Bathgate Drug and Alcohol Rehab Treatment Centres

Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centres in Bathgate

Drug and alcohol addiction are major problems throughout the UK, but rates of substance misuse can be particularly high in Scotland.

According to a recent government report, the average adult in Scotland drinks 36% more than the lower-risk guideline of 14 alcohol units per week. Some people drink far more than that on a regular basis, running the risk of sliding into dependency and addiction.

While the number of people using illegal to drugs is harder to track, the same report estimated there were somewhere between 55,800 and 58,900 in Scotland. If you have a problem with drinking or drug addiction, you’re certainly not alone.

It can be difficult to know where to turn but you should be aware that there are people that can help. Drug and alcohol rehab in Bathgate could help you to turn your life around if you are in the grip of an addiction or struggling with your alcohol and drug use.

 

How Addiction affects the brain

Prolonged use of drugs, including alcohol, affects different parts of the brain, including those that deal with pleasure, reward and impulse control. The National Institute on Drug Abuse likens the difference between normal reward responses in the brain and those produced by drugs to “the difference between someone whispering into your ear and someone shouting into a microphone”. 

The brain essentially turns the volume down by producing fewer neurotransmitters and receptors in the reward centre. This means that the person receives less pleasure from other activities and needs to take more and more of the drug to get the same effect – and eventually even to feel normal. This leads to a vicious cycle, where the consumption increases and the addiction gets worse and worse.

This is one of the reasons why addiction is so difficult to tackle alone, without expert help and guidance. Another lies in the withdrawal symptoms that most people face when they come off drugs or alcohol.

The brain comes to rely on the chemicals provided and taking them away can result in a range of physical and psychological symptoms.

There can be a great temptation to try to relieve these symptoms by taking ‘one more hit’ but it rarely turns out to be just one more. Many people who recognise they have a problem repeatedly try and fail to quit and this can damage their self-esteem, making them think that even trying is pointless and adding further fuel to the fire.

Rehabilitation centres can supervise the detoxification and withdrawal process and use evidence-based techniques and therapies to help you break free of the vicious cycle of addiction.

 

Drug and Alcohol Rehab Bathgate

Private drug and alcohol rehab in Bathgate or further afield could give you the best possible chance of beating your addiction problem and moving forward to a more positive and healthier place.

A residential rehab uses evidence-based treatments designed and delivered by trained professionals with a wealth of experience in addiction recovery and substance misuse issues. These proven methodologies have been designed for long-lasting recovery from the addictive mindset.

 

Going through Detox in a Drug Rehab

As already noted, detoxification and the accompanying withdrawal symptoms can be extremely challenging, especially if you try to tackle them alone.

It will still be a difficult and unpleasant process but will be much easier and safer to go through in a supervised and dedicated detox clinic.

An initial screening and assessment process will aim to identify any physical risks and special requirements and medical supervision can be provided. This may include pain management and relevant prescription drugs and medicines if appropriate.

The withdrawal symptoms experienced can vary widely from one individual to the next, especially when different types of drug are involved.

This could mean physical symptoms such as shakes, cramps and nausea and psychological ones that could produce anxiety and affect mental health and depression.

All these things are easier to deal with when you have the expert support offered in the secure and tranquil setting of a drug or alcohol rehab.

 

Drug and Alcohol Rehab Treatments

Recovery from a drug or alcohol addiction does not finish when you process the toxins out of your system during detox, or even when the withdrawal symptoms start to subside.

Cravings can continue for a long time and relapse prevention is a huge part of recovery. You will need to explore the root causes behind your addiction and substance use, which are different for every individual.

Once you have an understanding of the triggers and thought processes behind your substance issues, you can work with the experts at the rehab to develop skills and techniques to resist those cravings, avoid triggers and to remain clean and sober moving forward.

This will involve a range of different therapies and treatments. These will generally be a combination of group and individual therapies.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a commonly used technique for treating addiction, as it encourages people to identify and eventually change their own negative or self-destructive behaviours.

Some rehab places may use other therapeutic techniques, such as psychotherapy, motivational interviewing (MI) or a 12-step programme. There may also be workshops on nutrition, meditation, relaxation and other areas to improve your health and general well-being.

These programmes can also be useful for treating behavioural addictions such as gambling addiction, as well as those related to substance misuse.

 

Finding the right Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Bathgate

Residential rehab is not the right choice for everyone but it is proven to be the most effective way of treating addiction and serious substance misuse issues.

Many people will look for a local rehab centre as this can be easily accessible, but one of the points of residential rehab is that it takes you away from your usual environment and all the triggers, temptations and stresses that might be associated with it.

For this reason, as well as anonymity, other people prefer to look further afield.

Whatever your preferences, we can help you to find the best place to help you make a long-lasting recovery and head forward into a better place, free of drugs and alcohol.

 

Sources

https://www.gov.scot/policies/alcohol-and-drugs/

https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drugs-brain