When you – or someone you know – is living with an addiction, deciding whether residential rehab is the right step can be daunting.
At Castle Craig, we offer a free confidential pre-screening service to help you make that decision.
A full clinical addiction screening is a structured, medically-led process that’s conducted by our clinical team upon admission. Our pre-screening offering comes before this. It gives us a chance to assess your wants and needs, and provides you the chance to learn more about our treatment.
Castle Craig is a residential treatment centre in the Scottish Borders. When you call, you’re speaking to a team that will stay with you from that first conversation right through to your arrival.
Find out if we’re the right fit for you
What is a confidential addiction screening call, and what does Castle Craig offer?
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What is our pre-screening service?
The free screening call is a 20 to 30-minute conversation with one of our admissions case managers. It doesn’t produce a diagnosis or a report but, by the end of it, you will have a clearer answer about whether a curated residential programme is right for you.
During the call, we’ll ask about what you’re seeking help for, your mental health history, and whether you’ve had treatment before. We’ll also talk through how the programme is funded, whether that’s private pay, health insurance, or an NHS referral.
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What a full clinical addiction screening involves
NICE guidance suggests that a comprehensive addiction screening or assessment should:
- Cover multiple areas of need
- Use a structured clinical interview, and
- Apply validated clinical tools.
At Castle Craig, you’ll undergo a biopsychosocial assessment on arrival. This forms the basis of your individual treatment plan. The assessment covers your:
- History with alcohol or drugs
- Physical health
- Psychological and social circumstances, and
- Readiness to change.
The result is a formal clinical document that our team uses to build a programme around your specific needs.
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Why this matters for your care
Residential treatment is a big commitment. Knowing what you’re entering, and that the programme suits your needs, puts you in a better position from day one.
The screening call is designed to protect you and make sure that we can provide everything you need.
You don’t need to have made any decision beforehand; we speak to people at different stages of readiness. You just need to be curious enough to ask.
“It was frightening to learn about the magnitude of what lies ahead but reassuring to learn there is hope.”
What happens when you call our admissions team?
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Your confidential screening call, step by step
The pre-screening assessment starts with the basics so we can start to build a picture of your situation. We’ll ask basic questions such as:
- Your age
- Where you’re located
- What you’re seeking help for
We’ll then gather information on:
- How often you might be using alcohol or drugs
- How much you use
This is to decide whether you’re likely to need medical detox.
We’ll also ask about your mental health. Co-occurring conditions like depression, PTSD, and anxiety are common with addiction, and our programme addresses those too.
The call is private, discreet, and we’ll never contact you or anyone else without your explicit agreement. You’ll leave the call knowing whether Castle Craig is likely to be the right fit, and some guidance on what to do next if another path may be better for you.
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From screening call to admission – next steps
If the screening call confirms that our services are the right option, the admissions process then begins.
On arrival, our clinical team conducts the full addiction assessment and builds your treatment plan. The admissions case manager who spoke with you on the screening call stays involved throughout, so there’s continuity from your first contact to your first day.
You can find out more about the full rehab admissions process at Castle Craig.
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Calling about someone in your life?
Supporting family members through the process
Many of our first calls come from people ringing about someone in their life. Often the person they’re calling about doesn’t know they’re making the call, and that’s fine.
You don’t need the person to be present on the call, or to have agreed to it. What helps is knowing roughly what you’ve observed, including how long it’s been going on, what substances or behaviours are involved, and any medical history you know about.
Our team is experienced in these conversations and knows how to navigate them.
Castle Craig includes a family programme as part of residential treatment. Addiction affects everyone connected to a person, but recovery has a better chance when families are involved.
Schedule Your Assessment
Compassionate, expertly delivered evidence-based practices and a patient-centred approach are at the heart of our treatment model. Request a call-back from one of our professionals on any day of the week.
Frequently asked questions about confidential addiction screening
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Where can I find a confidential addiction screening service near me in the UK?
If you’re looking for statutory support, your GP can refer you to your local drug and alcohol service, which will carry out a clinical assessment as part of that process. These services are free and available across the UK, though waiting times vary.
Castle Craig is a private residential treatment centre. Castle Craig’s screening call is for people who have decided they want residential treatment and are working out which programme is right for them. You can find out more about our model of addiction treatment.
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What online platforms offer confidential addiction screening for adults?
A number of organisations offer online screening tools, including publicly available versions of the AUDIT for alcohol. Some private providers offer paid remote screening by video. These vary widely in quality and clinical rigour.
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How much does a full, private addiction assessment cost in the UK?
A full private addiction assessment from an independent clinician or addiction psychiatrist typically costs between £150 and £350 for a standard session. This is different to our initial screening call, which is free.
If a paid assessment has recommended you for residential treatment, call us to find out if our programme is the right fit.
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Can I book a confidential screening call on behalf of someone I know?
Yes. Call us and talk through what you’ve noticed. We don’t need the person to be involved at this stage.
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What’s the difference between an addiction quiz or self-assessment and a professional screening?
A professional screening like Castle Craig’s considers your full circumstances and guides you on the right treatment approach. It’s a two-way conversation, and our admissions team can follow up on what you’ve said, consider your full circumstances, and give you specific guidance on treatment options.
An online self-assessment tool can tell you if your substance use has become a problem. For example, an online cannabis addiction test (also known as a marijuana addiction test or weed addiction test) may tell you that you need to cut down or quit but won’t tell you where to get help.
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How do I prepare for a confidential addiction screening call?
You don’t need to prepare, but it helps to have a rough sense of what you’re seeking help for and how long it’s been going on. If you have private health insurance, having your policy details can be useful, though it’s not essential.