As a result, it is home to a large number of rehab clinics and other programmes. Many people travel far and wide to receive treatment in Aberdeen due to the high-quality care and wide variety of therapy types available.
Worldwide, there are many people who suffer from addiction. A UN report estimated that nearly 12 Million people all over the world are addicted to a drug or alcohol.
Many of those people do not have access to a Drug and Alcohol Rehab service near them, but if you are one of those people: you do.
If you live in the Aberdeen area, you can use our Drug and Alcohol Rehab Aberdeen Service to get clean and embark on a new journey; that of a clean and healthy life.
At Rehab 4 Addiction, we help you find a clinic that suits your needs. We can advise you on rehab, but most of all, we can help you assess your situation.
You might not be sure about what is happening to you or with you, and if you are addicted to alcohol or drugs.
If you call our Drug and Alcohol Rehab Aberdeen Service, a trained specialist will help you understand your situation better.
While Aberdeen is known as one of the safest cities in the UK, this thriving and beautiful Scottish metropolis has its fair share of substance use and addiction.
Call our expert team today on: 0800 140 4690.
Once you have spoken to one of our specialists who have helped you find the clinic that suits you. The first step of Drug and Alcohol Rehab Aberdeen is often Drug and/or Alcohol Detox.
This is a process where you withdraw from drugs and/or alcohol with help of trained medical professionals. You might wonder why you need to do that in such an environment.
The answer is quite simple. Detoxifying at home is extremely dangerous.
When you start detoxifying, you might come across some withdrawal symptoms.
The symptoms or the severity do tend to vary depending on the drug-addicted, and the severity/longevity of the addiction.
Alcohol and Heroin for instance have particularly heavy withdrawal symptomssupport groups. Tremors, hallucinations and in some cases even death is reported.
That is why it is important you have a team of medical professionals around you when you withdraw.
It’s also why we work together with top-class clinics that can nurse you through the heavy withdrawal period.
Many people struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction find great success in treatment programmes such as home detoxes or outpatient clinics.
These methods allow them to develop the skills and techniques needed to achieve long-term recovery while continuing with work and family responsibilities.
However, these options are best suited to patients with mild to moderate substance use disorder. If you have been diagnosed with a severe addiction, you may find more success with a more intensive method.
An inpatient rehab clinic may be the most effective form of treatment if you can relate to one or more of the following criteria.
There is no shame in struggling to recover from a substance use disorder or being classed as a high-risk patient.
Inpatient rehab clinics exist solely to help people in your situation, and through a combination of detoxification, counselling and an effective aftercare plan you too can achieve long-term sobriety and more fulfilling life.
Call our expert team today on: 0800 140 4690.
One of the most common methods used to assess patients when they arrive at a rehab clinic is the ASAM Criteria.
Physicians use these criteria to gain a well-rounded and objective view of the patients’ needs, understand the severity of their substance use disorder and create an effective treatment plan. [1]
You may experience this tool first-hand during the rehab assessment and admissions process.
There are six dimensions associated with the ASAM Criteria, and these are as follows:
Your physician will assign a risk rating between 0 and 4 to each of the dimensions depending on your answers, with 0 reflecting a low risk and 4 reflecting a high risk.
Once they have gathered this information they will then be able to reflect the severity of your substance disorder as well as your specific needs when they develop your treatment plan.
All substance use disorders are not created equal. Instead, they are classified into three levels: mild, moderate and severe.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) has created a list of 11 criteria that can be used by rehab clinics to determine the severity of each patients’ addiction. [2]
The more criteria a patient meets, the more severe their substance use disorder is thought to be.
The medical staff at your chosen rehab clinic must understand whether you are dealing with a mild, moderate or severe addiction as this can impact your treatment plan and the length of your stay, and they may use these criteria to do so.
The DSM-5’s 11 criteria for substance use disorders are listed below:
If 2 or 3 of the above criteria are met, you may be diagnosed with a mild substance use disorder.
If you meet 4 or 5, this may be classed as moderate.
A severe substance use disorder may be diagnosed if you meet 6 or more of the criteria.
Call our expert team today on: 0800 140 4690.
The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is a useful tool that is commonly used during the rehab admissions and assessment process.
It is a series of ten questions that can identify signs of harmful drinking and assess whether the individual is at risk of developing a physical or psychological dependency. [3]
You may be asked to take the AUDIT when you first arrive at your chosen rehab centre.
This will allow the physicians to make more informed decisions about your treatment plan and precise any necessary medications.
The ten questions of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test are as follows:
You will be required to score each question between 0 and 5, which will then be converted into points to reflect your total score.
If you score 0 to 7, you will be deemed at low risk for developing an alcohol use disorder.
A score of 8 to 15 can indicate an increased risk.
A score of 16 to 19 reflects a high risk.
And a score of 20 or above may indicate a physical or psychological dependence on alcohol.
It can be extremely difficult to stand by and watch as a friend or family member continues to destroy their physical and mental health due to an addiction to drugs or alcohol.
You may feel helpless and frustrated, wishing that they could understand the impact that their behaviour is having on both themselves and those around them.
Surely there must be something you can do?
An intervention is a planned and strategic meeting organised by those that care about the person affected by addiction. It is not an opportunity to shame, criticise or blame – instead, intervention focuses on encouraging the person to seek professional treatment.
Due to the emotional aspect of this type of confrontation, it is a good idea to enlist the services of a professional interventionist or counsellor. They can help to keep the intervention on track and ensure that everyone can express themselves effectively.
During the intervention, each person will read out a short statement detailing the effect that the addition is having on them and encouraging the individual to seek help.
It’s impossible to know how the affected person will react to the situation, so it’s important to be prepared for anything.
Many people find an intervention upsetting, stressful or even offensive – they may feel as though their friends and family are ‘ganging up’ on them.
An alternative to the traditional intervention is the CRAFT approach, which stands for Community Reinforcement and Family Training.
CRAFT avoids confrontation and instead focuses on educating the family members of affected individuals, providing them with the tools and techniques that they can use to guide the person away from substance use. [4]
This involves rewarding positive behaviours while ignoring negative actions and allowing the individual to experience consequences without attempting to shield or enable them.
CRAFT is a gentler and more respectful method of intervention and many families have found great success with this approach.
Call our expert team today on: 0800 140 4690.
When deciding whether to enter a rehab clinic, many people are understandably concerned about the cost of such a service.
While inpatient rehab has gained a reputation as an expensive and exclusive form of addiction treatment, the reality is that many clinics offer a variety of packages to suit a range of budgets.
Depending on the length of your stay, whether you choose to sleep in a single or shared room and the type of facility you select, prices can vary drastically.
A 10-day stay in a shared room can cost between £2,000 and £4,000, while a single room may cost between £3,000 to £6,000.
A longer stay such as the standard 28-day programme can range from £6,000 to £12,000 depending on the above factors.
The most affordable is a medically-supervised home detox which usually costs around £1,500, although patients must meet specific criteria to be approved for this service.
There are also several council-funded rehab centres in Aberdeen which can provide treatment for free or at reduced rates.
If you can afford the fees and are benefitting from the treatment programme, you will usually be able to stay at rehab for as long as you want.
Most centres do not have minimum stay requirements and the majority of patients can leave at the time of their choosing.
However, it is recommended to stay between 7 and 10 days to complete safe and effective alcohol or drug detoxification.
Staying for a minimum of 28 days is usually the most effective technique as this allows patients to benefit from the full range of facilities available in a rehab clinic including detoxification, medication, counselling and aftercare.
Many rehab clinics offer 30, 60 and 90-day programmes depending on your needs. The length of your stay will usually be determined during the admissions and pre-assessment process.
If you have unlimited time and money, opting to attend a private rehab clinic may seem like the obvious option.
However, the vast majority of people living with an addiction experience several restrictions to their recovery such as work and home responsibilities, childcare requirements and/or a lack of funds.
While private rehab may not be completely ruled out for these people, it is sensible to explore the option of council-funded rehab.
There are benefits and drawbacks to both types of clinics, so it’s important to thoroughly research your options before committing to a decision.
Private rehab clinics may be more expensive, but as mentioned earlier in this article they do offer a range of treatment programmes to suit a variety of budgets.
The admissions process is often faster and easier, with many people able to begin treatment immediately without being subject to a waiting list.
While council-funded rehab clinics provide addiction treatment for free or at a reduced rate, the majority of them have long waiting lists.
It is common to wait weeks or even months for a spot to open up, and when it comes to addiction treatment time is of the essence.
There is often a wider range of therapy treatments available within private rehab clinics, and many have the resources to offer alternative therapies such as equine or music therapy.
Some council-funded rehab clinics also offer these services, but they are harder to find.
While patients at council-funded rehab clinics will often see multiple doctors and counsellors during their stay, private rehab clinics assign a specific team to each patient allowing them to build up trust and connection over time.
In general, the quality of care that patients receive is fairly equal across private and council-funded rehabs.
If you have specific requirements or preferences for a certain type of treatment then it is recommended you thoroughly research your chosen clinic to ensure they offer this service.
Call our expert team today on: 0800 140 4690.
It is common for people struggling with alcohol addiction to reach the end of their tether and decide to never drink again.
They may believe that they do not need to attend a rehab clinic to recover, as they have already made the decision themselves. After all, don’t they just need to stop drinking alcohol?
Attempting to quit alcohol ‘cold turkey’ can be extremely dangerous and even deadly.
Without 24/7 supervision by medical professionals and access to vital medication, these people are at risk of experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms that could cost them their lives.
Common alcohol withdrawal symptoms include the following:
Severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms include the following:
The most serious side effect of alcohol withdrawal is delirium tremens, which can be deadly if not promptly treated. [5]
Most rehab clinics prescribe medication to reduce the risk of seizures and other symptoms, which you will not have access to if you attempt to detox by yourself.
Although a self-detox for alcohol addiction is a dangerous decision, a properly managed and medically-assisted home detox can be a safe and affordable option to begin your recovery. [6]
Several criteria must be met before patients are approved for this form of treatment.
You will be thoroughly and assessed by a psychiatrist before your home detox, this can take place via a telephone call or video conference.
They will ensure that you are medically fit to undergo the detox process, both physically and mentally, and will prescribe medications such as Librium which can help to prevent withdrawal-related seizures.
This medication will be posted directly to your home before you begin the detoxification process.
You will also receive direct access to a 24/7 medical helpline in case of an emergency, and your psychiatrist will regularly check on you via a telephone call or video conference to ensure that you are safe and healthy.
When conducted properly, medically-assisted home detoxes are a safe and affordable way for people who may not otherwise have access to inpatient rehab to recover from alcohol addiction.
Call our expert team today on: 0800 140 4690.
If you have lost control of your alcohol use and have developed a physical or psychological addiction to this substance, it is important that you seek help as soon as possible.
While alcohol addiction can be difficult to recover from, there is a wide range of clinics and facilities available in Aberdeen to help you tackle this problem and begin to lead a healthy and fulfilling life.
The first step towards recovery involves complete physical detoxification and withdrawal from alcohol.
This is a necessary part of the treatment process as it helps to break the physical hold that alcohol has over your brain and body.
Under medical supervision over a period of around one week, you will slowly reduce the amount and frequency of your alcohol consumption until you are no longer consuming alcohol.
This can help to prevent many of the most unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, but if your addiction is more severe then you will likely experience several side effects.
These will usually appear within 24 hours of your last drink and can include the following symptoms:
Your medical team will be able to prescribe a range of medicines such as Librium to alleviate many of these symptoms.
Librium can prevent withdrawal-related seizures and also reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.
While a physical detox can be extremely effective at treating physical alcohol addiction, counselling and therapy treatments are needed to address the psychological aspects of this substance use disorder.
It is recommended that you remain at rehab for at least three weeks after detoxification to undergo the necessary counselling and relapse prevention planning.
This can help you to identify your triggers, manage future cravings and develop healthy behaviours and ways of coping with stress.
Call our expert team today on: 0800 140 4690.
Many people associate cocaine use with the party scene, but it is becoming increasingly common for people to take this stimulant drug to boost confidence and productivity in the workplace.
As a result, rates of cocaine addiction are skyrocketing and more people than ever are entering rehab to recover from this substance.
Often produced as a white powder, cocaine is usually snorted or smoked. It works by encouraging the brain to release large amounts of serotonin and dopamine, resulting in intense feelings of pleasure and euphoria.
Users of cocaine report feeling confident, energetic and extremely happy. However, this pleasure is often short-lived.
Over time the brain may become unable to release serotonin without the presence of cocaine, and this is known as serotonin syndrome.
The individual may take more and more cocaine in an attempt to feel pleasure again, and this can result in a severe psychological addiction.
When entering rehab for cocaine addiction, patients will be thoroughly assessed and prescribed any necessary medications.
They will then reduce and completely stop their cocaine use under the guidance of medical staff, as this is the only way to rewire the brain into producing serotonin again.
While patients will likely not experience any physical withdrawal symptoms during this process, the psychological side effects can be very uncomfortable.
These may include:
They will also receive intensive counselling and therapy throughout their time at rehab.
This can help to reduce the chances of the patient experiencing a relapse after they leave the clinic, and can also allow them to develop healthy coping skills and ways to manage stress.
If you are struggling with a heroin addiction, you will find it extremely difficult to recover from this substance alone.
Heroin is one of the most addictive substances available, and the withdrawal symptoms that occur during recovery can be difficult to cope with.
Heroin is an illegal opioid drug derived from morphine and is typically smoked or injected.
Once ingested it quickly reaches the brain and binds with opioid receptors, causing intense waves of euphoria and pleasure.
Many people turn to heroin rehab to recover from this debilitating addiction, and Aberdeen offers several clinics that specialise in treating people affected by this substance.
Withdrawing from heroin is an extremely uncomfortable and potentially dangerous process.
Patients will experience many physical and psychological side effects and as a result, they will benefit from 24/7 monitoring by medical professionals.
These side effects may include:
Many people choose to switch to a less-addictive form of an opioid such as methadone.
This can alleviate many of the more unpleasant withdrawal symptoms and is a less intense substance to withdraw from.
Heroin is both physically and psychologically addictive which is why rehab typically involves full detoxification supported by various medications as well as long-term counselling.
It is also important to create a relapse prevention and maintenance plan to continue your recovery journey once treatment has ended.
Call our expert team today on: 0800 140 4690.
Although cannabis remains an illicit substance in the UK, it has become legalised in several countries across the world with many people praising this drug for the supposed health benefits that it contains.
Commonly smoked, vaped or consumed in edible form, cannabis can cause feelings of relaxation and contentment.
However, it can also increase feelings of paranoia as well as hallucinations and even psychosis.
Although socially acceptable in many parts of the world, this substance is resulting in large numbers of people seeking treatment at rehab clinics for cannabis addiction.
If you continue to use cannabis on a long-term basis, over time your brain and body will build up a tolerance to this drug.
This means that you will need to use larger amounts on a more frequent basis to experience the same effects.
This can lead to a psychological addiction to cannabis that can be very difficult to recover from.
Of course, it is required to completely stop using cannabis throughout your time in rehab and once the treatment programme is finished.
While it is not physically dangerous to stop using cannabis, the potential psychological withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable.
These may include:
Cannabis rehab involves intensive therapy and counselling to break the patterns of addiction and help to rewire the brain.
Patients will explore the potential reasons behind their cannabis use and use techniques such as cognitive behavioural therapy to develop healthier behaviours.
There is no one-size-fits-all method to addiction counselling and therapy.
An approach that works for one person may be completely ineffective for another person and as a result, each patient’s treatment plan is carefully personalised and structured in a way that best suits them.
Counselling is extremely important when recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction.
Many substances are psychologically addictive, meaning that your brain and thought processes must be rewired over time to help you recover.
Some people may use substances in an attempt to self-medicate, and counselling can help them to develop new and healthy ways of coping with stress.
As a result, most rehab clinics offer a wide range of therapy treatments to suit several different issues.
Therapy treatments that may be available at your rehab clinic in Aberdeen include:
If you are unsure as to what type of therapy would be most effective for your recovery, get in touch and our experienced team will be happy to walk you through your options.
Call our expert team today on: 0800 140 4690.
Which came first, the substance addiction or the mental health disorder?
Many people who enter rehab for a substance use disorder are often diagnosed with a mental health condition during the assessment process.
This is known as a dual diagnosis and is more common than many people realise.
It is not known whether a substance addiction can directly cause a mental health disorder or vice versa, but it has been proven that the two conditions often interact with each other. [7]
Some people attempt to self-medicate their mental health disorder by turning to drugs or alcohol, while others may be more prone to developing conditions such as anxiety or schizophrenia due to their substance use.
If the addiction is treated alone, with little attention paid to the mental health condition, then the patient is at greater chance of relapse in the future and will find it more difficult to achieve long-term sobriety.
Some mental health disorders commonly associated with addiction include:
Thankfully, physicians at rehab clinics in Aberdeen are trained and experienced in detecting and diagnosing underlying mental health conditions.
Once both of these disorders are effectively managed, the majority of patients will experience a greater quality of life and will be able to focus on long-term recovery.
Even the most motivated and dedicated people may experience a relapse once they complete their treatment programme and transition back into the outside world. This can occur within days, weeks, months or even years after they attended rehab.
It is important not to view relapse as a failure. Instead, you should use it as a learning opportunity to examine the areas of your life that need improvement. How can you do better next time?
During the final days of your treatment programme, you will be encouraged to create a relapse prevention plan with the help of your physician or counsellor.
This may involve predicting any future scenarios that could cause a trigger or craving, organising ongoing counselling or attendance at local support groups and reviewing your newfound stress-management techniques.
Having a relapse prevention plan can help you feel more confident when it comes to navigating the outside world, and there are other simple strategies that you can also put in place which are listed below.
Remember, a relapse does not mean that you must now begin your recovery journey again.
It is simply a bump in the road, and continuing with the above strategies and sticking to your relapse prevention plan will allow you to find success in the future.
Call our expert team today on: 0800 140 4690.
Although inpatient rehab is thought to be the most effective form of addiction treatment due to the combination of full detoxification, counselling and aftercare, there are other methods available in Aberdeen that also have a high success rate.
Many people who struggle with addiction experience persistent feelings of loneliness and isolation, which can push them further into substance use.
An effective way to combat this is by attending local support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, where you can share your experiences with others and begin building a social circle filled with people who understand exactly what you are going through.
You may also benefit from regular counselling sessions, either through private practice or funded by the NHS.
Your therapist will help you to develop healthy coping strategies to get you through tough times without turning to drugs or alcohol.
They shall also assist you in exploring any traumas or experiences in your past that may have led to you developing an addiction.
As detailed above, a home alcohol detox is another method that can assist in your recovery.
If you meet the specified criteria you will be able to withdraw from alcohol in the comfortable and familiar surroundings of your own home, making it a cheaper and more accessible option for many people to kickstart their recovery journey.
Remember, home detox is not the same as a self-detox. We will only refer you to home detox programmes that are medically supervised and assisted, and it is never advised that you attempt to withdraw from alcohol alone.
If you would like to benefit from rehab despite any work, lifestyle or financial restrictions, you could consider an outpatient programme.
This option will allow you to continue your responsibilities at home while regularly attending treatment at a rehab clinic, and can often be much cheaper than an inpatient stay.
Finally, another effective treatment option is SMART Recovery.
This is another form of support group similar to Alcoholics Anonymous, in which participants meet regularly to share their recovery stories and provide guidance to one another.
SMART Recovery is based on four main principles:
When followed, these four principles will allow you to grow from a place of detrimental and self-destructive behaviour to a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle.
If you are unable to travel, SMART Recovery also have an online community where you can attend meetings without leaving your home.
Getting in touch with our team at Rehab 4 Addiction is easy. Simply call us on 0800 140 4690 or send us a message through our website.
Our experienced counsellors are on hand to discuss your requirements with you in detail and provide you with further information about your addiction treatment options in Aberdeen.
Rehab 4 Addiction officers a range of addiction treatments in Scotland, including Aberdeen, Ayrshire, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Strathclyde, Stirling, St Andrews, Prestwick, Perth, Peebles, Paisley, Motherwell, Midlothian, Lothian, Livingston, Kilmarnock, Irvine, Inverness, Berwick, Hamilton, Glenrothes, Galloway, Falkirk, Dunfermline, Dundee, Dumfries, Dumbarton, Clydebank, Bathgate, Bannockburn, Argyll, and Angus.
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6876533/
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3683251/
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4394369/
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6286444/
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