Drug and alcohol rehab in Tyne and Wear

If you ever feel your relationship with drugs or alcohol becomes unhealthy, help for both drug and alcohol rehab in the Tyne and Wear area is available. You may be feeling overwhelmed or at a loss at what to do, but you never have to battle it alone. We are here to help you understand how to access guidance and support for drug or alcohol addiction.

Both inpatient and outpatient treatment options are available for drug rehab or alcohol rehab, including rehab centres in Tyne and Wear. This guide will explain the differences between each treatment and how to access them.

Types of addiction treatment and rehab programmes in Tyne and Wear

There are two types of treatment to choose from: inpatient and outpatient. With inpatient treatment in Tyne and Wear, you stay at your rehab treatment centre for the duration, whereas with outpatient treatment, you visit a clinic for scheduled appointments. By assessing the pros and cons of each, you can choose the best treatment programme and aftercare for your needs, free or privately funded.

Outpatient addiction treatment (day rehab)

If your addiction treatment must take account of other responsibilities, such as childcare, you may consider outpatient treatment. Whether free or privately funded, you would typically attend planned daily clinic sessions. Treatment could include a medical drug or alcohol detox, together with therapeutic groups and peer support, alongside professional medical services. You may, however, find long waiting lists for NHS treatment services, and you should consider the potential risks of distraction and continued access to addictive substances if you are not in safe accommodation for your treatment duration.

UKAT facilities, including Recovery Lighthouse, focus on team support and shared experiences to drive recovery. Therefore, we do not provide outpatient treatment services for drug and alcohol addiction.

Inpatient addiction treatment (residential rehab)

With an inpatient addiction treatment programme, you reside in a dedicated, all-inclusive residential treatment centre. Residential rehab in Tyne and Wear is usually privately funded and may be covered by private insurance. While you may be able to access GP-referred NHS services, these are unfortunately extremely limited with a long waiting list.

With inpatient treatment, you choose your addiction treatment centre, telephone the admissions team, agree on the appropriate programme length and are admitted to your safe, comfortable room the next day. You meet others with similar experiences, remaining at the rehab centre for your treatment duration.

Why inpatient rehab?

With residential or inpatient addiction treatment, you concentrate solely on your recovery journey, removing yourself from your day-to-day routine and its distractions. You will meet others who will have had similar drug or alcohol addiction experiences, providing a peer network for mutual understanding and support during and after your stay at the centre.

Your daily routine, designed for your individual needs, will include a mixture of therapies, including one-to-one therapy and group counselling, which may be enhanced with family support programmes and professionally facilitated conjoint meetings between you and loved ones. Yoga, workshops, mindfulness, personal 12-step study and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) are also incorporated into your routine, along with relaxing, socialising and mealtimes.

Recovery Lighthouse offers inpatient drug and alcohol treatment programmes. The Care Quality Commission, an external body, assesses the quality of service: CQC rating results measure factors for all private inpatient centres, including safety, effectiveness, caring, responsiveness and leadership.

If you’d like to read more about Recovery Lighthouse’s ratings, you can find them here. For any more information or if you are ready to book in for treatment, feel free to call the number at the top of this page, where our friendly staff will be happy to listen to any concerns and answer any questions you may have.

What should I expect from a detox in Tyne and Wear?

While the drug or alcohol detox process can be unpleasant and even daunting, your road to recovery needs to start with a detox if you have consumed addictive substances. Detox removes the addictive substance from your daily routine, so your body becomes accustomed to functioning without it. Withdrawal symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhoea, shaking, weakness and confusion.

Medical detox

A medical detox involves prescription detox medication and ongoing monitoring by medical professionals. It is usually recommended if you are at risk for severe withdrawal symptoms and is often only offered via inpatient treatment to ensure your wellbeing in a controlled, secure and safe facility.

Before starting any drug detox or alcohol detox, it is important that you consult a medical professional who will offer you a full assessment of your current usage and lifestyle factors to offer you the most appropriate treatment. If you do require a medical detox, an inpatient programme will factor the detox time into the length of your programme, as it may be more difficult to fully engage in therapeutic programme activities until your withdrawal is complete. You will receive care and round-the-clock medical attention in comfortable accommodation away from any distractions, enabling you to focus on your own wellbeing throughout your recovery journey.

Drug and alcohol rehab programme

Choosing the most appropriate drug or alcohol rehab programme may seem overwhelming: an open mind and a balanced approach usually work best. Each treatment centre varies slightly in its recovery approach; some combine both group and one-to-one therapy as part of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), following a 12-step programme or non-12-step programme.

With inpatient treatment, you are typically helped to work through the 12-step model, beginning with your initial stay and supported with aftercare. An initial four-week stay is usually recommended, and the longer you can commit to the in-house phase of treatment, the greater the probability of long-term sobriety.

Is rehab free?

Private inpatient alcohol and drug rehab treatment programmes, self-funded or through private insurance, are unfortunately not always an affordable or accessible option. Free addiction treatment services are available through the NHS, typically outpatient clinic services with long waiting lists due to the high level of demand. Clinics may accept self-referral through your GP services, but there is no guarantee of flexibility or availability. Your GP may refer you for counselling or a detox programme in severe cases.

If you are in urgent need of treatment that you cannot access elsewhere, the charity Turning Point funds a limited number of beds.

Free addiction services in Tyne and Wear

Free drug and alcohol services in the Tyne and Wear area can offer help and support during your recovery process, often through group meetings, such as those listed here.

The downside to free services

Unfortunately, free services are not always available, and many free NHS addiction treatment services have been reduced because of budget cuts and are limited in frequency and flexibility. Such services are usually provided on an outpatient basis and would not be able to provide any one-to-one therapy. You would be unable to undertake an intensive medical detox should this be required without waiting for an inpatient place. Additionally, holistic treatments for alcohol or drug rehab are not offered through the NHS. It is important to think about all the options when choosing the rehab treatment that is right for you.

The benefits of residential rehab in Tyne and Wear

There are many benefits that can only be found in a residential or inpatient clinic for alcohol or drug rehab treatment programmes. With a residential rehab facility in the Tyne and Wear area, you can focus on yourself and your recovery journey and benefit from:

  • Your choice of clinic, with all-inclusive accommodation and meals
  • An individually tailored daily schedule
  • Peer support throughout the programme, with aftercare beyond your stay
  • Sessions including one-to-one counselling and group sessions
  • Qualified medical and therapeutic staff to support your recovery journey
  • Conjoints and support sessions with friends and family
  • CQC-accredited quality of care

What happens after a rehab programme?

Your ongoing recovery journey continues after your drug or alcohol rehab programme, and rest assured you will be helped at every step. Support, encouragement and care from the people you have met, both professionals and peers, will help as you celebrate and consolidate your continued success in everyday life.

Aftercare programmes

Your aftercare programme will help you address obstacles and problems without becoming overwhelmed. Whether it’s peer support, group therapy, or access to helpful information, aftercare will help you maintain your newfound sobriety.

After completion of a Recovery Lighthouse, or other UKAT addiction treatment programme, you can connect with the alumni community, a network of peers who have completed their programme and continue their sobriety independently. Event days, online materials and regular communications are there for your ongoing support.

Support groups

Local support groups can be hugely beneficial in your learning and growth on your ongoing recovery journey. A supportive community of like-minded people brings mutual understanding and support and often day-to-day practical advice. Community groups include Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and SMART Recovery.

Long-term recovery from addiction

There will be good days, bad days and surprising days that hit your trigger points. Whether it’s work, family or friends, have faith that your established support community and what you’ve already learnt make you strong enough to address any challenges. And along every step, we remain here for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are rehabs open in Tyne and Wear during Coronavirus lockdown?
Rehabilitation centres in Tyne and Wear are open during the Coronavirus outbreak, as healthcare facilities are classed as essential businesses. This includes private rehab clinics, provided they follow the safety regulations implemented by the government.
How much does an alcohol/drug rehab cost in Tyne and Wear?
Depending on the provider you choose, a standard 28-day treatment can cost between £4,000 and £12,000. The price range is based on the quality of the provider and the range of services the programme offers. Shorter and longer programmes are also available in some centres. On specific insurance policies, this is covered by private insurance.
How do you sign up to a rehab?
To sign up for private rehab, you need to contact your chosen centre, who will discuss your needs and organise the details for you. For NHS rehab, you must contact your GP, who will make a referral if you meet the requirements.
How can I pay for a rehab?
Rehab can be funded privately, or subsidised through private insurance in some cases. Check with your provider to determine which rehab options are covered.
What rehab programmes are there?
The 12-step method is the most common programme, which is used by the majority of providers. However, some companies offer a mixture of holistic therapies, such as yoga, mindfulness, CBT and others, alongside the 12-step sessions, for the opportunity to trial a range of recovery tactics.
Can you force someone to go to rehab?
You cannot force someone to go to rehab; it must be their choice. However, there are ways of encouraging someone to attend rehab, including honest discussions, visiting the centre before committing to treatment and organising interventions.
Can I sign up for rehab for someone else?
You cannot sign up for rehab on someone else’s behalf. For recovery to be successful, the person must be willing to accept help and be open to thinking of addictive substances in a different way. Unless they are open to change, rehab will not be successful.
How long does a rehab process take?
Treatment programmes often last from four to twelve weeks, although it is generally acknowledged that the longer a person stays in rehab, the easier it is to stay sober.
Shorter stays are available, but a minimum of four weeks is usually recommended.
What is treated in rehabs?
Rehab can treat anything an individual is addicted to, including alcohol, drugs, gambling, gaming, porn, internet, sex and food. Recovery Lighthouse also treats eating disorders and handles dual-diagnosis and co-dependency.
Which drug addictions can be treated in rehab?
Any drug addiction can be treated in rehab. This includes all illegal drugs, prescription drugs, legal highs, sleeping pills, stimulants and alcohol.
Is rehab confidential?
Privately funded rehab is entirely confidential. Free treatment through the NHS will require admittance through your GP, which means it will sit on your medical record. However, this cannot be accessed by anyone outside the medical field without permission.
Can I visit a person who is in rehab?
At Recovery Lighthouse, visits are organised every Sunday for those that wish to see loved ones. However, during the Covid-19 pandemic, visiting hours have been put on hold to prevent the risk of the virus spreading into our centres. We are in the process of reintroducing these sessions as safely and quickly as possible.
Are there free rehabs in Tyne and Wear?
There are a number of free clinics in Tyne and Wear which can help you with alcohol or drug abuse. However, these are predominantly outpatient programmes, which mean you cannot stay within the centre during the recovery process.
Can I get rehab funding through the NHS?
It is possible to receive rehab funding through the NHS, although it is a lengthy process in which many applications are denied. Applications can be made through discussions with a GP.
Why is going to a rehab important?
Rehab provides each individual with the tools to tackle their addiction and remain sober, which is both difficult and dangerous to do alone. Private rehab also introduces you to lifelong contacts and aftercare that will support you through a successful recovery process in the long-term.
What is the difference between rehab and detox?
Detox deals with the physical aspect of dependence, whereas rehabilitation works with a person’s attitude towards addiction.

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.