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Drug and alcohol addiction is a serious issue that can have a devastating effect on the lives of both the afflicted, and those close to them. Whether you or someone that you love is battling with addiction, you may have noticed a number of troubling symptoms. These symptoms can lead to a wide variety of problems, for example: job loss, difficulty with relationships, and a decline in the affected person’s mental health and physical well-being (to name a few).

To make matters worse, suffering with addiction is one of the most hopeless and alienating feelings – whether it is you battling with substance abuse or someone that you care about deeply.

This is precisely why we want you to know that you are not alone. We are here to offer our full support. With our rehab in Winchester, you can start working toward kicking the habit and taking your life back once more.

On this page, we’re going to explore the various signs of addiction, what the short and long term effects of substance abuse are, and how one of our alcohol or drug rehab centres can provide you or your loved ones with all of the help and support that you need to make a full recovery.

About drug and alcohol addiction

So, what is drug alcohol addiction? To many people who don’t fully understand the nature of addiction, those who have an alcohol or drug problem are lazy, self-destructive, or have some kind of inherent character flaw. However, the reality is that addiction is a disease and there is so much more to it and an individual simply being ‘unwilling’ to give up their substance of choice.

In truth, addiction is officially defined as being a chronic relapsing disease of the brain. What this means is that those struggling with addiction are unable to make a long term recovery because the nature of addiction is impacting the way that they think, feel, and act.

Once addiction has taken a hold of someone, it can lead to all manner of harmful physical, psychological, and behavioural problems (and that’s not to mention all of the dangerous withdrawal symptoms that addicts experience when trying to go ‘cold turkey’ without the proper medical assistance).

To make matters worse, most people who have substance abuse disorder are fully aware that they have a problem and wish to begin their recovery journey, but simply lack the knowledge and support that they need to receive effective treatment.

Which is where we come in: Rehab Today by PCP can provide confidential advice on how to get started on the road to recovery.

Let’s begin by taking a closer look at the dangers of addiction, including the short and long term effects; then we will take you through how drug and alcohol rehab in Winchester works, and how it can change your life.

Drug Abuse

It’s no secret that drug addiction is on the rise in the UK. This is largely attributed to the fact that many of the harmful substances that people are addicted to are readily easy to get hold of – not to mention the prescription medications flowing through the black market.

What can often begin as what seems like a little harmless fun with friends can quickly develop into a life-threatening disorder.

Short & Long Term Symptoms of Drug Addiction

Taking drugs on a one-off occasion has its dangers and it is not uncommon for people to suffer serious side-effects (sometimes even fatalities). That said, the long term effects of taking drugs is where the real devastation lies…

Below are a list of tell-tale symptoms of drug addiction. If you or someone that you love ticks a number of the boxes below, then we urge you to reach out to one of our drug rehab specialists and seek the help and support you need today.

Short term:

  • Shallow breathing and shortness of breath

  • Elevated body temperature (including the sweats)

  • Rapid (or irregular) heart rate

  • A dangerous increase in blood pressure

  • Insomnia and having difficulty sleeping at night (irregular sleeping patterns and days on end without sleep)

  • Slurred speech

  • Loss of appetite

  • Uncoordinated movements and clumsiness

  • Having difficulty concentrating on normal day to day tasks, including work duties

  • Irritability and loss of patience

  • Aggression toward others

  • Angry outbursts (often over trivial things)

  • A growing lack of inhibition

  • Hallucinations.

Long term:

  • Severe kidney damage

  • Cirrhosis and permanent damage to the liver

  • Increased risk of cancers

  • Irreversible tooth decay

  • Skin damage and increased signs of visible ageing

  • Infertility

  • Strokes

  • Seizures

  • Sexual dysfunction (and loss of libido)

  • Lung & breathing issues

  • Cardiovascular problems

  • Overdose and the possibility of fatality

  • A decline in cognitive function

  • Memory loss

  • Chronic paranoia (resulting in the collapse of relationships and increased social anxiety)

  • Depression

  • Psychosis.

Alcohol abuse

Alcoholism is a growing concern in the United Kingdom. The main problem with this is because binge drinking has long been a large part of British culture. Many people drink on a daily basis – often with a large and expensive blowout over the weekend. Given that alcohol is so readily available in most shops, managing your alcohol consumption can become incredibly difficult.

Not only that, but since heavy drinking is a widely accepted activity in the UK, recognising that you have an addiction to alcohol can take years. For many people, it is only after the damage has been done and their mental health, physical well-being, and social / professional life has been negatively impacted that they realise it is time to pursue sobriety.

Short & Long Term Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction

Drinking alcohol on occasion and in small doses is safe enough. That, and it can be a fun way to spend time with friends and family. However, therein lies the danger: some people struggle to limit their consumption and before long, the short and long term effects of alcoholism begin to take a toll.

Let’s take a look at some of the tell-tale signs of alcohol dependency. If you find that you or someone that you love ticks off a number of these boxes, again, we encourage you to reach out and contact one of our rehab centres – we will happily offer you advice on how best to proceed.

Short term:

  • Slurring of the speech

  • Feelings of drowsiness

  • Nausea and vomiting

  • Frequent and severe headaches

  • Having difficulty breathing

  • Distorted vision and trouble with hearing 

  • Impaired judgment (often resulting in brash decision making)

  • Temporary unconsciousness 

  • Anaemia

  • Coma

  • Blackouts

  • Unintentional injuries such as being in a car crash.

Long term:

  • Intentional injuries such as sexual assault and domestic violence

  • Increased risk of work-related injuries

  • A loss of productivity both at work and at home

  • Increased relationship issues

  • Alcohol poisoning 

  • High blood-pressure

  • Stroke

  • Liver disease 

  • Nerve damage 

  • Sexual dysfunction (erectile dysfunction for example)

  • Permanent brain damage

  • Ulcers 

  • Gastritis

  • Malnutrition 

  • Increased risk of cancer of the mouth and throat

  • A wide variety of mental health issues, including depression.

Drug and alcohol rehab Winchester

So, now that you have a clearer idea as to what the risks of long term substance abuse are, let’s look at our residential rehab centres in and near Winchester and how a specialised treatment programme can help you.

Drug rehabilitation Winchester

If you have growing concerns that yours or a loved one’s drug use is starting to get out of control, please do not hesitate to contact us today. With drug addiction treatment facilities in Winchester and across the UK, we are well-positioned to provide you with all of the help and support you need to better understand your addiction and learn to overcome it.

Alcohol rehab in Winchester

Is yours or a loved one’s alcohol intake starting to have a negative impact on your lives? If that is the case then we would recommend seeking out addiction treatment at one of our state of the art facilities in Winchester. With a wide variety of treatment options, you’ll be certain to find a treatment programme best suited to your individual needs and requirements.

Drug and alcohol addiction treatment in Winchester - How does it work?

Want to know more about the process of entering residential rehab? And is it something that can genuinely help you overcome your addiction? Here’s everything you need to know…

Step 1 - Intake (the process of getting into rehab):

Getting into rehab and receiving addiction treatment for drugs or alcohol isn’t all that complicated. The first step is to reach out to us and we can start walking you through our addiction treatment services.

The initiation process begins with you undergoing a comprehensive initial assessment. This is where our medical staff and rehabilitation experts will aim to learn more about your unique situation, what your individual requirements are, and what you have been struggling with.

Once our team have a deeper understanding of your needs they will get to work on putting together a treatment plan that is especially designed for you, whilst paying particular attention to your physical well-being and any potential underlying mental health issues that may have led to your drug or alcohol problems to begin with.

Step 2 - Drug alcohol detox:

Before you can begin your addiction treatment, first you need to go through the detoxification process. This is where your body is cleansed of all of the harmful substances that you have been using.

It is important to note that the detox process will be overseen by licenced medical professionals, for your safety. We strongly advise that you do not, under any circumstances, attempt to detox from prolonged substance abuse disorder unsupervised; the withdrawal symptoms can be incredibly dangerous.

That being said, as part of our residential treatment services, our medical staff will make sure that you are as comfortable as possible and ensure that the detox runs smoothly.

After having gone through the detox, your mind and body will be ready to move onto the next stage.

Step 3 - Long term treatment efforts:

In our drug and alcohol rehab centres, you will gain access to a wide variety of psychotherapeutic treatments. These holistic therapies are tried and tested and designed to help you better understand your addiction.

One such treatment is cognitive behavioural therapy whereby, with professional help, you can explore your mental health in depth and seek to unearth any underlying traumas that may have led to your addiction. Once you know the ‘why’ behind your struggles, working to overcome them will be much, much easier.

The addiction treatment options that you will receive depends on your unique situation. Typically speaking, you will be encouraged to take part in group therapy, one-to-one counselling, and in some cases family support sessions.

Step 4 - Recovery and aftercare:

Once you have successfully completed your treatment programme at our drug and alcohol rehab facility, you will then be ready to return to your life. This is when you can go back to live with your family and return to work if you feel up to it.

Recovery from drugs or alcohol is a long term process and something that you will need to work on continually. This is why as part of your treatment programme, we will put together a free aftercare plan for you.

Any aftercare plan that has been especially designed for you is intended to help you abstain from relapsing and falling back into the negative behaviours that led to your addiction in the first place. As part of your free aftercare you may be encouraged to join group therapy sessions and support groups with other addicts who are also working on their long term recovery.

How long does rehab take?

The duration of rehab depends on your unique circumstances and requirements. Typically speaking, your average rehab programme can take:

  • 30-days

  • 60-days

  • 90-days

If the thought of being away from your family and having to step away from work doesn’t appeal to you, we do have outpatient programmes that you can explore. This means that you won’t be a resident at our treatment centre and will be free to come and go as your please, thus allowing you to work on your treatment in the evenings and at your convenience.

Please note that outpatient rehab is only really viable for those who do not have an especially severe addiction – if you are seriously struggling and fear for your health and safety, we strongly advise residential rehab as the most appropriate course of action.

Private rehab clinics Winchester

At Rehab Today by PCP, we have a number of private rehab clinics in Winchester and across the UK. These state of the art facilities are designed and well-equipped to provide you with the professional help you need to make a successful long term recovery.

We have treatment centres for drug and alcohol rehab in Winchester

Do you live in or near Winchester and wish to seek the best care and support to help you overcome your addiction? If so, all you need to do is pick up the phone and give us a call today.

We understand how frightening and even embarrassing the prospect of asking for help can be. Rest assured our rehabilitation experts know exactly what you are going through and will gladly help you with your recovery, absent judgement. In fact, many of our staff are recovering addicts themselves so you can leave shame out of it and focus entirely on getting well and taking your life back once and for all.

 

Rehab today! Get help with your addiction to alcohol drugs gaming gambling codependency

What We Do

At Rehab Today (PCP) we offer all of our clients a safe and confidential alcohol detox across all of our trusted residential centres. Our alcohol detox treatments are thoroughly regulated by the Care Quality Commission and delivered by our experienced in-house doctors and nurses. Using evidence-based research and years of experience, we tailor your alcohol detox treatment personally to you and guide you on your path to sobriety.

How We Can Help

Alcoholics feel hopeless, no matter how much they want to stop. However, it is possible to stop and to stay stopped, and even enjoy the process. Our team of professionals have helped thousands of different people like you, who are struggling to recover from active alcohol addiction.

We are ready to help you overcome this deadly disease; are you ready to begin the recovery process and reconnect with your life and the old “you”?

We have a number of programs for people with alcohol use disorder and will do everything in our power to guide you through the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and help you take back control of your life.

Why Choose Us

We operate some of the UK’s leading drug and alcohol rehab centres and have been successfully treating people and their addictions for over 15-years. We treat our clients with the highest level of respect and dignity. At Rehab Today (PCP) we pride ourselves in providing a safe, comfortable, and judgement-free environment for you to receive your alcohol detox treatment.

That, and few people understand with symptoms of alcohol withdrawal than those who have had an alcohol use disorder themselves. Many of our medically trained staff have been a patient in an alcohol detox program and can speak from personal experience of just how difficult it is – and just how amazing it feels to be free of addiction.

If you decide to tackle your addiction with us you will have access to a wealth of resources. From free advice on how to start on your journey to recovery, to medication, care from medically trained professionals, and support groups with other people who understand exactly what you are going through.

How to Get Help

Are you sick and tired of feeling sick and tired? Ready to tackle your alcohol addiction? If so then getting professional help is the first real step to overcoming your problem and starting your journey to recovery. Please do not hesitate to use the live chat function to get in touch with a member of our team or contact us via telephone for immediate support and admission. Call today on 0800 0380 480. We have a number of friendly and professional staff waiting on standby 24/7