Rehab in Birmingham
An addiction to drugs and alcohol can make life very difficult. While the strain that addiction can place on relationships can leave you feeling lost, there are so many people out there who can support you through recovery. There are some wonderful rehab centres in Birmingham which can help you if you are ready to take that step. Drug and alcohol rehab can provide high standards of treatment if you know the best options to look out for, and this page will tell you everything you need to know.
Whether you are in need of drug rehab or alcohol rehab, there will be a clinic that can help you begin your journey to long-term, lasting recovery.
Types of addiction treatment and rehab programmes in Birmingham
There are excellent treatment centres providing both outpatient treatment in Birmingham and inpatient treatment in Birmingham. In order to choose between the different treatment clinics available to you, it is important that you have a full understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of the two kinds of treatment on offer.
Outpatient addiction treatment (day rehab)
Outpatient treatment, also known as day rehab, is a popular choice for many people because it enables you to live at home, take care of your normal daily responsibilities and just visit the clinic for your addiction treatment sessions. While day rehab may appear to be a convenient option, its effectiveness in treating drug and alcohol addiction has often been shown to be limited. This is in part due to the fact that living at home during your treatment programme means that you continue to be exposed to your addictive triggers even while you are working to overcome your dependencies.
Inpatient addiction treatment (residential rehab)
In order to make a clean break from your triggers and give yourself the best chance of a full and lasting sobriety, it is usually advisable to undergo inpatient treatment at a residential rehab centre. There are many rehab centres in Birmingham that offer inpatient services enabling clients to immerse themselves in their addiction treatment and focus purely on their recovery. At a residential rehab centre, you will have more say in which therapies are included in your programme and will be able to discuss different options with the medical professionals. As an inpatient, you will also be able to choose the addiction treatment centre with the most comfortable accommodation so that you can stay in total comfort for the duration of your treatment. With high-quality facilities and specialised treatment options, residential rehab clinics are paid for privately, unlike day rehab, which is available through the NHS for free.
Why inpatient rehab?
Having the opportunity to cut yourself off from your addiction triggers during your treatment can enable you to make the best possible start to your recovery. Inpatient treatment offers a more holistic approach than is possible with NHS outpatient treatment, and so it has proven to be a more effective option for the majority of people. With a few weeks of peace and space, you will be able to give all of your energy to your treatment and ensure that you give yourself the best opportunity for success.
Care Quality Commission (CQC) ratings
There are many rehab clinics in Birmingham which offer inpatient treatment, and choosing between them can be difficult. Care Quality Commission (CQC) ratings are given to clinics based upon assessment by the CQC, an independent body which judges them on criteria such as staff support and treatment options. These ratings can be very useful in helping you to choose between the different clinics in Birmingham so that you are guaranteed the best possible care.
Mixture of therapies
The best residential rehab clinics offer a wide range of therapies, designed to help different clients make a successful, long-term recovery. Both individual and group sessions are provided and you will be able to discuss your preferences upon admission to the treatment centre. This client input is not available with NHS outpatient treatment, only at private residential rehab clinics.
Family support programmes
The support of family and loved ones can have a huge impact on a client’s progress. Addiction can place relationships under huge strain and so inpatient treatment centres offer family support programmes to help your loved ones through the rehab process. By giving your family the support and guidance they need, it can provide them with the tools and energy they need to offer you their support in turn.
Conjoints
Conjoints are special family sessions which are unique to inpatient treatment. During these sessions, clients and their families are given the opportunity to discuss their thoughts and feelings under the guidance of a trained addiction professional. These sessions have helped so many families to rebuild relationships and move forward on a healthy together.
What should I expect from a detox in Birmingham?
In order to start your treatment, you will first need to remove the drugs and alcohol from your system. This process is called a detox, and every addiction treatment client must go through it. As detox can be dangerous, it should always be done with the guidance of a medical professional.
Medical detox
When you first enter rehab, your health and the extent of your addiction will be fully assessed by the medical professionals. They may decide that going through drug or alcohol detox is likely to cause you severe withdrawal symptoms and so you will need to go undergo medical detox. This is done using special detox medications with access to 24-hour supervision of doctors and addiction treatment professionals. They will ensure your safety while you are going through the process of alcohol or drug detox so that you can clear out all the substances and prepare for your treatment. Medical detox is only available through inpatient treatment due to the required supervision. Day rehab patients have to wait for a bed to become available at a residential clinic if someone is in need of medical detox. This can be a very long wait, which can cause huge delays in their treatment.
Drug and alcohol rehab programme
Inpatient treatment incorporates one-to-one therapy, group therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) so that every client’s needs are met. These therapies will be incorporated into a 12-step programme or a non-12-step programme, and you can look at the different treatment programmes offered by the various clinics to see which suits you best. While, of course, the longer you spend in rehab, the more likely you are to make a successful recovery, it is recommended that you stay for at least a month, as this is minimum amount of time required to complete the initial steps of your programme.
Is rehab free?
The NHS offers free addiction treatment services but unfortunately these are only outpatient services. As well as the issue of clients being left in their normal environments during their treatment, there are also long waiting lists and a lack of available appointment times. Many NHS clinics will not accept self-referral, and your GP may prefer for you to try a detox programme or drug counselling before they will refer you for rehab. You can try reaching out to the charity Turning Point, who may be able to help you pay for private residential rehab if you don’t have the means.
Free addiction treatment services in Birmingham
Birmingham has some really fantastic local treatment services which are doing amazing work in the city. Try meeting up with your local Alcoholics Anonymous to meet other people in recovery.
The downside to free services
A lack of government funding has caused many of the problems currently faced by the NHS addiction services. Only day rehab is available, and people can wait for months to be accepted for addiction treatment. If you need to undergo medical detox because you have a severe dependency, you could end up waiting even longer for an inpatient bed to become available. As well as limited spaces on treatment programmes, even once you are accepted, finding an appointment that suits your schedule is often very difficult. With more funding, these issues could be addressed, but for now, the system is incredibly strained.
The benefits of residential rehab in Birmingham
- Round-the-clock staff availability – you are cared for at all times by counsellors or medical staff
- Fully holistic approach to treatment – you can to escape addictive triggers and focus on recovery
- Excellent accommodation standards – you are ensured a comfortable stay during your treatment
- Wide range of available therapies – you are able to discuss your options and help to build your treatment programme
- Fully supervised medical detox – clients are able to undergo medical detox with their health and safety assured
- Extensive family support – conjoints and support sessions to help families through the treatment process
- Immediate admission to rehab – you don’t need to wait to start treatment
What happens after a rehab programme?
Completing a rehab programme is a time for celebration, but it is also a time to get ready for the next stage of your recovery journey. Your Birmingham rehab team will help you to connect with our Alumni network so you have ongoing peer support from other people in recovery.
Aftercare programmes
A comprehensive aftercare programme is always provided to all clients after they leave their residential rehab centre. This includes further group therapy sessions to help support your recovery, as well as introducing you to useful support groups where you can meet other people at different stages of their addiction recovery.
Support groups
Local support groups can provide you with the peer support which may be missing in your life after leaving the close community of rehab. Try joining some of these local support groups to connect with some really great people:
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
Cocaine Anonymous (CA)
SMART Recovery
Long-term recovery from addiction
Long-term recovery requires ongoing commitment and perseverance, but after you have decided to enter residential rehab, you will never have to face your addiction problems alone again. Our dedicated team at UKAT are committed to helping you in every way, both during your treatment and after your programme is complete.
How do I tell my family I’m going to rehab?
For many people, telling their loved ones that they are going into rehab is the most difficult challenge of all. You may be feeling worried about how they will react and whether they will be there to support you. It is so important that you are completely forthright and honest with them about your addiction and your reasons for seeking help. The support of friends and family can be pivotal in successful long-term recovery. Explain the support which will be provided to them through family sessions and conjoints so they know that they will get the help they need too.
How do I help get a loved one into rehab?
If you are worried about your loved one’s alcohol or drug addiction, it is important that they understand you are sympathetic to their situation. Addiction can be haunting and to shift blame or accuse them may encourage them to react negatively. Find a comfortable space and share your concerns, explaining how going to rehab could help them begin a new life without addiction. You can’t force anyone to attend rehab, but it’s important to get across how serious the situation is. When they are ready to get help, rest assured, we will be there to help you both through the journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Shorter stays are available, but a minimum of four weeks is usually recommended.
Detox is the process of withdrawing the body from any harmful substances, such as drugs and alcohol. Rehab involves therapy and recovery principles to help someone change the way they think about addictive substances and prevent them from using.