Drug and Alcohol Rehab Hitchin

Drug and alcohol addiction are not only problems in big cities. Substance misuse is certainly a major issue in many urban areas but addiction affects people from all backgrounds, walks of life and geographical locations – including the relatively affluent market towns of Hertfordshire.

If you’re struggling with these issues, drug and alcohol rehab in Hitchin and surrounding areas could provide your best chance of making a long-lasting recovery.

 

Could Drug and Alcohol Rehab Hitchin help turn your life around?

Addiction can strike anyone and it can have a profound effect on pretty much every aspect of your life. It can have a serious effect on your health and well-being and wreck relationships at home, work or school.

You might feel like you have no one to turn to but there is always help available if you choose to seek it out. Attitudes have changed a lot in recent years but some people still think there is something shameful about addiction.

Asking help does not make you weak; it is actually a courageous step and one of the most positive things you can do if you are struggling with addiction and substance abuse issues.

 

The Dangers of Addiction

Without treatment at a rehabilitation centre, alcohol or drug addiction will usually get progressively worse, with the dangers increasing all the time.

Addiction often goes hand in hand with dishonest and deceptive behaviour. Prolonged substance misuse can affect your moods and personality and all this can wreak havoc on personal relationships with partners, friends and family. It can impact your work-life and tear through your finances.

Addiction and substance misuse can also have a huge impact on your physical and mental health. The risks can vary depending on the substance involved but could include:

• Increased risk of accidents while intoxicated
• Overdose/alcohol poisoning
• Liver disease
• Heart disease
• Increased risk of certain forms of cancer
• Hepatitis B and C
• Collapsed veins from intravenous drug use
• Increased risk of stroke
• Various types of infection
• Lowered immune system and general ill-health – leading to various other illnesses
• Psychological and mental disorders

 

How Private Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Hitchin can help

Undergoing a period of rehabilitation at a residential rehab centre has bene shown to be one of the most effective ways of combatting addiction.

You will receive dedicated treatments designed and delivered by experts in the field of addiction recovery and backed by experience, evidence and scientific research.

There is no magic bullet when it comes to addiction. You still need to put in a lot of work and really want to change, but the support and expertise you receive at a rehab place in Hitchin or further afield will be invaluable in helping you to quit and make a long-term recovery.

 

 

Detoxification in Rehab

Detox, or detoxification, is a crucial step on any addict’s road to recovery and is usually the first major step during rehab. It refers to the period during which your body metabolises and gets rid of the toxic elements from drugs and alcohol that you already have in your system.

This can be distressing and unpleasant, especially if you have been dependent on the substance for a long time or your usage is particularly heavy.

It can also be potentially dangerous although again, the withdrawal symptoms you experience can vary widely depending on the substance and a number of other factors.

It may surprise some people but withdrawal from alcohol can produce some of the worst withdrawal symptoms, despite being legal and easily accessible. At the worst end of the spectrum, this could include fever, hallucinations, trembling, cramps and even seizures – which could be potentially fatal.

Opioids such as heroin and a number of prescription drugs can also produce extremely serious withdrawal symptoms. With other substances such as cocaine the withdrawal symptoms tend to be mostly psychological, but these bring their own dangers.

It is much safer to undergo detoxification in the secure and supervised environment of a detox clinic. Medical supervision will be at hand when needed, as well as moral and psychological support during this extremely difficult period.

It is, of course, possible to go ‘cold turkey’ on your own but this is much more difficult and potentially dangerous, with many addicts falling at this hurdle.

Repeatedly trying and failing to quit drink or drugs can turn into a vicious cycle, affecting your confidence and self-esteem and even making the problem worse. Drug and alcohol rehab can help you break the cycle and make a long-lasting recovery.

 

Drug and Alcohol Rehab Treatments

In order to make that long-term recovery you also need to explore the root causes of your addiction and the triggers associated with your substance misuse.

This is typically done through a range of different therapies, such as group therapy, counselling and one to one techniques such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

This is frequently used to help treat mental health and depression but has also been shown to be extremely effective in the treatment of addiction.

Substance misuse does not have to be involved and some rehab centres may also offer help for other forms of addiction, such as sex addiction or gambling addiction, which can be every bit as destructive for some people.

Addictions of all kinds are often linked with mental health issues and there can be a very complex relationship at play.

Substance misuse can sometimes trigger a mental health condition or exacerbate an existing one, while for some people the mental health issue is actually the catalyst for the substance misuse, which can then lead to addiction.

It can be very useful to treat co-existing addiction and mental health issues at the same time, otherwise the same problems can just resurface further down the line. This type of approach is often known as dual diagnosis.

Whatever your own issues and challenges, you will be fully assessed and treated as an individual, with a treatment programme designed to address your own personal situation.

Don’t suffer in silence, or allow your addiction to cause further damage to your own life and the lives of those around you. Call today, in complete confidence, to find out how we could help you to turn your life around and beat your addiction once and for all.