
Evidence Based Drug Treatment Programme
Table of Contents
Drug addiction can destroy lives if left untreated and like any serious illness, it requires professional treatment. Drug rehab is considered the most effective way to recover from addiction.
Rehab programmes vary in length and intensity, though all aim to provide the tools necessary for helping you achieve long-term sobriety from illicit and prescription drug addiction. Drug rehab centres will often employ a variety of therapies to help patients learn skills they need to live drug-free lives.
Here, we will discuss all addiction treatment options available to anyone seeking help for drug addiction.
Choosing the right drug rehab center can be a difficult decision. There are many factors to consider, including the type of treatment offered, location, cost, and insurance coverage. It is important to research different facilities and read reviews from former patients to ensure that the center is reputable and effective.
Drug Rehab: Treatment Options
You will hear the term “drug rehab” a lot. But what does it mean?
Drug rehab is short for drug rehabilitation, and refers to the process of treating chemical dependency on illicit or prescription drugs. When someone’s substance misuse gets out of hand, they may decide to quit their habit on their own. Or they might need help to get sober and opt to go to a rehab centre for more effective treatment.
Drug addiction doesn’t discriminate, it is a chronic disease that can have both physical and mental effects on the user. It affects people of all backgrounds in all walks of life, and once gripped by this disease, it can be difficult to control and can lead to harmful consequences for the individual and those around them. Addiction affects not just the person who is addicted, but also their family and loved ones.
Many assume that drug rehab is for wealthy people who can afford to pay for drug addiction treatment. However, while private drug rehab is an option, there are also other treatment paths that provide free drug addiction treatment for those unable to afford the cost of private inpatient rehab.
Private vs Free Drug Rehab
There are benefits and drawbacks to both private rehab and free drug addiction treatment and it’s important that you check the pros and cons of each before making a decision. Remember, you should choose a treatment route based on your own needs. While cost often plays a big part in the decision-making, you should choose a drug rehab based on what it can offer in terms of recovery programmes and facilities, and not just because it’s the cheapest.
Pros of Private Rehab Clinic | Cons of Private Rehab Clinic |
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One of the main benefits of opting for private rehab is that there are no waiting lists, and you can start drug addiction treatment as soon as possible. For people whose drug use is severe, this could be life-saving. | For most people, the cost of private rehab is what puts them off going. However, there are various ways you can pay, which may reduce some of the financial burdens of paying for treatment. It’s worth contacting potential clinics and finding out whether they offer payment plans or discuss whether they offer any alternative arrangements. |
All addiction treatment is provided under one roof. (Detox, group therapy, one-to-one therapy, relapse prevention and other effective treatments.) | |
You also get to choose the facility you want to stay at. Some people prefer to travel further out and get away from familiar surroundings, while others feel more comfortable being close to family. It also means you can look into addiction treatment programmes and what each rehab offers. | |
Private rehab also means deciding how long you want to be in treatment for. |
Types of Drug Rehabilitation
There are a few types of drug rehabs that you can choose from, such as residential care, outpatient treatment and private therapy.
Inpatient vs Outpatient Drug Rehab
Inpatient drug rehab involves an extended stay in a residential treatment facility. You’ll usually be under the care of medical staff who will monitor your recovery and symptoms during this time. This recovery path is best suited to patients with serious substance misuse issues, people who experience chronic relapses, and those who have tried other treatment paths unsuccessfully.
Inpatient addiction treatment is a safe, secure and structured environment where you can focus on getting sober. The duration and intensity of your rehab treatment will depend on many factors, such as the types of substances you have been using, but generally, inpatient programs last between 30 to 90 days. Some people go into detox before they start the actual treatment program while others go straight into residential treatment.
Residential drug rehab is very structured and offers the highest available professional and medical support to people who want to recover from addiction.
At our hospital, our residential drug rehab programme (Addiction Treatment Programme) requires you to stay in our rehab clinic for a minimum of four weeks. During this, you’ll start the healing process and focus entirely on recovery and coping with other mental health issues like depression or anxiety with the help of our expert team.
Residential Drug Rehab Clinics
Inpatient or residential rehab is a type of drug addiction treatment that provides 24-hour care in a hospital or residential setting. It’s important to be aware that some drug rehabs in the United Kingdom are not properly regulated, research is paramount and you often get what you pay for.
In residential rehab, patients live at the facility for the duration of their treatment, which can last several weeks to several months depending on the severity of their addiction. Drug rehab centres may provide detox, medical and mental health support to help individuals overcome addiction and develop coping strategies to maintain sobriety. This type of treatment is recommended for those with severe addictions or co-occurring mental health disorders.
Outpatient Drug Rehab
Outpatient addiction treatment is a form of rehab that doesn’t involve living at a treatment facility. It tends to be more flexible so you can attend support meetings and related sessions in your local area, without having to worry about travelling long distances each day.
They can include individual and group therapy, as well as medication-assisted-treatment.
Outpatient drug rehab is best suited for people who are highly motivated to recover from their drug addiction or those who only have mild dependencies on alcohol or drugs and don’t require a medically supervised detox. It’s a good option for patients who do not need round-the-clock nursing care or for those with less severe addictions.
Therapists (Private Practice)
As with most treatment paths, there are pros and cons to private therapy. Some people benefit greatly from having a one-on-one approach by someone who is trained in drug addiction treatment.
Others may find that they prefer group therapy or outpatient rehab treatment. Most people feel they get the best results through a combination of treatments, including individual therapy sessions and participation in support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous.
Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
NA is a non-profit fellowship group which follows the 12-step recovery programme. Anyone suffering from drug or alcohol addiction is welcome at meetings. Support groups like NA are great for anyone in addiction recovery who requires additional help and guidance through their journey. You will typically be assigned a sponsor to take you through the 12 steps and support you on your journey to long-term recovery.
AL-ANON & FAMANON
FamAnon is a specialised treatment program for adult children of addiction sufferers. The program offers a compassionate and supportive environment for children and spouses to learn about themselves, their families, the nature of addiction and recovery, and to develop a healthy new way of relating to each other.
Al-Anon is a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics. Founded in 1951, it is an international mutual aid organization for people who have been impacted by another person’s alcoholism. Al-Anon provides a supportive community for individuals recovering from the effects of someone else’s drinking.

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What Happens in Drug Rehab?
Drug rehab often starts with detoxification, the process by which drugs are cleared from your body. A medical professional will administer detox medication to help you cope with withdrawal symptoms and manage any other medical issues that might accompany drug addiction.
Drug Detox
Drug detox is a vital part of addiction recovery, but it is by no means the most important aspect of the process. Before you can take part in any psychological therapy sessions, you must first eliminate all traces of drugs from your body. This part requires complete abstinence, which, for some people, means unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
Castle Craig Provides Safe Medical Detox
Detox should always be done under the supervision of a medical professional. Castle Craig offers medically managed detox with the oversight of our medical director and consultant psychiatrists.
Detox is not always required, it depends on the severity of one’s addiction, substance of choice and health history.
Our expert team will assess your need and prescribe a personalised programme according to your needs.
Medically Managed Withdrawal
During detox, you may be prescribed medications to help ease the symptoms of withdrawal. This is referred to as a medically managed withdrawal. Depending on which substances you have been using, you may find that you have trouble sleeping, or generally feel restless, have uncomfortable symptoms such as flu or headaches, and carefully prescribed medications can help make the withdrawal process more comfortable.
Withdrawal symptoms vary depending on the type of drug you were using—opiates, for example, make people feel extremely ill, whereas cocaine withdrawal may cause anxiety and headaches. Once you have completed your detox, you will then be able to attend therapy sessions with other residents. Psychological therapy is designed to help you identify the underlying causes of your drug addiction.
Typically Require Detox | Typically Don’t Require Detox |
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Opioids (heroin, morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl) | Cocaine |
Benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan) | Cannabis |
Alcohol |
Drug Rehab Therapies
Rehabs should offer therapy to help individuals overcome drug addiction. Therapy is an essential component of addiction treatment and can help individuals develop coping skills to maintain sobriety.
There are many types of therapy used during addiction treatment, including cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), and motivational interviewing (MI).
Research has shown that behavioural therapies are effective in treating substance use disorders.
Castle Craig’s Recovery Programme Includes:
- Private therapy/Cognitive behavioural therapy
- Group therapies
- Trauma therapy
- NA meetings, educational talks and workshops.
- Holistic approaches/leisure
- Health, fitness and wellness
- Case reviews by a Consultant Psychiatrist.
Aftercare / Post-Rehab Support
Any drug rehab worth its salt should offer the option of continued therapy and support after treatment, success rates of drug rehab vary greatly depending on the treatment programme received. Relapse is common among individuals with substance use disorder, and recovery is a lifelong process.
At Castle Craig, we recognise the challenges involved in achieving lasting recovery, for this reason, Castle Craig offers 24 weeks of continuing care delivered via online teletherapy. CATCH Recovery also offers online couples therapy and family support groups.
We also host an annual reunion to keep our alumni motivated and connected to recovery.
Why Choose Castle Craig
Since 1988, Castle Craig has been committed to providing the highest quality alcohol and drug programme at the most affordable price. We want the people who come to our facility to recover and enjoy long-term sobriety. Unlike most other substance abuse rehabs, we have a full medical contingent.
Castle Craig is a fully HIS-regulated hospital that offers medically managed detox, our patients receive a personalised treatment programme that is catered to their individual needs. Castle Craig drug rehab centre is staffed by psychiatrists, nurses, expert therapists and a range of support workers to provide everyone that comes through our doors the best chance at long-lasting recovery.
Call Our Helpline Today
If you or someone you love is struggling with drug addiction, it’s time to get help. Depending on the severity of the problem and your loved one’s physical health, there are treatment options to suit many situations and circumstances, from inpatient rehab and outpatient care to private therapy and support groups.
If you have been suffering from drug addiction and you are in need of a detox, call our helpline today on 0808 271 7500.
Patients can be admitted within 24 hours. In emergencies, it can be faster. Please contact admissions.
How to Get Into Drug Rehab
Sometimes, the opportunity to get a loved one into rehab treatment is very narrow; we understand this. Our admissions team works their hardest to ensure seamless and rapid admission. What’s rehab like?
Self Funding/ Health Insurance
All you need to do is get in touch. We can process admissions quickly and in complete confidence. All we require is a letter from your GP referring you to Castle Craig and your relevant medical history. Having all of the relevant medical histories ensures that admission is safe and suitable. For health insurance, we require a pre-authorisation code. See BUPA example.
NHS/Local authority
If you are funding your recovery via your local authority, we will have to wait for certain information concerning your funding to be made available before checking you into our facility. Please note that this process can be very long and time-consuming. More on rehab and NHS funding.
If you are trying to get a friend or loved one into rehab, it’s probably best to speak with us first. We can give you help and advice on how to best achieve this. We do offer interventions and sober transport.

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How Long Does Treatment Take?
All of our evidence tells us that five weeks is an adequate foundation for starting the recovery process. However, time and money do not always allow for the entire programme to be completed. The minimum time we accept patients is four weeks.
The more severe the illness (length of time/extent of a person’s dependence in this case) dictates the optimal length of stay for an addict to recover. There are no quick fixes for recovering from a lifetime of addiction.
- Our hospital recommends a five-week stay as advised by our Medical Director, who notes that shorter stays are not conducive to long-term healing for patients who are chemical-dependent. However, we understand that time constraints or budgets do not always allow for this number of days.
- We also offer long-term stays for patients wanting to extend their programme.
How Much Does Treatment Cost
Drug rehab costs vary depending on the type of treatment you choose and how long you engage with a programme. Please contact our team on 0808 271 7500 for help with funding treatment at Castle Craig.
How Does Drug Rehab Work?
During addiction treatment, you will first go through the detoxification process to clear your system of drugs, before beginning your psychological therapy sessions. Most addiction treatment programmes last between 4-6 weeks.
What is Drug Rehab Like?
Contrary to what people might think, a treatment facility is not all doom and gloom. Instead, it is a place of hope and recovery, a place to make a determined effort to face one fears and engage in real life, without the comfort or fog of drugs or alcohol. Choosing the right rehab for you.
For Those Willing, We Offer a Transformative Experience
Many report their time at our rehab as “life-saving” – and it’s true, our addiction treatments have saved over 7000 lives in the last 30 years.
Every new day new patients arrive, and old patients leave feeling confident of living life on life’s terms. Our fees include round-the-clock access to the hospital’s team of psychiatrists, therapists, doctors, and nurses.
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