If you suffer from drug addiction, many people you know will say your addiction is entirely ‘self-inflicted’.
This is despite overwhelming evidence that addiction is, in fact, a complex disease and that ‘getting clean’ is not necessarily a matter of merely having enough willpower.
Drug addiction is also referred to as ‘substance misuse’ or ‘substance dependency’. Drug addiction may be physical or psychological in nature.
Drug addiction and recreational drug use is a huge problem in the United Kingdom. From 2020 to 2021, it was estimated that 275,896 adults came into contact with a drug and alcohol rehab in England alone.
This was an increase from the previous year, and it was estimated that 130,490 of this figure eventually entered a drug and alcohol rehab rehab.
Of this figure, 51% of adults in treatment were tackling an opiate addiction. 21,308 adults who entered treatment were addicted to crack with opiates and 4,545 for crack without opiates, 27,304 entered rehab for cannabis, 19,209 for powdered cocaine, 4,321 for benzodiazepines addiction, and so on.
The Office of National Statistics reports that there were 4,859 drug poisoning deaths in England and Wales in 2021. Additionally, there were 3,060 deaths related to drug misuse during the same time.
Furthermore, UK researchers discovered that there were around 210,000 drug offences recorded by the police in England and Wales in 2020 to 2021. This was 19% more than the number of drug offences committed in 2019 to 2020.
It’s also important to realise that these were only recorded drug offences, and there were likely to be many more which are unreported and unconfirmed by authorities.
As for hospital admissions, it was estimated that there were 12 hospital admissions per 100,000 people in England alone due to drug-related mental health disorders and behavioural disorders in 2019 to 2020.
In Wales, it was estimated to be even higher at around 17 people per 100,000.
Similarly, it was estimated that there were around 31 hospital admissions per 100,000 people in England due to drug poisoning. In Wales, it was again estimated to be even higher at 30 people per 100,000.
There are many different types of drugs to which subjects can become addicted.
While most of them are illicit substances, which are forbidden by law to consume or possess, there are also substances which are legal which may cause a subject to become dependent on them.
Some of the most common forms of substance addictions (not including alcohol) include but aren’t limited to:
Subjects can use resources by the National Institute on Drug Abuse to discover more about the most common forms of drug addiction.
Because of the number of different chemicals which are used to create many substances, the withdrawal symptoms will vary dramatically.
Addiction and frequent exposure to drugs may produce physical withdrawal effects, whereas others may produce psychological withdrawal symptoms.
Some of the common physical withdrawal symptoms associated with drug addictions are headaches, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea, fatigue, lethargy, shaking, loss of coordination, heart palpitations, and even seizures.
Heroin is an example of a drug which can produce physical withdrawal symptoms.
Psychological withdrawal symptoms include but are not limited to hallucinations, anxiety, depression, paranoia, and more. Substances which present psychological withdrawal symptoms include cannabis and cocaine.
When it comes to approaching patients who are suffering from physical withdrawal symptoms, it is important that they are placed in a medically supported facility.
This is important because they will need to undergo a medicated detox to ensure that their withdrawal symptoms do not cause permanent harm, or even worse, death.
It can be overwhelming deciding where to start if you think that you may be suffering from a drug addiction, whether it be heroin, cannabis, or else. However, the process can be simple, especially with the assistance of the team at Rehab 4 Addiction.
You will then be met by experienced and trained members of our team who are there to answer questions and serve your unique needs.
Whether you have questions about the admissions process or addiction treatment, or you are ready to enter a drug and alcohol rehab as soon as you possibly can, our trained admissions officer will help you conduct the pre-admissions assessment in order to help identify a suitable facility and a suitable recovery plan for your health requirements.
The pre-admission assessment, also known as the health assessment, is merely a set of questions presented to the subject regarding their physical and mental health, their medical history, addiction history, and so on.
They are simple questions, and the answers will be used to pass to a consultant psychiatrist who will then use the information to optimise their recovery plan.
It’s also important to note that the pre-admissions assessment is entirely free, it is conducted over the phone, and the process will be done with complete discretion.
It is an opportunity for the subject to make any requests that they may have regarding their treatment facility and programme to see if they can be met in order to optimise their recovery.
Witnessing someone battle addiction can be tough, especially when that person is a close friend or a family member. It is possible to contact Rehab 4 Addiction in order to help someone who is close to you to find treatment.
It is often the case that the subject is unwilling to admit that they have a problem in the form of drug addiction.
Similarly, other subjects may genuinely think that they do not have a problem, and will continue to downplay their symptoms and consumption habits to other people.
While it is not possible to enter someone else into a drug and alcohol rehab to seek recovery, measures can be taken in order to help guide someone suffering from drug addiction into treatment. This can be done by hosting an intervention.
The purpose of an intervention is to create a space for friends, family members, and the addicted person to share.
In the space, the friends and family members will be able to express the concerns that they have for their loved one’s health, and they will likely have an example to reinforce their point on how their loved one’s addiction is not only affecting them but affecting their friends and family too.
It is estimated that the success rate of interventions sits at around 80 to 90%. This means that for every 10 intervention sessions held (with different subjects), 80% to 90% of these addicted subjects end up seeking treatment following the intervention.
This will all be done with the assistance of an interventionist. By calling Rehab 4 Addiction, we can assign an interventionist to help prepare the process and guide participants throughout.
The interventionist can also help by making sure that the space in which the intervention is held is one which is free of judgement, and is a safe space for both parties to communicate with each other openly.
The presence of a licensed interventionist is of the utmost importance because they understand how to navigate complex discussions and which procedures to follow during each stage.
They can assist with stages such as:
CRAFT Intervention is an example of an intervention method which prioritises the well-being of those who are close to the addicted person.
Rather than only focusing on the addicted person, it offers family counselling, and communication training, among other things which can greatly help the family as well as their loved one battling addiction. Because of this, it is a highly popularised method.
The CRAFT method also emphasises education and helping family members understand the triggers leading to their loved one’s drug use.
By educating family members on addictive behaviours, they are more likely to adapt their behaviour to motivate change in the addicted person.
Because the symptoms of drug addiction are so varied and they vary in their intensity, it can be difficult to determine the severity of someone’s addiction.
It is not possible to quantify someone’s addiction severity, therefore, licensed professionals will need to use a framework in order to determine the level of care that a patient will undergo.
An effective framework utilised by clinicians is the ASAM Criteria. This is a placement guideline and screening method in order to detect substance addiction and understand what level of care patients require.
According to the ASAM Criteria, there are six dimensions to the patient’s condition which are used to create a holistic and bio-psychological assessment which will determine what form of treatment they will undergo.
These dimensions are:
Once these dimensions have been analysed thoroughly by an addiction psychiatrist, the patient will receive guidance as to what form of treatment they will undergo.
The treatment options are divided into four levels:
While there are four levels, there are two main types of treatment when it comes to addiction recovery, and these are residential treatment, also known as private rehab, and outpatient treatment.
A residential rehab facility requires that patients stay as inpatients, meaning that they are provided accommodation at the same facility in which they will be receiving treatment.
This makes treatment much more accessible, and they will never be without the support of health practitioners.
Residential rehab, at Level 3 and 4 on the levels of care according to ASAM, also offers Intensive Inpatient Treatment, which is also known as Partial Hospitalisation.
Here, patients who are severely addicted will undergo recovery where they will be under a higher level of supervision from professionals who are monitoring their health.
The length of stay at a residential rehab as an inpatient varies from one patient to another. However, patients who have a mild to moderate form of drug addiction can be expected to stay for around 28 days at their facility.
Those who have a more severe form of addiction may be required to stay for longer, depending on their reaction to treatment.
This will allow the patient to undergo a range of treatment methods such as medicated detox, therapy and counselling, relapse prevention planning, and much more. At a residential rehab, patients will undergo a personalised recovery programme.
A personalised recovery programme is integral if the patient’s chances of recovery are to be maximised. Personalised recovery programmes address any specific issues that the patient has, whether behavioural, cognitive, emotional and so on.
It is arguably the most effective way to treat addicted patients, and they are much more effective than programmes which follow a ‘one size fits all’ method.
The residential rehab will also provide medically supported facilities. Additionally, patients will be able to spend hours per day undergoing treatment and tackling cognitive and behavioural issues that they may have.
By focusing greatly on recovery and not worrying about external factors (e.g. peer pressure, work), patients can progress quickly at a residential rehab.
Because of the quality of treatment offered through residential treatment, it is expected that patients pay for their treatment. The cost of private residential treatment varies drastically from one facility to another.
Patients can expect to pay from around £5,000 to around £40,000 depending on where they choose to undergo addiction treatment.
There are many factors which will determine how cheap or expensive a drug addiction rehabilitation centre is. These factors include whether it offers luxury qualities and facilities, the quality of its staff, treatment methods and therapeutic approaches, reputation and experience within the rehabilitation industry, and more.
Rehab 4 Addiction will ensure that patients are given a sufficient amount of options in order to have more freedom and flexibility to choose where they undergo their treatment.
Some patients may value luxury qualities, whereas others may only care about a rehab’s treatment methods. The patient will also be guided in their choice to ensure that the rehab is optimal for their recovery.
Outpatient rehab and treatment are considered to be at Level 1 and 2 of the ASAM levels of care. They are effective in treating patients who are suffering from mild forms of addictions because it is less intense than residential rehab programmes and it provides patients with more flexibility.
As an outpatient, they will undergo a range of treatment methods but they will also be able to return home throughout their recovery. This means that they can maintain their employment or studies if they so wish throughout recovery.
Additionally, they may spend a few hours undergoing recovery per week, as opposed to per day at a residential rehab.
While this may be beneficial for patients who are suffering from mild forms of drug addictions, those who are suffering from a more serious form will be advised to seek recovery at a residential rehab as an inpatient.
This is because too much flexibility and not enough hours undergoing treatment will put them at risk of relapsing.
Patients may be experiencing withdrawal symptoms while they begin their treatment at rehab, and it is important to address these symptoms not only to ensure that the patient is healthy, but that they are well enough to continue to tackle cognitive, emotional, and behavioural issues through therapy.
Depending on the substance, a patient may be suffering from physical withdrawal symptoms. This is because the substance that they are addicted to is a physically addictive one. An example of a physically addictive drug is heroin.
Physical withdrawal symptoms can not only be painful but can cause severe health complications such as seizures, or even lead to death. Because of this, patients who are physically addicted to drugs are required to undergo a medicated detox.
The medicated detox stage allows patients to recover in a safe environment under the supervision of health practitioners.
In order to minimise the severity of withdrawal symptoms, patients may be prescribed medication by an addiction physician. This stage is also referred to as pharmacological intervention.
Because there is a range of symptoms that can manifest when fighting drug addiction, patients are likely to undergo different forms of medication.
Their purpose will be to quell withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, nausea, and so on.
Some of the medications prescribed during the detox process include:
Drug addiction is complex. Addiction is a brain disease, and there are many different variables to consider when deciding how to treat a patient.
We must factor in any biomedical complications, mental disorders and health issues, social and environmental factors which may have contributed to their addiction, their addiction history, and so on.
Because of this, the treatment for drug addiction can come in a wide range of forms depending on the substance used, the consumption levels, the patient’s unique physical and mental well-being, and so on.
Treatment for drug addiction will vary, however, here are the therapies which patients can expect to undergo at rehab.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a form of individual therapy. What makes it so effective is that it places a lot of emphasis on individual patients, targeting and addressing any cognitive or behavioural issues that they display.
These issues are patterns and habits which ultimately deteriorate the quality of their life, and affect their recovery progress. A Cognitive Behavioural Therapy session will be conducted between a licensed therapist and the patient.
During the session, the therapist will ask a range of questions to the patient in order to foster discussion about their lifestyle, addiction, and more. After consistently attending sessions of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, the therapist will be able to identify negative patterns which are affecting his or her life.
Then, the patient will be able to move forwards by addressing these issues. Whether these issues are things such as self-loathing, cognitive distortion, or erratic behaviour, or else, the patient will be able to work towards overcoming them with his or her therapist.
This will be done by replacing these negative habits with ones which are healthy and positive, and suitable to aid them in their addiction recovery.
A similar form of therapy to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) aims to improve the mental well-being of patients, by placing more focus on their emotions.
Patients who are suffering from intense feelings and emotions will greatly benefit from Dialectical Behavioural Therapy because they will learn how to redirect their energy in a more constructive way.
Patients will learn about a range of coping techniques which will benefit them, ranging from techniques such as stress management, mindfulness, meditation, and more.
Motivational Interviewing & Enhancement Therapy complement other forms of therapy because their purpose is to increase the patient’s level of commitment towards engaging in other forms of therapy such as CBT, DBT, and more.
Patients suffering from addiction will also suffer from low levels of commitment towards therapeutic approaches.
Despite wanting to recover from their drug addiction, some patients may find it very challenging to attend and engage in therapy and counselling sessions because they’ve been suffering from withdrawal symptoms, malnutrition, and so on.
A session of Motivational Interviewing & Enhancement Therapy will be structured in a one-to-one format between a licensed counsellor and the patient.
The counsellor will ask a range of evocative questions regarding the patient’s history of addiction, friends and family, and what drove them towards seeking full recovery.
The term ‘holistic’ is characterised by the treatment of the whole person, which means taking into consideration factors such as the mental, physical, and spiritual, instead of just addressing a symptom of an illness or a disease.
It is believed that each facet is interconnected and that one factor has a profound effect on the other. If a patient is feeling better physically, it may have a profound increase in mental well-being and spiritual well-being, and vice versa.
Increasing general well-being can be done by a range of activities such as equine therapy, art therapy, music therapy, yoga, mindfulness, meditation, acupuncture, and more.
These activities can help patients feel more relaxed following engaging and positive experiences.
Positive experiences, whether they are facilitated through relaxation or engaging exercise, will create a positive effect on the patient such as behavioural activation.
Behavioural activation can reduce the effects of social isolation and anxiety, and increase skills such as socialisation, organisation and problem-solving skills.
Family Therapy can have a profound impact on the patient’s addiction recovery process in a range of ways.
Including the family throughout the treatment process can help families reinforce their skills and abilities towards assisting their loved one, which will then strengthen the patient’s support network.
Family Therapy can come in the form of:
These forms of family therapy may have very different functions, but they are all ultimately used in order to strengthen the patient’s support network.
Family Behavioural Therapy, for example, is implemented in order to improve the mental health of the patient and their family, as well as focusing on relationship building.
Functional Family Therapy is used in order to increase the level of support that the patient receives, and to improve the level of communication that takes place between both the patient and his or her family.
Brief Strategic Family Therapy, on the other hand, may be implemented in order to analyse and address problematic behavioural patterns among family members.
The family can have a strong impact on the recovery of their loved one, however, they can also be a root cause of developing problematic behavioural habits which can eventually lead to addiction. Because of this, it is important to understand whether the family needs to modify their behaviour.
Ultimately, the dynamic and relationship between a patient and his or her family will vary drastically to the next patient.
Because of this, it is important to address their relationship in order to understand how things can be modified and how the family can support them in order to maximise their likelihood of successful recovery.
Another form which is not confined to one-to-one forms of therapy is Group Therapy. Group Therapy includes many patients, typically in groups of around 4 – 8, or possibly more, in a session which is led by a licensed counsellor and therapist who will ask questions and facilitate dialogue.
Social isolation, anxiety, and a decrease in social skills can be symptoms of addiction. These symptoms are combated by Group Therapy.
This is done by placing patients in a safe environment with other patients who are after the same goal.
Patients will be able to discuss with other patients about topics which the therapist sets, and they will also have the ability to share their experiences and to be heard by others.
Allowing the patient to have a voice and a platform to share, it can increase their confidence and their commitment towards recovery methods because they are being heard and valued.
Additionally, social reinforcement is a strong component to Group Therapy because patients are likely to support each other’s commitments and lifestyle choices in the hopes of recovering from addiction.
It is important that a patient accepts the support that they are offered when suffering from a chronic brain disease such as addiction.
By accepting support, they must also accept the lifestyle changes that are required in their search for sobriety and full recovery. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can help patients fulfil this.
Psychological flexibility is a strong component in overcoming addiction. The idea is that if a patient is psychologically flexible, they are able to remain proactive in the face of adversity and hardship.
Rather than just capitulating and dwelling on things that go wrong for them in life, a psychologically flexible person will be able to overcome these negative experiences.
Patients will learn how to accept the things that have gone wrong for them in the past, however, they will also learn the capacity to adjust and continue through with their treatment methods and positive lifestyle changes.
Not only will patients receive care and treatment at their drug addiction rehabilitation facility, but they will also continue to receive support following their exit from rehab in the form of an aftercare programme.
Aftercare services are carefully tailored and personalised in order to cater to the patient’s unique requirements.
The programme will include many components which contribute towards successful recovery, including things such as relapse prevention planning strategies, trigger identification, relationship building, career guidance, and more.
An aftercare programme will grant patients access to fellowship programmes such as Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery, where patients can attend support sessions and undergo the 12-Step Facilitation Therapy.
The 12-Step Facilitation Therapy programme is a highly popular active engagement strategy which is implemented in order to help patients follow a set of rules and lifestyle guidelines in order to maintain their sobriety and recovery.
Technically, addiction is a chronic disease of the mind. Drug addiction is characterised by compulsive drug-taking and complete loss of control when it comes to this consumption.
Whilst initial drug consumption may be categorised as voluntary, repeated drug use causes complex alterations in the chemistry of the brain.
These changes make it difficult to stop taking drugs. Powerful cravings to continue taking drugs to arise, and in some cases, a number of highly discomforting or even deadly withdrawal symptoms arise when the drug in question is not consumed within several hours after the last use.
These urges to continue to take drugs may arise even following several years of complete abstinence. This is why drug addiction is often referred to as a ‘relapsing’ disease.
Drugs affect the brain’s “reward circuits”. Drugs achieve these alterations by flooding the brain with a chemical messenger known as dopamine. Dopamine causes the individual to experience pleasure.
We can generalise the reasons people take drugs down to four main categories which are:
While the cause of drug addiction cannot be pinpointed to one specific thing, there is a combination of risk factors.
If a person is subject to more than one risk factor, their chances of taking drugs are increased.
These risk factors include:
Similar to other conditions and illnesses, there is no single cause of addiction but rather a multitude of combined factors.
These include:
The chemical reactions that happen in the brain are the fundamental reason why people become addicted to drugs. Mind-altering substances such as drugs and alcohol flood the brain’s reward circuit with a chemical called dopamine.
Dopamine is responsible for the ‘feel-good’ factor we experience when doing something pleasurable, such as eating, seeing loved ones, or engaging in sexual activity.
When the brain’s functioning reward system is working properly, it releases dopamine when someone does something pleasurable, which encourages them to repeat the behaviour.
But rushes of dopamine, which can feel euphoric (think drugs, ‘highs’, nicotine rushes) also motivate unhealthy behaviours that feel good. This is why taking drugs might feel good, despite us knowing it is bad.
The more someone takes drugs, the more the brain changes its ability to fuel natural reward chemicals to respond to these ‘feel good’ things. In turn, the user needs more of the drug because each time the brain releases dopamine in response to a foreign substance, it reduces the ‘high’ experienced.
This is what we call becoming tolerant of drugs or alcohol. As a result, the user becomes decreasingly pleased by ‘pleasurable’ things they once enjoyed like sex, food, or socialising.
Drugs affect brain chemicals, which in turn affects its circuits. This can affect functions such as:
Addiction comprises around the fact that although users are aware of the harmful effects of the substance they’re taking, they cannot break from the cycle of ‘addictive pleasure.”
As we discussed above, dopamine (our chemical ‘pleasure feelings’) is how the brain susses out and encourages behaviours that benefit us. We are wired as humans for our brains to keep repeating these things that bring us pleasure.
Dopamine, the neurotransmitter that’s released when we do something pleasurable, alerts the brain to a significant experience. It tells the brain’s circuit that it needs to remember this incident because it was pleasurable.
This signal adapts the neural connectivity which then enables us to repeat the behaviour again with next to little thought – which is how habits are formed.
The ‘high’ people talk about when they take drugs is related to the excessive surge of dopamine in the brain. This chemical then creates a connection between consuming the substance, the pleasure they feel, and all contextual elements such as people, places, things that are associated with the experience.
As time goes on, and as the user needs more of the substance to feel a high, excessive surge of dopamine then ‘train’ the brain that drugs are pleasurable – sometimes at the expense of our moral code.
What’s interesting is that certain cues associated with initial drug use can trigger cravings in a user’s brain in years to come. The brain has learned a ‘reflex’ to link certain people, places, and things with pleasure.
For example, if someone no longer uses drugs but runs into someone who used to deal with them, or returns to a location where they used to score, this can trigger a craving.
The dopamine that is released in the brain when someone takes drugs is far greater than that released when we experience something natural, like good food, sex, or socialising.
Thus, the brain of a drug addict produces fewer neurotransmitters, meaning they do not get the same pleasure from these natural things.
It’s as though the reward circuit from drug use has been set to a high standard that natural things cannot compare to. But this means that excessive drug use eventually leads to a ‘running out’ of dopamine, and can lead to depression.
The individual who is addicted can feel depressed or lifeless as they cannot get pleasure out of the things they used to enjoy.
So they take more drugs to feel any pleasure at all, which leads to a vicious cycle. They need increasing quantities of the substance because of this cycle of dopamine, reward and pleasure.
It can be a worrying time for those battling addiction. The mental and physical effects of the drug and its withdrawal are intense enough, coupled with the potential heartache and tears from family members too.
If you suspect you have a drug addiction, there is no shame in asking for help.
Look at the following list of indicators of addiction, and if you answer more than two of them, pick up the phone and change your life today:
Drug addiction is an illness that takes hold of an individual’s life in many aspects, both visibly and in secret. Some people may suspect a loved one’s drug use due to an initial change in behaviour or a ‘glazed’ look about them.
Others may be able to smell a strong scent indicating illicit substances or see paraphernalia lying around.
Here are some pointers to look out for if you are trying to determine if someone you love is struggling with addiction:
If you spot any of these signs in the person you are worried about, it’s important you call a rehab centre so they can steer you in the right direction.
You are encouraged to seek the help of an interventionist who can help you set up a meeting with the addicted person to address their behaviour, and motivate them to get help.
Dual diagnosis is common among those addicted to drugs. The answer to the question above is very much like the chicken and the egg theory: no one truly knows, but everyone knows they’re both intertwined.
Mental health conditions like depression, stress, anxiety and schizophrenia are all risk factors when it comes to developing an addiction. People are likely to use drugs to feel better or reduce unpleasant symptoms.
Equally, drugs interfere with the natural processes in the brain and are mood-altering substances.
This can result in mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and sometimes self-harm. Withdrawal from substances can also contribute to depression and paranoia.
The health risks associated with drug addiction are endless. First off, drug use puts pressure on all physical functions and organs, which reduces life expectancy and weakens the immune system.
The most common maladies associated with drug addiction include:
As many families who are trying to help a loved one struggling with addiction know that it is a distressing, difficult, and intense experience.
Aside from the emotional and mental strain, it can put on relationships, families, employers and the community, there are also health concerns associated with drug addiction that you might not think about.
These include:
Contraindications exist as to whether addiction is indeed a disease, and therefore speculation about whether it needs ‘curing.’ Some people believe there is no cure, and that once addicted to drugs the person will always be addicted, whether they are in recovery or not.
Those in recovery will, unfortunately, be placed in an at-risk category for years to come, as the brain remembers well the reward and pleasure cycle. However, like any other chronic illness, drug addiction can be treated and kept at bay.
Professional addiction treatment generally consists of a medically-assisted detox, rehabilitation at a treatment facility, followed by an aftercare programme.
Increasing work by governments and public health bodies is being channelled into preventing drug addiction. This work is being done in schools, places of work, colleges, communities, and also the media.
Experts are of the belief that educating people, especially young people, about the risks and effects of taking drugs is the way to reduce the number of people in recovery today.
The first principle of treatment for any drug addiction is seeking professional help. This means admitting you have a problem, and opening up to the possibility that you have done wrong in the past, and that you now need help. Enrolling on a detox and rehab programme is the active part of this first step.
The second step is rehabilitation, which some people call ‘maintenance.’ This entails regular therapy sessions either in groups or one-to-one with a therapist, to uncover your deeper issues. This stage is all about finding out more about yourself and your past, and the reason behind your drug-taking.
These two steps are both complemented by medication, which can help alleviate symptoms of withdrawal. In others, it can be as part of a substance substitution programme, especially for heroin or opiate-based addictions.
Medication can only be prescribed by a licenced professional, and it is best this is done in a rehab facility where your medical and psychological needs can be monitored.
The final stage of effective treatment is aftercare, which means your ability to cope once you leave the sheltered and protected environment of a rehab centre. Your treatment programme will equip you with the correct skills and resources to be able to maintain sobriety in the real world.
This means relapse prevention schemes, ways to deal with people, places and things that remind you of your addiction, and ways to promote better mental and physical health.
It can be extremely difficult living with drug addiction or living with someone who is addicted.
We have included below some key facts to bear in mind when dealing with this type of illness:
What’s important to remember is that you are not alone in your addiction. As discussed above, drug addiction is one of the most common illnesses in the world to this day.
Thousands of more people receive treatment each month for various types of drug addictions.
This means that not only will the stigma be reduced or the number of people in recovery increase. It also means that addiction is gradually being placed on par with other conditions and is getting the medical and political research and intervention it deserves.
If you or your loved one suffer from any of the above drug addictions, give us a call now so we may offer you free help and support in overcoming this addiction.
We work with treatment providers across the United Kingdom, and we will help you locate a treatment that’s absolutely right for your needs.
[1] Adult Substance Misuse Treatment Statistics 2020 to 2021: Report https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/substance-misuse-treatment-for-adults-statistics-2020-to-2021/adult-substance-misuse-treatment-statistics-2020-to-2021-report
[2] Deaths Related to Drug Poisoning by Local Authority https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/drugmisusedeathsbylocalauthority
[3] Drug Crime: Statistics for England and Wales https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9039/
[4] Commonly Used Drugs Chart https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/commonly-used-drugs-charts
[5] Intervention – What is the Success Rate? https://www.associationofinterventionspecialists.org/intervention-what-is-the-success-rate/
[6] Community Reinforcement and Family Training https://web.archive.org/web/20230425014932/https://www.apa.org/pi/about/publications/caregivers/practice-settings/intervention/community-reinforcement
[7] About the ASAM Criteria https://www.asam.org/asam-criteria/about-the-asam-criteria
[8] Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Addiction https://www.rehab4addiction.co.uk/addiction-treatment/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-addiction
[9] Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) for Addiction https://www.rehab4addiction.co.uk/addiction-treatment/dialectical-behaviour-therapy-addiction
[10] Motivational Interviewing for Addiction https://www.rehab4addiction.co.uk/addiction-treatment/motivational-interviewing-addiction
[11] Motivational Enhancement Therapy for Addiction https://www.rehab4addiction.co.uk/addiction-treatment/motivational-enhancement-therapy-addiction
[12] Equine Therapy for Addiction https://www.rehab4addiction.co.uk/addiction-treatment/equine-therapy
[13] Art Therapy for Addiction https://www.rehab4addiction.co.uk/addiction-treatment/art-therapy
[14] Family Therapy for Addiction https://www.rehab4addiction.co.uk/addiction-treatment/family-therapy-addiction
[15] What is Family Behaviour Therapy? https://familybehaviortherapy.faculty.unlv.edu/what-is-family-behavior-therapy/
[16] Brief Strategic Family Therapy https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3737065/
[17] Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Addiction https://www.rehab4addiction.co.uk/addiction-treatment/acceptance-commitment-therapy-addiction
[18] Our Aftercare Services – Rehab 4 Addiction https://www.rehab4addiction.co.uk/addiction-treatment/aftercare
[19] 12-Step Facilitation Therapy https://web.archive.org/web/20221004152527/https:/nida.nih.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/evidence-based-approaches-to-drug-addiction-treatment/behavioral-therapies/12-step
