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Difficulty in accessing rehab on the NHS

Recent news shows that a television company in the US is trading treatment opportunities for the chance to document addicts at their weakest moment (ABC News, 2008).  The success of this endeavor could be a sign that in many cases addicts are looking to engage in treatment, but are unable to fund it themselves and will submit themselves to public scrutiny for the chance to access this help.

A recent NTDSA report (2011) showed that 24% of individuals who use drugs or alcohol also have a housing problem. They had no fixed abode or were staying with friends or family with no home of their own.  Although the most individuals (74%) reported no housing problem (i.e. they were in a permanent residence and in no apparent fear of loss of accommodation), this does not necessarily indicate that such individuals are in a position to fund themselves in a private treatment program which often run into the thousands.  It is important therefore that individuals who do not have access to such finances are able to easily access information and support about where they can attend free rehab centres.

In many cases people still feel a stigma attached to addiction and people with substance misuse problems may feel nervous about contacting government agencies for advice on addiction.  Often NHS rehab is the recommended course for individuals who cannot privately fund themselves, but frequently people do not know where to begin in their search for an NHS rehabilitation centre. 

It is also becoming increasingly difficult for individuals to access rehab on the NHS as in many cases dependent individuals are being referred less to rehab programmes and instead being prescribed drug substitutes to help their addiction as this method is cheaper (Independent, 2009).  This is likely to increase as the NHS faces even more budget in the future.  Add to this the often long waiting lists for free rehab places, more people may face a difficult decision about how to access help for their addiction.

Hopefully the opening of a rehab service looking primarily at treatment of 'club drugs', in London implies a new hope.  It suggests that the NHS is aware of the need for rehab centres and acknowledges that the use of drugs is evolving as our culture does.  With an increasing number of individuals seeking treatment options (NTDSA, 2011), it is important that information is available about where people can access free treatment.  More funding should be available so that treatment options that have better success rates, such as formal rehab programmes, are not being replaced by those that are less effective, such as drug substitute programmes (Independent, 2009). 

New rehab clinic targets addicts of 'club drugs'.  (2011).  London Evening Standard.  Sourced: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23991475-rehab-clinic-is-first-to-target-addicts-of-club-drugs.do

Provisional Statistics from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System in England, 2001/02 and 2002/03  UK. Department of Health. London: DOH, 2003. 9p.

'Intervention' Trades Free Treatment for Addicts' Stories (2008).  ABC News.  Sourced: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Drugs/story?id=4121988&page=1#.Tx7m86X85x0

UK drug rehabilitation service is 'collapsing' (2009).  Independent.  Sourced:  http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/uk-drug-rehabilitation-service-is-collapsing-1522537.html

Published by on 02/02/2012.

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