Free Rehab Options: How To Access NHS and Charity Support

Free Addiction Rehab Detox: Does it exist?

Are there free rehab options?

How do I access NHS and Charity Support?

You can ask one of our experienced addictions clinicians for free advice and referrals.

Let us share their experience and advice with you.

Free Addiction Rehab Detox: The Facts

Nothing is free in this world, only oxygen.

Someone, somewhere is paying if you are not.

Free detox and rehab is available, but the route to treatment is paved with obstacles.

It will take a lot longer to get access to treatment than if you self fund.

There are many boxes to tick processes to go through before you can be considered for free treatment.

The process is not quick: for a reason.

Budgets are tight so free treatment is reserved for those who demonstrate a willingness to commit to treatment (and have already shown a commitment in pre-admission meetings and groups).

Free Addiction Rehab Detox: Who Provides It?

All drug and alcohol services in England, Wales and Scotland is provided by your local authority, funded through your council tax.

This means that you are welcome to contact your local statutorily provided drug and alcohol service for help. You will never need to pay for any of their services. They will want to see proof that you live in the area, but that is about it.

Does the council provide the service itself?

In 99.9% of services: No.

Usually, the local authority will contract the service out to either a private company, a charity or the NHS.

Sometimes services are delivered at a GP surgery but, usually, at dedicated premises in your local area.

Some have one hub for the area while others have smaller spaces, spread out in the community. For more rural communities, clinics are held on rotating basis in village halls, etc. Completely confidentially, of course.

Do I Have to Live in the Area?

You are very welcome to use the service within the area you live. However, because they will need to confirm your address you can not use services elsewhere.

Anyone, who lives in the catchment area, is welcome to go and get help: for free.

Many have walk in services, some by appointment and others with a GP referral.

Free Addiction Detox and Rehab: What Is Provided?

All services provide free treatment for cocaine addiction, alcohol addiction and heroin misuse.

How this is provided differs amongst different providers.

Service provision is directed by the Local Authority who decides what they will, and won’t, pay for.

All services provide substitute prescribing for heroin misuse. This is aimed at crime reduction as, evidence shows, those in treatment are less likely to commit crime. The emphasis is on maintenance prescribing.

Some services provide community alcohol detox. The criteria for these is very structured with very little room for manoeuvre.

Community alcohol detox

If you meet the criteria you may be considered for a community alcohol detox.

They will only consider you if:

• You drink less than 30 units a day
• No detox within the last 6 months
• No history of alcohol related withdrawal seizures
• Absence of other current addictions
• Have an adult, over 18, to stay with you for the first few days
• No major psychiatric disorders
• No history of significant self harm/overdose

Blood tests may be required and your GP will have to be made aware.

A detox will start of a Monday. This is because services are closed at weekends so it is easier to get help, if there is a problem, during weekdays.

A specialist nurse will come and see you, at least once a day, for the first few days.

Cocaine

Cocaine addiction is, usually, something that does not require medication.

Keyworkers, at local services, will work with someone to support them when they want to stop.

If someone is using extremely large quantities, has a co-addiction to something else or is physically frail then residential treatment may be considered.

Ketamine, GHB/GBL/Amphetamines,etc

Community services are not funded to provide services for these drugs as an “outpatient.”

Due to the nature of the drugs and how they affect people, it simply would not bee possible.

They will fund residential treatment for some, but the process is slow, cumbersome and what you will get may be a very short stay which can be very counterproductive.

Free Addiction Rehab Detox: Residential Treatment

Local authority funded services have very limited funds.

For them to fund rehab for someone the need must great and commitment to the process demonstrated.

Your keyworker has to apply to a funding panel, where someone from the Local Authority will be present. It is down to the representative from the Local Authority as to whether or not they will fund your rehab.

In order for your key worker to put your case to the funding panel, you will need to attend reviews, groups and keywork sessions. Failure to do so means the panel will not fund your treatment.

Budgets are very, very tight. Unless you show commitment they are not going to allocate funds.

What will be provided?

Statutorily funded services pay for , what is known, as blocked beds.

What this means is that they negotiate heavily discounted rates with centres on the basis that they will have clients to fill a certain number of beds over the course of a year.

These centres are functional, safe and fully registered.

Due to budgetary constraints most statutory services will pay only for a detox. There are a few NHS units (funded by statutory service clients) that are detox only.

The Perils of a detox only approach

A detox only approach is a recipe for disaster.

The detox will be as quick as possible (safe but quick) as the more nights you stay, the more it costs your local authority.

When you stop using drugs/alcohol it takes your brain sometime to readjust. While it does, cravings are inevitable. If you have a quick detox you are likely to experience significant cravings.

Why is this problematic?

While, on occasions, statutory services may be able to fund a short stay in a rehab only centre after a detox, this is uncommon. When this happens, there is no guarantee that you will transfer on the day you complete detox. Any gap in treatment would be very detrimental. Relapse is almost a certainty.

Speak to An Experienced Addictions Clinician For Free Advice and Referrals

Call and speak to one of our experienced addictions clinicians without charge.

On a daily basis, we advise people on where to get the right treatment.

It matters not to us where you go, as long as it is safe.

Our advice is free, confidential and impartial.

We only signpost to legally registered centres.

The service is registered with the Information Commissioners Office.

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