Does Drug and Alcohol Rehab Work?

The top ten considerations!

Does drug and alcohol rehab work? We have experienced time and time again that rehab can wonders in transforming people from the depth of despair to happy, free and emotionally connected people. When people are considering rehab they, or their family members, are often at the ‘last chance saloon’ so it’s advisable to make an informed decision. There are ten main focal points to consider which are of paramount importance when choosing a rehab clinic that works.

1. Detox
2. Intervention
3. Client Motivation
4. Group Process
5. Reconditioning
6. Family Support
7. Clinic Modality
8. Clinic Location
9. Rehab Duration
10. Private or NHS

Does Drug & Alcohol Detox Work?

Detoxing from drugs and alcohol can, in some cases, be a matter of life and death, so honesty is of paramount importance when it comes to the assessment. If the drug and alcohol detox is going work, it is necessary, to be honest from the outset. The drug and alcohol worker will need to establish whether or not hospitalisation is required.  An inpatient medical detox would generally be advisable for cases involving:

• Pregnancy
• Hepatitis
• Jaundice
• Prescription Medication
• History of Seizures
• Heart Conditions
• Senior Years

 

Some detox clinics will require that you have recent blood tests to hand before admission; others will be able to work through the process on arrival at the clinic. Blood tests indicate how well the liver is working and give doctors an idea about the level of care required during the detox process.

Whatever the detox, inpatient or outpatient, the underlying cause needs to be resolved. Many leading professionals believe that substance misuse is generally the solution, not the problem. Once you take the substance out of the person, all of the painful feelings you were avoiding will come to the surface and will need treatment. It will be necessary to work through these issues in whatever rehab program you join.

Do Drug/Alcohol Interventions Work?

Intervention can mean two things in substance recovery. Probably the best-known is the American inspired ‘Family Intervention’. The primary function of a Family Intervention is to increase motivation in a person that is in ‘denial’ about their problem. Families are supported by an Intervention Specialist to write letters to the ‘addict’ stating why the behaviour isn’t tolerable. There is a clear distinction here, in that the addict addressed separately to the client. This approach reduces any possibility of shame. For an intervention to be successful, it will generally require a residential rehab or detox on standby and ready to admit as soon as the process completes. Should the client refuse to go to rehab, the family are encouraged to implement boundaries until they agree. Families are further supported by the Intervention Specialist to stop ‘enabling’ the drinking or drug use. It is common for family members to get drawn into funding the habit or behaviours.

The intervention can also refer to the type of treatment; some of the most popular ways to stop drinking and using drugs are;

• Day Rehab (Outpatient)
• Inpatient Rehab (Private / NHS)
• Mutal Aid Facilitation
• One to One Counselling
• Support Groups (12 Step Programs, Smart, Act)
• Church Groups

 

Of course, it is possible to gain recovery in the community; many people have done it and continue to do it. So why bother with rehab? Detox leaves people feeling vulnerable and struggling desperately to manage cravings. In the first instance, controlling the urge to drink or use drugs can be intolerable; being in a protected environment can make all the difference between working and failing. It is important to note that failure brings an amount of shame and shame is to addiction what petrol is to fire. In other words, shame perpetuates use; it’s imperative to normalise the ‘struggle’ of addiction. The ‘struggle’ will convince someone that has just sworn off alcohol or drugs forever, and be confident they mean it this time, to be drinking in a bar or driving past to their dealer’s house in a nanosecond! Rehab offers people the very best opportunity to focus on the matter at hand, without the stress of everyday life and with the support and understanding of people that know!

Do Clients Need To Be Motivated For Rehab To Be Successful?

There is a consensus that clients have to be extremely motivated to stop drinking or using drugs. It is my experience, both professional and personal, that this is not the case. Clients have to be willing, nothing more. In cases where clients are agreeable to recovery, but not enthusiastic, rehab and detox clinics are hugely advantageous. Inpatient treatment offers containment, peer support, total emersion into a structured program, medication to manage cravings (when detoxing), activities to busy the mind and one to one counselling, all the support required to make the process successful.

How Do The Groups Work In Rehab?

We have already discussed the merits of peer support, but this is at it’s best in the group process. The collective group identify with the client. Identification tells the client they are not alone, and this works wonders for lifting the often paralysing impact of their shame. The group share their misgivings, struggles, pain, cravings, lies, regrets, and the vulnerability begets intimacy and connection, the polar opposite to shame.

At first, counsellors can seem like the authority, as they hold the boundaries and implement safety and structure in the group. The group members are the counsellors best tool. They do the work in the group, they challenge, affirm and support each other in a process steered by the counsellor.

How Is Reconditioning Accomplished?

There are age-old debates about the origins of ‘addiction.’ Twelve-step programs claim that addiction is a medical condition which comes about owing to a manifestation of craving. Two speakers for Alcoholics Anonymous (named Joe and Charlie) claim the irresistible desire comes about by not having enough acetone in the body to break down the alcohol. Other research indicates a hereditary connection, while others still suggest there’s no such thing as addiction, and posit that it is all about habit. Whatever the argument or label attached to a drinking or drug problem, it’s generally apparent when a harmful habit has formed and needs correcting, the process of correction is referred to as reconditioning.

Conditioning focuses on the idea that the more we do something, the more habit-forming it becomes. We create neural pathways in the brain, which become entrenched and hard to move. To overcome negative habits, we need to create new neural pathways by introducing positive behaviours.  All of the interventions discussed in this article have the potential to develop new practices and accomplish reconditioning. However, the intensity and immersive experience of rehab offers an advantageous start to any road to recovery that works.

What Can Be Acheived If Families Are Supported?

When people enter into rehab or detox programs, they often undergo massive transformations while loved ones are at home. This disparity, if not managed, can cause difficulties which is why many clinics offer family support in the form of family groups and open sessions. These sessions provide an insight into the nature of the ‘addiction’ and acknowledgement of how the ‘user’ has impacted the family. It’s an emotional experience which often helps to reunite and builds intimacy.

Family members also need to be made aware of their behaviours and what can support or hinder the recovery process. For instance, in the first few days, it’s normal for clients, while craving, to call family members, trying to engineer ways to get home so they can drink or use drugs. However, the situation will generally change once craving dissipates, friendships develop, and the program begins to work.

What Is Rehab  Modality And Will It Work For Me?

Modality is similar to the ‘interventions’ we discussed previously. Most rehab and detox clinics tend to operate to a specific pattern. Here are  a few of the types of centres you can expect to find in the UK:

• 12 Steps (The most popular)
• Non 12 Step (Generally CBT)
• Christian Rehab
• Working on a farm
• Recovery Communities

There are multiple opinions on which rehab works best; people tend to promote what they know.  There is the adage that you find recovery in the last place you look for it; this would suggest that any approach will be successful if you are ‘ready’.  However, I’m a firm believer that it’s better to match the treatment centre to the client and not the other way around! A full assessment conducted by a qualified rehab worker will help determine the best approach. Some people don’t warm well to the 12 step approach to recovery.

Will A Rehab Clinic Near Me Give Me The Best Chance Of Success?

When people decide to stop drinking or using drugs, they or their family members are likely to take to the internet to find the closest clinic, assuming that the closest will be the most convenient.  Flight risk (leaving the rehab or detox clinic) is generally at it’s most prominent in the first week or two; cravings are high, clients are missing their loved ones, and the seriousness of the problem sets in. The closer the client is to the rehab, the easier it is to return home! That’s not to say that it’s best to pack them on a plane and ship them out to the other side of the world! On the contrary, aftercare needs consideration. i.e. How will the client be supported when they return home, this can be a significant trigger.

How Long Should I Stay In Rehab For The Best Chance Of Success?

Most rehabs nowadays operate on a 28-day program; this follows suit from our American fellows. For a rehab stay to be covered by medical insurance, it requires ‘alcoholism’ be classified as an illness, in America it is. However, it isn’t in the UK, so many of the rehab clinics that treat alcoholism will write up their problem to reflect one of the underlying conditions such as depression or anxiety.

However, NHS Rehab tends to opt for longer durations anything upwards of twelve weeks. The first twelve focusing on ‘Primary Care’, the second twelve being ‘Secondary Care’. Primary care works on stopping drinking and clearing away some of the psychological issues that lead us to escape in drink and drugs. Secondary care deals with gradually getting used to being back in the community and rebuilding our lives, changing careers and improving our education. The third stage is for people wishing to live and remain in a protected ‘recovery community’; it will typically include aftercare and accommodation, subject to a valid housing benefit claim.

Does Private or NHS Rehab Work Better?

As discussed, there is one essential distinction between NHS Rehab and Private Rehab and that is who pays. NHS and Private options don’t usually relate to the clinic itself; it’s more about who pays. That said, NHS rehabs don’t generally offer the extras that some of the higher end rehabs do.

The NHS generally won’t support a rehab admission if less than 12 weeks, so if you are constrained by work commitments NHS probably isn’t going to be your best choice. Detox is different, but waiting lists are usually very long.  The NHS would see the waiting lists as proof of motivation if someone is motivated enough to wait; it’s a good sign that they are ready. However, addiction brings about consequences, and the consequences of waiting can also be dire. Many scholars have written about the cycles of addiction, all of which depict various stages of engagement. The motivation phase isn’t necessarily a constant one, which is why it’s often good advice to act when the motivation appears.

So, Does Drug and Alcohol Rehab Work?

As we have discussed in this article, under the right conditions, yes, it is our experience that drug and alcohol rehab works wonders at helping clients transform their lives. Often clients enter into rehab, thinking the gift is to stop drinking or using drugs; however, the real gift starts when recovery begins!

It can be a daunting task to weigh up the pro’s and con’s of rehab or detox and knowing what is going to work for you or your loved one, which is why we are here to help. Of course, there are no guarantees, but you can certainly stack the odds in your favour. Please do feel free to pick up the phone and freephone 0800 880 3153 to speak to one of our counsellors for some help and support about rehab what works!