Residential rehab gives you a chance to get into recovery in a safe, structured, supported, and supervised environment. It is a golden opportunity to get away from the madness of addiction, whatever that addiction may be. From the moment you walk through the door, there are staff on hand to guide you, support you, and be there for you to face up to the challenges posed by addiction and dependency. It might have taken years to pluck up the courage to admit there is a problem and it is essential that the centre you choose is the right one for you. For those clients with healthcare insurance, the choice can be limited as only a few rehab centers work with insurance companies. 

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Many of the staff at centers, especially therapists, are in recovery themselves and would have been through a rehab center. This lived experience gives these staff a real insight into the difficulties posed by addiction: They really do understand. While everyone's experience of addiction is different,  staff with a lived experience add a dimension of understanding that can really enhance the therapeutic experience. 

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Not all centers cater to every need. Some specialize in alcohol and cocaine, whereas others are able to provide services for the whole range of addictions, including opioids.  Some centers work on a 12-step model, in the vein of alcoholics anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous whereas others work along a SMART recovery model ethos. Others use an eclectic mix.

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Some centers will allow clients to remain on certain medications while someone is in rehab: others will not. Mobile phones and laptops are excluded at some centers, allowed with conditions in others and some allow clients to keep them on their person.  In other words, there are huge variances in what goes on in centers, and that does not just mean in cost. Some centers are in remote locations, others not so.

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There are those who have consultant psychiatrists on the staff, visiting GP specialists, or those who use remote prescribing services. Others have very limited medical supervision. Paul has worked in many of these centers and can advise on what a client needs and what is available. All centres have a treatment agreement meaning that clients, when they are physically able to do so, have to attend all sessions on the timetable: This applies even to those limited number of clients who go for a week. ​

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Making the right choice is essential in order to make the transition from dependency to recovery. All centers are registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and this ensures that fundamental aspects are ensured. Some are very luxurious and provide very high-end surroundings with gourmet catering and bolt-on therapies which can add to the overall experience. Most centres, for clients entering treatment for more than seven days, provide a weekly private session with a therapist. Other centers provide a more entry-level cost service. For those for whom finance is an issue, some will offer a shared room which can significantly lower the cost.

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Transport, to and from, centers can be arranged: Where necessary. Some centers provide this free of charge, whereas others provide this on a per-mile cost basis. For those who are significantly alcohol dependent, they will allow a client to drink, en route, as stopping drinking could be problematic before arrival at the center. 

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When a client decides where they would like to go for treatment, the admissions team at the center will guide them through the admissions process. Each center has its own procedures yet all will require a certain amount of medical information (which may include information from the client's GP). Where information is sought from a GP a client can ask the surgery for a medical summary. Surgery staff are not obliged to ask why this is needed and there is no compulsion to tell them.  There may be a short delay while the team at the center reviews the information to see if admission is in the client's best interests. If all is well, an admission date is agreed and a deposit is taken to secure the bed. It is not uncommon for clients to be able to move admission dates forward in the event of cancellations. ​

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Where admission is not immediate, the admissions teams will keep in contact with the client and, in any event, will be able to answer any questions a client will have: as can Paul. On occasions, it may be possible to arrange admission on the same day. Ordinarily, the earlier in the day an inquiry is made, then the chances of an immediate admission increase. 

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Private rehabilitation and detox can be a life-changing experience. For some, it can be cost-prohibitive and require family help to raise the necessary funds. For all who go it is a commitment of time: From seven days to several months. Whatever the circumstances, making the right choice can make a real difference. 

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Paul has many decades of experience as an addictions clinician. He has worked with, and in. all the major centers in the UK and has excellent links with centers in Spain and Cyprus. His advice is free, confidential, and impartial. Feel free to call: at any time.

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