What to Expect From UK Detox Clinics

What to Expect From UK Detox Clinics? Safe, evidenced based cost effective care.

UK Detox clinics provide both rehab and detox: At the same time.

Detox alone will never work.

Rehab consists of four essential elements: Detox, therapy, relapse prevention and aftercare.

As recovery is a continuous circle, without one of the elements the circle is broken.

If detox alone worked: Good! Sad fact is: it doesn’t.

All rehab centres provide all four elements within a treatment programme.

Every centre provides treatment for alcohol and cocaine and some also provide treatment for opioids and benzodiazepines.

While some rehabs use a 12 STEP model, some use a SMART one or an eclectic mix.

Our experienced addictions clinicians work in rehab centres. Let them guide you through.

Before you can be admitted to an rehab centre the team there need to be assured that they can cater to your needs and provide an appropriate treatment plan.

You will have a telephone assessment or a video conference with an admissions advisor who will then share that information with a clinician.

A medical summary, from your GP surgery may be needed. This can be obtained from reception staff without having to explain why you need it. Modern day NHS systems allows reception and admin colleagues to prepare a medical summary with a few keystrokes.

Blood tests may be needed. If your GP is unwilling to assist these can be arranged at a local lab and are not expensive.

It is essential that you give accurate information during this pre-admission assessment so that the team can fully prepare for you.

Should you need transport to rehab, it can usually be arranged. For some people, it simply wouldn’t be safe to stop drinking/taking drugs in order to use public transport.

On no account should anyone ever drive themselves to rehab.

Admission Day

You will be given a time to arrive at as rehab centres stagger admissions, throughout the day for safety.

If you are running late it is imperative to inform the staff.

There will be a cut off time after which new admissions can not be accepted in a day so it is important to keep this in mind.

On arrival you will be greeted by staff and welcomed into the centre. A cup of tea usually awaits as you may have had a long journey and be nervous: Don’t be. The staff will make every effort to put you at your ease. Many of the those who work in rehab centres are in recovery themselves. They have been where you are.

Safety

When people enter rehab they can be upset and distressed. Sometimes they pack in a hurry and may not have excluded items that are not allowed in a rehab centre.

Staff will conduct a search of your belongings, in your presence, solely to ensure that there are no unsafe items.

Every centre will have a list of excluded items which will usually include:

• Alcohol
• Drugs
• Glass bottles
• Electrical items*
• Cameras
• Sharp items*
• Large amounts of cash*
• Medications not prescribed*

* Certain items can be brought in if they are handed over for safe keeping and used under supervision.

Assessment with In House Clinician

When you have had a cup of tea, been shown around you will meet with the inhouse clinician.

They will have had sight of your pre-admission assessment so will have a good knowledge of why you are they and how they can help you.

If it is needed, medication will be prescribed to assist you through your detox.

The clinician will go through your medical history and your current prescribed medications (if applicable). They will answer any questions you have and explain how your detox will work

Nursing/support staff will take your vital signs and assess your withdrawals using standardised assessment tools.

Because of the way detox medication works, it may be some hours before you can start medication: This is for safety. For alcohol clients, a breathalyser is a standardised assessment tool.

UK detox rehab centres : Observations

Detox medication needs careful monitoring.

A detox prescription is not an exact science. Sometimes you will need less medication: Sometimes more. Everyone is different. Clinical observations help to determine changes to your treatment plan.

Going into rehab can be a difficult time, emotionally. It is common practice for rehab centres to observe you, a little more closely, for the first day or two. This could be just checking on you, visually, every hour for the first day or two. There is nothing to worry about: This is perfectly normal.

UK detox rehab centres : Introduction to Therapy

Every rehab centre, the world over, uses a group therapy model which is augmented by individual therapy.

12 STEP/SMART or eclectic. It really doesn’t matter which model is used. You don’t need to have any religious belief to benefit from a 12 STEP model.

The lead/senior therapist will meet with you for a therapy assessment, if you are physically able on your first day. Some people, due to withdrawal, may find it easier to be assessed the next day. Your weekly individual therapy may be based on a particular model depending on what is offered and your particular needs.

As soon as you are physically able to do so, you will be welcomed into the therapy groups and sessions.

UK detox rehab centres : Relapse Prevention

Therapy will help you to deal with the reasons why you were drinking and taking drugs.

You will learn how to regulate your emotions and make more positive choices in the future.

What you also need to know is how to prevent yourself getting back to the situation you were in leading to admission. This is where relapse prevention skills training comes in.

This element of the programme is delivered in both group and individual sessions. Role plays are a useful element of relapse prevention.

UK detox rehab centres :Aftercare

An element that is just as important as residential treatment.

When you go home you will have a new sense of self. A newfound level of energy. Maybe a feeling that you need to make up for lost time.

In your relapse prevention skills development you will learn to pace yourself and not to go in, all guns blazing. it is understandable that you want to prove your sobriety and and abstinence and achieve your life goals.

When you detox from drugs, alcohol and behavioural addiction it can take your brain up to one year to recover.

During that time you may experience cravings. While your relapse prevention skills will give you the tools to deal with these, there may be times when you struggle. This is where aftercare comes in.

Every rehab centre provides a minimum of a years aftercare. This is usually in the form of regular telephone check in as well as a weekly support group. This can be accessed remotely as well as in person.

If you find yourself struggling there will be a number to call for dedicated support.

Get Free Advice From an Experienced Addictions Clinician

You can speak to an experienced addictions clinician for free, independent and impartial advice.

We work in centres but are not tied to them.

If you decide you want private treatment we will be happy to provide a treatment referral: Without charge.

We only signpost to legally registered centres.

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