Drug & Alcohol Rehab in Swindon

One of the main reasons addiction is so tricky to treat is that it often has many underlying root causes.

For example, something that can drive addiction is trauma. Just as addiction itself mostly gets worse from attempts to bottle it up and put it away, the same can be said of the events that often cause and drive it.

Treatments like therapy and counselling will help you to get to the root of these traumas, so you can finally start to move on.

As well as the initial act of getting away for a while, many people find that their time at such a facility causes them to really reflect on the life that they were living.

Overall, management of your addiction will likely require permanent lifestyle changes. Rehab in Swindon can help you or your loved one to start a new life in recovery.

Signs and symptoms of addiction

Here we have a few of the most important signals that something isn’t right:

Being unable to stop consuming addictive substances or participating in potentially addictive behaviour
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when attempting to stop
Feeling unable to cope with life events without the consumption of addictive substances
Experiencing physical symptoms such as sudden changes in weight, poor physical coordination, a decline in hygiene, bloodshot eyes or slurred speech
Struggling to talk openly about addiction, or feeling in denial

If any of those symptoms seem familiar, you could benefit from reaching out for help and advice. We can help you decide if rehab in Swindon would be the best choice for you.

Intervention

If you’re looking to help someone else who is struggling with addiction, there’s help you can access.

Whether it’s a friend, family member, or someone you know less well like a colleague, it’s important to take an open but non-judgemental approach.

Without help from a professional interventionist, you may be more likely to be met with anger and denial.

A guide to rehab in Swindon

Although there are a huge variety of paths and treatments in the rehab process, we’ll begin by learning more about you or your loved one.

To do this, we’ll ask a series of questions:

What are you addicted to? – This is one of the most important questions, as the substance you’re addicted to can create many variables. For example, some substances are far more addictive than others, they can have different effects and different withdrawal symptoms
How long has your addiction been happening for? – This will give us a fuller picture of your journey so far and might also give us a better idea of how deep your addiction runs
Have you told anyone else about your addiction? – This will give us a good idea of the level of support you already have
Have you tried to get help before? – What’s worked and what hasn’t worked in your potential previous experiences will help us to decide the best treatment for you

Whether you stay at home for outpatient treatment or go to a specific place for outpatient treatment, you’ll also be asked to complete a second, similar assessment to the one above.

Then you’ll likely go through a stage of detox, to physically cleanse your body of whatever you’re addicted to.

More specifically, your intake of alcohol or drugs will slowly be reduced in a supported manner and will be replaced with specifically prescribed medication.

Due to withdrawal symptoms that can become highly unpleasant and worst and dangerous at best, we don’t recommend you try to detox alone.

From there, your treatment will vary based on your specific needs. This is likely to be a combination of counselling and therapy, support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous and physical therapies such as massages and acupuncture.

Drug and alcohol rehab in Swindon

If you’re specifically looking for drug and alcohol rehab in Swindon, you’ll be glad to know that there are plenty of highly-rated residential facilities in the area.

There are also a variety of local choices, in terms of both support groups and therapy/counselling.

Make sure you thoroughly look into each option before deciding for certain where you want to go and what you want to do.

How Much Does Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Swindon Cost?

Financing your rehab stay might be easier than you think, as there are several options for treatment and funding of rehab in Swindon.

Private treatment is the mostly costly option, however it also gives you the most freedom over which treatments you undergo and when you begin treatment.

For a 28 day inpatient stay at a private rehab facility in Swindon, the average cost is £14,000.

The charges vary however depending on the type of treatments, the rehab centre, the facilities used and the type of room you stay in. Some rehab clinics charge as little as £1,000 a week, others up to £10,000 per week.

NHS rehab however, is free for everyone. This is a great option for people to be able to access help regardless of their finances, and there are a variety of NHS treatments available. However, waiting times can be long and treatments can be limited due to limited NHS funding.

Is Drug And Alcohol Rehab Covered By Health Insurance?

Another option for private rehab treatment is getting your stay financed through your health insurance.

If you have health insurance and are unsure whether you are covered for drug or alcohol rehab in Swindon, then check your insurance policy to see what exactly you are covered for or give your insurance company a call.

Some of the most commonly used health insurance companies do offer rehab cover for some of their policies, including Aviva, Aetna, WPA, Bupa and Tricare.

The level of cover that health insurance offers for rehab varies, with some policies not covering rehab at all, others covering outpatient treatment such as psychotherapy and some covering a full 28 day inpatient stay.

Check your health insurance before embarking on NHS or private treatment in Swindon to see if you are covered, and you can always discuss your options with our team.

Is Drug And Alcohol Rehab On The NHS?

The incredible NHS offers funding for a range of drug and alcohol treatments in Swindon, including inpatient and outpatient rehab.

Outpatient rehab is more widely available for NHS patients than inpatient treatment, as inpatient beds and funding is limited.

The waiting list for NHS treatment is also considerably longer than private rehab, with waiting lists of between 6 months to 1 year.

Post-pandemic, the waiting lists for NHS treatment across the board has risen with a huge 7.2 million people now awaiting some form of NHS treatment. [1]

However, if you are keen to get inpatient treatment on the NHS, you can always discuss this option with your GP to see what treatments are available in Swindon.

The NHS and your local GP may also be able to refer you to local organisations and charities offering free drug and alcohol treatment in Swindon.

For example, Turning Point Swindon & Wiltshire Active Recovery Service, which offers a range of treatments including peer and one to one support, pathway for detox and rehab and 5 step program support. [2]

The Swindon Drug and Alcohol Action Team (SDAAT) also help people in the community to access treatment, get support and access services to help reduce harm caused by drug and alcohol misuse.[3]

How Long Does Rehab Last?

The length of time you remain in will depend on the severity of your addiction, individual circumstances, the type of treatment you have, funding available and a number of other factors.

When you have your initial rehab assessment to form your treatment program, the length of your rehab will be discussed and agreed with you.

The minimum stay for alcohol detox is 7 days, however most detox programs recommend at least 10 days to ensure all traces of the addictive substance have left the body safely.

All together, the recommended length of stay for inpatient drug and alcohol rehab in Swindon is 28 days.

This ensures that the body is physically recovering well from the absence of the addictive substance, and that you are able to get adequate treatment for the psychological aspect of addiction.

However, every journey is different, with some patients staying in rehab for up to 90 days. However, this does not mean that following 28 or 90 days you are left to face recovery alone.

Following an inpatient stay, or outpatient treatment, an aftercare plan will also be put in place so you can access ongoing support in the form of support groups in Swindon, helplines and other outpatient resources. These can be accessible for as long as you need them.

NHS Vs. Private Addiction Treatment

NHS and private drug and alcohol rehab in Swindon both offer fantastic options for anyone needing support for their addiction.

However, there are several differences between the two types of treatment that might influence whether you go for NHS or private addiction treatment in Swindon.

Cost of Private Rehab vs NHS Rehab

NHS: Free
Private: Average of £495 per day, £14,000 for 28 day inpatient stay

NHS and Private Rehab Waiting Times in Swindon

NHS: 6 Months to 1 year
Private: 24 hours to 1 week

Private Rehab Treatments vs NHS Rehab Treatments

NHS: Fewer types of treatment, mostly outpatient, group support
Private: Wide variety of treatments including holistic treatments e.g. art therapy and equine therapy. Inpatient rooms are often broadly available. More one to one support.

Swindon NHS and Private Rehab Facilities

NHS: Less likely to have use of other holistic facilities e.g. inpatient spa, swimming pool, meditation and exercise equipment. Likely to be shared rooms with less facilities.
Private: More options for private rooms, many private patients can enjoy use of exercise and relaxation facilities.

NHS and private drug and alcohol rehab in Swindon provides expert care for those struggling with addiction, and there are treatment options for all.

Private rehab has more availability and treatment options than NHS treatment, so this is often the preferred option even though it is more costly.

However it is important to remember that many people are still able to have a successful recovery journey with NHS treatment. Both private and NHS rehab has highly qualified therapists, medical professionals and addiction specialists on hand to help you overcome your addiction.

Inpatient or Outpatient Treatment in Swindon

Inpatient drug and alcohol rehab in Swindon refers to the treatment which takes place when the patient stays in the rehab clinic overnight.

A course of inpatient treatment usually lasts around 28 days, and during that time the patient has their own private or shared room in the rehab centre. They then attend therapy sessions in the centre and use the facilities there during the course of their stay.

This option is more common in privately funded rehab than funded by the NHS, due to the cost of someone staying in a rehab centre. However, inpatient treatment can still be funded by the NHS in some cases.

Inpatient treatment is often needed for moderate to severe cases of addiction, and circumstances where a person’s environment may be contributing to addiction or inhibiting recovery.

It can also help people who have relapsed previously or tried to get sober but been unable, to get more support in recovery outside of their own home, and take some time away from their usual environment to recover from their addiction.

For other patients however, outpatient treatment might be more suitable. This is often a good option for mild to moderate cases, and is where a patient will attend a rehab centre for treatment but go home after their session.

There are different levels of outpatient drug and alcohol rehab in Swindon, including part hospitalisation where a patient will remain in the clinic for a short time – for example, for a detox – and then go home for the remainder of their treatment.

Intensive outpatient is when a patient attends addiction treatment frequently, for up to 5 hours a day, up to 6 days a week, but still goes home following treatment.

There are also less intensive outpatient options where a patient will attend treatment for 2-3 hours a day for 2-3 days a week. The level of outpatient treatment will depend on your individual treatment plan.

Finally, halfway houses and sober living accommodation in Swindon are available for people who are unable to live in or return to their previous accommodation and would benefit from living in a sober environment.

These people often have unstable home environments, and would benefit from learning life and work skills which are taught in these facilities.

Alcohol Detox & Rehab In Swindon

Alcohol is a widely used substance which is viewed as a common part of cultures around the world. From teen house parties to university pub crawls to after work drinks, in the UK drinking alcohol is integrated throughout our lives and therefore seen as the key to having a good time.

However, with a huge 9,641 alcohol-related deaths in 2021, and with what we know about the effects alcohol has on the mind and body, alcohol can no longer be seen as a harmless way to have fun. [4]

In cases of alcohol addiction, the use of alcohol can be fatal in numerous ways from long term health effects to alcohol poisoning.

In severe cases of alcohol addiction, withdrawing from the substance can also be dangerous, which is why alcohol detox is often required to be done on an inpatient basis and is often medically assisted.

A medically assisted detox will involve the use of medications such as benzodiazepines (e.g. Librium or Valium) which help reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms. An alcohol detox lasts around 10 days.

There are also cases where an at homedetox might be advised, however it is vital to consult your addiction specialist and discuss detox options before beginning your treatment program.

Following detox, a course of therapeutic addiction treatment (on an inpatient or outpatient basis) will then be carried out at a rehab clinic in Swindon.

Rehab for Cocaine in Swindon

Cocaine use is widespread throughout the UK, despite the numerous negative effects that the drug has on the mind and body, particularly when an addiction to this drug takes hold.

Cocaine affects your health in a number of ways, including increased risks of heart problems, kidney injury, respiratory diseases, psychological disorders such as mood disorders and suicidal tendencies and behaviour issues such as violence. [5] [6]

However, cocaine addiction can be very challenging to overcome alone, so seeking support in the form of a drug and alcohol rehab in Swindon can help you on the path to recovery.

Detox from cocaine is less physically dangerous than from alcohol, meaning that you might be able to detox at home.

However, discuss this with your addiction treatment consultant to ensure a safe detox and to manage your withdrawal symptoms.

Following this, you will be treated using addiction therapies to help you overcome your psychological dependence on the drug and learn strategies to live without the substance.

Rehab for Heroin in Swindon

Rehab for Heroin involves a similar process to other substances, with treatment consisting of a detox and addiction therapies. However, like alcohol, detoxing from heroin can be dangerous if not managed properly.

Heroin withdrawals can include severe physical symptoms as the body is trying to cope without this substance it has become dependent upon, and therefore medically assisted detox is usually used for heroin withdrawal.

Some of the most common heroin withdrawal symptoms include nausea, insomnia, vomiting, shaking, sweating, cramps, diarrhoea and fever.

Heroin detox lasts around 10 days, with withdrawal symptoms peaking after 2-3 days. Following this, addiction therapies such as counselling, group therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy will be used throughout the rest of your treatment.

Rehab for Cannabis in Swindon

Cannabis is the most used drug in England and Wales, with 16.2% of adults aged 16-24 reported having used the drug in the last year. [7]

Despite the broad belief that cannabis is a low risk drug, there are several negative long term effects of cannabis on the mind and body, and cannabis dependence can have a very detrimental effect on a person’s life.

A huge 27,304 sought treatment for their cannabis use in the UK in 2021-2022, a 5% increase on the previous year. [8]

If you want to seek help for your cannabis addiction, then call the OK Rehab team to discuss your treatment options.

There are inpatient and outpatient options available for cannabis addiction treatment in Swindon, and both NHS and private treatments available.

Most cannabis addiction treatment is outpatient, including the initial cannabis detox, as unlike alcohol and heroin, withdrawal symptoms for cannabis are less physically dangerous.

However, you might still be prescribed medication to help with specific symptoms such as insomnia and anxiety.

Types Of Therapies On Offer In Swindon

Addiction therapies are one of the key elements of treatment, as they help you learn methods of overcoming your addiction, challenge your current thought processes and help you to get your life back on track.

There are a range of addiction therapies which you are likely to encounter in drug and alcohol rehab in Swindon, including:

1. Cognitive behavioural therapy

This therapy focuses on the thought processes and feelings behind behaviours, and helps people with substance use disorders to see how they can interrupt unhealthy thought patterns and change their behaviours. It can also be used to treat comorbid disorders such as anxiety and depression.

2. Dialectical behavioural therapy

This type of therapy was created from CBT, but is catered towards people who feel their emotions very strongly. It therefore focuses on how to recognise and understand those emotions as well as managing them.

3. Motivational interviewing

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a method of counselling which aims to change a person’s behaviour by focussing on the patient’s reasons for getting better and their motivations.

4. Holistic therapies (adventure therapy, art therapy or animal assisted therapy)

Holistic therapies involve treating the person as a whole rather than just the addiction. This often involves engaging in physical activities which develop skills, encourage one to express their emotions and help their overall mental wellbeing.

5. Group therapy

Group therapy is often used in addiction treatment, and involves a group of patients in addiction recovery who are led by a therapist in a therapy session. This can provide a type of peer support, and can help people in treatment to feel less alone in their recovery journey.

6. Individual therapy

Individual therapy is therapy led by a therapist with a patient one on one. In this case, the therapist and patient discuss the patient’s thoughts, feelings and challenges when it comes to their addiction, methods of overcoming their cravings and other support for their recovery.

7. Family therapy

Addiction often impacts loved ones, influencing interpersonal relationships and causing rifts between friends and family.

Family therapy seeks to help the addicted person and their loved ones to deal with the impact of their addiction, to help both of them see things from the others’ perspective and support a positive relationship in addiction recovery.

The Importance Of Dual Diagnosis For Co-Occurring Disorders At Rehab

Co-occurring disorders are very common with substance use disorder (SUD) affecting at least 50% of people with SUD. The most common co-occurring disorders are mood/anxiety disorders, ADHD, borderline personality disorder and psychotic disorders. [9]

The prevalence of anxiety disorders (e.g. anxiety, PTSD) with substance use disorders, has been reported to be as high as 35%, and up to 66% for psychotic disorders (e.g. schizophrenia). [9]

Getting a dual diagnosis for co-occurring disorders enables the treatment of both disorders at the same time, and recognition of the impact that each disorder has on the other.

Being aware of other mental health issues someone with SUD has, can also help in therapeutic treatment, as feelings and thoughts that a patient might have (which they previously dealt with through substances) can now be treated in the context of their disorder.

The relationship between SUD and co-occurring disorders can be challenging, as often both disorders interact negatively.

For example, someone may experience auditory hallucinations (e.g. hearing voices) and use substances to block them out. However, often many drugs exacerbate psychotic symptoms, especially when taken over a long period of time.

Similarly, alcohol can temporarily relieve the symptoms of social anxiety disorder and make one more social, but after drinking the person often feels worse and more anxious in the long run, leading them to drink again and enter into a dangerous cycle.

Therefore, treating both disorders, and ensuring that the treatment of one does not negatively affect the other disorder, is hugely important.

If you have a comorbid disorder, or think you might have one, then make sure to discuss this when you seek treatment at rehab in Swindon, or chat with a member of our team.

How Rehabs Help With Relapse Prevention

Relapse prevention helps to prepare patients for the end of their treatment and coping with the many stressors, triggers and difficulties of living life in recovery from addiction.

Unfortunately, relapse is a very real danger for many who have recently completed addiction treatment. However, with a relapse prevention plan in place, patients can have tools and strategies to ensure that the risk of relapse is heavily reduced.

Within this relapse prevention plan, which will be formed with you when you come to the end of your treatment, you will have information, advice and a personalised strategy for relapse.

This strategy will include what you can do when triggers occur, advice for cravings, contact details for aftercare services in Swindon and information about the stages of relapse and what to look out for.

Using your relapse prevention plan, you can be supported in long term recovery and have the confidence to know you can live without addiction.

Aftercare And Support Services after Rehab in Swindon

Aftercare services provide support for patients when they finish their course of addiction treatment.

There are a variety of aftercare and support services in Swindon, including those that you can use any time you need, programs to provide further addiction recovery tools and regular meetings to chat to other people in addiction recovery.

Some of the most commonly used aftercare services are:

Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous

These are 12 step programs to help people achieve long term addiction recovery. They involve attending regular meetings in Swindon and going through the 12 steps.

SMART Recovery

SMART Recovery is a self-help addiction recovery program which helps individuals to manage their recovery through managing their motivation, thoughts and feelings and coping with cravings.

Al Anon Family Group meetings

Al Anon family groups are created for the loved ones of people addicted to alcohol in order to give them a support network to turn to and share their problems, get advice and meet others in similar situations.

Outpatient treatment via a local Drug & Alcohol team in Swindon

The drug and alcohol team in Swindon are also on hand to help you in a variety of ways including in times of crisis or if you are looking for some more ongoing support for your addiction recovery.

There are also several charities and helplines which provide ongoing support for addiction recovery, both local services in Swindon and services which offer virtual or telephone support. [10]

There are several routes you can take for recovery in Swindon, including or outpatient treatment in a local rehab centre.

The team here at OK Rehab can help you find the right course of treatment for you, and discuss your options to make sure you get the best treatment to help kick start your addiction recovery.

References

[1] British Medical Association (2022) NHS backlog data analysis,

https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/nhs-delivery-and-workforce/pressures/nhs-backlog-data-analysis

[2] NHS (2022) Alcohol addiction – support for family and friends, https://www.nhs.uk/services/service-directory/turning-point-%E2%80%93-swindon-and-wiltshire-active-recovery-service-swindon-hub/N10876364

[3] Keeping Swindon Safe, Substance Misuse, https://www.swindon-csp.org.uk/info/9/swindon_csp/10/substance_misuse

[4] Office for National Statistics (2022) Alcohol-specific deaths in the UK: registered in 2021, https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/alcoholspecificdeathsintheuk/2021registrations

[5] Sung Tae Kim and Taehwan Park (2019) Acute and Chronic Effects of Cocaine on Cardiovascular Health, https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/20/3/584

[6] Arantza Sanvisens et al (2021) Long-Term Outcomes of Patients With Cocaine Use Disorder: A 18-years Addiction Cohort Study, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.625610/full

[7] Office for National Statistics (2022), Drug misuse in England and Wales: year ending June 2022, https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/drugmisuseinenglandandwales/yearendingjune2022

[8] GOV.UK (2021) Adult substance misuse treatment statistics 2020 to 2021: report,

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/substance-misuse-treatment-for-adults-statistics-2020-to-2021/adult-substance-misuse-treatment-statistics-2020-to-2021-report

[9] Marta Torrens, Joan-Ignasi Mestre-Pintó and Antònia Domingo-Salvany (2015) Comorbidity of substance use and mental health disorders in Europe, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304169830_Comorbidity_of_substance_use_and_mental_disorders_in_Europe

[10] Swindon Borough Council, Drug and alcohol support services, https://localoffer.swindon.gov.uk/drugsandalcohol

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Drug & Alcohol Rehab Swindon

Find help and support for addiction via drug and alcohol rehab Swindon