Drug and alcohol rehab in Southampton

Drug and alcohol addiction rates in the UK increase year-on-year, and the consequences to the individual, their loved ones and society in general can be huge. Addiction can leave you feeling incredibly isolated, but it’s crucial to know that help is available and that you don’t need to struggle with your addiction on your own. There are fantastic rehab centres in Southampton offering both drug rehab and alcohol rehab services which can help you overcome your dependency and start a brand new life.

Here is everything you need to know about drug and alcohol rehab in Southampton.

Types of addiction treatment and rehab programme in Southampton

There are treatment centres offering both outpatient treatment in Southampton and inpatient treatment in Southampton, and choosing the right approach is key to successful addiction recovery. Everybody’s circumstances are different, but with so many different treatment clinics and programmes available, it is important to consider all the options available to you.

Outpatient addiction treatment (day rehab)

The first option is outpatient addiction treatment at a day rehab centre. There are many people who automatically choose outpatient treatment because they only need to attend the centre for treatment and can continue with their everyday lives the rest of the time. Although this may seem like the best option, many experts find that it is not the most effective way of treating drug and alcohol addiction. This is because you will still remain at home surrounded by your normal addiction triggers while you are attending day rehab, so there is a higher chance of reaching for substances at difficult points.

Inpatient addiction treatment (residential rehab)

The second option is to stay in a residential rehab centre to undergo inpatient treatment. This will enable you to put some distance between yourself and your addictive triggers while you are completing your treatment programme. There are various rehab centres in Southampton which offer inpatient programmes, so you will need to do some research to find the right addiction treatment centre for you. Residential rehab centres are almost always private facilities, which means you will need to pay for your treatment, but it does mean that you will be able to choose between the different options. If you have private health insurance, your policy may be able to cover some of the costs. Inpatient treatment programmes have a more diverse and holistic range of therapies and other addiction recovery approaches, as well as very high standards of food and accommodation to ensure that you are totally comfortable during your stay.

Why inpatient rehab?

As well as being able to distance yourself from your addictive triggers, inpatient treatment offers various other advantages over outpatient treatment:

CQC ratings

When you get addiction treatment through the NHS, you will be given a place at whatever rehab clinic has an opening. However, when you choose private inpatient treatment, you will be able to choose which clinic you go to. One useful tool to help with this decision is the independent CQC ratings given by the Care Quality Commission. These ratings apply to all public and private health and social care facilities, and cover areas such as staff-to-client ratios, levels of care and organisational leadership. By comparing different clinics’ ratings, you will be able to make a more informed decision.

Mixture of therapies

Inpatient treatment also provides a greater range of treatment options than outpatient treatment. Typically, this will include both individual and group therapy as well as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and may also include extra sessions like yoga or mindfulness to help give clients new ways to deal with stress or cravings. This holistic approach addresses not only the physical aspects of addiction, but also the mental, emotional and psychological aspects.

Family support programmes

The support of loved ones can be invaluable when it comes to making a successful recovery, and most residential rehab clinics offer special family support programmes to help give your loved ones the knowledge and assistance they need while you are completing your treatment. This will help to guide them through the process, and will provide them with useful tools to help you on your recovery journey.

Conjoints

At recovery.org.uk, we recognise that addiction not only harms the individual, but can also cause huge damage to the people around them. That’s why, in addition to family support programmes, we also offer special conjoint sessions. These are guided by an addiction treatment professional and provide the opportunity for both the client and their family to share their feelings and discuss anything on their mind. Many of our clients have attested to how useful these sessions are at helping to rebuild relationships which have been damaged by addiction.

What should I expect from a detox in Southampton?

Detox is a crucial first step in the addiction treatment process. It will remove all substances from your body so that you can start your addiction therapy and other treatment sessions. Detox can have potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms, so it is always advised to do it under the guidance of a medical professional.

Medical detox

Due to the dangers of detoxing, all clients who enter residential rehab are assessed by medical professionals to see how extensive their addiction is, and how likely they are to react badly to a drug or alcohol detox. If you are judged to be at risk of severe withdrawal symptoms, you may need to undergo medical detox. This is where your detox is supervised 24/7 by medical professionals, and you will be given medication to help with the withdrawal symptoms. This is the best way to keep you safe and comfortable until your alcohol or drug detox is complete. Medical detox requires high levels of care, so it is very difficult to offer to outpatients. Day rehab patients usually need to wait for an NHS inpatient bed to become available before they can undergo medical detox, and this can seriously delay the start of their addiction therapy.

Drug and alcohol rehab programme

Inpatient treatment attempts to address addiction in a holistic way, and while each clinic may have a slightly different recovery approach, most residential centres, including our centres, follow a 12-step programme. This includes one-to-one therapy, group therapy and CBT, all of which combined can help you to overcome every aspect of your addiction. Other clinics may follow a non-12-step programme, but this only looks at the addiction itself, and doesn’t address underlying causes. Just the initial steps of our 12-step programmes take around eight weeks to complete, so this is the minimum time you should plan to stay in rehab.

Is rehab free?

While residential rehab is privately funded, there are other free addiction treatment services available through the NHS. You may be able to get a place in an NHS rehab clinic through self-referral, but you will first need to speak to your GP. Unfortunately, NHS services are currently so oversubscribed that your GP may recommend a detox programme or drug counselling instead. If you want private inpatient treatment but you are unable to fund it, try contacting the charity Turning Point, which may be able to help you pay for residential rehab so you can get started on your treatment straight away.

Free addiction treatment services in Southampton

As well as rehab, there are other fantastic free services in Southampton. Go along to your local AA meeting and you will be able to gain some invaluable support.

The downside to free services

The best way to approach addiction treatment is always in a holistic way, addressing every aspect of the physical, mental and emotional sides of addiction. This is only really possible in the immersive environment of residential rehab, but unfortunately, due to a lack of funding, the NHS is only able to offer day rehab to patients. Despite the best efforts of NHS staff, patients often have to wait a long time for a place, and even when they get one, many find it difficult to book appointment times that they can fit around their other responsibilities.

The benefits of residential rehab in Southampton

• Immediate admission through self-referral
• Full medical assessment of your overall health and the extent of your addiction
• Fully supervised medical detox available
• A mixture of therapies including one-to-one and group therapies, as well as CBT
• A holistic 12-step approach to addiction recovery
• Immersive residential environment to distance yourself from triggers
• The highest standards of room and board to make your stay comfortable
• Family support programmes to help loved ones
• Conjoint sessions to help rebuild and strengthen relationships
• CQC ratings to compare different rehab options
• Comprehensive aftercare programmes to help all clients achieve long-term recovery

What happens after a rehab programme?

Completing rehab is a time for celebration, reflection, and also to look forward to what comes next. Long-term recovery from addiction is a journey, but with the support of everyone at recovery.org.uk, you will have all the support you need every step of the way.

Aftercare programmes

That support starts with our comprehensive aftercare programmes, which are provided for every client. These programmes involve further group therapy sessions, and will also introduce you to our network of other UKAT alumni, all of whom will be able to provide advice and support, particularly in the difficult moments that we all experience in life.

Support groups

As well as our aftercare programmes, there are also some fantastic local support groups which will be able to help you in difficult times. Try reaching out to some of these organisations: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA) and SMART Recovery.

Long-term recovery from addiction

Long-term recovery is different for everyone: some people find that when they leave rehab, they never have another craving in their life; others find that staying drug and alcohol-free is a daily challenge. Just remember that our staff and residents are there to help whenever you need some extra support.

How do I tell my family I’m going to rehab?

For many people, just telling their loved ones that they are going into rehab can be the scariest step of all. If you are in this position, try to look at it as just another obstacle you need to overcome. The amazing thing is that once it is done, the weight off your shoulders can be huge. Sit your loved ones down and explain your reasons for seeking treatment and what you hope to get from it. Most families will be relieved that you are trying to make a positive change in your life and will offer all their support and understanding.

How do I get a loved one into rehab?

It can be so hard watching a loved one struggle with addiction but it is vital to understand that you cannot force anyone to go to rehab. Sit down with your loved one and tell them about your concerns. Approach them from a place of love and it may be the spark they need to make a change.

Frequently Asked Questions