Aftercare:

Virtually all providers of residential treatment offer aftercare as all shear the common belief that without sufficient aftercare provisions, someone's chances of maintaining their recovery is unlikely.

Although treatment is a vital part of the recovery process, but it is by no means the end as recovery from alcoholism and addiction does not simply end upon completion or graduation of a treatment facility. Continuing support after rehabilitation is the key to a successful recovery.

Assessment:

All providers of treatment will have their own assessment policies and procedures. These are an industry method of evaluating the individuals' needs, requirements and to ascertain whether a particular facility is appropriate. Some facilities do have excluding factors such as gender, substance or behavioural issue, history of violence or sexual convictions.

Day Care or Evening Care:

This is available to clients who wish to attend during the day or evening only. This type of care can be difficult for less motivated clients; however it is necessary when the client has family or work obligations. It is common for ths type of treatment to be less successful unless the individual is showing significantly high motivation. Currently this practice is only based in Central London.

Detox:

This process can be split into 3 categories:

1) In-patient Detox. Established as a complete medical model and operates as a hospital. Often known as medically managed detox.

2) Residential Detox. The client is actively engaged whilst completing a detox period. This process involves clients therapeutically at the same time. Often known as medically supervised detox.

3) Rapid Detox. The client is sedated, this time period is depending on whatever the particular programme offers, and goes through the physical withdrawals whilst the individual is unaware or unconscious. This requires adequate follow on care and is a programme which is not widely used in the UK.

Intervention:

An intervention is the concept that even though the client with an addiction remains in denial about their problems, onlookers aim to bring the chaos and anti-social behaviours of the addicted to the forefront allowing them to rapidly come to their own conclusion that treatment is necessary.

Primary Care:

This is the point of residential rehabilitation where the client will be introduced to the therapeutic methods and models of treatment and taken through the Centre's preferred programme and towards recovery. This is an intensive period of treatment. It normally follows on from Detoxification, although many facilities will introduce Primary Care into the clients' regime during their detoxification process.

This is the most common and most effective form of treatment as it employs talking therapies to change the way someone thinks, therefore having a knock on effect upon someone's behaviours and helping them to feel better about themselves with out the use of drink or drugs, but by utilising healthier behaviours.

Residential rehabilitation:

This can be split into 2 categories:

1) Inpatient. Where the client stays under 24 hour care and supervision and receives therapy for their addiction.

2) Quasi-residential. Where the client attends the facility during the day and retires to safe housing in the evenings. Very effective. Can be equally intensive.

Secondary Care:

This follows on from Primary Care and is used to reinforce all the treatment previously received. There is no doubt as to the increased probability of maintaining someone's recovery by attending secondary care also. This is generally considered to be less intensive although highly recommended.

This type of care is considered to be seen as living a typical life whilst also receiving treatment. If delivered effectively this method contributes a great deal to someone's chances of genuine long term recovery.

Sober house living:

Alcohol and drug free houses, also known as sober living, play an important role in supporting treatment and recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. This type of housing helps individuals in recovery to maintain alcohol and drug free lifestyle. When living in a sober environment, recovering addicts are surrounded by others who share a common experience and who all support one another in their addiction free journey.

Individuals in drug and alcohol free houses are most likely to have graduated from a particular Centre which offers this as a form of Aftercare and long term support. Sober living usually serves to help those individuals transition from a residential treatment facility back into their daily lives. Sober living communities do not provide structured treatment, but instead provide a support system for individuals who are striving to maintain their sobriety after a residential treatment programme.

Sober living communities provide recovering addicts with an environment where they can support one another in maintaining their sobriety and where they can help one another work towards a lifelong total recovery.

Tertiary Care:

This is also known as 3rd Stage care and is normally provided after a minimum of 6 months previous treatment. It generally provides safe accommodation (Sober Living Houses), peer led community recovery and opportunities to rebuild lives through work, education, training and volunteering etc.

12 Step Fellowships

12 Step Fellowships first began around 75 years ago with Alcoholics Anonymous. Since then others such as Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous have thrived. They exist throughout the UK as well as the rest of the world. An addict is likely to be recommended them once they return home after treatment. They are free of charge and operate on a voluntary basis by its own membership. They are particularly helpful and have become part of the Government strategy on harm reduction.

Recovery is a lifetime process of growth and self-discovery in all areas of someone's life that have previously been harmed by their destructive, unmanageable and sometimes chaotic lifestyles. By attending 12 Step Fellowships many people in recovery find their quality of life improving anything they could ever have foreseen.