For most, finding the right help for alcohol or drug issues in Rhymney, is confusing and difficult. Choosing the wrong provider can mean serious consequences for future sobriety, relationships, and family life.
We've compiled this need-to-know guide, including questions to ask each clinic *before* you pay - including a printable cheatsheet.
Step 1 - Needs .v. Wants
Having newly made the life changing decision to get help can feel rejuvenating....as well as more than a little vulnerable. Get off to the right start by deciding first what you need - detox, rehab, or both?
Detox & Rehab: Short Term .v. Long Term
A stay for alcohol or drug rehab normally follows the sequence Detox > Rehab > Aftercare, but do you need all three?
- Have you been detoxed before? It's important to be clear on this.
You could go for a detox-only programme, but run greater risk of future relapse if other supports are not in place.
When Is Close To Home, Too Close To Home?
Caught up in the need for detox, many will commit too early to a clinic as close as possible to home, without thinking ahead.
Make comparisons instead, against level of care, support, and independent reviews from The Care Quality Commission (England & Wales) or The Care Inspectorate (Scotland).
Clinics have to pass muster with regulators re the basics of detox and rehab, but how supportive is their team? What is the staff:client numbers ratio? What happens if you struggle in future? We're getting to the real questions here about standard of care delivered, instead of just the bare minimum.
See all the locations Abbeycare serve, here.
If You Have Complex Needs
Making sure you're getting the right support, can have a serious impact on long term results.
You'll want a clear idea here of what detox protocol you're getting, and what help is available during it.
Specific detoxes that may need more specialist intervention include high dose methadone transfers, multi-substance detoxes, or cases with previous hospital admission for addiction.
Does the medical team at a given clinic specialise in addiction? Or do they practice in more general matters, with addiction as a second interest?
KEY QUESTIONS
- Are you a rehab clinic, or a hospital?
- What professionals in the clinic are admininstering detox?
- Will I be able to speak with someone who decides about my detox regimen, once admitted to the clinic?
Step 2 - The Day To Day Inside A Clinic
What is day to day addiction treatment inside the clinic actually like?
You'll stay full time in a clinic, normally with a dedicated room and your own space, complete detox, and attend therapeutic sessions several times a week. Towards the end of your stay, the clinic should set up supports for the future. More about that later.
Before admission, you should expect to complete an initial assessment over the phone with admissions staff, whose job it is to co-ordinate the information you provide with specialists inside the clinic, and ensure their facility can meet your needs.
What Is A Care Plan?
Clients are normally encouraged to actively monitor their progress towards recovery treatment goals and outcomes.
Most providers, at the start of your stay, will help you visualise personal goals and progress targets, in a specifically designed care plan.
This is your opportunity to make sure your key sticking points, triggers, and recurring issues, are factored in, and will get appropriate attention during your stay. Any input at this stage will likely pay dividends later.
KEY QUESTIONS
- To what extent is my care and management planned and mapped out?
- Do you have a one size fits all approach to treatment, or do you work with each individual's needs?
- Is care planning done for me, or is it collaborative?
- How is care planning done?
What's Rehab Treatment Like, Day To Day?
Tell me about the daily routine in treatment?
Asking some key questions before admitting to a clinic can help you get a sense for what life is like in treatment, before committing.
Private clinics are normally group oriented. Consistency can be maintained by everyone sharing in the same day structure, usually in the form of an agenda. This lays out the timetable of events, and what's expected.
The time it takes to feel better at the initial stages of treatment is personal to each individual. Depending on usage levels, many will be able to progress to the next stage of treatment after just a few days. Other times, it takes longer for the body to process the left-over substances. There is no fixed timescale for each individual.
Also, make sure to ask to arrange a visit to look around the clinic, first.
KEY QUESTIONS
- Can I see a virtual tour of the clinic, before committing?
- What is the daily agenda of activities inside the clinic, and how soon after detox will I be expected to take part?
- Can I arrange a visit to the clinic, to look around, without obligation, before committing?
- How quickly after detoxing can I get started on the remainder of the programme elements?
Rehab & Covid-19
They say, that rehab and recovery are team sports.
Only with the support of others on the journey, can we hope to make a full recovery.
But recovery gains can only be made safely, with consideration to other health factors, in the bigger picture.
Step 3 - Managing The Budget For Treatment
Decide firstly, are you going down the public or private route?
Third sector organisations providing full stack care (detox, therapy, aftercare) under one roof are few and far between, but worth investigating in your area.
Like most things in life, it's tempting to go for simply the cheapest cost provider.
Cheap providers often involve minimal rooms or living conditions, and poor therapy. Look instead for smaller providers, with more personal attention.
Without committing yet, get in touch with at least 3 potential treatment centres and ask about costs and your needs. You'll also get some insight here as to how much attention each provider pays and their levels of care.
Looking Beyond Clinic Treatment
Support In The Community
Most locations hold local Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings which can assist in the mutual aid and social elements of recovery.
Sadly, community aids like this are unable to help with the most acute phase, needed at the start of recovery - detox.
Local mutual aid meetings *can* be a huge help, and can be a source of potential sponsors and sober mentors for the future. But initially, it's important to get professional help to detox safely, and comfortably.
NHS Addiction Options
Requesting a referral to your local CAT (Community Addictions Team) from your GP normally means being assigned to a local keyworker who will help you keep track of intake, effects it has, etc, but obtaining short-term rehab help via public healthcare, is unlikely.
At best, only the most extreme or chronic cases are normally considered for hospital detox or residential clinics.
In reality, where the need for detox is urgent, we often see families and groups of friends pooling funds together, to help a loved one access treatment faster, from a private provider.
Step 4 - Get Impartial Consumer Reports
While many providers will claim to show many positive reviews, their legitimacy is not always clear.
Our heroes here are the industry watchdogs - The Care Commission, and The Care Inspectorate.
The CQC and The Care Inspectorate are the industry regulators, and complete routine inspections of private rehabs, which are often classified under the 'Care Homes' category, in their records.
Clinics are graded across multiple areas of care, including support standards, management, and clinical environment.
Regulatory Reviews - The Need To Knows
In some visits, the provider is made aware in advance, that the inspection is occuring - these are what's known as "Announced" inspections. Other times, inspection teams show up without warning - these are "Unannounced" inspections - therefore, to get the most reliable information, look for reports which state the inspection was Unannounced.
Step 5 - Choose A Clinic
It's now time to decide on one of the clinics you've looked at.
It's not uncommon at this point, for the provider to take you a through a number of pre-admission questions, as they have to ensure your suitable for the clinic and its environment.
A telephone assessment might last up to 30 minutes, after which the provider will likely request you to pay a deposit towards treatment, so that they can progress further with your admission.
Any additional financial issues, such as paying via insurance policy, would normally also be sorted out at this stage.
Step 6 - Deposits & Paying For Treatment
As mentioned above, paying a deposit means the clinic can prepare for your arrival, and allocate your room booking.
Most clinics will expect a deposit of £2,000 or more.
It's less common nowadays to see treatment clinics themselves offering payment plan options.
Ask for an email confirmation of booking, and get clarity on when the admission details will be finalised, and your date of admission confirmed.
Outstanding Balance
Clinics will normally expect payment of the remaining balance of treatment, upon arrival and admission to the clinic, so be prepared to make a payment at this time.
Interest on late payment for a significant sum like this can be significant, so it's worth getting this done on time.
Step 7 - Admit to treatment
If you don't already have it, contact the admissions team and confirm your date and time of arrival.
You'll usually be asked to bring certain essentials with you:
Check your booking confirmation for advice about mobile phone usage, internet access, visits, leisure facilities, and any special arrangements for covid-19.
Do you have transport to the clinic organised? Making sure of this will help avoid any potential extra charges levied for late arrival.
Now, enjoy your recovery!
Asking The Right Questions
You've reached the end of our ultimate guide on finding the right rehab!
Thanks so much for reading our buyer's guide.
Help for addiction is available at Abbeycare's UK clinics.
We've helped thousands overcome their addiction to alcohol or drugs.
All these years we've stuck to the basics that work - structured detox, therapy, and aftercare solutions that help get folks back on track.
Our team can even get transport organised too, if needed, from your location (with an extra charge).
How did we do with inspections from regulators? Check our reports, available on our clinic pages, here: Abbeycare Scotland, and Abbeycare Gloucester.
Abbeycare admissions team can advise on options that suit your needs.
Detox is available, with comfort and safety, with the help of our medical team.
Our therapists are ready to help you get the insights you need, to stop the pattern of addiction, and reclaim your life.
Our clinical team are ready to help you start the journey.
The only thing left is - are you ready?
To get your questions answered, or to get started in recovery, our team can help, on 01603 513 091.
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