As a chronic brain disease, substance addiction does not discriminate. While social, genetic, and environmental factors may play a part, substance addiction affects people of all ages, ethnicities, and classes all around the world.
Substance use addiction doesn’t just impose debilitating physical and psychological symptoms on the addicted person,it also affects the wider community.
In addition to local health and social services suffering from a high demand despite their lack of resources, immediate family members and friends suffer from intense emotional strain when witnessing a loved one succumb to addiction.
Substance Addiction in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, it was reported that over 310,000 adults contacted a drug and alcohol addiction rehabilitationand treatment service from 2023 to 2024 alone.
Of this figure, almost 159,000 proceeded to undergo treatment at a drug and alcohol rehab.
From 2022 to 2023, it was reported that around 22,000 adults in north east England – including Newcastle – were in treatment for drug and or alcohol addiction.
Clearly, substance addiction issues are prevalent in the United Kingdom.
Understanding Addiction Support in Newcastle
If you or your loved one are suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction, it’s important to understand what kind of support is available.
Accessing support sooner rather than later is imperative because the longer an addiction is left untreated, the harder it will be to recover.
The longer that a substance addiction is left untreated, the more reinforced this dependence will be.
Addiction is a chronic brain disease in which neural pathways rely on substances for pleasure and stimulation, and sustaining the addiction will only reinforce this physical and psychological dependence.
Not only does this make it harder to recover, but it intensifies the physical and mental withdrawal symptoms, which can lead to illness, injury, or even death.
Types of Addiction Support in Newcastle
It’s also important to understand that each case of addiction is unique, and a “one size fits all” approach isn’t optimal when it comes to recovery.
Support can come in a wide range of forms, including:
● NHS Addiction Services
● Local charities and non-profit organizations
● Private drug and alcohol rehab facilities
Free Addiction Support Services in Newcastle
Free addiction support services are often appealing for people suffering from addiction because of their cost-effective methods and their accessibility. However, they can also be in high demand which leaves a long waiting list.
People battling addiction can visit their local GP to undergo diagnosis and receive free treatment. You’ll undergo a health assessment and will be referred to addiction specialists and drug rehab to undergo treatment.
Treatment programmes often rely on personalisation, and will vary according to your unique condition and requirements.
Patients will speak with a medical professional who will assess the details and severity of their addiction dependence.
They’ll also take into account a range of other factors such as any mental health disorders, physical health issues, and so on.
Patients will then be assigned a keyworker who’ll assist them on their recovery journey which includes therapy and counselling.
You can also get in touch with the CNTW NHS Foundation Trust to receive treatment.
This is a NHS Foundation Trust with 70 locations across the northeast of England, and also encompasses the Newcastle Treatment and Recovery (NTaR).
An NHS Foundation Trust is different to the NHS because it is not under direction from the Secretary of State for Health, which grants more input from the local community.
CNTW also offers 24-hour access to mental health support.
Charities and Non-Profits Offering Free Help
The NHS is not the only form of free addiction treatment in Newcastle that is available for patients.
Here are some of the examples of charities and non-profit organisations offering mental health and addiction support in Newcastle:
● Recovery College Collective: Recover College Collective, or ReCoCo, is a mental health recovery college based in Newcastle. The college, run by people who have personal experience in recovering from mental health issues, also caters to people in addiction recovery. This peer-led organisation offers creative workshops, support sessions, and exercise classes for people in recovery.
● Tyneside Mind: Tyneside aims to improve community health by offering support sessions, treatment, and education for those who are suffering mental health issues. With sessions including counseling, group support groups, and wellbeing workshops, patients can expect to not only rehabilitate but also learn a wealth of coping mechanisms.
● Streetwise North: Streetwise Newcastle offers mental health and addiction recovery support for young people between the ages of 11 and 25. This organisation aims to educate younger people and provide them as much guidance and support as possible in their mental health or addiction struggles. 93% of people who engage with Streetwise feel that they’re more able to cope with their mental health struggles, and 93% would also recommend the organisation to a friend.
Private Addiction Help in Newcastle
If you or your loved one are looking for the most optimal form of treatment, then you may want to consider private addiction treatment.
Private addiction treatment often comes in the form of an inpatient drug and alcohol rehab in Newcastle.
While this form of addiction treatment may be considered to be expensive, they can provide recovery in a more safe and secure environment.
Benefits of Inpatient Rehab Treatment
As an inpatient, you can expect a range of benefits when it comes to addiction recovery, including but not limited to:
● Medically-supported facility: As an inpatient at a drug and alcohol rehab in Newcastle, you can undergo a medical detox in a safe and comfortable facility. An addiction physician will prescribe medication to minimise withdrawal symptoms which will greatly boost your recovery chances.
● High-quality treatment: Due to its private funding, a private drug and alcohol rehab will often offer higher quality facilities and treatment. Additionally, a private drug and alcohol rehab will have experienced medical supervisors ready to assist you at any moment should you need it.
● Personalisation: Personalisation is emphasised at a private rehab because they have more resources and a lower demand. While most people will seek treatment through free services such as the NHS, private treatment allows for swifter admission and greater levels of personalisation when it comes to treatment.
Inpatient vs Outpatient: Which Should I Choose?
It can be difficult to understand which form of treatment will benefit us mostly.
While you can argue that inpatient treatment is the most effective form of treatment for recovery due to its intensiveness, it may not be suitable for everyone.
A patient who is suffering from a mild form of addiction may be suited more to outpatient treatment.
This means that they can return home each night, maintain employment, and take care of other personal or family duties that they may have.
Typically, outpatient treatment consists of around 6-9 hours of treatment and counselling per week, unless you undergo the intensive outpatient treatment which can include as much as 30 hours per week.
Patients who are suffering from moderate to severe forms of addiction should consider entering rehab as an inpatient.
Here, they will have access to the highest levels of care, and they can undergo a detox in a safe and comfortable environment.
Patients suffering from moderate to severe cases of addiction are not only more prone to relapse but also illnesses and even death.
According to the ASAM Criteria, patients should seek the following support according to their unique condition:
● Level 0.5: Patients diagnosed at this level should receive an early intervention where they are Early Intervention: Addresses potential risks and provides education for individuals who may be at risk of substance use disorder.
● Level 1: Patients suffering mild forms of addiction will be admitted as an outpatient.
● Level 2: Intensive Outpatient treatment offers a higher level of support and supervision for patients suffering from more severe dependence and symptoms.
● Level 3: Patients who are suffering from a moderate to severe form of addiction will be admitted to a residential rehab as an inpatient.
● Level 4: A patient suffering from extreme drug and alcohol dependence will undergo intensive inpatient care and partial hospitalisation to treat their dangerous and unstable condition.
What to Expect When Seeking Help
When seeking treatment, it can be overwhelming and stressful anticipation what might happen. You can break the treatment process into smaller steps in order to understand how it works:
● Health assessment & diagnosis: The patient will complete a health assessment and receive diagnosis from a medical professional.
● Admission: The patient will be admitted into a suitable drug and alcohol rehab.
● Medical detox: If necessary, the patient will spend a few days to a week to overcome withdrawal symptoms in a process called the medical detox.
● Therapy: Patients will undergo a range of therapy and counselling sessions, including but not limited to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Family Therapy, support sessions, and more.
● Aftercare: Patients will learn about relapse prevention planning strategies and can proceed with an aftercare program such as the 12-step engagement therapy.
Taking the First Step Toward Recovery
The first step is always the hardest, but while recovery may seem like an impossible task, you’re heading in the right direction.
Being open to seeking addiction support is a catalyst for change and the return to normalcy. The sooner that you take the first step towards recovery, the easier your journey will be.