapies On Offer In Alcohol Rehab In St Albans

Lots of people picture therapy as very traditional, one-to-one therapy.

However, there are now many different forms of therapy on offer throughout drug and alcohol rehab in St Albans.

Holistic Therapies

Holistic therapy includes things such as art, music and exercise in order to help people overcome their addiction through new hobbies and a better lifestyle overall.

CBT

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a form of one-to-one therapy that allows the therapist to try to identify triggers and unhealthy behaviours that contribute to their addiction, changing their behaviour by altering their thoughts.

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational interviewing is all about evoking motivation to change whilst helping people to see past the unanswered questions in their heads.

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy is very similar to CBT, the main difference being that DBT helps people with intense emotions and concerns.

Brief interventions

Brief interventions are great therapy techniques that help people in the St Albans area to overcome and move past any unhealthy and self-destructive behaviours.

Twelve-Step Facilitation Therapy (TSF)

Twelve-step facilitation therapy helps people to become more familiar with and open to the idea of self-help groups after they leave rehab.

Individual Therapy

One-to-one therapy is available in every rehab centre across St Albans and the UK.

This is where you will have your most intimate and often productive therapy sessions with your therapist.

Family Therapy

Family therapy is great for any families who struggle from disagreements at home surrounding addiction and helps people to become better communicators.

Co-Dependency Treatment

Lots of people who struggle with addiction also struggle from being co-dependent on another person

They become so caught up with looking after other people or by giving their attention to something else that they forget to look after themselves.

Co-dependency treatment helps people to become happier with themselves and aims to boost their self-esteem.

Group Therapy

Group therapy is a fantastic option for people who would benefit from learning from others who are going through the same thing as you.

The Importance Of A Dual Diagnosis

Mental illness and addiction often mimic and follow one another.

A dual diagnosis is when an individual suffers from a mental health issue alongside an addiction to a substance.

Lots of people who suffer from a mental health issue use addictive substances as a crutch to lean on.

Likewise, lots of people who suffer from addiction also develop mental health issues off the back of their addiction.

Whilst at drug and alcohol rehab in St Albans, you will be treated for a dual diagnosis.

You will be given the opportunity to receive a detox to rid your body of the addictive substance, before then receiving treatment and therapy for your mental health issue.

How Rehab Helps with Relapse Prevention

If you attend alcohol rehab in St Albans, then you will spend a lot of your time in rehab making a relapse prevention plan with the help of doctors and therapists.

A relapse prevention plan contains coping strategies for the outside world, as well as the most common signs of relapse for the patient to look out for.

A relapse prevention plan can either be written or verbal, and you are supposed to take this home with you and implement it in daily life.

The goal of a relapse prevention plan is to identify high-risk situations and triggers and to have a plan to overcome them.

Aftercare And Support Services

Once you leave drug and alcohol rehab in St Albans, you will be able to attend lots of aftercare and support services.

Al-Anon Family Group Meetings

If you know someone who’s addicted to alcohol and think that you need support too, then you should attend Al-Anon family meetings.

SMART Recovery

SMART self-help groups are similar to AA meetings.

However, they do not use the 12 steps to recovery, instead taking a more person-focused approach.

There are SMART groups across the UK and typically consist of sessions that are 90 minutes in length.

Outpatient Treatment in St Albans

If you leave rehab in St Albans but still need access to medication and a therapist, then you should consider attending additional outpatient drug treatment.

Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are very well-known self-help groups which utilise the 12 steps to recovery.

These are two of the most prolific 12-step organisations,but many other offshoot exist, such as Cocaine Anonymous, Gambler’s Anonymous and Marijuana Anonymous.

Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, CA and many others hold frequent meetings in and around St Albans.

Home Detox

Home detox is a great aftercare option for anyone who suffers from a mild addiction who needs to detox their body to rid them of the addictive substance.

You will detox at home, with phone calls from doctors and therapists and any required medication sent via the post.

Get Help Today

No one should have to struggle through addiction alone.

If you are suffering from addiction in the St Albans area, then call us on 0800 088 66 86 for our expert help and advice.

Once you reach out for help, you’ve made the decision to pursue a happier, healthier life.