Drug Rehab

Drug addiction is a serious condition characterised by compulsive drug-seeking behaviours that have a negative impact on your life. The disease of addiction is extremely powerful, resulting in physical and psychological changes that make it difficult to control drug use. Drug addiction isn’t confined to only illicit substances including cannabis, cocaine and heroin, many prescription-based drugs including benzodiazepines and opiates have the potential for dependence too.

With decades of experience in the addiction field, The Providence Projects recognises that all forms of drug addiction are a symptom of a deeper problem. For some, childhood trauma and neglect can take the form of substance abuse in later years, while for others, pre-existing mental health conditions, can often lead to self-medicating, creating a perpetual cycle of abuse and mental health problems known as dual diagnosis.

When to Seek Help for Drug Addiction

​​Although there are many common signs to look out for if you believe you are living with drug addiction, they can certainly vary from person to person and a lot depends on the type of drug that is being abused. This being said, all forms of substance abuse share common traits:

• You have a higher tolerance to the drug e.g., you need to take more of a substance to feel the same effects
• A lot of your time is spent thinking about the substance: how you will get more, where you will take it, how you will feel afterward
• You experience cravings for the drug
• You feel unpleasant and not yourself when the drug wears off e.g., you experience withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, nausea, or sweats
• You have withdrawn yourself from the things you once enjoyed and the people you love
• You are stealing or borrowing money to obtain drugs
• You attempt to hide your drug use and its effects
• Your sleeping or eating habits have drastically changed
• You continue to use the drug despite the negative consequences; perhaps your romantic relationship isn’t working anymore or you’re behind on paying the bills. Despite realising these negative instances, you still partake in drug use
• You have a new circle of friends to accommodate your drug use
• You are abusing prescribed-medications, or requesting medications for illnesses you do not have

Recognising a Problem in Others

Worrying about a loved one’s drug addiction can really take its toll on your mental health. Addiction doesn’t just affect the person abusing the substance but can negatively impact the whole family.

Maybe you are noticing changes in a loved one’s health, relationships, or social functioning and are worried about the direction their life is going in. Either way, recognising a drug addiction in a loved one can be harder than it seems; is your child displaying typical teenage angst, or are they signs of drug use? Below are a series of changes that may indicate if a loved one has a drug problem.

Changes in Mood or Personality

Any addiction is likely to cause changes in your mood or personality, sometimes this can be distressing to witness as someone you once knew very well is beginning to act in uncharacteristic ways. This can include:

• Dishonest or secretive behaviour. Maybe your loved one has become less talkative and doesn’t respond well when questions are asked. They enjoy their alone time and do not share what they have been doing or where they have been.
• It is not uncommon for people living with an addiction to develop or uncover an already existing mental illness. A loved one could appear depressed or anxious.
• As addiction progresses, they may become more concerned with how they will obtain the drug. Whether it be physical or verbal, if they are unable to, they may display aggressive behaviour.

Drug addiction affects many areas of a person’s life, and relationships are no exception. When you are addicted to drugs, your life gradually becomes more concerned with using and obtaining the substance. This can lead to a neglect of other responsibilities, including effort in relationships.

Addiction can make it difficult to maintain respect, trust, and open communication – key elements to any healthy relationship, whether it be romantic or friendship based. Typically, when you give in to addiction to a drug, they change your social circles and spend more time with others who are using drugs to justify your addiction. This tends to result in becoming socially withdrawn from your loved ones as you become more and more secretive about your activities and whereabouts.

It’s important to not take these symptoms personally, they do not reflect you and certainly do not reflect your relationship with your loved ones. Addiction is classified as a mental disorder and can completely change a person’s way of being.

Drug Rehabilitation at The Providence Projects

Drug rehab or drug rehabilitation is the medical & therapeutic treatment process designed to help you overcome addiction. At The Providence Projects, drug addiction treatment is provided in the form of programmes, and can vary depending on the nature and type of substance you are struggling with. As a resident, you will receive medical & therapeutic treatment under the care of our professionals. You will be welcomed and treated with respect and dignity throughout your stay with us, surrounded by peers who understand your daily struggles.

Medical Assessment

Upon arrival, you will be medically assessed by our in-house GP before treatment can commence. This is an important step as it will determine the type of detox programme that will be best suited to your needs. For some, this process will need to be medically-managed with round-the-clock care, before therapeutic treatment can begin. For others, withdrawal symptoms may be milder and thereapeutic treatment can commence from day 1.

Drug Detox

We understand that detoxing from drugs can be a daunting concept for many, but we want to reassure you that throughout the process you will be supported by our experienced team of professionals.

Detoxification at The Providence Projects is an essential step towards achieving sobriety and laying the foundation for long-term recovery. Withdrawal refers to the physical and psychological symptoms experienced when discontinuing or reducing the use of addictive substances. The specific withdrawal symptoms can vary depending on the drug involved, the duration and intensity of use, and individual factors. Common withdrawal symptoms include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Sweating and chills
• Anxiety and restlessness
• Insomnia or disturbed sleep patterns
• Muscle aches and pains
• Irritability and mood swings
• Depression and feelings of sadness
• Cravings for the drug
• Fatigue and lack of energy

Our in-house GP will work with you to create a detox programme that is both safe and effective, and you will be supported by our wider team throughout this process.

With the exception of benzodiazepines and opiates (including heroin), most other drugs result in milder withdrawal symptoms that do not require 24/7 medical supervision.

Therapeutic Treatment

To treat the psychological nature of drug addiction, therapeutic treatment is offered by our trained staff using evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy which have been shown to reduce the risk of relapse significantly.

You will work with our team to establish a plan that best suits your needs and goals, this may include:

• one-to-one sessions – helping you understand what led to addictive behaviours and compulsive drug use
• personal assignments – to help you keep track of your goals
• educational workshops – covering a range of topics
• stress management & exercise classes
• exploring the 12 steps
• holistic therapies such as minfulness meditation

Embarking on the route to recovery from drug addiction requires courage, determination and our professional support. With our help, you can break free from the grip of drug addiction, and begin your journey towards a healthier, fulfilling life.

Drug Addiction: The Facts

Reported drug use in the UK is at its highest prevalence in over ten years. This is one of the highest prevalences of drug misuse in Europe and hugely increases the risk of addiction. The prevalence of illicit drug use of adults between the ages of sixteen to fifty-nine is:

• 12% in Scotland
• 4% in England
• 4% in Wales
• 9% in Northern Ireland

A Home Office report found that people who live in urban areas (9.8%) are more likely to take drugs than those in rural areas (7.7%) and adults with lower levels of happiness are linked to a higher likelihood of drug taking.

According to government statistics, 275,896 adults contacted drugs and alcohol services to seek help with their addiction between April 2020 and March 2021. This is a slight increase in numbers from the previous year at 270,705. The number of adults entering treatment during 2020 to 2021 remained similar to the previous year, with more than two-thirds of them being men (68%).

Continuing the trend in treatment statistics over the past few years, there has been an increase in older age groups seeking treatment. In the 2020 to 2021 report, 56% of people were over forty. The year before this number was at 55% and the year before that 51%. Though, the median age range for people undergoing treatment for opioids was forty-two and thirty for non-opioids.

Hospitalisation for Drug Misuse

A 2020 NHS report covering the population of England and Wales showed a decline in hospital admissions for drug-related behavioural and mental disorders, dropping 5% from the year before. The recent report also showed that gender increases the chance of being admitted for these neurological drug-related disorders, with 73% of hospital admissions being male.

Between 2019-2020, 16,994 people were admitted to hospital due to poisoning by drug misuse which is a 6% decrease from the year before. In this case, a similar proportion of women and men were treated for drug poisoning. Middlesbrough had the highest rates for poisoning by drug misuse at a rate of 106 per 100,000 of its population.

GOV.UK found the number of people entering treatment overall has remained relatively stable across the UK since 2013. Excluding alcohol, the rates of admission per drug category have seen some changes in the last year. The number of people entering treatment during 2020-2021 for:

• opioids remained relatively stable compared to the previous year
• crack cocaine has fallen and is at its lowest since 2016 to 2017
• powdered cocaine has decreased by 10% in the past year
• cannabis has increased by 5% from the year before
• benzodiazepine has risen by 6% compared to 2019-2020
• ketamine has increased by 27% compared to last year, part of the seven-year growing misuse of the substance