Updated 28/03/20

Author: Fiona Kennedy

Getting Help In Birmingham

If you or someone you love is suffering from addiction, there’s help out there. And while treatment centres can be found just about anywhere, alcohol and drug rehab in Birmingham, UK is among the best you can find.

In the UK, deaths caused by the misuse of illicit drugs are at their highest levels since comparable records began in 1993.

That number of deaths is a symptom of the general trend regarding the misuse of drugs and alcohol in the UK. That is, the number of people affected is growing. The good news is, so too is the number of people seeking treatment in drug and alcohol rehab.

It’s best to be prepared regardless of where you choose to seek help. Keep reading to learn more about what to expect from most rehabilitation centres.

Detoxing Before Entering A Rehabilitation Center Program

Before entering a rehabilitation program, it’s common to enter detox. During detox, the body processes and metabolizes any drugs or alcohol in the system and clears their toxic influence.

Withdrawal from some substances can be particularly difficult, uncomfortable, and sometimes dangerous. Which is why detox is particularly crucial for people withdrawing from alcohol, opioids, sedatives, and stimulants. Stopping use of these substances can lead to anything from anxiety, nausea, and vomiting to hallucinations and seizures.

Supervised detox ensures that the individual can safely withdraw from the substance in question. It also makes it impossible for the individual to return to the substance as a way of stopping severe withdrawal symptoms.

Although some rehabilitation centres have their own supervised detox on-site, more and more centres require individuals to complete detox before starting their program. How long detox takes varies between the individual, according to the substance they were using and how often they used it. For most people, detox takes five to seven days before they transition into an inpatient program.

A Day In Rehab Birmingham

A day in the life at rehab in Birmingham will be much like other centres. Every centre differs in its structure and offerings, but most follow a similar program. We’ve outlined this in more detail below.

Mornings

An integral part of treatment and recovery is creating new habits. The theory behind following routines and creating healthier ways of living is that these provide a baseline for living that carry into recovery after rehabilitation.

The first part of this is waking up early. To help facilitate this, some programs will offer yoga or meditation to help start the day on the right foot. These usually aren’t mandatory, but even if the patient chooses not to go, they’re still be expected to rise early.

Breakfast is served as a community meal. Each person is responsible for getting their breakfast and cleaning their own tray. Either before or after breakfast, patients have to shower, make their own bed, and ensure the room is clean. This typically has to be completed by a specified time.

Many rehabilitation centres will have group sessions in the morning, following breakfast. These are led by counsellors or therapists, and they’re extremely important to recovery.

Group therapy allows the group to bond. It builds trust between participants and provides a space to share struggles, thoughts, and fears. It also teaches addicts how important it is to look for support in their fellows – people who understand their experiences and challenges.

Afternoons

Group sessions are followed by lunch. After lunch is when the real work starts. These will be filled with the most intensive part of treatment.

Every rehabilitation centre follows its own program. Below we’ve listed some of the most common types of therapy.

Counselling

Individual counselling is usually with a trained therapist or addictions counsellor.

They’ll help patients understand their substance abuse in a concrete way. They’ll go through the circumstances of their lives and pinpoint the potential reasons for why they’ve turned to drugs or alcohol to cope. They’ll also help patients recognize patterns of behaviour and triggers that will help them avoid drugs and alcohol when they leave treatment.

One of the most common types of therapy enlisted in rehab is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. This is effective talk therapy for identifying triggers and the specific behavioural responses that lead an addict to use.

Family Therapy

Addiction is an illness that affects the entire family of an addict. It can cause codependent relationships among family members that enable the addict to continue to use. But it can also lead to anger and resentment that can tear a family apart.

This is why family therapy is an important component of rehabilitation. In some programs, the family of the patient plays a strong role throughout the entire program. They’ll take part in the assessment and also be prepared for how they can help during aftercare.

In family therapy, families learn about the causes and triggers for the addict in their life. They’ll be given tools to help them cope and to help them best support their loved one in their recovery.

Specialized Therapy & Workshops

Specialized therapy can take many forms. These might include therapy sessions that help patients deal with anger, stress, or grief. They might also include workshops that give patients the basic tools they need to lead a clean and sober life.

Some of the most common types of specialized therapy and workshops include:

• Life skills training. These include parenting classes, trade skills training, and other types of skills-training that patients will need to function outside of rehab.
• Education programs. Education programs focus on teaching addicts about addiction. It gives them an inside look at how addiction affects the brain and the lives of addicts as well as what they can expect from recovery.
• Nutrition courses. A very important aspect of recovery is eating well. While in the rehabilitation centre, nutritious meals are prepared. But outside of the program, patients need to know how to best feed their body to relieve stress and reduce cravings.
• Fitness and exercise. A healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body when it comes to recovery. Many programs offer patients the opportunity to improve their physical fitness. Sometimes this is in the form of a structured exercise program, and other times it’s in the form of providing exercise equipment.

Other alternative therapies include art and music therapy, dance therapy, and equine therapy. But there are a host of therapies that are thought to help addicts achieve recovery. Be sure to talk to your rehab centre to find out what they offer before your intake.

Evenings

Dinner is also served in a group setting, and it’s usually followed up with more individual therapy. This therapy might be with a doctor, nurse, or counsellor. It may also take the form of a group session to talk about the day and what was learned.

Some programs will bring in speakers in the evenings. Sometimes these speakers share their own stories about addiction and recovery. Other times these speakers are trained professionals who speak about career training, pursuing further education, and other opportunities that are available after completing rehab.

There’s not usually a particular time that patients have to go to sleep. But they are required to stay in their rooms after a certain time and are encouraged to get enough sleep to fully participate in the next day of activities.

How Long Will You Be in Drug and Alcohol Rehab?

The most common drug and alcohol rehab programs are 28 days long. There are also programs for 45, 60, and 90 days.

But the length of stay in an inpatient program really depends on the individual. It should take into consideration what they’re addicted to, their personal history, the severity of the problem, and whether there are related mental health disorders present.

Rules and Restrictions in a Rehabilitation Center

Upon entering a rehabilitation centre, patients are obliged to follow the rules and restrictions enforced by that particular centre. That begins with a search of belongings. Staff members will remove any drugs or alcohol, paraphernalia, and banned items from the patient’s possession.

Typical rules of a rehab centre include:

• No inappropriate behaviour with other patients or with staff
• No threats or acts of violence 
• Mandatory attendance at all therapy sessions and group meetings
• Mandatory compliance with drug testing
• No leaving the property for the duration of the program, except with permission

These rules are in place to keep the program safe for all patients and staff members. It’s imperative that they’re followed in order to maintain a healthy environment for everyone to recover.

Aftercare in Birmingham

While in a drug and alcohol rehab program, the environment is structured in a way that makes staying clean and sober the easiest. After discharge and returning to normal life, some individuals find it challenging to maintain those routines and remember the lessons they’ve learned about their triggers and addictive behaviour.

This is why a good rehab program will include a strong aftercare program. This might consist of an outpatient treatment program or a stay at a halfway house. At the very least, the individual should attend 12-step meetings and check-in with their counsellor on a weekly basis.

Finding Drug and Alcohol Rehab Near Me

Whether it’s you or a loved one that requires help with a drug or alcohol misuse problem, there is help out there. Drug and alcohol rehab provides a structured environment in which individuals get clean and sober. During an inpatient program that can last anywhere from 28 to 90 days, patients learn the in’s and out’s of addiction, their triggers, and how to cope with life in a healthy and manageable way.

There is a variety of options out there for drug rehab in Birmingham, UK. Each has its own approach and therapies, depending on the needs of the patient. Contact us to find a rehab centre that’s right for you.

Rehab Guide offers addiction treatment across Birmingham and in Wednesfield, Oldbury, Walsall, Bilston, Smethwick, Sedgley, Sutton Coldfield and Ashton

If you live in Birmingham and you struggle with alcohol abuse, we can help you find a rehabilitation centre with professionals on hand who will guide you along the path of recovery. Remember, recovery is a choice — we encourage you to make the right one.

Call us now for free 24/7 advice and support on 02072052845