If you are struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, it may be time to seek professional help. It is extremely difficult to attempt to deal with an addiction alone and it may even be dangerous. Prolonged substance misuse can lead to dependency and when the substance is suddenly withdrawn, this can sometimes cause severe physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms.
Breaking free from the vicious cycle of addiction is never easy but it can be done, safely and effectively, using evidence-based treatments and techniques.
Drug and alcohol rehab Hoddesdon
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Drug and alcohol misuse is a serious problem throughout the UK. According to leading charity Alcohol Change UK, a quarter (24%) of adults in England and Scotland regularly drink more than the Chief Medical Officers’ lower risk guidelines, with even more (27%) admitting to binge-drinking on their heaviest days. Drinking too much does not always lead to addiction, but it is easy to slide into and extremely difficult to climb out of. There are an estimated 600,000 dependent drinkers in England alone and less than a fifth of these are currently receiving treatment.1
The figures for illegal drug users are not as easy to come by but drug misuse is undoubtedly a huge issue in most parts of the UK. So what tips a person from heavy drinking or drug misuse into addiction?
Basically, it all comes down to chemicals. Drug use causes a powerful surge of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens – often known as the ‘pleasure centre’ of the brain. This interacts with another neurotransmitter to take over the brain’s system of reward-related learning.2 It’s a complex process but the upshot is you start to create the pleasure associated with the drug and experience an overwhelming compulsion to continue. At the same time, you can build up a tolerance to the substance, meaning you need more and more of it to get the same effect. Other previous sources of pleasure do not measure up and you can start to lose interest in relationships, social activities and everything else in your life besides drugs and alcohol.
Some people appear to be more genetically predisposed to developing an addiction than others, but anyone can become addicted to drugs and alcohol.
All of this makes addiction extremely difficult to overcome without expert assistance, but it can be successfully treated. This requires addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of the addiction, through a holistic programme of evidence-based treatments.
This is most effectively done in a residential rehabilitation centre. This places you in a safe and tranquil environment where you can concentrate on your recovery separated from the triggers and any temptations associated with your alcohol or substance abuse. You will also have access to the finest facilities and round-the-clock care and support when needed.
The facilities and treatment programmes may vary but whether you attend a rehab in Hoddesdon or further afield, there will be some common factors. An important part of most rehab programmes is detox or detoxification, which is where you ‘flush out’ the toxic elements of drugs and alcohol. This will be accompanied by a structured programme of therapy and other treatment sessions, which are designed to help you explore the root causes of your addiction and change the way you think and behave with regards to your substance misuse.
The detoxification process can be very different from one person to the next. Some may experience withdrawal symptoms and cravings far more strongly than others. This can also depend largely on the substance involved, the heaviness of use and how long they have been misusing it. Some people might think that alcohol is not as dangerous as other, illegal drugs. In fact, the physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms from chronic alcohol abuse can be very severe and dangerous, including tremors, hallucinations and even seizures. It is always best to go through the process under medical supervision. This is both safer and more likely to be effective and you will also have access to prescription medications (where appropriate) that can lessen the effects of some withdrawal symptoms.
In a holistic rehab programme you will also participate in a range of therapies, which could include techniques such as one-to-one counselling, psychotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Group therapy can also be very valuable. Other therapies such as art and music therapy, meditation and mindfulness sessions can help you to achieve a better sense of overall wellbeing, which can also help in the recovery process.
While the detox will see you get clean and sober and the programme of therapies and relapse prevention sessions will equip you with coping strategies and knowledge you need to stay that way moving forward, there will still be challenging times ahead. Many people in recovery speak of a lifelong battle but the first few weeks and months can be particularly challenging. That’s why we offer 12 months of free aftercare to people completing our rehab programmes. This can provide the vital support you need, when you will most need it.
If you have decided that rehab might be the right path for you, or simply want to talk through your options in complete confidence with our friendly and experienced staff, get in contact today. You can easily contact us by calling or filling out our simple form online.
We also offer a family referral service. People living with addictions are often reluctant to admit they have a problem – sometimes even to themselves – but you might be able to help if a loved one is harming themselves or others with drugs and alcohol. At the end of the day they still need to consent and participate willingly in rehab but with your help, our compassionate and experienced team can work to motivate an individual towards recovery.
1. https://alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/fact-sheets/alcohol-statistics
2. https://www.helpguide.org/harvard/how-addiction-hijacks-the-brain.htm
It can be easy to become overwhelmed by the amount of addiction treatment options out there. However, that is why Asana Lodge exists, so that our specialists can locate the best treatment option for you in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. Based upon your personal information, we will be able to match you with the perfect treatment plan and rehab for you. Let us take the stress out of finding the perfect treatment plan.
When it comes to addiction treatment there is no “one size fits all” perfect treatment. This is why most of the rehabs that Asana Lodge have on our roster implement a blend of physical and psychological treatments. Treatments such as CBT, DBT, group therapy, and detoxification treatment will all work together to strengthen your overall recovery.
The answer is complicated. Whilst addiction is a disease, it brings with it compulsions that are hard to overcome. Someone with addiction issues must manage it for the rest of their lives and many people cannot even dabble with a substance, lest it send them spiralling back down. People that suffer from addiction usually have addictive personalities and this is something that can’t be totally fixed as it is part of your genetic make-up. Curing implies a permanent solution and when it comes to addiction recovery it is something that you must practise every day and remain vigilant. Cured? Maybe not, but it can be beaten.
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