Rehab cost report 2026  

What determines the cost of rehab?  

There are many factors that determine the cost of rehab:

* Location:

A centre in a city, especially one in the south of England, is going to cost far more to run than a small one in a town in Wales.

While having one close to home may mean a short journey, you can often reduce the cost, very significantly, if you travel. Sometimes, you can reduce the cost by over 75%.


* Length of stay:

The minimum admission time in, most centres, is 10 days though some will admit for 7 days.

Whether you can be admitted for seven days depends on your detox needs (if appropriate).

The admitting clinician will be able to determine if you are suitable for a short admission.

The therapy programme is a rolling one, so it doesn't matter which day of the week you are admitted.

Not all centres provide weekend admissions.

For those who need help with opioids and/or benzodiazepines, the minimum admission is nearly always going to be a minimum of 28 days.

This is because a rapid detox will leave you still in withdrawal and experiencing cravings.

This puts you at significant risk of accidental overdose.

*Medical detox:

All centres provide alcohol detox and treatment for cocaine withdrawal.

Most provide treatment for opioid and heroin addiction while some will also be able to help with GHB/GBL and some lesser known drugs.

For those clients who are deemed high risk, an admission to a private hospital may be required.

In a private hospital your medical care will be supervised by a consultant psychiatrist (addiction specialist) with 24 hour resident medical officer (doctor) and qualified nursing cover.

For exceptional high risk clients, one to one nursing cover may be required (this is rare) nd this carries an additional cost of £70 an hour.

*Treatment intensity:

Except for one of the centres in Warwickshire, all the centres use a group therapy model.

Some use a 12 STEP approach, some use a SMART approch and some use an electic approach.

In Warwickshire, you can have a detox and individual therapy without group work.

For those who want a standalone detox, this is available in central London in a private hospital though can be cost prohibitive.

*Private room:

A lot of centres offer both private and shared rooms so that you can reduce costs.

Others provide very high end luxury accomodation.

*Medication:

All centres, where a detox is required, will provide the necessary medication.

Any current prescribed medication needs to be taken with you so you can continue on it and so that the admitting clinician knows what you are taking.

This is to ensure there are issues with mixing certain medications.

Some, higher end centres and private hospitals, are able to offer Buvidal as part of the treatment plan for opioid and heroin addiction.

*Psychiatric support:

Treatment centres that are part of a chain, have consultant psychiatrists on their books who can provide an assessment, for an additional fee.

Usually, the clinicial assessment and treatment plan is drawn up by a GP with special interest in addictions and/or a pharmacist/nurse prescriber.

With a private hospital, your care is overseen by a consultant psychiatrist addiction specialist.

This will be a doctor who is on the specialist register of the General Medical Council with extensive training and experience in the treatment of addiction.

A consultant psychiatrist can manage high and exceptional high risk clients that other centres may have to decline.

*Aftercare:

All centres provide aftercare. 

The smaller ones have a weekly aftercare group which you can attend, in person or via videolink. 

The larger, chain owned, centres have a dedicated aftercare team with a direct line where support can be offered if you are struggling. 

Most centres allow you to continue individual therapy, with the same therapist you had in treatment, for an additional fee.