For those in Havering that are suffering from substance dependency or addiction, there are many treatment options available.
This article will discuss drug and rehab in havering: what treatment is available, how to get it, what to expect when entering treatment and what to do once you leave.
According to data collected by Havering council, there are an estimated 12,060 substance users in the borough.
The most harmful of these substances is cocaine and heroin. These account for the most drug-related crimes in Havering.
In Havering, 5.6% of people aged between 15-64 use cocaine and/or heroin – this amounts to 888 people.
From 2016, the yearly estimate for those receiving treatment for cocaine or heroin is 183.
Cannabis, however, is the most used substance in havering. For example, 8.1% of 15-year-olds have used cannabis.
Regarding alcohol, Havering has 3320 people classified as ‘dependent drinkers’ and an additional 20,000 classified as ‘high-risk’ drinkers.
In total, 6.9% of adults in Havering have an alcohol dependency.
While anyone can become addicted, there are some common factors shared by people abusing substances.
Pressure from peers, being around drugs at a young age, mental health struggles, trauma, and how you’re raised call all put you at a higher risk of addiction and dependence.
Senior scientist Jurgen Rehm found in research into how socioeconomic status affects alcoholism found that people from poorer backgrounds were 1.5–2 times more likely to die from alcohol-attributable causes compared with all causes.
Physical factors like our genetics can also increase our chances.
Researcher Alison Goate found that more people used drugs and alcohol if they had the protein coding gene CHRM2 – muscarinic cholinergic receptor 2.
For those that have just started using a substance or are unfamiliar with addiction, it might not be obvious that a substance dependency is developing.
Signs of addiction can vary from person to person and are also dependent upon the substance and how long someone has been using it.
There are, however, some common signs that a person might be addicted to a substance.
These include:
Substance dependency often impacts decision making.
This means that the substance will often lead to altered and sometimes damaged cognition.
The consequence of this is a change in behaviour and thought processes.
An example of this is risk-taking behaviours. The change in cognition can lead people to believe that some behaviours are normal.
This might include:
In addition, people with a substance dependency might find themselves more irritable, paranoid, and restless.
Other changing behaviours might be evident in a loss of enjoyment of hobbies, activities or pastimes.
This is often referred to as ‘social and recreational sacrifices’.
The cause of this is the control that the substance has over a person’s life.
If people find themselves prioritising a substance over hobbies, relationships or work, this is a clear sign that they could have a dependency.
One of the most evident signs of dependency is withdrawal.
Without the substance, the body and brain will begin to crave it.
Symptoms of withdrawal can vary based on the substance and how long the person has been using it.
Some common universal withdrawal symptoms include:
A final sign that someone might have substance dependency is that it is often evident to those around them – particularly friends and loved ones.
Loved ones will probably begin to show concern and comment on changes in behaviour and personality.
If people are still unsure whether they have a substance dependency, there are professionally developed questionnaires available.
An example of this is the CAGE questionnaire.
CAGE stands for cutting down, annoyance by criticism, guilty feeling and eye-openers.
Based on this acronym, there are several simple but reliable questions.
For alcohol dependency, these are:
For drug dependency, these are:
The purpose of these yes/no questions is to get the person to objectively think about their use of a substance.
The ‘C’ is indicative of whether they are using a substance excessively.
The ‘A’ encourages the person to think if others have begun to comment on their substance use. This also picks up on denial – a symptom of addiction.
The ‘G’ or guilt, is a common byproduct of addiction.
The ‘E’ is the eye-opener question. This question is aimed at understanding substance-related behaviours and the extent of the addiction.
According to recent studies, the CAGE questionnaire has a 93% success rate.
When someone does not realise that they are addicted or are unwilling to recognise that they might have a problem, loved ones will often organise an intervention.
An intervention is a gathering of concerned others – friends, family, or loved ones – aimed at convincing a person that they have a problem and that they need professional help.
When conducting an intervention, there are some useful steps to consider, such as:
One of the core elements of an intervention is communication.
This should be handled with compassion and care.
Some forethought might be required.
Alternatively, it is not uncommon for concerned others to write their feelings, thoughts, and concerns in a letter.
This can either be handed to the person with the substance dependency or read aloud during the intervention.
Some things to consider communicating include concerns about behaviour, possible consequences, the need for accountability, and how the person’s substance dependency has impacted the lives of others.
It should be noted that an intervention is not aimed at making someone feel guilty or ashamed, but rather proving that professional treatment is a necessity.
It is recommended that concerned others employ the help of an intervention specialist – either to conduct the intervention or to advise on how to organise and implement one.
Intervention specialists can help mediate, which often leads to a more calm and positive intervention.
A useful method for intervention is Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT).
CRAFT, as the name suggests, is aimed at helping families that have a loved one with a substance dependency.
It does this by providing the necessary tools for conducting a successful intervention, such as how to implement positive reinforcement – a reward system for when a person behaves productively.
CRAFT also includes:
For those suffering from drug or alcohol dependency, there are many treatment options available in Havering.
This includes local drug and alcohol services, private treatment, and treatment available through the NHS.
An example of local services in Havering is the Westminster Drug Project (WDP).
WPD is a local drug and alcohol service in Havering.
It offers free support and counselling for those suffering from drug or alcohol dependency.
Services that WPD include:
Another local service is Aspire Havering, who offer similar services to WDP.
There are also treatment options available for free through the NHS.
People are advised to speak to their GP for a consultation.
A GP will be able to assess and determine the right course of treatment.
This will most likely be through the above-mentioned services, or through an outpatient treatment program.
It is possible to be considered for residential treatment through the NHS, but this is a difficult process.
It often first requires trying local services and outpatient treatment. If this is unsuccessful, a key worker or GP can make a referral.
This also requires successfully applying for funding through the council to pay for the treatment.
Funding is seldom given and is usually reserved for the most severe of cases.
There are also many local private rehab facilities.
These are, however, not free and tend to be expensive – often ranging from several hundred to several thousand pounds per-day.
On average, in the UK, residential treatment cast between £400-500 per day, or £10,000-14,000 per month.
Many employee and health insurance packages cover residential treatment costs.
This will depend upon the insurance package a person has.
It is recommended, therefore, that people should contact their insurance provider before reaching out to a clinic.
Some examples of UK insurance companies that offer cover for residential treatment are:
Treatment for substance dependency is commonly split between two types of treatment: inpatient versus outpatient.
Both are similar but the main difference between the two is that inpatient treatment is residential – it requires the person to stay at a facility for a period – and outpatient treatment does not.
For inpatient treatment, people will stay at a facility overnight, receive 24/7 medical assistance, go through detox and then undergo therapy.
Outpatient treatment provides medical assistance, help with detox, counselling and therapy.
However, instead of staying at a facility, people will attend weekly meetings – usually between 10-12 hours per week.
Inpatient treatment is often considered more intense and, therefore, better suited to people with a severe addiction.
Outpatient treatment is less intense but also tends to last a lot longer.
It is designed to fit around people’s lives and engagements – whether work, family, or something else.
Outpatient treatment is often more suited to people with less severe addiction.
There are pros and cons to both inpatient and outpatient treatment.
One of the significant benefits of inpatient treatment is that it removes all temptations and potential triggers, provides structure, and forces accountability.
Those undergoing outpatient treatment have the potential to be in environments that are not conducive to recovery.
Outpatient treatment provides a lot more freedom and flexibility throughout the treatment process.
It is also often the cheaper of the two.
Several factors contribute to the length of rehab.
These include:
According to recent studies, on average, detox tcan take between 5-15 days, residential treatment takes 16 days, long-term residential treatment takes 90 days and outpatient treatment takes 190 days.
The length of detox can vary from person to person, however, and is dependent upon the substance.
For example, the average detox time for alcohol is 3-14 days, whilst for heroin it is 4-10 days.
Following detox, people will undergo continued therapy,counselling and then relapse prevention.
These aspects of rehab can also vary depending upon the treatment required.
Usually, they last from several days to several weeks.
In essence, the stages of rehab are the same for all people.
This includes:
The pre-assessment stage usually occurs before the person enters rehab.
People will speak with a medical professional and discuss their reasons for considering treatment.
For example, people might be asked what substance they use, how long they have been using it, and what they expect from rehab treatment.
Upon entering rehab, people will be medically assessed.
The main goal of this is to assess the severity of the addiction, determine any physical or mental health issues, and outline a treatment plan.
This also requires checking for dual diagnosis – the interaction between substance dependency and mental health, and vice versa.
After the medical assessment, people will undergo a medically supervised detox.
Detox refers to the removal of the substance from the body.
This process varies based on the substance.
Withdrawal symptoms for cannabis include changes in mood, such as irritation, anger, stress, and anxiety.
Cannabis stays in the body for a long time, but withdrawal symptoms usually reduce after several days.
Cocaine withdrawal can occur after several hours without it.
Unlike other substances, cocaine withdrawal is mostly psychological.
Symptoms include anxiety, depression, paranoia, restlessness, and fatigue.
These symptoms can last for several days.
Heroin is arguably one of the most addictive substances around today.
As a result, it often has an unpleasant withdrawal process.
Many describe it as being like severe flu – nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pains, and fatigue.
There are also psychological symptoms such as hallucinations, paranoia, anxiety, and depression.
Heroin withdrawal also has the potential to be life-threatening.
Serious symptoms can be hypertension, dehydration, and respiration issues.
Because of this, medications such as naltrexone are often prescribed to help with heroin detox.
Like heroin, the detox process for alcohol can also be serious.
Withdrawal from alcohol is known medically as Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS).
AWS refers to the range of symptoms that a person might experience during their withdrawal.
Lesser symptoms include:
More serious symptoms include:
Usually, alcohol detox lasts between 5-7 days. Withdrawal symptoms will begin to subside during this time.
People are also likely to be prescribed medications, the most popula of which is Librium.
Librium is used to help with a range of alcohol-related withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia.
It does this by stabilising and regulating neurotransmitters that are out of balance during the withdrawal process.
Librium can have some negative effects, including drowsiness, constipation, headaches, and nausea.
Therapy is an important part of the rehab process and people are likely to experience several different types.
The therapy that a person receives will be dependent upon what is available, what is recommended by the medical staff, and the type of therapy the person prefers.
Although there are many different types of therapy, there are some that are more common than others, such as:
Each of these therapies will explore the underlying issues and cause of the addiction, such as past trauma, relationships and current triggers.
One-to-one therapy, for example, will involve the person sitting with a professional and discussing what might have caused the addiction.
This is a patient-focused therapy that requires the person to talk extensively about their life, experiences, and trauma.
Other individual-based therapies include CBT and DBT.
At the centre of both therapies is the idea that thoughts lead to behaviour patterns – if you change the thought process, then the behaviour will change too.
For this to be successful, people will be encouraged to recognise and discuss potentially negative thoughts that might lead to substance use.
People will also be given tools to help change these thought processes – emotional management, reappraisal and how to express feelings and moods.
Less individual therapies are also common such as group therapy.
Most rehabs employ group therapy as studies have found it to be very useful for alleviating feelings of isolation and maintaining sobriety.
Group therapy is done under the supervision of a professional who will help guide the group session.
Following therapy, people in rehab will develop a relapse prevention plan.
Although rehab has a high success rate, many leaving rehabs are still at risk of returning to old behaviours.
This increases the chances of people starting to use substances again.
To prevent this, during rehab patients will work with a professional to identify situations, environments and relationships that are deemed high risk and have the potential to lead to relapse.
This will involve developing a plan to avoid these things and developing tools that will help prevent relapse.
This often includes emotional management, managing negative feelings and moods, and how to communicate when struggling with potential triggers.
Fortunately, when leaving rehab, most facilities offer aftercare programs.
This includes continued therapy, such as one-to-one and group therapy, and help to access local drug and alcohol services.
In addition to WDP, Havering is also home to both Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA).
For information about drug and alcohol rehab in Havering, contact Rehab 4 Addiction on 0800 140 4690.
We have an excellent knowledge of the various alcohol and drug addiction rehab centres in Havering.
Rehab 4 Addiction offers a free assessment that will help us find the best treatment option for you.
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