It’s no secret that private rehab and drug treatment is expensive in the UK. While there are certainly free alternatives, securing a place in an NHS-funded residential rehab facility is highly competitive and becoming increasingly difficult. That, and the level of substance abuse treatment is inferior when compared to a private rehab treatment programme. As such, opting for private residential rehabilitation is arguably the best option. That said, how do you get funding for drug rehab if you are unable to afford it by yourself? In this article, we’ll take you through a multitude of options, for your convenience.
Tips on securing funding for drug and alcohol rehabilitation
There are many drug and alcohol addiction rehab programmes available throughout the UK, for those who need help and support in overcoming their drug abuse problems.
Rehab programmes offer a wide variety of treatments, including one on one counselling, group support, and cognitive behavioural therapy (to name a few). The nature of your treatment all depends on the individual and the residential rehab clinic in question.
If you recognise that you have a drug addiction problem and you are desperate to receive help and kick the habit for good, it is important that you act fast.
Fortunately, there are a number of funding options that you can explore, granting access to a variety of residential rehabilitation programmes designed for those with very little capital to spare.
These services include:
- free NHS-funded drug treatment services
- free or reduced cost services with the help of various charities
- privately funded services from residential rehabilitation clinics and professional organisations.
We will aim to do everything we can to help you gain access to the care and support that you need. First, let’s explore your funding options…
NHS-funded services
The great thing about any services offered by the NHS is the fact that they are entirely free. If you, or someone that you care about, is struggling with alcohol and drug abuse problems, the first step we advise you take is a visit to your doctor for a medical assessment.
If your GP determines that you do have an addiction problem, they can refer you to some free NHS services to explore.
There is however, a catch. Unfortunately, as with most NHS services, there is a waiting time involved. So, while your GP may be able to refer you immediately, it could take weeks (and even months) before you can receive the drug and alcohol treatment that you desperately need.
While they wait, drug users will have access to various free public and social services such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), including other free programmes offered by support groups and charities – though it isn’t always enough without the proper, dedicated support afforded by private rehab clinics.
Only if in the event that you take full advantage of the free services provided by the NHS and still find yourself struggling with addiction, may you be eligible for government-paid NHS funding, – thus granting you access to residential treatment at private rehab clinics.
It is important to note that the NHS does not approve this type of care often. That, coupled with the cutbacks in government funding has made this type of access to rehab treatment incredibly rare!
That’s not to say that you shouldn’t bother pursuing NHS funding. If you have exhausted all other options and do not believe you will be able to successfully raise the money to seek treatment in private drug and alcohol rehab facility, then this is a great, free alternative.
The various charitable services
If you do not like the sound of pursuing alcohol and drug addiction treatment via the NHS, there are other options available. For example, you may be eligible for either reduced-cost or free services with the help of an addiction recovery charity.
Again, the likelihood of this is low and largely depends on their budget; which is primarily funded by private and corporate donations.
The reduced-cost services available often tend to include things such as outpatient treatment programmes, individual counselling, and so on. As for residential treatment, when it is made available, it is often free (thanks to the generous donations made to charitable organisations).
There are advantages to pursuing charity funding, particularly when compared to the NHS, however, availability is always an issue and you will likely end up having to wait longer than is necessary.
The key to successful recovery is moving quickly. The longer you have to wait, the more likely you are to develop a more severe addiction, thus putting you at even greater risk.
This avenue isn’t impossible, but you may be subject to waiting in a queue, which can impede the recovery process and often result in losing the motivation to continue seeking treatment.
Private residential rehab services
Private residential rehab is without question, the best option for the majority of addicts. Private treatment in residential rehabilitation facilities provides addicts with the highest chance at a full and successful recovery. This is thanks to having more resources available, dedicated staff, training in proven, evidence based treatments and therapies, and a focus on addiction recovery.
Of course, as you will have noticed by now, access to a private rehab clinic doesn’t come for free. In fact, private services, including outpatient and inpatient treatments, can cost anywhere from several hundred up to tens of thousands (varying significantly from one residential rehab to the next).
If you don’t have that kind of money available to you, there are other options to explore:
- Leverage your private health insurance: there are many private health insurance plans in the UK that offer cover for addiction recovery services. That said, not all clinics work with all of the major insurance providers, so further research would be required into which private insurance company is best, including a referral from your GP.
- Public funding from your local council: while each council has varying policies, depending on your location in the UK, you might be able to secure public funding for your substance misuse treatment.
- Private donations and loans: another option to secure the funding for your private rehab and addiction therapy is turning to friends and family members. You can appeal to your loved ones and see if any are in a position to off financial assistance. We understand that there is an element of shame involved in this, but you’d be surprised by how happy and willing your loved ones can be. Ultimately, it’s better to be free of your addictions and owe those close to you some money, rather than avoid an awkward conversation and continue struggling without the addiction treatment you need.
- Take a loan out: assuming that your credit rating can warrant it, taking out a commercial loan is another viable alternative to securing funding for your addiction treatment. Certainly, going into debt isn’t appealing, but your health and well-being is far more important than money!
- Charitable funding: again, it isn’t as common, but charities have been known to offer grants for treatment and addiction services in the UK, – for those whose financial situation is preventing them from getting the care and support they need.
Remember, while private drug and alcohol rehab can be expensive, it’s often not as bad as most people expect. There are many high-quality and reputable clinics available across the UK, so you’re sure to find a suitable option for you and your budget.
Developing an addiction recovery plan that suits you
Don’t let the fear of likely not being able to afford treatment stop you from contacting us today. We will do our utmost to work with you on developing a drug or alcohol treatment plan that suits your unique circumstances and budgetary restrictions.
That might mean putting together a mix and match programme with various outpatient services, but in any case, we will try our best to get you the help that you need.
We understand that your needs are unique. As such, we make sure that every single residential treatment programme is tailored specifically to the individual in question.
Our admissions team will work to better understand the nature and severity of your addiction, in order to prescribe the best possible treatment for you.
Whether you are struggling with a specific drug or alcohol (or both), we can provide a safe environment for you to step away from temptation and work on getting clean once and for all.
Conclusion
To recap:
- Private rehab is not cheap, but there are charitable organisations that might be able to help.
- NHS funding is a viable option for those who cannot afford to explore private treatment options.
- Private rehab is, without question, the most effective means of recovery. If you want to be free of your addiction for good, we strongly recommend that you try and secure the funding necessary to cover the finest rehabilitation treatment available.
We understand how scary, hopeless, and alienating it can be when battling with addiction. Hopefully, this article has helped to shed some light on your options for securing funding.
If you would like further advice, we invite you to contact us for a free, confidential discussion. You are not alone!
