Addiction, also known as a substance use disorder (SUD), is a mental health disorder in which individuals become dependent on a specific drug or drugs. In some cases, individuals may also become dependent on a behaviour such as gambling, sex, or shopping.
When an individual is struggling with addiction, they are unlikely to consider the negative effects of their condition and will continue engaging in addictive behaviours such as substance abuse without regard for their health (1).
This is not the fault of the individual, however, and there are many reasons why an individual may develop an addiction. In addition, addiction is classified as a non-discriminatory disease, meaning that anyone and everyone could become afflicted in specific situations.
This article will focus on the support available for addiction, both specifically in Worcester and the process in general.
How can you tell if someone is struggling with addiction in Worcester?
As addiction is such a widespread and differing disorder from person to person, it is very challenging to determine whether someone may be struggling with an SUD or not.
For example, some people may be struggling with an addiction but be able to go about their life as normal, whereas others may greatly struggle and become withdrawn in themselves and from others.
Some common signs and symptoms are listed below:
- Becoming increasingly withdrawn i.e., more secretive of behaviours
- Becoming agitated or aggressive when they are unable to engage in addictive behaviours e.g., drug consumption, gambling etc.
- Changes in appearance – may become less focussed on personal grooming and/or hygiene, as well as changes to their pallor etc.
Where to seek help for addiction in Worcester – what are the options?
When seeking help for addiction, there are countless different sources and services through which individuals can access support and help for their condition.
However, knowing where and how to access these services can be a daunting prospect for many individuals, especially if it is not something that they have witnessed or experienced directly themselves.
At the start of an individual’s addiction recovery journey, there is one choice that the individual can make as soon as they accept the need for rehabilitation. This is the choice as to the type of rehabilitation they will receive and where it is.
In one decision, this is the difference between inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation in Worcester – one of which may be more or less suitable than the other when considering an individual’s unique needs of care.
The difference between the two, as well as examples, are included in the following two subheadings.
1. Inpatient rehabilitation
Inpatient rehabilitation, also referred to as residential rehab, is the type of rehabilitation in which the individual engages in all of their rehabilitative treatments from within a dedicated centre in Worcester.
This is the most effective approach to rehabilitation, as it ensures that individuals have 24/7 care, access to modern, researched, and current facilities and techniques for recovery, as well as providing a distraction-free environment.
Whilst in a dedicated inpatient rehabilitation centre, there will be differing rules and restrictions regarding different factors relating to recovery (such as access to technology and visitation), but the majority of treatments available remain the same.
The availability of rehab centres in an individual’s local area is often a key factor in adherence to these programmes (2), but it is vital that individuals consider all their options for recovery, even if it means travelling slightly further than Worcester or their local area.
2. Outpatient rehabilitation
For individuals for whom residential rehab is not a suitable option, there are other approaches to care such as that found through outpatient rehabilitation.
Referring to any rehabilitative treatment that occurs outside of a dedicated centre (and not on a full-time basis), outpatient rehabilitation can be a beneficial option for some individuals.
Generally, outpatient rehabilitation is not suitable for individuals who have a pervious history of attempting to recover and have relapsed, those who struggle with moderate to severe impacts of addiction, as well as for those who may be addicted to specific substances such as alcohol or heroin (two of the most dangerous substances in the modern world).
What to expect from rehabilitation in Worcester – what is the process?
In general, to ensure the smooth progression of an individual’s recovery, most recognised and professional addiction treatment programmes will follow the three stages of recovery.
These are as follows:
- Detoxification
- Therapy/treatment
- Aftercare
By advancing through each of these stages with full motivation and commitment, individuals are far more likely to see long-term results on their recovery, have a more efficient rehab experience, and be less likely to relapse in the future.
The remainder of this article covers these three stages in more detail.
1. Detoxification
As the first stage of an individual’s recovery plan, this is one of the most vital changes that the individual will go through in their life.
During detoxification in Worcester, individuals will withdraw from the substance (or behaviour) that they are addicted to and deal with the symptoms of this.
For some substances, such as cannabis or cocaine, the withdrawal process is relatively simpler as these are non-physically addictive substances and can work their way out of the body with less discomfort than other substances.
For alcohol specifically, the withdrawal process can be more challenging due to the ways in which alcohol has become a part of the individual’s everyday functioning. With these substances, it may be necessary to introduce tapering substances to slowly transition to, or to combat the negative withdrawal symptoms with additional medical intervention.
2. Therapy/treatment
Therapy and other associated treatments make up the majority of an individual’s recovery process in Worcester. Though every individual is likely to have different experiences of therapy within their unique addiction rehabilitation programme, the general concept stays the same – an individual must treat their mental health alongside their physical health (experienced during withdrawal).
Most forms of therapy work to help the individual create coping mechanisms and techniques to combat the triggers and cravings that they may experience as a result of addiction and can include commonly-known therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – known for being flexible and changing negative thought patterns that individuals may have in relation to their addiction.
3. Aftercare
As the final stage of an individual’s recovery process in Worcester, aftercare refers to all further treatments and care that an individual receives after leaving the majority of their care.
Aftercare can be as dependent or as independent as the individual requires, with the assignment of an aftercare support officer available in the cases in which they are needed.
Aftercare can also include a variety of different therapies and treatments to support the individual’s ongoing learning and development of their coping mechanisms for addiction.
Some residential rehab centres offer complimentary aftercare services depending on the individual’s recovery programme – this should always be checked before beginning any form of care.
Addiction in Worcester: Next steps and starting your addiction recovery journey today
In most cases, individuals are able to access rehabilitation services through their local health services or at least start the process.
However, in some cases it may be better to contact an addiction referral service directly in order to get the best access to care and the best recommendations for the individual’s unique needs.
References and citations
[1] Zou, Z., Wang, H., d’Oleire Uquillas, F., Wang, X., Ding, J. and Chen, H., 2017. Definition of substance and non-substance addiction. Substance and non-substance addiction, pp.21-41.
[2] Danquah-Amoah, A. and Charan, A.A., 2017. The relevance of rehabilitation centers in our communities. International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), 6(7), pp.1393-1395.
This is a submitted article written by Jack Harris.
