The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) defines addiction as “a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued use despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain”. It adds that addiction is “a medical illness caused by repeated misuse of a substance or substances”.
The facts that it leads to compulsive behaviour despite negative consequences and causes changes in the way the brain works help to explain why it is so difficult to overcome addiction without expert help. Thankfully, like other medical illnesses, addiction can be successfully treated using evidence-based treatment programmes. There is no magic cure and it takes a lot of hard work but a rehab programme delivered in the specialist setting of a private drug and alcohol rehab can give you the very best chance of overcoming your addiction and substance abuse issues.
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Drug and alcohol addiction is associated with a wide range of short- and long-term risks. Addicts are more likely to binge on their substance misuse, leading to increased risks of overdose and poisoning, accidents, poor decisions and involvement risky or criminal behaviour. There are also many long-term risks and NHS figures revealed there were almost a million hospital admissions across 2019-20 where alcohol was the main factor.2 28% of these were for cancer, 14% were for mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol and 45% of admissions were for cardiovascular disease.
As well as physical and mental health issues, addiction and substance misuse can have a huge impact on families, relationships, work, education and pretty much every aspect of your life. This is why it’s always best to seek professional help as early as possible. We know that people struggling with an addiction problem often find it difficult to make the first move or even to admit that they have a problem, so we also offer family referrals for people whose loved ones are going through these issues.
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One question you may have is whether to go for inpatient or outpatient rehab. Outpatient or community-based drug or alcohol rehab may be available on the NHS but it is often not the most effective option. With residential addiction treatment you will receive a holistic addiction recovery treatment programme individually tailored for your own situation. This will be delivered with full support from a dedicated team of addiction recovery experts in the secure environment of a rehab centre. You will be able to undergo a medically supervised detox and may receive appropriate medications and medical treatment during your stay.
With an outpatient programme you will have to be more self-sufficient, dealing with the triggers that may be associated with your substance misuse, attending appointments and potentially going through drug and alcohol detox with minimal supervision. The timeframe is also much longer as sessions tend to be more spread out. Outpatient treatment certainly has its place but inpatient treatment is far more effective for serious drug and alcohol programmes.
Rehab is not a single treatment but rather a process that is designed to address all the elements of an addiction and its associated ways of thinking and behaving. This typically starts with an alcohol or drug detox, which may involve getting through very strong cravings and severe withdrawal symptoms. There will also be a range of therapies, educational sessions and treatments that aim to help you explore the root causes of your addiction and behaviours, to develop coping strategies and adopt a healthier lifestyle overall. There may also be the opportunity to engage in social activities with fellow residents. A rehab programme is much more likely to be successful if you participate fully in the whole programme.
Detoxification is an important step in every recovery journey as this is the point at which you cleanse yourself of the drugs and alcohol already in your system, essentially getting clean and sober. It can also be a very challenging period as you are likely to suffer extreme cravings and can experience a range of different physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. These will vary depending on the substance involved and other factors such as length and heaviness of use, but will all be unpleasant and can sometimes be potentially dangerous.
A supervised detox programme in a drug or alcohol rehab will help you to get through this phase by providing key support, medical care and prescription drugs where appropriate. This will help ensure that detox is both safe and successful.
Detox is an important part of recovery but you will also have to maintain that sobriety, which can be even more challenging in the long run. Therapies such as group therapy, family therapy and counselling can help you to explore your addiction and behaviours and change the way you think about drugs and alcohol. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be very valuable in this regard. This psychological technique is widely used to treat mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, but has also been shown to be very effective in the field of addiction recovery. On the subject of mental health, dual diagnosis techniques can also be used to treat addictions and mental health conditions that exist at the same time.
One of the key elements of a treatment programme for drug and alcohol addictions is preparation for relapse prevention. While evidence-led treatment can help anyone to overcome their addiction, there is no ‘cure’ as such and many people continue to face challenging times on their recovery journey. Our tailored aftercare programme can help you to maintain your sobriety by giving you vital support and further therapy sessions in the crucial months after your rehab programme.
If you are looking for drug or alcohol rehab in Scotland, contact us today and take the first step towards a more positive future free from drugs and alcohol.
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