Drug & Alcohol Rehab in Herne Bay
Herne Bay is a popular coastal town in the county of Kent, but its status as a tourist attraction doesn’t make it immune to the addiction problems facing the UK.
Just like elsewhere in the country, Herne Bay residents face a variety of issues relating to Substance Use Disorders, including increased crime rates, health issues, and psychiatric struggles.
In their recent Drug and Alcohol Strategy [1], Kent Count Council estimated that each year, local hospitals spend £71.2 million on reducing the harm caused by hazardous drinking: equating to around £59 spent per person.
This report concluded that, while substance use among the older population had declined, young people aged between 16-24 were more likely to develop an addiction in need of treatment at a drug and alcohol rehab in Herne Bay.
These worrying trends are reflected in the wider South East area, with one of the latest government reports revealing a rise in crack cocaine and opiate use in the region. Dame Carol Black’s Independent Review on Drug Use [2] in the UK found that the area has an opiate use rate of 6.0 per 100,000 people.
Start your recovery journey today by calling our expert team to access drug & alcohol rehab in Herne Bay on 0800 088 66 86
Defining Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
The recurrent use of drugs and alcohol is something that has been normalised in society, meaning that many people with addiction remain undiagnosed.
To combat the stigma surrounding this disease and help spread awareness, addiction is frequently referred to as Substance Use Disorder; but what exactly is it?
The recently updated DSM-5 definition [3] describes SUD as a “relapsing disorder characterised by compulsive drug-seeking, continued use despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain”.
These neurological changes are a large part of why addiction is so hard to overcome without the help of drug and alcohol rehab in Herne Bay.
While drug and alcohol consumption disrupts the body’s physiological balance and releases floods of dopamine, the brain can adapt. Because substances interfere with the brain’s reward system and natural dopamine release, the brain adjusts and comes to rely on drugs or alcohol above all else.
However, the brain’s ability to adapt means it will eventually build a tolerance to the drugs or alcohol that an individual frequently consumes.
Because our bodies become used to the effects of a particular substance, we must consume more of it to achieve the desired effect, whether this be relaxation, euphoria, or increased energy.
Therefore, the more substances an individual consumes, the higher their tolerance will climb and the more dependent they will become.
Many individuals reach the point where they are no longer taking a substance to feel high or euphoric, but simply to get out of bed in the morning and exist day-to-day.
Moreover, missing a dose or trying to cut down their intake will lead to withdrawal symptoms as the body attempts to re-achieve the equilibrium it has lost.
The Danger of Withdrawal Symptoms
Especially if someone is in denial about their addiction, they might think that they can quit whenever they want to without medical supervision. However, the success rate of those who try to go through detox at home is dramatically lower than individuals attending a drug and alcohol rehab in Herne Bay.
Withdrawal symptoms are often physical and mental: ranging from mild to acute depending on the substance being abused, the dosage, and the duration of use.
Victims of cocaine use disorder suffer from predominately psychological symptoms, while those addicted to heroin battle flu-like symptoms.
While many symptoms subside in 1-3 weeks, developing Protracted Withdrawal Syndrome (PWS) is also a possibility, with victims feeling unwell for months after their detox.
While any type of Substance Use Disorder can inflict severe withdrawal symptoms, individuals addicted to alcohol have a higher risk of life-threatening complications.
Within the first few days of abstinence, individuals may show signs of Delerium Tremens, a severe complication that causes seizures, agitation, and visual hallucinations, and can even lead to cardiac arrest.
With this in mind, addicted individuals need to have their risk of withdrawal properly assessed, and an appropriate detox strategy utilised. At a drug and alcohol rehab [4] in Herne Bay, professionals can recommend a detoxification timeline, and tapering schedule, and plan future treatment to lower the risk of relapse.
Start your recovery journey today by calling our expert team to access drug & alcohol rehab in Herne Bay on 0800 088 66 86
What is the Rehab Recovery Admissions Process?
If you’re searching for help in the form of addiction treatment, either for yourself or a loved one, choosing a rehab clinic is often the first step.
Opting for the right drug and alcohol rehab in Herne Bay can be a complicated process if you’re undertaking it alone, which is why we recommend reaching out to our team at 0800 088 66 86 [5].
A member of our team will explain the pre-admissions process to you in full, letting you know what to expect from the preliminary health assessment and rehab selection procedure. They’ll also answer any questions you may have relating to treatment programmes, payment, detox protocols, and generally preparing for life in rehab.
To help you find the most effective treatment programme, it’s recommended that you complete a health consultation over the phone with one of our consultant psychiatrists. We can book you in for an assessment at a time most convenient for you, complete with our promise of 100% confidentiality and data protection.
Our consultants help clients familiarise themselves with the rehab admissions process while conducting a preliminary health evaluation that takes note of their physical and mental health.
Clients are asked to provide important information regarding their substance use history, symptomology, treatment budget, and any additional preferences.
You must provide as much information as you feel comfortable sharing so that the Rehab Recovery team can build a bespoke referral.
Upon completing this assessment, we’ll recommend some suitable treatment centres that provide high-end recovery plans within your budget. Each residential programme will include private accommodation, nutritious meals, and a range of research-driven therapy methods.
Once you’ve decided which rehab centre most fits your needs, the next stage will be to book treatment and finalise a start date. While some individuals opt to start their recovery immediately, others prefer to book treatment shortly, depending on their circumstances.
Whatever your unique situation is, the Rehab Recovery team will accommodate your preferences and provide non-intrusive advice every step of the way.
Comorbidity Treatment at a Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Herne Bay
Among those seeking treatment for substance addiction, co-occurring disorders are far from uncommon. The term comorbidity [6] refers to the existence of one or more mental illnesses alongside a substance use disorder.
Frequently diagnosed co-occurring disorders range from psychiatric conditions such as psychosis to mood disorders such as bipolar, depression, or anxiety.
While suffering from SUD alone presents health challenges, victims of co-occurring disorders battle additional difficulties that can complicate treatment.
Debilitating mental symptoms can worsen withdrawal symptoms and present challenges after detox that can only be managed via long-term residencies at a drug and alcohol rehab in Herne Bay.
It’s often the case that substance addiction has led to the development of a mental health need, such as in the case of drug-induced psychosis or hallucinogen-persisting perceptual disorder.
However, it can work in reverse too, with many people seeking temporary relief from long-standing mental illnesses in the form of substance use.
Though many pathways lead someone to develop co-occurring disorders, an integrated treatment approach should be used in each case, which includes personalised care. As such, appropriate treatment should be sought at a drug and alcohol rehab in Herne Bay or elsewhere, starting with a comprehensive psychological evaluation.
Screening for comorbidity is integral to identifying and tackling both disorders at the same time, with evaluations aiming to determine a variety of factors. Addiction specialists determine the patient’s ability to care for themselves, their current and past symptoms, substance use history and immediate safety.
From the information gathered, they can build a bespoke detox plan and further treatment that reflects both disorders and how they overlap.
Integrated care decreases the chances of relapse, and includes a hybrid of behavioural interventions, motivational interviewing, group therapy, and family behavioural therapy.
Dual Diagnosis patients may also benefit from holistic therapies such as mindfulness to help tackle anxiety, restlessness, and agitation.
Therapeutic Modalities at a Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Herne Bay
Merging various therapeutic techniques [7] is often cited by experts as the best way of treating substance use disorders.
Depending on their comorbidity status, additional health requirements, and unique substance use story, patients at a drug and alcohol rehab in Herne Bay can expect to encounter a range of therapies, including:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy [8] (CBT): The main philosophy of CBT is that addicted individuals can enhance recuperation by altering their thought processes. At a drug and alcohol rehab in Herne Bay, CBT teaches subjects the skills needed to cope with cravings and beat relapse triggers by reframing cognitive distortions. Some of the tangible strategies that can be used daily include positive self-talk, mindfulness, and situation reframing.
- Dialectical Behavioural Therapy [9] (DBT): Emotions such as self-depreciation and low mood can trigger a relapse if left unmanaged, and it’s these types of feelings that DBT helps patients overcome. This mindful form of talking therapy encourages patients to be present with their uncomfortable emotions and past trauma: allowing feelings to pass through rather than avoid them. This acceptance practice is balanced with changing for the better, with coping skills taught in DBT sessions.
- Holistic Therapy [10] (HT): Also known as an alternative therapy, eclectic therapy, and integrative therapy, HT draws on non-traditional methods to treat the whole individual. This means implementing activities that care for a patient’s emotional, physical, and mental health via behavioural activation. Participating in HT means patients can enjoy various activities, including breathwork massage therapy, yoga, and art therapy.
- Family Therapy [11] (FT): While addiction can damage relationships and even tear families apart, patients in addiction rehab are offered Family Therapy to address these issues. The exact focus of FT workshops depends on the unique situation and dynamics of each family, with sessions focusing on resolving emotional distance, enabling behaviours, co-dependency, and many more. A therapist is present in each session to mediate dialogues and provide a non-judgemental presence.
- Motivational Interviewing (MI): Many patients at a drug and alcohol rehab in Herne Bay enter treatment with conflicting feelings, especially if they’ve come to rely on a substance for many years. To help them work through these feelings and rediscover what motivates them, patients are offered Motivational Interviewing sessions. Because many participants undertake MI at the beginning of treatment, sessions focus on goal-setting and making realistic plans for future change over a series of 1-4 workshops.
Start your recovery journey today by calling our expert team to access drug & alcohol rehab in Herne Bay on 0800 088 66 86
Aftercare Services at a Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Herne Bay
Post-treatment monitoring, also known as aftercare, is an important part of any patient’s recovery journey after leaving a drug and alcohol rehab in Herne Bay.
Aftercare services help those in recovery stay on the right track mentally and physically through utilising outpatient therapy and continuing medications.
To help those who have graduated from their treatment programme transition back to normal life, rehab clinics offer varying levels of assistance.
Some individuals receive one-to-one counselling sessions on an outpatient basis, while others choose to attend a therapeutic community in Herne Bay.
Organisations such as SMART [12] Recovery run both in-person and online meetings depending on your location in or around Herne Bay.
Alternatively, former patients are invited o join a local 12-Step programme such as Marijuana Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous [13] or Alcoholics Anonymous [14].
These sober communities allow individuals to form meaningful connections while giving and receiving support.
References
[1] Drugs and Alcohol Strategy, Kent County Council and Kent Police https://www.kent.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/79219/Kent-Drug-and-Alcohol-strategy.pdf
[2] Review of Drugs Part 2: prevention, treatment, and recovery: annexes, Dame Carol Black https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1002268/independent-review-of-drugs-part-2-annexes.pdf
[3] Substance Use Disorders: a Biopsychosocial Perspective https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Substance_Use_Disorders/X7H2DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
[4] Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (2nd Ed.) https://books.google.co.th/books?id=mtMdJ3qqSnQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=addiction+treatment&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiDlMP3zob3AhXiwjgGHYJtDZ8Q6AF6BAgDEAI#v=onepage&q=outpatient&f=false
[5] Rehab Recovery: Meet the Team https://www.rehab-recovery.co.uk/meet-the-team/
[6] Co-occurring Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders: A Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Co_occurring_Mental_Illness_and_Substanc/vkQ4DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
[7] Innovations in the Treatment of Substance Addiction https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Innovations_in_the_Treatment_of_Substanc/vzbzuAEACAAJ?hl=en
[8] Rehab Recovery: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Addiction Treatment https://www.rehab-recovery.co.uk/addiction-treatments/cognitive-behavioural-therapy/
[9] The Oxford Handbook of Dialectical Behavioural Therapy https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Oxford_Handbook_of_Dialectical_Behav/PE5yDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
[10] Healing and Wholeness: Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Mental Health https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Healing_and_Wholeness/XM_CWVYE_KEC?hl=en&gbpv=0
[11] Rehab Recovery: Family Addiction Counselling https://www.rehab-recovery.co.uk/addiction-treatments/family-therapy/
[12] UK Smart Recovery: Our Programmes https://smartrecovery.org.uk/smart-recovery-programme-copy/
[13] Narcotics Anonymous in the United Kingdom: Need help? https://ukna.org/content/need-help
[14] Alcoholics Anonymous: About AA https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/About-AA
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