Long-term rehab for alcoholism or drug addiction is usually reserved for those who are chronically addicted or who have especially complex cases. One example of a complex case would be someone with a dual diagnosis of drug addiction and clinical depression. Such special cases require a more intense rehab that is simply not available through short-term services.

Determining whether you need long-term addiction rehab requires looking at your current circumstances and your past history. Be aware that it’s not a determination you should attempt to make by yourself. You should first talk with your GP or a qualified organisation like ours with the skill, knowledge, and expertise required to make a good decision.

If you are hesitant about getting in touch with us then we want to assure you that there is nothing to worry about. We provide complete confidentiality in all our interactions with clients. What’s more, the services we provide are absolutely free to everyone who calls.

Residential Treatment Programmes

A long-term rehab programme can be based either on a residential or outpatient model. We prefer the residential model. Why? Because residential rehab treatment offers a greater chance of long-term success for most addicts. Let’s take a few minutes and discuss why that is.

The philosophy of residential treatment rests in the idea of separating the recovering addict from both his or her substances of choice and their daily routine. Separation from the substances allows their body to naturally cleanse itself, while separation from the daily routine removes those circumstances that would otherwise enable the recovering addict to continue their addictive behaviour.

Separation allows for the following:

• Introspection – The success of any rehab programme relies heavily on the recovering addict taking ownership of his or her addiction. The separation of residential treatment allows for plenty of introspection. Clients are encouraged to take plenty of time to think about their circumstances and their addictions in order to come to terms with who they are.

• Concentration – Residential treatment tends to achieve results in a shorter amount of time because therapies can be concentrated. Where an outpatient programme only has the attention of the recovering addict for a few hours per day, a residential programme has his or her attention around the clock. Though 12 weeks might seem like a long time for a residential programme, long-term outpatient rehab could go on for six months or longer.

• Clarity – perhaps the most important aspect of residential treatment is that of clarity. By clarity, we mean the opportunity for a distraction-free environment in which therapies are conducted. A distraction-free environment is one that allows the recovering addict to see and embrace his or her circumstances more clearly. With outpatient treatment, any clarity gained during the day can be quickly lost when the client returns home in the evening.

Residential treatment can last anywhere from four to 12 weeks depending on a number of factors. However, even the longest of programmes requires additional support after the residential treatment is complete. That additional support comes by way of something known as aftercare.

Aftercare is a collection of support services that may include continued counselling, reintegration services, group support, and family support. The idea behind aftercare is to provide the necessary help to prevent relapse. When recovering addicts receive appropriate aftercare, they are much less likely to return to their addictive behaviours in the future.

Outpatient Treatment Programmes

It is true that residential treatment would not be the best option for everyone. Sometimes there are financial issues or family circumstances that suggest outpatient care is the better way to go. In such cases, long-term rehab is still available. Outpatient treatment can be provided by private rehab clinics, professional counsellors, charities, support groups, or the NHS.

The nature of long-term rehab suggests that detox is probably necessary even in an outpatient programme. So at least for the duration of detox, the client will be staying at an NHS facility or private clinic. From there, treatment will move to the therapeutic stage.

When outpatient treatment is chosen, the different therapies rendered will likely come from different sources. For example, a recovering alcoholic may receive one-on-one cognitive behavioural therapy from a professional counsellor while receiving group support from Alcoholics Anonymous. The important thing is to be sure the treatment plan being followed has been custom tailored to your needs.

Also understand that long-term rehab through outpatient services tends to take longer than residential treatment. That means every client must be committed to hanging in for the long haul. The recovering addict must be willing to do whatever is asked of him or her by doctors, therapists, and counsellors. He or she must be willing to devote himself or herself entirely to getting well.

The NHS says that the best performing rehab programmes have success rates of 70% or higher. The worst performing have rates of 20% or worse. Nevertheless, please bear in mind that your success is determined primarily by you. Your commitment to getting well must be uncompromising if you hope to achieve permanent sobriety.

Cost of Long-Term Rehab

The last thing we want to discuss is the cost of long-term rehab. If the outpatient model is best for you, many of the services you receive are actually free. Those that are not can usually be found at very affordable rates through professional counsellors and other resources.

If residential treatment is a better choice, you will need to pay for it through private health insurance, a personal loan, or some other means. Rest assured that it is not as expensive as you might think. There are clinics in the UK offering very affordable rates.

If you have the financial resources, there are exclusive luxury rehab clinics in Europe and North America. We would be happy to discuss those options with you when you call.

Regardless of the type of long-term rehab you choose, we want to help you get started. We maintain an updated list of every clinic and service in the UK as well as some of the options located abroad. We are always available to walk you through your options and recommend a wise course of action.