Drug and Alcohol Rehab Swansea

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Drug and Alcohol Rehab Swansea

Quick Links for help with addiction in Swansea

• Dual diagnosis at drug and alcohol rehab in Swansea
• Why residential rehab in Swansea might be needed
• How much does rehab cost in Swansea?
• Tips for choosing the right rehab in Swansea

Substance addiction is the failure to be able to control one’s actions due to the overwhelming need to take substances. There are various reasons that a person might begin to abuse drugs and alcohol.

They could have suffered abuse, or been involved in a traumatic event that they find hard to cope with.

Leaning on drugs and alcohol in Swansea could have been a coping mechanism for the person at the time, but as the abuse progresses, day-to-day life without the substance of choice can become too much for them to cope with.

In 2020, almost 25,000 people were referred to a medical facility for substance abuse treatment in Swansea alone, but this is not the full picture of addiction.

Deaths caused by drug overdose have increased dramatically over the last ten years in Wales, and Swansea is consistently above the national average for alcohol-related deaths according to government data.

These trends suggest that a large number of people who struggle with the condition are not seeking drug and alcohol rehab.

Below, we provide some statistics about alcohol and drug use in Swansea:

Drug and Alcohol Statistics in Swansea (2022)	Data
Percentage of drug misuse deaths from mixing different substances or taking alcohol with drugs	62%
Drug deaths in Swansea	83
Number of drug crimes reported	1,800
Annual drug crime rate per 1,000	2.6

To begin your recovery journey in Swansea today, call our helpful, friendly team today on 0800 088 66 86

Using the disease model of addiction at rehab in Swansea

Many people misunderstand addiction to be a result of an individual’s moral choices and decisions. It is common for people to believe that individuals become addicted to drugs or alcohol as a result of poor judgement or a reckless attitude, but it is actually far more complex than that.

Thanks to the disease model of addiction, it is now understood that addiction occurs because of complications in the brain relating to its neural pathways and not the attitude or carelessness of the individual.

This model of explaining addictions says that the way in which drugs and alcohol impact the brain’s functioning strips an individual of the control they have over their behaviour.

After using a substance, the brain’s negative response to becoming sober again triggers it to seek the substance again, and an individual’s ability to resist this urge weakens with more substance use.

In addition to this cycle of behaviour, the disease model also notes that certain factors can have an influence on the susceptibility of an individual to developing an addiction in Swansea.

Being a victim of abuse can make an individual more vulnerable to the brain’s cravings for drugs or alcohol, as can an individual’s socialisation and how they were taught to perceive such substance by their parents in Swansea.

Although the theory has received critique, it is very important to consider as it allows individuals to seek treatment in Swansea in the knowledge that they are sick and can be treated, rather than immoral people who cannot be helped.

You can read more about the disease of addiction here.

To learn more about addiction recovery in Swansea, call our team on 0800 088 66 86

Dual diagnosis at drug and alcohol rehab in Swansea

In most cases, addiction develops due to the presence of another mental health condition. When an individual suffers from depression, severe anxiety, or another debilitating psychological obstacle, the consumption of drugs or alcohol can provide a temporary period of relief and make them feel more relaxed or positive.

However, when the negative symptoms of these conditions return when an individual becomes sober, they can often turn to them again and again in order to regain that sense of relief.

With more frequent use, taking drugs or alcohol can soon become a method of self-medication, and individuals can begin to think that they cannot function in everyday life without them in Swansea.

According to the NESARC data, 28.6% of people with a current alcohol addiction diagnosis had at least one personality disorder like bipolar disorder.

Alternatively, an individual may develop a mental health condition as a result of their addiction due to the impact that drugs and alcohol have on their brain.

When addiction develops this way, it is known as dual diagnosis, and it is essential that this is identified during the treatment process in Swansea.

While a large part of recovery is weaning the body from its physical cravings for drugs and alcohol, this will not be enough to treat dual diagnosis as the motivations for substance use will still remain.

For this reason, drug and alcohol rehabs in Swansea look to identify dual diagnosis as soon as possible and then provide relevant therapy in order to work through the association between depression, anxiety, or trauma and addiction.

This could take the form of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), a method of therapy that looks to help individuals identify situations in which their mental health struggles are most problematic and then develop tactics for preventing these issues from triggering substance use.

Some mental health disorders that can be treated at rehab in Swansea include:

• Bipolar Disorder
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Schizophrenia
• Eating Disorders

For more information about mental health support at rehab in Swansea, call us today on 0800 088 66 86

Swansea rehabs focus on abstinence

Drug and alcohol rehab in Swansea tends to focus on abstinence – the complete suspension of substance use and the practice of techniques to remain totally sober.

Experts have agreed that abstinence is always the safer and more effective route to addiction recovery.

Alternatively, there are harm reduction and moderation techniques that look to limit the negative implications of addiction by managing substance use, but there are complications that come with these approaches.

The benefits of abstinence in Swansea

While moderation and harm reduction might be suitable for those with relatively manageable substance abuse problems, they will not be appropriate for those with severe addictions.

Due to the lack of control that individuals face when suffering from addiction, continuing to take drugs or drink alcohol, even when severely reduced, can easily get out of hand.

The best approach for these individuals, therefore, is to focus on stopping substance use altogether and eliminating the window for relapse.

By preventing further consumption, individuals are able to establish a stable body and brain chemistry without the presence of a substance causing complications.

Furthermore, the abstinence approach also reduces the impact on others and wider society. Harm reduction methods work in theory, but it does not take long for physical and financial problems to arise and ruin relationships.

Preventative methods are the most effective way of stopping these problems from surfacing.

To learn more about addiction recovery in Swansea, call us on 0800 088 66 86

Why residential rehab in Swansea might be needed

Professionally supported drug and alcohol rehab in Swansea is one of the best ways to recover, for a variety of reasons.

Addiction develops differently in every case, and this means that not everyone will necessarily require residential rehab in Swansea when it comes to their recovery plan.

There are certain instances, however, were staying in a rehab facility is necessary for safe and effective treatment in Swansea.

Lack of control in Swansea

For those with severe addictions, their capacity to make decisions regarding their substance use is seriously limited. Rather than choosing to continue taking drugs or drinking alcohol, they instead feel an overpowering urge to do so, and so cannot be convinced or persuaded.

When this is the case, residential rehab is essential to ensure that an individual is in an environment free from drug and alcohol access and temptation.

Only this way can an individual be kept away from the substances they are addicted to and develop physical sobriety.

Risk of physical harm in Swansea

Addiction can have a catastrophic impact on the body and its functioning, and the process of getting sober can potentially be very dangerous. Especially when it comes to alcohol, withdrawal in Swansea can be life-threatening.

As a result, it is imperative that individuals who undergo detox from these substances only do so under the expert supervision of doctors and addiction specialists.

This way, physical well-being can be protected with necessary medications that can be prescribed at a speed impossible outside of residential care in Swansea.

Unpredictable recovery in Swansea

Addiction recovery is by no means a linear process. So many times, individuals will face obstacles that set them back in their journey, and responding in the right way to these unexpected problems is very important.

Setbacks can easily lead to a full relapse, so having the support of staff within residential rehab can make all the difference when it comes to staying on track.

Those undergoing outpatient care in Swansea do not have the same access to support and guidance, and so are more at risk of suffering in these instances.

To find out whether residential rehab in Swansea is right for you, call us on 0800 088 66 86

The alternatives to going to rehab

If going into a treatment facility in Swansea is not possible for whatever reason, individuals have a variety of recovery paths that they can also consider.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Swansea

Within an AA or NA programme, an individual will work towards sobriety by attending meetings with others also struggling with addiction. Through these meetings, they will get opportunities to share their experiences and learn techniques for overcoming their problems.

Meetings will be regular, allowing individuals to get to know each other and have a degree of structure to their recovery plan.

Each session will be led by a group leader who will choose a discussion topic and encourage each person to share and engage in productive dialogue with other attendees.

Alongside the camaraderie they will develop and use to their advantage throughout their recovery, individuals also benefit from the support of a sponsor.

AA and NA programmes function on the system of each participant having a sponsor who personally keeps an eye on their progress and offers them support and advice.

Both Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous host several frequent meetings in and around Swansea.

SMART Recovery, Swansea

Another meeting-based treatment plan, SMART recovery programmes look to help individuals learn techniques for handling their addiction while structuring the process along with four central steps.

The central goals of SMART are for individuals to gain the motivation needed for recovery, manage their cravings effectively, learn to cope with challenging situations in a healthy way, and live a substance-free lifestyle.

How this approach differs, however, is in its attitude towards the process of getting better. SMART does not expect individuals to seamlessly progress from one step to another but instead expects individuals to face obstacles and experience setbacks.

Rather than promoting the idea that recovery is a linear process, SMART reinforces the idea that addiction recovery is a messy journey and achievable through consistency and determination. Such an approach gets effective results by helping individuals remain focused in spite of getting stuck.

SMART Recovery hosts several meetings in and around Swansea, as well as offering online meetings for ease of access.

Home detox in Swansea

For those who require a flexible approach to recovery that caters to their demanding professional and family life, home detox is an important option to consider.

With this style of treatment, individuals stop their substance use and attempt to become sober with the support of medication delivered to their homes.

In most cases, this medication is Librium, a benzodiazepine that works to reduce the impact of their withdrawal symptoms and make sobriety much more manageable.

The progress of an individual’s assisted detox is monitored via regular meetings with a medical professional. These check-ups usually help in assessing whether a dosage needs to be increased or reduced, and the end of the treatment is marked by a doctor determining that detox has been successful.

The benefits of home detox are that an individual can beat their physical dependency while retaining the freedom to go on with their usual routine to a certain extent.

However, it should be noted that the psychological side of addiction is not dealt with via this approach, so therapy could also be utilised to ensure a more thorough recovery.

Due to its remote nature, anyone in Swansea who is suitable to undergo a home detox can access one.

AI-Anon Family Meetings in Swansea

The unfortunate reality of addiction is that it does not only impact the life of the individual taking drugs or alcohol.

Their family and friends can often suffer psychologically and emotionally as well from having to observe the effects of the condition, and financial hardship can arise for entire families when someone is trying to fund an addiction.

In order to support these individuals, AI-Anon meetings look to introduce them to others also going through similar struggles and encourage productive conversations.

This can take the form of families sharing coping mechanisms, or they can begin to view each other as outlets for voicing their concerns and fears.

Not only can AI-Anon meetings be great for helping families manage their loved one’s condition, but learning more about addiction can also boost their ability to help and support their loved one through their recovery.

Al-Anon is known to hold several regular meetings in and around Swansea.

Outpatient treatment via a local Drug & Alcohol rehab Swansea

Like home detox, outpatient treatment is a flexible method that looks to help individuals recover while still managing their day-to-day routine.

Through attending regular meetings with an addiction specialist, outpatient sessions allow an individual to receive support and guidance regarding their recovery that is personal to their specific situation.

For example, if an individual is struggling to remain motivated, the sessions can be designed around promoting the reasons why they want to become sober and developing techniques for sustaining that motivation.

To learn more about the alternative support services accessible in Swansea, call us on 0800 088 66 86

The ASAM Criteria – Patient Placement Criteria

To do this, it is common for the ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) Criteria to be used, an assessment that records several aspects of an individual’s situation to develop an overall image of the severity of their addiction.

For this test, 6 dimensions of an individual’s situation must be looked at. These are:

• Acute intoxication/Withdrawal potential – What are an individual’s consumption patterns? How have they used drugs or alcohol in the past? How have they coped with withdrawal before?
• Biological condition – How is an individual’s physical health? What long-term conditions do they suffer from?
• Mental and emotional state – How does an individual feel about their addiction? What do they think? Do they struggle with any mental or behavioural obstacles?
• Relapse potential – Has an individual relapsed in the past? How have they previously combatted it? What factors increase their risk of relapsing again in future?
• Living arrangement – Who does an individual live with? Where do they live? Are there any factors that could threaten their addiction recovery?

By taking all of these dimensions into consideration, a treatment plan can be devised which is suitable for their physical, psychological, and social situation and optimises their chances of successfully beating their addiction.

The DSM-5 Three Levels of Severity

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, (DSM-5) is a test used to assess the severity of an individual’s substance abuse disorder.

It works by assessing the symptoms an individual is exhibiting and quantifying how many of the following can be identified:

• Using a substance in excessive quantities or more than intended
• Not being able to stop substance use
• Ignoring responsibilities
• Losing interest in relationships and hobbies
• Struggling to perform at work or school
• Using a substance where inappropriate (for example, at work)
• Sustaining substance use despite consequences
• Building a tolerance for a substance and requiring more of it
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms

If two or three of these symptoms are present, then the substance use can be classified as mild. If there are four or five, the substance use is deemed as moderate. If, however, there are more than six of these symptoms present, an individual’s situation is severe, and they are classified as having an addiction.

Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Tests (AUDITs)

When it comes to treating alcoholism, a greater degree of care must be taken when selecting an appropriate method of treatment.

Unlike other substances, alcohol can kill when detox is not handled correctly, so understanding the extent of an individual’s dependency on it is pivotal for safe and effective recovery.

To achieve this, the World Health Organization developed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), a questionnaire-style assessment that helps to build an image of an individual’s relationship with alcohol.

How the test works

The AUDIT is split into three sections, each composed of questions relating to a different aspect of alcohol usage.

The first section looks at an individual’s normal consumption of alcohol. In the following section, the focus of questions shifts towards an individual’s history with withdrawal and how they have coped with it.

Finally, the test generates an idea of what symptoms and consequences an individual and their family are experiencing as a result of the drinking.

To produce results, AUDITs work on a multiple-choice framework, with each answer an individual gives being worth a certain number. Once all of the answers are given, the total is tallied up and the final score will correlate with a certain degree of severity of alcoholism.

A score of 13 or more reflects a severe alcohol dependency. Anything above 8 is also noted as needing guidance and support.

To learn more about diagnosing addiction whilst at rehab in Swansea, call our team on 0800 088 66 86

You can also use the CAGE Questionnaire as a way to see if you may have an addiction.

When a professional intervention is needed in Swansea

An intervention is when a group of family members and friends come together to support an individual struggling with addiction and try to encourage them to seek professional help.

They function on the structure of each attendee offering their perspective on the issue and offering support in terms of the recovery journey.

Interventions can be a great way to get the recovery process started when the individual in question is in denial about their situation or is scared to face the reality of what they are doing. However, they are not always easy to set up.

Instead of going it alone, families have the option of seeking help from a professional interventionist, an expert who can help plan and execute the event. But when should you consider getting help?

Reasons to get help from a professional interventionist in Swansea:

• Being structured – Interventions are most effective when they follow a set plan. Each person must portray the same message to the individual in question, and that takes a lot of organisation and coherent planning. If assistance is needed in this area, a professional can help establish order and maintain it during the actual event itself.
• Staying supportive – One of the most challenging aspects of an intervention is the maintenance of a supportive, non-judgemental tone. The goal is to encourage an individual to see the error of their ways and choose treatment based on the points made by their peers, but things can go wrong. Frustration can quickly turn the conversation into an accusatory direction, so an interventionist can play the pivotal role of keeping the conversation productive and loving.
• Providing validity – When the subject of an intervention, it is normal for individuals to reject what their family and friends are saying. They can often not believe them, get paranoid or angry, and ultimately reject their suggestions. The presence of a professional, however, can work to stop this by providing a degree of validity to the event and help individuals see how serious the situation is.

For advice and guidance on conducting an intervention in Swansea, call our team on 0800 088 66 86

The CRAFT Approach to intervention

For those who are witnessing a friend or loved one suffer from the consequences of addiction, it is perfectly natural to want to help. The conventional intervention format, however, is not the only option.

Alternatively, individuals may want to adopt the CRAFT approach to intervention, a style of help that looks to encourage addicted individuals to stop their harmful behaviour through a structured positive reinforcement programme.

This involves the family and friends of an individual uniting in an effort to reward them when they engage in positive behaviours. This might involve them beginning treatment or reducing their substance use, and the goal is to convince the individual of the benefits of a sober life.

On the other side of things, the CRAFT approach also involves negative repercussions being upheld when an individual continues their substance abuse. This tends to involve a lack of support when they are suffering from the physical consequences of consuming excessive amounts of a drug or alcohol.

With organised and consistent execution, the goal of the CRAFT approach is to tap into an individual’s reward system – which usually fuels their substance use – and rewire it to associate sobriety with feeling good and continuing substance use with feeling unwell and unhealthy.

To learn more about using the CRAFT approach in Swansea, call us on 0800 088 66 86

How much does rehab cost in Swansea?

The cost of drug and alcohol rehab in Swansea is a very important factor to consider before arranging to have treatment. Programmes vary in cost, and it is, therefore, a vital part of the decision-making process.

Across Swansea, the prices of different rehab options are as follows:

• 10-day detox (single room) – £3,000 to £6,000
• 10-day detox (shared room) – £2,000 to £4,000
• 28-day detox (single room) – £8,000 to £12,000
• 28-day detox (shared room) – £6,000
• Home detox – £1,500

For a more accurate estimation of how much your drug addiction treatment in Swansea will cost, call our team on 0800 088 66 86

Tips for choosing the right rehab in Swansea

Addiction is not considered a ‘choice’ or ‘moral failing’ on behalf of the addiction sufferer – rehab is about treating the disease of addiction.

Something that quite a lot of people can struggle with when it comes to addiction recovery is choosing the right kind of treatment programme.

There are so many options when it comes to drug and alcohol rehab Swansea, so how can you be sure you are selecting the right one for you?

To help with this, here are a few good tips to ensure that you select an appropriate treatment programme:

• Do your research – One of the best ways to decide on a rehab programme is to look into the facility and what kind of history it has. You can learn a lot from its success rates, staff details, and reviews, and this can be a quick and easy way to create a shortlist of potential matches.
• Price check – To generate a realistic idea of what rehab programme you might go with, it can be good to assess your budget for treatment and what different facilities charge for their services. Different programmes will vary based on the activities and facilities they provide, so looking into this is very helpful.
• Reach out – It can be difficult to get a sense of what a particular rehab facility is like by reading information on a screen, so it can also be beneficial to reach out and have a conversation with someone who works there. This way, those which you feel comfortable talking to can be quickly identified.

For advice on choosing the right drug and alcohol rehab in Swansea for you, call us on 0800 088 66 86

Detox in Swansea

When addiction takes hold of an individual, their body chemistry can be violently altered by the regular consumption of the substance in question.

Alcohol addiction is an unfortunately common addiction, with a study by Robin Room, Thomas Babor and Jürgen Rehm revealing that ‘4% of the global burden of disease is attributable to alcohol’, accounting for almost as much death and disability as tobacco and high blood pressure (hypertension) globally.

Especially when it comes to heavier substances such as alcohol and heroin, individuals can struggle to go without sustaining their addiction because the chemical imbalance triggered by sobriety forces uncomfortable and dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

For example, alcohol can trigger several potentially life-threatening symptoms. Individuals who suddenly stop their usage can experience seizures, mood swings, heart problems, and Delirium Tremens, a condition that can cause sudden death.

To treat this effect of addiction, individuals who develop physical dependency must go through a detox. This process involves them stopping their substance use with the supervision and support of medical professionals.

In many cases, detox involves the prescription of Librium, a benzodiazepine that lessens the impact of withdrawal on an individual when they stop their substance use.

This tends to continue for 10 days to help stave off the initial dangers of withdrawal, and then a 3-week period is used to tackle the underlying triggers of an individual’s behaviour.

You will need to undergo a medical detox if you are addicted to a substance that has caused you to become physically dependent on it.

Not all substances cause this – for example, cocaine and cannabis do not spark physical dependency – but those which cause the body to react when substances are not taken will require detox.

When you get to rehab you will undergo a psychiatric assessment. This is so you will receive the correct treatment to ensure you are on the route to sobriety. This will be done by a psychiatrist or other medical professional.

If you have an alcohol addiction you will need to have an alcohol detox before you can begin any treatment. This means you will likely experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

For a physical dependence on a substance, such as alcohol, you will need a medically-assisted detox – this is underseen by a doctor or medical professional. You will also need one of these for heroin withdrawal for example.

After your detox, you may be prescribed Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) which will help with the symptoms of withdrawal.

Another medication used to stop drinking is Acamprosate (Campral®), or the opioid antagonist Naltrexone.

Alcoholism can also cause anxiety and depression, which means you might be able to get prescribed medications such as antidepressants like nefazodone, desipramine, or imipramine. 

• Delirium Tremens
• Hepatitis
• Wernicke Encephalopathy
• Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome

If you go on to have CBT therapy for alcohol addiction, a report has shown that there is a success rate of 83.87%. Therapy after treatment is therefore highly recommended. 

To learn more about detox in swansea, call our helpful team today on 0800 088 66 86

How long does rehab in Swansea last?

A large source of concern for individuals considering rehab is how long the process will take. In order to properly engage with addiction recovery treatment, they will need to know how long to arrange for time off work or how long they should tell their family that they can be expected to be absent.

Typically, physical detox takes around 7 days for an individual to complete, but that does not mean that rehab is over within a week.

In order to tackle the psychological reasons for an individual has developed the condition in the first place, it is recommended that rehab take around 28 days in total.

The specific time an individual remains within rehab will depend on the details of their situation and how well they take to treatment.

Those who are addicted to substances such as cocaine or heroin, for example, won’t need to undergo physical detox and therefore will require less time on that side of recovery.

For a more accurate timeframe for your drug addiction treatment in Swansea, call us today on 0800 088 66 86

Rehab for Cocaine in Swansea

When an individual becomes addicted to cocaine, it is a psychological dependency that they have developed rather than a physical one.

Instead of their body beginning to crave and rely on the consumption of the substance in order to function, it is the individual’s mind that believes that regular consumption is necessary.

Cocaine is a substance that disrupts the brain’s reward system and influences how the pleasure of an individual is experienced.

Because the ‘high’ of taking cocaine is so intense, individuals can feel relatively down when sober and therefore feel the desire to take cocaine again in order to feel confident, happy, or relaxed.

Over time, an individual’s tolerance for cocaine can develop, pushing them to use more and more of it to achieve the same effect. As this happens, an individual will find that their substance use is constant or excessive.

In order to combat this, the process of detox is not required. Instead, an individual will have to go through a phase of therapy that works to alter how they perceive cocaine, changing their idea of it as a source of pleasure.

A good example of this kind of therapy is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), a treatment method that teaches individuals to develop healthier ways of gaining pleasure in situations that usually prompt them to use cocaine.

To begin your journey to beat your cocaine addiction in Swansea, call us on 0800 088 66 86

Rehab for Heroin rehab in Swansea

Heroin is one of the most dangerous substances to develop an addiction to because it can seriously impact the body and how it functions.

Like alcohol, heroin can spark physical dependency when an individual consumes it regularly, meaning that they can undergo potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms when they are sober.

This occurs because of the way heroin alters the body’s chemistry. As it is used more regularly, the presence of heroin within an individual’s system begins to be catered for by the rest of the body.

The chemical balance of the body’s everyday functioning is changed to accommodate for heroin’s presence, meaning that there is a sudden imbalance when it is taken away.

This chemical change in the body triggers withdrawal symptoms, and in many cases, these are too much for an individual to endure. Instead of going through with their attempt to get sober, they instead seek to relieve such discomfort by using heroin again.

In order to treat heroin addiction, a medical detox must be carried out which looks to support an individual’s movement away from using the substance with medical supervision and support.

In many cases, this involves the prescription of benzodiazepines which help reduce the impact of withdrawal symptoms.

To begin your journey to beat your heroin addiction in Swansea, call us on 0800 088 66 86

Rehab for Cannabis in Swansea

When an individual takes cannabis, a chemical known as THC is released into their brain, triggering strong sensations of pleasure and calmness. The positive effects of this can sometimes lead individuals to become dependent on cannabis in order to function.

It is important to note that cannabis does not cause physical dependency. Instead of changing how the body’s chemistry works and triggering physical dependency, cannabis causes an individual to develop a psychological dependency where they believe that they cannot work or socialise if they do not take the substance.

While individuals will not experience withdrawal symptoms like those who are addicted to alcohol, not taking cannabis can trigger intense spells of anxiety and cause them to avoid work or social events under the belief that they cannot possibly attend them sober.

In order to treat this, the answer does not lie in physical detox. Instead, individuals must go through a series of therapy sessions.

These work to help them identify the effect that cannabis has on them and understand that there are other ways of tackling their lack of confidence, their inability to relax, or their high-stress levels.

To begin your journey to beat your cannabis addiction in Swansea, call us on 0800 088 66 86

Other types of addictions that can be treated at rehab include:

• Behavioural Addictions (Gambling Addiction)
• Opioid Use Disorder (Buprenorphine)
• Binge Drinking
• Cannabis Use Disorder
• Cocaine Dependence
• Codependency
• Crack Cocaine Addiction
• Ketamine Addiction
• Substance Use Disorder

The types of therapies on offer in Swansea

A large part of the addiction recovery process is substance abuse therapy. While physical detox is imperative in many cases, the prospect of relapse is always a threat if the psychological and emotional causes of the addiction are not worked through.

In Swansea, there are a variety of therapy options out there. Which one an individual undergoes will depend on what their situation demands, so it can be beneficial to get an idea of what each kind of treatment is and how it can help.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

In many cases of addiction, an individual’s motivation to use a substance so excessively stems from their difficulty handling a different mental health problem. It is common for drugs or alcohol to be used to calm anxiety or lift depression.

It is known as a dual diagnosis when conditions are intertwined like this, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a treatment method that specialises in identifying and untangling this relationship between addiction and depression, anxiety, or another condition.

In CBT, a therapist helps an individual identify what situations trigger their anxiety or depression, understand why they feel the desire to take a substance, and develop healthier ways of dealing with the initial condition.

This method is designed to untangle the two conditions and provide an individual with the means of handling their poor mental health while diminishing their addiction at the same time.

Most rehabs in Swansea will offer CBT as a core part of your recovery plan.

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

Turning to drugs or alcohol can become a regular part of an individual’s life when they experience emotions that they struggle to keep under control. In a lot of cases, individuals find substances appealing because they allow them to calm their anger, frustration, or guilt.

DBT is a therapy method that works to target these emotions and the effect they have on an individual’s behaviour. Working with a professional, individuals engage in conversations that help them identify challenging emotions and acknowledge why they are so strong.

Such discussions can focus on an individual’s childhood, their relationships with friends and family, or even their self-esteem and self-image.

Once these emotions have been isolated and understood, tactics for handling them that do not rely on substance use can be practised.

Many drug and alcohol rehabs in Swansea can facilitate DBT sessions when necessary.

Brief Interventions

As one of the more flexible therapy options, the brief intervention involves individuals regularly meeting up with an addiction specialist to discuss and work through certain aspects of their recovery.

In addition to being arranged around an individual’s schedule, the flexibility of this option stems from the choice they can exercise regarding what each session focuses on.

Individuals can choose to focus on whatever they are struggling with, and then the professional can arrange and plan in accordance.

As brief interventions are limited in how much support they can provide, it is recommended that this style of treatment be paired with another regular form of support to maximise effectiveness.

Most addiction treatment programs in Swansea will use brief interventions frequently to ensure they stay effective and on-track.

Motivational Interviewing

While medical professionals and addiction specialists are pivotal to the addiction recovery process, nothing can help an individual who is not motivated. Rehab is a demanding process, and those who are not willing to try and be consistent will struggle to succeed.

Motivational interviewing is a therapy activity that looks to try and help in this area. It involves a therapist engaging an individual in a discussion about what they want from life and what their dreams are, all in the hope of drawing out why they want to beat their addiction.

If, for example, an individual reveals that they want to be a better parent or spouse, the therapist then works to place this desire at the heart of an individual’s recovery effort, giving them something to aim for and teaching them techniques for keeping it in mind when they feel defeated.

Many rehabs in Swansea offer Motivational Interviewing when needed.

Holistic Therapies (e.g. equine therapy/music therapy/art therapy/adventure therapy)

Rather than treating an individual directly for their addiction, therapy can also be designed to lift their overall well-being and treat their substance abuse problems in the process.

Known as holistic therapies, there are activities that look to help an individual gain a better overall worldview, improve their physical and mental health, and draw them away from their negative behaviours by showing them the benefits of healthy living in general.

These therapies can involve nature walks, animal petting, music sessions, art classes – all of which can boost their well-being and provide them with an alternative option for pleasure and escapism that doesn’t relate to addiction.

Whilst most drug and alcohol rehabs in Swansea will offer some form of holistic therapy, its specific nature will depend on the expertise and resources available to that rehab.

Group therapy

Addiction can be an incredibly isolating condition, and those who suffer can feel like they are the only people in the world who are dealing with the problems and setbacks of rehab.

As a result of this, it can be really beneficial to promote conversations between those who are going through treatment at the same time.

In group therapy, individuals at different stages of the recovery process come together and share experiences with one another. This is beneficial on several levels as the different groups can help the progress of others.

Those towards the end of their rehab can provide hope and useful techniques to those at the beginning of the process, and those who are at the cusp of finishing their treatment can use the newer individuals as motivation to remain strong and not slip back to how they once were.

Group therapy is a cornerstone of most addiction treatment services in Swansea.

Individual therapy

Due to the personal nature of addiction, everyone who develops the condition will experience a slightly different version of its symptoms and consequences.

As a result, it can help to have personal attention and talk to a medical professional about exactly what one is experiencing.

In individual therapy, a discussion will be had between an individual and a therapist, and the topic and direction of this conversation can be adapted to whatever is necessary in that specific case.

The benefit of one-on-one treatment is that it can be personalised, so whatever the person needs can be arranged.

With this method, an individual’s motivation for sustaining addiction can be identified and talked about, and a rapport can be developed so that they trust the advice and guidance provided by the therapist.

This trust can make all the difference in how seriously an individual sticks to such advice.

Individual therapy will be experienced by virtually everyone who undergoes rehab in Swansea.

Family therapy

The difficulties that push individuals towards addiction are not always a direct result of their own behaviour. Alternatively, their desire to take drugs or drink alcohol can spawn from tensions and conflicts within their family.

The strains of family relationships can often be a source of unhappiness or unease for people, so to tackle addiction that arises as a result of this, therapy needs to bring the individual and their close relations into the treatment environment.

In family therapy, a professional works to establish what the problems are within the family and how they are fuelling an individual’s negative behaviour. Then these difficulties are resolved, and techniques are practised to ensure that problems do not resurface and spark addiction again in the future.

Family therapy can be hosted by most drug and alcohol rehabs in Swansea when necessary.

Co-dependency treatment

When individuals struggle with co-dependency, it means that they have an unhealthy reliance on their relationships with friends or loved ones for their own sense of self-worth and self-image.

In some instances, addiction can develop as a result of co-dependency. If a partner or best friend uses drugs and alcohol, an individual can begin doing the same to a more extreme extent in order to gain their approval or acceptance, and this can trigger dependency.

Co-dependency treatment involves focussing on this issue and helping an individual establish more sustainable relationships.

This usually involves redrawing boundaries between friends or partners, and teaching individuals to see addiction as a problem, not a source of validation.

Co-dependency treatment can be offered when needed by many drug and alcohol rehabs in Swansea.

Twelve-Step Facilitation Therapy (TSF)

TSF is a treatment style that looks to help individuals by introducing them to a structure of treatment options and assistance.

Through attending sessions, individuals are treated for their psychological dependency on substance use while also being shown the variety of support available in the wider recovery community.

As individuals engage with TSF treatment, they are encouraged to accept addiction as a condition that can be managed with consistent effort, as well as to engage with as much available help as they can.

This style of treatment helps individuals better handle their condition, and also increases the chances of them offering their support in the recovery community to future individuals going through treatment.

TSF is a common occurrence at alcohol rehabilitation in Swansea.

Other types of therapy available at rehab include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, acupuncture, contingency management, drama therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, group psychotherapy, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, motivational therapy, music therapy, Person-centered care, psychiatric treatment, Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy, and talking therapies.

To learn more about the various treatments available in Swansea, call our team today on 0800 088 66 86

Relapse Prevention at rehab in Swansea

A vital part of the rehab process is the production of a relapse prevention plan. While detox and therapy are imperative to successful recovery, it cannot be forgotten how important it is for individuals to prepare for the weeks and months following treatment.

Without the support of medical professionals, individuals can find that they struggle to fend off their cravings and remain on track.

It is essential, therefore, that a prevention plan be put in place before an individual leaves treatment, and this can be achieved via a few different methods.

HALT

When cravings strike, the HALT technique can be utilised to see if there is another bodily necessity that an individual can fulfil to make themselves feel better before turning to substance use.

HALT is an acronym, and individuals who are experiencing strong cravings should ask themselves:

• Am I hungry?
• Am I angry?
• Am I lonely?
• Am I tired?

The goal of this is to allow an individual to eat something, calm down, reach out to a friend, or sleep before they think about taking a substance, and then see how they feel afterwards.

Practising mindfulness

Similar to when addiction first develops, stress and anxiety can push individuals to use substances following treatment. Keeping calm can therefore be a vital way of abstaining.

Mindfulness techniques can be a very helpful way of achieving this. When cravings strike, individuals can learn to pause, take a moment to breathe and think, and build the strength to resist until their impulse passes.

Recognising triggers

Cravings do not come out of anywhere. For many, they come about under specific circumstances or when certain emotions are triggered.

Learning to recognise these triggers can be a great technique for stopping relapse as individuals can then arrange their life to avoid them as much as possible.

Support groups

For many, the time after rehab can be very isolating. Individuals can feel like they have no support when it comes to fending off their cravings, and this can make them feel powerless to resist.

Joining an addiction-related support group, however, can provide the necessary support and camaraderie for individuals to stay sober. They can share their experiences and gain tips in these meetings, as well as help others with their recovery.

Emergency Contact

Another way an individual can get support is to establish an emergency contact. This is someone they trust who they can arrange to call when their cravings become too strong for them to resist.

In a moment of weakness, the presence and support of that person – whether it is a friend, parent, or otherwise – can help individuals survive the brief lapse in strength and remain on track.

To learn more about how rehab in Swansea can help you avoid relapse in the future, call us on 0800 088 66 86

Why go to rehab in Swansea?

Rehabilitation centres exist to help addicts overcome their addictions and learn healthier coping mechanisms to deal with the challenges that life has thrown at them in the past as well as problems that may arise in the future.

Help is given in a variety of ways including:

• Psychotherapy establishes the root of the problem and how a person came to lean on their substances.
• Workshops for healthy coping mechanisms to deal with some of the traits associated with addicts. For example, many addicts find it difficult to see things proportionally. A simple mistake or accident can lead them to feel as though they are losing control which can cause further frustration, anger and eventually a need to self-medicate again. Programs such as anger management may be offered in rehab so that people can learn to see the significance of a situation as it really is and manage their feelings appropriately without acting out or reaching for the drugs.
• Chores are implemented whilst staying in rehab. This gives each person the ability to look after themselves as they would do in the outside world. The act of carrying out chores gives a sense of responsibility.

Rehab deals with all aspects of addiction; physical, mental and emotional. Detoxing the body of harmful substances is only one step along the path of rehabilitation.

The idea is to give people a sense that there is a very real place for them in the outside world that doesn’t involve alcohol or drugs.

Those who go to rehab will have been made aware somehow that their life was empty and that they needed to change. Unfortunately, they might not have the tools or the know-how to do this alone.

With the help of professionals and peers at the rehab centre, addicts have a real chance of turning their lives around.

To begin your journey towards addiction treatment in Swansea today, call us on 0800 088 66 86

Why don’t people want to go to rehab in Swansea?

Many addicts know that they are on a self-destructive path. They are well aware of the damage that they are doing to themselves and others around them, yet the idea of going to rehab is one that they vehemently fight against.

The main reason for this is that for an addict to leave their addiction, is for them to leave everything that they know. Somebody suffering from addiction may be out of control in most respects, but they are also extremely focused.

They worry only about getting alcohol and drugs.

Their reward for their tenacity in doing so is to fend off the problems of the real world for a little longer. Going to rehab means that people have to face their problems head-on; without the only help that they have relied on for a long time.

For many, this is the single, scariest prospect in the world.

Understanding exactly what awaits a patient in rehab is imperative for encouraging them to take the decision to enter one of many alcohol and drug addiction centres in Swansea in the first place. Without a proper understanding, they are going to be worried about what’s going to happen to them and this could scare them away from the prospect.

Here’s the information everybody needs to know for how to enter alcohol and drug treatment centres, as well as exactly what awaits them.

For help entering rehab in Swansea, call us on 0800 088 66 86

Entering Rehabilitation in Swansea

Rehabilitation will involve drug and alcohol counselling, as well as extensive programs of drug and alcohol detox to supplement it.

But first, here’s how to enter private alcohol and drug addiction centres in Swansea in the private sector:

1. Take the decision to enter rehab in the first place. Don’t underestimate how difficult doing this is. Finding a drug alcohol detox through the private sector takes a lot of courage to be able to do. It’s up to the patient to get the help they need on their own.
2. Call the private helpline in Swansea and discuss the situation with the person on the other end of the line. They will be able to decide on what the best course of action is.
3. A diagnosis will be performed over the phone to assess which alcohol and drug treatment centres would be the best option for the patient. Some basic lifestyle questions will be asked, as well as some information about the addiction itself.
4. A conclusion, based on these results, will be given and the patient-directed towards the support option which is right for them.

To learn more about entering drug and alcohol rehab in Swansea, call us on 0800 088 66 86.

Inside Rehabilitation

Image above: Family therapy at a drug and alcohol rehab in Swansea

A drug and alcohol detox will be the first thing confronted by any patient. The idea is to eliminate the substance from the body before working on helping them recover from their problems.

This is the first obstacle to overcome, and often the hardest, due to the existence of withdrawal symptoms and the endless cravings thereafter.

Group support will be implemented as early as possible to make sure each individual has somebody to relate to. It’s a form of drug alcohol counselling as every person is using somebody else in which to support themselves through the hard times.

Often, this is the first time many patients will have met somebody else who has an addiction.

Private counselling is usually referred to as the most traumatic part of rehabilitation. It’s something people never forget as long-buried issues are brought to the surface again through the work of a trained healthcare professional.

For more guidance in addiction treatment in Swansea, call our friendly team today on 0800 088 66 86

After Rehabilitation

It doesn’t end there. All of these things are offered through comprehensive Swansea aftercare programs. It’s imperative to offer support for the first few months after leaving residential rehab as it’s such a fragile time for patients. This is where everybody is most susceptible to experiencing a relapse.

Offering the same services as before can mean the difference between success and failure in beating addiction in the long term.

To learn more about aftercare services in Swansea today, call us on 0800 088 66 86

Alternative Services to Rehab in Swansea

1. Barod

Address: 73-74 Mansel St, Swansea SA1 5TR

Telephone: 01792 472 002

Website: http://www.barod.cymru/

2. Teen Challenge UK – Hope House

Address: Church Rd, Gorslas, Llanelli SA14 7NF

Telephone: 01633 811 950

Website: http://www.teenchallenge.org.uk/

3. Welsh Centre for Action on Dependency & Addiction, Swansea

Telephone: 01792 472 519

Website: https://www.wcada.org/

Reaching out to 12-Step programmes such as Cocaine Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Alcoholics Anonymous Swansea (AA) can help you to meet others on  the same journey. These focus on religion and the concept of a higher power.

The NHS provides free, simple and reliable information about drugs and alcohol.

SMART Recovery can help you to control any relapse triggers you may face, and gain a better understanding of your emotions.

Al-Anon are another essential valuable service open to you and your loved ones.

Reach out to Rethink Mental Illness, Mind, Young Minds, Samaritans and Papyrus for mental health support.

Other places you can reach out to include Alateen, Change Grow Live, Turning Point, We Are With You, National Association for Children of Alcoholics, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and the NHS Foundation Trust.

Advice & Referrals from Rehab Recovery

The rehabs we can refer you to are available in Gorseinon, Loughor, Morriston, Pontarddulais, Penllergaer, Birchgrove, Bishopston, Castle, Clydach, Cwmbwrla, Dunvant, Gorseinon, Grovesend, Waungron, Ilston, Killay, Landore, Llwchwr, Mawr, Penllergaer, Pennard, Penrice Reynoldston, Rhossili, Sketty, St Thomas, Three Crosses, Townhill, Uplands, Upper Killay and many more towns in and around Swansea.

All of the rehabs we recommend are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (England and Wales) or the Care Inspectorate (Scotland).

At Rehab Recovery, we offer free advice from a team of non-judgemental professionals, many of whom are in recovery and understand how hard it can be to change your relationship with addiction.

For more information about rehab in Swansea, reach out to our 24/7, confidential hotline on 0800 088 66 86.