Seeking help for an addiction?

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Do I need a drug rehabilitation centre

WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES TO A DRUG REHABILITATION CENTRE

There are a number of treatment options available to you, it may be that you are not able to commit to a residential programme within an alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre and so you may wish to consider alternative options. It may be that out-patient services can be effective but it is evidenced that residential rehab offers greater long-term recovery opportunities.

So what are the options?

Advice, information and counselling services: this tends to be a first point of contact for the client or family and friends to seek guidance and support. The services may be volunteer based and small or professionally staffed larger advice services. The advice given may cover a broad spectrum of treatment and interventions available and may not advocate any one treatment approach. These may include the recognised 12 step treatment programme based on the AA philosophy or may include Cognitive Behavioural models of care which recognise that addiction is a learnt activity and that people can recognise and understand triggers and how to change associated behaviours. The disease model will suggest that drinking problems are seen as inevitable in those with a pre-disposition to alcohol problems or addiction.

Community Alcohol Teams (CATs): offer a range of support services including home-based and community detox programmes, counselling and group work. Most CATs are managed by the health service and will include a multi-disciplinary team made up of key workers, health-care workers and social workers. Some CATs will accept self-referrals although others only deal with clients referred by GPs or other professionals.

Day programmes: clients will be placed on a full-time day programme that can last between 6 weeks and 9 months. The programme is managed by non-residential addiction agencies and counselling services, although occasionally services that offers residential treatment will also incorporate a day programme.

Residential services: may be provided in hospital, residential clinics and hostel accommodation.

The services may vary in the approach they take to treatment and recovery and may use a combination of treatment models.

Abstinence-based residential services – once known as 'dry houses' they offer the chance to live in an alcohol-free environment. They usually offer a combination of individual counselling, group work, social skills training and practical help

Christian philosophy houses – offer a Christian ethos of care. Residents are not pressured to adopt Christian beliefs and the style will be similar to abstinence-based residential services

Therapeutic communities – encourage residents to build a sense of community, members work alongside each other and with staff to take control of their situation. Principles are based upon a collaborative, democratic and deinstitutionalised approach to staff-patient interaction.

Heavy drinkers' houses - also known as 'wet hostels' these provide support and care for long-term alcohol misusers who are unable or unwilling to use other forms of supported rehabilitation. The goal for most is a gradual improvement in health and quality of life.

Self-help groups: Alcoholics Anonymous where alcohol dependency is seen as a disease where total abstinence is required. There is a belief in a higher power and members support each other and share experiences Al-Anon is a similar network for relatives and friends of problem drinkers

Published by Addiction Advisor on 14/07/2011.

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