When individuals are struggling with an addiction, a detox is always recommended to preserve the individual’s physical and mental health.
During a detox, the individual will withdraw from the substance(s) that they have been addicted to and manage the withdrawal symptoms that may arise as a result of this.
This is also the process for behavioural addictions, though that is not the primary focus of this article.
In Cumbria, as well as across the UK, individuals are able to access specialised detox sessions and support services for all forms of substance use disorder (SUD) and begin the journey of moving away from substances and learning to live an addiction-free lifestyle in the long-term.
This article will focus predominantly on alcohol as an addictive substances, the process of withdrawing from alcohol, and the different ways and places in which an individual may progress with this vital stage of rehabilitation and recovery.
Addiction is a unique and complex disorder, and every individual is likely to experience it differently, having different effects and symptoms as a result of this.
However, this is one of the many reasons why it can be so challenging to determine whether or not an individual may be struggling or not.
Generally, an alcohol detox in Cumbria is necessary when the individual’s life begins to become impacted by their alcohol consumption.
Becoming aggressive or agitated – for example – when unable to procure alcohol is a key sign that the individual has developed an addiction and requires support sooner rather than later.
Addiction is also unique as it is a disorder that exponentially worsens, meaning that some individuals may develop an addiction within a relatively short period of time and experience serious consequences as a result of this.
One option for individuals struggling with an alcohol addiction in Cumbria is the enrolment within a residential rehabilitation centre.
Offering dedicated and specialised facilities in the field of addiction, these residential recovery centres are known to be the most effective way of overcoming the effects of addiction, as well as being one of the safest and most effective places to undergo a detoxification session.
A residential alcohol detoxification session in Cumbria is therefore the most recommended forms of recovery as the individual will never be alone, has access to specialised services and support, as well as having access to additional medical intervention – something that becomes increasingly necessary with more serious addictions and in most cases of an alcohol withdrawal.
Residential rehabilitation often uses the abstinence method of recovery (once an individual has completed their detoxification session) – and this has also been proven to increase the chance of continuing this abstinence after leaving a residential rehab programme (1).
However, it is understood that residential alcohol detoxification in Cumbria is not always the most suitable option for all individuals.
For example, some individuals may have relatively increased responsibilities at home or within their local area, requiring them to stay around their home and region.
In rare cases of alcohol detoxification, it may be suitable for some individuals to undergo a home detox procedure in which the individual is generally left unsupervised to undergo the detox procedure while remaining at home.
This includes the receiving of medical intervention substances (such as Librium) to help mitigate the negative heath consequences of an alcohol withdrawal, as well as video call or drop-ins from a counsellor or medical professional to ensure the individual’s ongoing wellbeing.
Residential detoxes (inpatient care) and home detoxes (outpatient care) are both suitable for different individuals in varying situations.
For example, it has previously been mentioned that residential rehab in Cumbria may not always be suitable for every single person struggling with an alcohol addiction and that – in these instances – home-based care may be more suitable.
Generally, outpatient alcohol detoxes are part-time and not as regular as residential care, and they are only suitable for less severe cases of alcohol addiction.
Whether this is referring to severity in terms of the individual’s history of alcoholism, or the severity of their withdrawal symptoms, it is absolutely imperative that all individuals gain full professional medical approval before beginning any form of care.
Though becoming less and less common, one of the places that individuals can initiate a home alcohol detox programme in Cumbria is their local general practitioner’s office (GPs).
Through the individual’s local GP, individuals are able to be assessed for their suitability and risk levels for a home alcohol detox programme, either granting them permission and access to these programmes, or recommending more suitable alternatives.
Meta-analysis of home alcohol detox programmes shows that careful assessment of suitability is “essential” before any individual begins detoxifying at home (2), and this is something that all individuals should bear in mind, even if it the form of treatment that they are set on.
As a northern county within the UK, Cumbria has two main hospitals: Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle and West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven.
Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle is managed by the National Health Service (NHS) and offers A&E, as well as many specialised services (including alcohol advice and care services within Cumbria itself).
As a more west-coast-orientated option, West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven is also run by the NHS and offers many of the same services.
In all cases of emergency, individuals should contact their relevant and local emergency services in the area to get the most efficient support services available at the time.
As every individual case of a home alcohol detox in Cumbria will be different, it is challenging to determine how much individuals will have to pay for their addiction recovery services.
Generally, this amount will vary from £1,200 to £1,700 or more, but this depends on many different factors.
Some of the most common determining factors are listed below:
This is why all individuals looking to undergo a home alcohol detox in Cumbria should be prepared to answer all questions regarding their addiction completely openly and honestly, giving them the best estimation as to their requirements of care, as well as the potential cost of this.
Rehab 4 Addiction is a dedicated and specialised addiction referral service, helping countless individuals to find the most suitable and beneficial rehabilitation for them, including full detoxification services and providers.
To learn more about what we do and how we can help you or someone you know, call our addiction support hotline on 0800 140 4690 today.
[1] Fiabane, E., Scotti, L., Zambon, A., Vittadini, G. and Giorgi, I., 2019. Frequency and predictors of alcohol-related outcomes following alcohol residential rehabilitation programs: A 12-month follow-up study. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(5), p.722.
[2] Fleeman, N.D., 1997. Alcohol home detoxification: a literature review. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 32(6), pp.649-656.
