Drug and alcohol addiction is an ever-growing problem, and it can leave you feeling alone. Not knowing who to turn to or how to seek help can drive people further into the grip of addiction. While everyone has a different addiction experience, the problem can be overcome with specialised treatment at an addiction rehab centre.

There are a range of excellent rehab centres in Merseyside offering both alcohol rehab and drug rehab, which can help you along your journey to recovery. Addiction recovery can be a long road, and reaching out for help is the first and most beneficial step.

Types of addiction treatment and rehab programmes in Merseyside

There is both outpatient treatment in Merseyside and inpatient treatment in Merseyside. Choosing between the various treatment clinics can be difficult. As different treatment centres offer different rehab programmes, one of the biggest factors you will need to consider is whether you want to attend day rehab or residential rehab.

Outpatient addiction treatment (day rehab)

If you decide to undergo outpatient treatment for your drug and alcohol addiction, you will only need to go to the rehab centre for your addiction treatment sessions. This means that you can try to schedule your treatment around your other commitments, like your job or your family responsibilities. While this is beneficial in that it offers more flexibility, addiction treatment is usually more effective when you are able to distance yourself from potential triggers for the duration of the treatment programme. Day rehab, while it may seem convenient, does not provide the immersive treatment which is so often required.

Inpatient addiction treatment (residential rehab)

The best way for you to get the space you need away from addiction triggers is to undergo inpatient treatment at a residential rehab clinic. There are various rehab centres in Merseyside which offer inpatient treatment and which give you a choice over the length of your treatment programme, as well as the types of therapy you receive.

You will find that each addiction treatment centre has its own treatment programme, as well as excellent food and accommodation. This ensures that everything is done to make you feel comfortable so that you can focus solely on your treatment and recovery. While outpatient treatment services are available on the NHS, residential rehab is mostly private treatment, so there are no waiting lists or other admissions issues. After applying, you may be able to start your addiction treatment programme the very next day.

Why inpatient rehab?

Inpatient treatment is the most effective option for many people as there can be so many triggers in our daily lives. When receiving outpatient treatment on the NHS, you will still be able to work or take care of your family responsibilities, but you will also still be exposed to these triggers on a daily basis. Residential rehab provides a safe, immersive environment, where the only things you need to think about are your treatment and recovery.

Care Quality Commission ratings

There are many treatment options available to you in the different rehab centres in Merseyside, so it can be difficult to know which rehab clinic will be the best one for you. One way to choose is by looking at the Care Quality Commission (CQC) ratings of all the clinics in your region. These ratings are based on assessments made by the CQC – an independent body tasked with judging rehab centres on criteria such as levels of care, safety and staff support.

Mixture of therapies

Every Merseyside rehab clinic offers a different treatment programme incorporating various types of therapy and treatment. As no two people and no two addictions are the same, you should look at the different types of treatment available and discuss your own mixture of therapies with the clinics you are interested in. Usually, a combination of group therapy and individual sessions is most successful in helping clients to begin their journey along the road to recovery.

Family support programmes

Drug and alcohol addiction affects not only the person with a dependency but also the people around them. Family support programmes are offered during rehab to help guide your loved ones through every stage of your treatment. This will help them to understand exactly what you are going through and also how they can help you with your recovery.

Conjoints

Conjoints are sessions involving residents and their families, during which each person can discuss their thoughts and feelings under the guidance of an addiction treatment expert. These sessions have been shown to be very effective in helping to heal and strengthen the bonds between clients and their families, who may also have been affected by their addiction.

What should I expect from detox in Merseyside?

Detox is a vital part of rehab; it is the time dedicated to allow the alcohol and drugs to pass from your system, so you can focus on recovery with a clear mind. It can, however, cause serious withdrawal symptoms like nausea, vomiting and loss of energy, so detox should always be done under a medical professional’s guidance.

Medical detox

When you first start your treatment programme, you will be assessed on the extent of your dependency. This will enable the rehab professionals to decide the best course of treatment and how safe you will be undergoing alcohol or drug detox. For those who are most likely to experience severe symptoms of withdrawal, medical detox will be necessary, and medication to help with the withdrawal symptoms offered.

If you do have to undergo medical detox, it will be under the constant supervision of a medical professional so that your health and safety are monitored around the clock. Due to the need for this observation, medical detox is only possible via inpatient treatment. Those who need to undergo drug or alcohol detox as an outpatient will usually have to wait for an inpatient bed to become available, especially if they require a medical detox.

Drug and alcohol rehab programme

Each of the different rehab centres in Merseyside will have its own recovery approach, but either a 12-step programme or a non-12-step programme will be used as the basis for treatment. Some clinics, such as Recovery Lighthouse, will include various treatment practices such as one-to-one therapy, group therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Having exposure to an array of different therapies ensures that clients have the best possible chance of long-term recovery. It is recommended that you spend at least four weeks in rehab, as this is the minimum time needed to get through the initial stages of the 12-step programme.

Is rehab free?

Free addiction treatment services are available through the NHS. However, these are only outpatient services. Not only are the treatment options limited – with outpatient treatment usually being the only available service – but there are also long waiting lists for admittance. Self-referral is possible in some clinics but others require a GP’s referral, which your doctor may not want to give you. Some GPs prefer to prescribe a separate detox programme or counselling rather than a rehab programme.

If you need help paying for private treatment, the charity Turning Point has helped many people with the costs of a programme at a residential rehab centre.

Free addiction treatment services in Merseyside

AA meetings Merseyside

Alongside free treatment or while you wait for an appointment to become available, we advise that you join support groups for extra encouragement and support. In the link above are some AA locations in Merseyside that you can attend for free.

The downside to free services

Unfortunately, major cuts in government spending have significantly affected the availability of free rehab services. While demand has only increased, the number of spaces and appointment times available for people have been cut dramatically. It often takes a long time to be accepted onto an addiction treatment programme and you may find it difficult to schedule convenient appointment times. The vast majority of free rehab services are day rehab centres, which means that medical detox is not available to clients, nor is the opportunity to escape from everyday triggers during the course of the addiction treatment programme.

The benefits of residential rehab in Merseyside

•     Residential support staff – clients are cared for and medical support accessible at all hours
•     Residential treatment– clients can escape triggers and focus on recovery
•     Room and board– high standards of accommodation to ensure client comfort
•     Client input into treatment programme – varied programmes to fit clients’ needs
•     Medical detox with professional support – not available through day rehab
•     Family support and guidance– to help loved ones through the stages of treatment
•     Varied therapeutic approach – a mixture of group and individual therapy sessions
•     Rapid admissions process – clients can start treatment as soon as they are ready
•     Unbiased CQC ratings – to help clients choose the right clinic for them

What happens after a rehab programme?

Completing your rehab treatment is the first step in recovering from drug or alcohol addiction, but it is just the start of your journey. Merseyside addiction treatment centres will ensure that you get all the support you need when you leave rehab in order to stay on the right path.

Aftercare programmes

Aftercare is provided by many inpatient centres to help you stay on track with your recovery long after you have finished your residential programme. It usually involves outpatient group sessions, as well as helping you to access useful resources.

If you choose to reside at Recovery Lighthouse or another UKAT centre, you will have lifetime access to our Alumni Community on your programme’s completion. This is a trusted network of people who have all embarked on the same journey, offering you further support when you return home. The Alumni organises event days and online materials, so we can help each other’s recoveries through the good times and the bad.

If you’d like more information on the Alumni or have any questions, you can call our number at the top of the page or contact us online. Our friendly team will be happy to explain more about the rehab process and answer any questions.

Support groups

Local support groups can be a huge help in preventing you from relapsing after leaving rehab. They provide an opportunity to meet other people who are on their own recovery journeys and help to build peer support. You can reach out to:

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
• Cocaine Anonymous (CA)
• SMART Recovery

Long-term recovery from addiction

Every step towards long-term recovery is a huge achievement and you should be immensely proud of yourself at every step of the programme. Give yourself the time you need to adjust, letting your loved ones and the UKAT team help you through the process one step at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions