As a large and multicultural city, London is a hotspot for a multitude of different issues – one of these being addiction. With one of the highest ratios of pubs and bars to space available, there is also a huge problem with alcohol addictions, specifically.
Between April 2022 and March 2023, there were a reported 290,000+ adults in contact with drug and alcohol addiction support services – a rise compared to the previous year.
Though this only shows the statistics for England in general, London houses a large majority of this population, suggesting that many of these cases occur in London where there are different pressures and reasons for an addiction developing, for example.
Specifically for alcohol addictions, however, the same report found that 30% of adults in substance use treatment were seeking support for alcohol misuse, making it one of the most dangerous and addictive substances in the modern market (1).
This blog post aims to explore the different options for our recommended alcohol rehab and support in London, as well as how these options may be suitable across different cases.
Why seeking professional help in London is important
Alcohol addictions are especially harmful to individuals when compared to other substances such as cannabis and cocaine. In many cases of rehabilitation, alcohol is often considered within the same category as heroin and other opiates.
This is because alcohol is a physically addictive drug and causes direct changes within the body that can make withdrawing from alcohol a risky and sometimes life-threatening endeavour if not properly managed.
This is why it is always recommended to have medical supervision and support when undergoing an alcohol detox session as, without this, the individual can experience negative and health-risking effects of withdrawal.
The detoxification process for alcohol in general is covered later in this blog post.
There are many different sources of professional addiction support in London, and most areas will have specific and dedicated services for those who are struggling with addiction. To find services in your local area, contact your local GP or doctors’ office for more information.
Why alcohol rehab is beneficial
Although no one can truly be ‘cured’ from their addiction, rehabilitation will provide individuals with all the tools and coping mechanisms that they need to overcome the effects of their addiction and learn the root causes of their condition.
This is beneficial, as it allows the individual to treat their addiction from its roots through a variety of different therapies and treatment programmes.
Without treating an alcohol addiction, an individual risks far worse effects to their physical and mental health – some of which may affect the individual for the rest of their life. Addictions can aggressively worsen without suitable care, meaning that seeking and entering an appropriate form of care as soon as possible is of utmost importance.
Research has shown that individuals who seek help for a drinking problem sooner rather than later are more likely to see positive changes in their drinking habits when compared to those who do not seek help.
The difference between inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment
Although the different options for alcohol rehab in London can seem overwhelming and confusing to start with, there are some decisions that an individual can make about their rehabilitation journey before they begin any stage of this process.
One of the first decisions, for example, is the choice of whether the individual would fare better in inpatient care or outpatient care.
Inpatient care is where the individual resides within a dedicated rehabilitation centre for the duration of their care and is generally recommended as the most suitable form of rehabilitative care in a wide variety of cases.
However, this is not always appropriate, and some individuals may fare better in outpatient care. This is where the individual remains living at home and attends different rehab treatment programmes on a more part-time basis.
The detoxification process for alcoholism
As mentioned previously in this blog, the detoxification process for an alcohol addiction can be especially dangerous if not properly managed and treated as the individual’s situation and condition progresses.
Due to the individual’s physical dependence on alcohol, their body will react negatively to the lack of the substance in the body.
This can cause serious health problems and life-threatening conditions if incorrectly managed and it is always recommended to undergo an alcohol detoxification with medical supervision.
In serious cases where the individual’s comfort and safety are at risk, then it may be suitable to prescribe benzodiazepines (such as Librium) in order to manage these physical health symptoms.
However, it should be noted that benzodiazepines are also addictive substances and that the individual will require further detoxification services if this is a necessary stage of their care and recovery.
The recommended rehab process for alcoholism
The detoxification process is designed to physically prepare the individual for the further stages of alcohol rehab in London, so it is therefore vital that the individual follows a detox up with further treatments that are suitable for their unique case.
After a detox, individuals should seek therapy and other treatment programmes that focus on their mental wellbeing and the root cause of their addiction.
This will make up the majority of an individual’s treatment in alcohol rehab in London, so ensuring that the programmes that the individual partakes in are suitable is an essential part of the rehab process.
Not every individual will experience the exact same treatments and therapies, but there are some forms of care that are more widely employed due to their use and flexibility when treating an alcohol addiction.
More common therapies employed include holistic treatments (art, music, equine therapy etc.), as well as traditional talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing (MI), for example.
Private alcohol rehabilitation providers in London
Private alcohol rehabilitation is generally cited as the most effective and efficient treatment approach available in the modern world.
This is because these centres are often specifically dedicated to aiding individuals who may be struggling with alcohol addiction and therefore have the most up-to-date and modern approaches to care.
For example, many of these dedicated centres have on-site hospitals and dedicated detox clinics, meaning that the individual never has to leave the centre that they are recovering in and therefore can experience a full and uninterrupted recovery journey.
Many individuals may have the notion that private rehabilitation is very expensive, but this is not always the case.
Generally, the cost of alcohol rehabilitation comes down to the type of accommodation that an individual chooses to reside in during their care i.e., private rooms are more expensive, shared rooms are less expensive.
Many centres also offer special payment plans for individuals who may require financial support, but this should always be checked before making any final decisions about the individual’s chosen source of addiction treatment.
Speak to an addiction specialist or medical professional today to start your alcohol rehab journey
If you are seeking support for an alcohol addiction, know someone who is, or would like to start the process of the journey to recovery today, then there are countless sources of information and support that an individual can contact.
For example, local services can offer advice on the best sources of support in each area, as well as some addiction treatments being offered through these services directly.
If you are unsure where to start or what you are looking for, then getting in touch with an addiction referral service is also a good place to start.
Addiction is a challenging and complex disorder, so start your journey today.