Drug & Alcohol Rehab in Northern England

Drug and alcohol addiction is hugely problematic across the United Kingdom, and some areas, in particular, suffer from its effects more than others.

This is especially the case for cities, towns, and communities in Northern England.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the North East of England is the drug death capital of the United Kingdom. The North East of England has the highest rates of deaths related to drug use, with 104.6 deaths per 1,000,000 people in the region. In comparison, London had 33.1 deaths per 1,000,000 people.

Furthermore, the Office for National Statistics also discovered that the North East of England had the highest rates of drug use for over 8 years and that it is not only significantly higher than other rates in Northern England but in the whole of England.

Outside of the North East, Manchester in Northern England suffers significantly due to excessive drug and alcohol use.

Figures from Public Health England show that of the 10 boroughs in Greater Manchester, 9 of them have a higher rate of alcohol-related deaths, deaths directly caused by alcohol, and hospital admissions due to alcohol, than the average in England and the rest of the United Kingdom.

Additionally, alcohol-specific hospital admissions are 53% higher in Greater Manchester than it is in the rest of England. Greater Manchester also has a rate of alcohol-specific mortality episodes which is 50% higher than the rest of England.

Clearly, Northern England’s most populous city and its surrounding areas, Manchester, is rife with drug and alcohol issues.

Again, in the western areas of Northern England, Liverpool suffers from high rates of drug and alcohol addiction. From 2019 to 2020, Liverpool saw 2,366 adult patients entering treatment for drug and alcohol addiction.

Furthermore, of these new presentations into addiction treatment, 51% were parents who had children. Not only does addiction affect the person who is suffering directly from the disease, but it leaves children vulnerable, facing financial and housing insecurity.

This makes the estimated rate of alcohol-dependent parents living with children in Liverpool 5 for every 1,000 people, compared to 3 for every 1,000 people in England.

In addition to the children who suffer from the effects of drug and alcohol addiction in Northern England, it is estimated that almost 50% of crimes such as assault, sexual assault, burglary, and others in some areas are committed by offenders who are under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Members of the community in Northern England suffer profoundly due to the effects of drug and alcohol addiction, not only the addicted people themselves.

For more information on drug and alcohol rehab in Northern England, contact Rehab Recovery at 0800 088 66 86.

What is Drug & Alcohol Addiction?

Contrary to common and outdated misconceptions surrounding substance addiction, it is officially classified as a neurological disease of chronic brain relapsing.

According to the brain disease model of addiction, a model developed based on neuroscientific research, the reward pathways in the brain become severely dependent on these addictive substances in order to experience a pleasure.

When the brain and its reward pathways become dependent on addictive substances, the addicted person will begin to experience a range of physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms.

These symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe, and they can even become fatal if someone’s dependence on an addictive substance becomes too extreme.

Physical & Psychological Symptoms of Drug & Alcohol Addiction

There are a range of physical and psychological symptoms which are associated with drug and alcohol addiction.

It is not only an addiction in the sense that it is a habit which is difficult to break, being addicted to drugs or alcohol means that there are physiological changes undergoing in the body, leaving people exposed to a range of physical and psychological effects.

People who are suffering from addiction will suffer from a range of withdrawal symptoms when they abstain from their addictive drug or alcohol.

Common withdrawal symptoms, which typically occur from around 24 hours after the last period of consumption, include headaches, fatigue, lethargy, sweating, vomiting, diarrhoea, trembling, and even seizures.

If someone’s addiction is severe enough, they can die due to health complications related to their withdrawal symptoms. Because of this, many patients need to undergo a medicated detox at their drug and alcohol rehab facility in order to safely recover from their addiction.

A medicated detox will help them minimise their withdrawal symptoms and improve their health in order for them to proceed with addiction therapy and counselling.

Furthermore, persistent and excessive drug and alcohol consumption can lead to a range of cancers and diseases. Some drugs and alcohol are considered to be carcinogenic, which means that they can lead to cancer.

Throat, lung, breast, and rectal cancer are common among frequent drug and alcohol users. Alcohol-Related Liver Disease is one of the most common forms of diseases associated with substance addiction.

For more information on drug and alcohol rehab in Northern England, contact Rehab Recovery at 0800 088 66 86.

Indirect Symptoms of Drug & Alcohol Addiction

Not only does drug and alcohol addiction lead to plenty of effects that burden the mind and the body, but there are also many different indirect effects that manifest from someone’s addiction. And not only do these indirect symptoms affect the addicted person, they will affect friends, family, and members of the community.

Firstly, someone who is suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction may be high functioning or low functioning. If they are high functioning, it means that they are able to perform other responsibilities and tasks, whether related to their work, interests, hobbies, and more.

Low-functioning addicted people, however, will struggle to perform simple tasks when they are suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction.

A low-functioning addicted person may see that their work or academic performance suffers dramatically.

This can lead to them failing their grades, becoming unemployed, and so on. Additionally, things which may have previously excited them may not interest them anymore.

Not only will they be addicted, but they also will not have any other activities which can help them occupy their mind or help them maintain a normal life.

Furthermore, people who are addicted may struggle to maintain relationships with others. Issues such as a low libido or erectile dysfunction may ruin relationships, as well as the addicted person prioritising their addictive substance over their romantic partner.

Additionally, friends and family members may clash when they tell their loved ones that they are suffering from an addiction. Many people who are addicted experience guilt or shame when they are confronted about their addiction, and they may even become hostile or aggressive towards loved ones.

When an addicted person has pushed away from his or her friends and family members, they will suffer from social isolation and relationship breakdown.

Not only will this make them struggle to emotionally process their drug and alcohol addiction, but they will also receive less support than they should when facing addiction because their behaviour has pushed others away.

Co-occurring Disorders – Mental Health Problems & Addiction

As previously mentioned, it is often the case that someone who is suffering from addiction is also suffering from other mental health conditions.

A study conducted by the UK government discovered that around 63% of patients who were undergoing a treatment plan for drug and alcohol rehabilitation at a rehab also suffered from mental health conditions.

This is the case because many people who are suffering from mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and trauma, or else, may turn towards drugs and alcohol in order to self-medicate.

The short-term pleasures associated with these intoxicating substances can mask their negative symptoms. However, it does not address the problem, and it actually intensifies them in the long run.

When undergoing the health assessment and admission process, addiction specialists and consultant psychiatrists will be able to identify these issues and diagnose the patient.

A dual diagnosis will be made if they are suffering from two conditions, in this case, addiction and mental health issues.

The addiction specialists will then be able to personalise addiction recovery programmes in order to maximise their responsiveness to treatment and therapeutic methods.

Personalisation is imperative if patients want to optimise their recovery and increase their chances of returning to a life of normalcy.

This is because each case of addiction varies in its severity, cause, substance, and so on. Each patient must be treated uniquely in order to optimise their recovery and help them reach a high quality of life.

For more information on drug and alcohol rehab in Northern England, contact Rehab Recovery at 0800 088 66 86.

Addiction Treatment at a Rehab in Northern England

Undergoing treatment at rehab in Northern England will mean that patients have access to a wide range of treatment at facilities which specialise in treating addiction.

Based on their health assessment and diagnosis results, as well as their personal preferences, patients can be placed in an outpatient or inpatient rehab facility.

There are many factors which patients need to consider when deciding whether to undergo addiction treatment as an inpatient or an outpatient.

Some of the things which patients must consider are:

Relapse potential: How likely is the patient to relapse? If they are very likely to relapse during or following recovery, they will be required to stay as an inpatient undergoing a more intensive level and higher quality treatment. The purpose is to undergo treatment which can sustain recovery, not just achieve sobriety momentarily.
Withdrawal potential: It is also important to consider how severe the patient’s withdrawal symptoms will be before deciding on a rehab facility to enter. If a patient’s withdrawal symptoms are likely to be intense or even severe, they will need to undergo treatment at a rehab which can facilitate a medicated detox in order to ensure their safety.
Recovery and living environment: If a patient has a stable living environment which is capable of facilitating recovery, the patient will be able to undergo treatment as an outpatient. An appropriate living and recovery environment is one which is safe, and comfortable, does not pose relapse triggers, is not occupied with people who have a negative influence on addiction, and so on.
Biomedical complications: Some patients may also be suffering from biomedical complications when entering rehab, and these will need to be considered alongside their addiction recovery. If a patient requires treatment for physical illnesses or injury, they will need to enter a medically supported facility.
Cognitive and behavioural issues: Addiction and mental issues have a strong correlation and a mutually destructive relationship. If a patient is suffering from mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, bipolar, or more, they will be advised to undergo treatment as an inpatient in order to receive concurrent treatment for their co-occurring disorders.
Readiness to change: If a patient is motivated and willing to change, they may be able to successfully recover as an outpatient. However, many patients struggle to remain committed to treatment methods throughout recovery, and these patients will benefit from inpatient treatment more than outpatient treatment.

Inpatient Treatment at a Rehab in Northern England

As an inpatient, patients will undergo recovery at a residential rehab. This means that they are undergoing a private treatment plan, and these tend to be more effective than public addiction treatment plans because patients receive swift admission and a higher level of personalisation.

Patients at a residential rehab facility will be required to stay overnight at their rehab facility for around 28 days, or longer depending on the severity of their addiction.

During this time, they will undergo a medicated detox, therapy and counselling, relapse prevention planning, and more. They will also undergo an aftercare programme upon leaving their rehab.

The level of personalisation which patients receive at a residential or private rehab is something which should especially be considered if the patient is suffering from mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, trauma, and so on.

This is because they can receive treatment for both conditions, rather than just one, and this will maximise their likelihood of recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.

For more information on drug and alcohol rehab in Northern England, contact Rehab Recovery at 0800 088 66 86.

Outpatient Treatment at a Rehab in Northern England

As an outpatient, patients will be undergoing treatment at a publicly funded rehab. While this is free and offers a more flexible treatment schedule, patients may face long waiting lists and their treatment programmes may lack the same level of personalisation as residential rehab.

Patients will be required to undergo around 6 to 30 hours of therapy and counselling of recovery, depending on whether they are undergoing the regular or intensive outpatient programme. Many patients who are undergoing outpatient treatment are able to continue their studies or maintain their employment throughout their recovery.

Therapy at a Drug & Alcohol Rehab in Northern England

Therapy at a drug and alcohol rehab in Northern England will address a range of problems, not only addiction symptoms.

A comprehensive and personalised addiction recovery programme will not only deal with the symptoms of addiction, but some of the cognitive, behavioural, and emotional issues which may have led to their addiction.

Some of the most popular forms of therapy at rehab include but are not limited to:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): CBT is a form of communication and individual therapy which was highly popularised because of the benefits it yields in treating patients who exhibit cognitive and behavioural issues. These issues can include but are not limited to cognitive distortions, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and so on. CBT helps patients not only address their addiction but improve other aspects of their life.
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT): DBT is much like CBT, however, it is catered towards patients who experience an intense range of emotions and feelings. This form of therapy can help patients manage and control their intense emotions in a rational and productive way.
Group Therapy: Not only is individual therapy effective when it comes to addiction treatment, but group therapy offers a range of diverse benefits. Patients who consistently attend group therapy sessions will benefit from participating in peer discussion and creating a sense of community where they can speak in order to facilitate emotional purging to cope with addiction. They will also experience social reinforcement which can increase their likelihood of sustaining sobriety.
Family Therapy: Family therapy is very important to incorporate into treatment because it essentially equips the patient’s loved ones with the necessary knowledge and skills to help facilitate their loved one’s recovery. This form of therapy not only creates a living environment which is supportive and non-judgemental, but it can also increase the level of communication between family members to reinforce recovery.
Holistic Therapy: Holistic therapy can come in a wide range of activities. Patients can benefit from examples of holistic therapies such as yoga, massages, aromatherapy, acupuncture, equine therapy, art therapy, adventure therapy, and so on. The purpose of holistic therapy is to treat the patient as a whole (hence the term holistic), improving their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being rather than targeting individual symptoms.
Motivational Interviewing: Motivational Interviewing is a form of therapy which can increase the effectiveness of other forms of therapy. A licensed counsellor will act as an ‘interviewer’ in this one-to-one therapy in order to increase the level of engagement and commitment some patients have towards therapy and addiction treatment.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Similarly, ACT is a form of therapy which can increase the level of commitment patients have towards recovery. While acceptance and change are two opposing ideas, they can go hand in hand in helping patients overcome addiction. Patients must be able to accept their flaws if they commit to therapy and overcome them.

For more information on drug and alcohol rehab in Northern England, contact Rehab Recovery at 0800 088 66 86.

Aftercare Following Rehab in Northern England

After a patient leaves his or her drug and alcohol rehab, they will undergo an aftercare programme in order to sustain their newfound lifestyle of sobriety and maintain their recovery.

While patients will have learned invaluable knowledge and skills about addiction recovery, they will be exposed to relapse triggers again once they leave their rehab. Because of this, it is important that they undergo an aftercare programme in order to maximise their chances of sustaining recovery.

A typical aftercare programme will allow patients to undergo the 12-Step Programme at a local fellowship programme such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous.

Here, they can practise their newfound lifestyle of abstinence with other people who are going through a similar journey.