Private rehab treatment for alcohol or drug addiction can be expensive, and low-cost or free alternatives are seldom available. It's easy to end up paying too much for a treatment clinic that underdelivers.
Our guide includes advice on how to weigh providers against each other, and a printable Q&A for when you speak with treatment clinics direct. Let's get started.
Step 1 - What Do You Need?
There are a wealth of treatment options available for those fresh to the journey of recovery. But spending just a little time getting clear on what you truly need, can save a costly mistake.
Detox & Rehab: Short Term .v. Long Term
Some providers can try to sell Rehab, and even Aftercare, upfront, before you've even started treatment, but do you really need all these?
- Have you tried treatment previously, without success? Or even, tried going it alone without professional help? (Be truthful).
You could go for a detox-only programme, but run greater risk of future relapse if other supports are not in place.
Location, Location, Location?
Caught up in the need for detox, many will commit too early to a clinic as close as possible to home, without thinking ahead.
But there's more to consider, in your long term sobriety journey, than the clinic next door.
Detox can be found in many places, but a strong rehabilitation programme with excellent therapy can mean much greater progress in the long term. Asking a few basics like these upfront can save a lot of headache later.
Previous/Complex Detoxes
The quality of support you receive from the clinic team, can make or break recovery results.
This can be especially important where you have complex drug or alcohol detox needs.
The clinic team over the phone should be able to give a rough indication of how they'll approach your treatment.
Getting reassurance that the provider is not only ready to detox you based on your needs, but has done so many times for others in the past, is important.
KEY QUESTIONS
- Can you easily accommodate my detox needs?
- Is dealing with someone with my intake level and addiction history, a normal everyday client for your clinic?
- Will I be able to speak with someone who decides about my detox regimen, once admitted to the clinic?
Step 2 - Get The Low Down On What Happens Inside The Clinic
How does admitting to rehab work?
Private rehab clinics are centres where all the normal addiction treatment options like detox, therapy, and relapse prevention, are provided in a private setting, all under one roof, with specialists in the field. With your own room, and seclusion away from the addiction triggers in normal life, you have a chance to truly recover.
Expect to complete a pre-admissions screening process over the phone - this is quite normal.
Keeping Track Of Getting Better
After admission to a clinic, staff will usually look to plan out your care in the clinic, and how that will work, for you personally.
In the best clinics, where personal attention is high, you'll work with an assigned case manager, throughout your stay, who should help you draw up a care plan, in this way.
Whilst not the most exciting part of the journey, this is a necessary means to help you monitor progress toward your long term vision. Don't miss this bit out.
KEY QUESTIONS
- To what extent is my care and management planned and mapped out?
- How do I know if I'm on the right track, during treatment?
- Is care planning done for me, or is it collaborative?
- How is care planning done?
Life Inside The Clinic
What Is Day To Day Life Like, In Treatment?
Without actually being in the clinic, the closest you can get is to ask questions about the daily experience of life in the clinic.
Since residential rehab is a group environment, most clinics provide each client with a daily agenda, every night for the following day. This lays out the timetable of events, and what's expected.
The duration of detox each individual needs, will vary, based on multiple factors, including frequency and recency of usage, history of addiction, previous detoxes, etc. Depending on usage levels, many will be able to progress to the next stage of treatment after just a few days. Sometimes it will take longer than this to get a clear head again. This level of variance between individuals is very normal.
Also, make sure to ask to arrange a visit to look around the clinic, first.
KEY QUESTIONS
- How can I see what's inside the clinic, online?
- Give me an idea of how each day is structured, whilst in treatment?
- Is it possible to arrange a pre-admission visit, to look around? Is there any charge attached?
- When do you expect me to start taking part in the therapy process?
How Does Covid-19 Affect Rehab Centres?
Since rehab treatment is usually a communal environment, you should expect to have to accommodate others on the journey.
Those in long term recovery achieved it, only by accepting help from others, and helping them, in return.
But making headway in your recovery, at the expense of other health factors, won't help anyone.
Step 3 - Managing The Budget For Treatment
Whilst private clinics offer fast access to specialist help, financing the stay in treatment needs planning.
Public services are accountable to the tax payer, and seldom offer more specialist interventions.
As you can imagine, the cheapest provider is not always the best.
Instead, to keep costs reasonable but standards high, consider providers further afield, or smaller clinics with a lower headcount and rural location.
Use this step to get a clear idea of what rough budget you can commit to treatment, ringing round a few providers for initial pricing if needed.
Other Ways To Get Help
Support In The Community
Most cities and towns across the world play host to mutual aid style meetings locally, like the 12 step driven groups of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.
Sadly, community aids like this are unable to help with the most acute phase, needed at the start of recovery - detox.
Thousands benefit from local community groups every week. But initially, it's important to get professional help to detox safely, and comfortably.
NHS Assistance
In the first instance, it's possible to present to your GP and discuss the possibility of referral to your local addictions team, in the NHS. They will usually help you monitor the effects of addiction in your life, but are unable to refer or provide funding for immediate detox, in most cases.
Eligibility for short term detox is slim, and is usually restricted to only a handful of cases.
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 - Read The Only Impartial Reports
Opinions on different clinics' standards of care are ten a penny on the internet, but how do you know who to trust?
In these situations we need an independent and impartial regulator's opinion - in this case, The Care Quality Commission (CQC) for England and Wales, and The Care Inspectorate, for Scotland.
Inspectors from these organisations visit private clinics nationwide, and check they comply with minimum standards of care, producing reports which they publish on the world wide web.
Clinics are graded across multiple areas of care, including support standards, management, and clinical environment.
Clinic Inspections - What You Need to Know
Inspections can be "announced" (the clinic is aware in advance) or "unannounced" (inspection teams arrive without warning) - so for the best insight into everyday care levels, check for unannounced reports.
Step 5 - Complete The Initial Assessment
Now that you've read up, and compared a few clinics, it's time to arrange admission.
Normally, the provider will take you through a few initial questions, when you call, to make sure you're a good fit, and will work well together.
After the assessment is complete, the clinic will start making preparations for your stay - to do this, they'll need some commitment from you, in the form of a deposit payment - this holds the room in your name, and allows the team to start making arrangements.
Take the opportunity at this point to arrange payment via insurance policy, if applicable.
Step 6 - Arranging Payment
As mentioned, an initial deposit payment is usually expected.
Depending on total costs, your deposit could be anywhere from £500 - £3,000 or more.
Not many clinics remain, who offer finance payment plans, directly.
You should expect some kind of booking confirmation from the provider, usually by email, after any deposit or balance payment is made.
Balance To Pay
The provider will likely ask you to settle the remainder of the treatment balance due, after arrival at the clinic.
It's a good idea to pay this promptly, to avoid excess charges.
Step 7 - Admit to treatment
Did you get a booking confirmation, containing the practical details, like date and time you're due to arrive for treatment? If not, request one now.
Pack enough essentials for your treatment duration, like:
Check your booking confirmation for advice about mobile phone usage, internet access, visits, leisure facilities, and any special arrangements for covid-19.
It's also worth ensuring travel arrangement ahead of schedule - as some providers with have surcharges for late arrival.
Now, enjoy your recovery!
Easy Rehab Q&A Cheatsheet
Thank you for reading the ultimate guide to finding the right rehab treatment for Tredegar.
Get access to our master list of questions to ask each provider, in an easy side-by-side checklist.
Thanks so much for reading our buyer's guide.
Abbeycare's UK clinics have been helping those in Tredegar.
Thousands have already joined Abbeycare to overcome addiction, from every corner of the globe.
In these last 15 years, our experience has gone from strength to strength.
Not nearby? No problem, we can arrange transport too, in many cases.
Check our independent inspection reports, available on our clinic pages for Scotland, and The Hygrove.
Our admissions team can advise on what options are available.
Our medical team can assist you to detox, safely, and comfortably.
Our therapeutic team can help you identify the issues behind addiction, and stop the pattern in your life.
Our clinical team are ready to help you start the journey.
The only question is - are you ready?
To ask a question, or to arrange admission, ring our team now on 01603 513 091.
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