NHS Rehab | Benefits, Drawbacks & What to Expect

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Last Updated:

January 8th, 2025

In recent decades, addiction has been classed as a type of chronic disorder. Addiction rehab is a form of medical treatment. This means that if you are struggling with substance issues, you are entitled to support through the national health system in the UK. Some individuals may struggle with the idea of reaching out to a health professional for support with a drug or alcohol issue. However, medical professionals are frequently trained in these areas and are therefore able to take a sensitive and appropriate response to addiction-related concerns.

NHS Rehab

‘Rehab’ is in itself an umbrella term – it refers to any form of targeted support in the context of addiction. The types of rehab support available on the NHS can vary from region to region. It will largely depend on the services in your area, the length of waiting lists and what types of treatment you have already utilised previously.

Why are there different types of rehab?

Rehab on the NHS can take many different forms. This can include:

Residential rehab
Outpatient rehab
Talking therapies
Detoxification
Medication
Self-help
Support groups

Research has suggested that a multi-intervention approach is the most effective.This is because addiction itself is a complex, multi-layered phenomena. Addictions, like many other types of health conditions, can have several underlying causes.

Researchers in addiction psychology have suggested that the following are often linked to the development of an addiction:

Childhood abuse, trauma or neglect
Experience of an abusive relationship
Chronic stress
Experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event
Bereavement
Having a chronic physical illness
Having a mental health condition
Growing up with addiction in the family or childhood home
Specific genetic factors
Dopamine deficiency leading to reward-seeking behaviours

Alongside these causes there can be several contributing factors or ‘triggers’ that can exacerbate symptoms. These can include significant life events such as divorce, grief, a job loss or financial precarity. Whilst it is not possible to fully predict or control these factors, a multi-pronged approach to rehab is typically the most apt form of rehab for addiction as a multidimensional condition.

Different types of interventions can address these various interweaving factors. Some of the above experiences need to be unpicked in psychotherapeutic forms of rehab. Others can be addressed more efficiently through medication and other forms of symptom management. By speaking with a professional about your experiences, you can begin to assess what forms of support are most appropriate for you.

How does NHS rehab work?

Accessing support

Typically, you access either NHS alcohol rehab or NHS drug rehab by being referred. This typically involves speaking with a primary care clinician, such as a general practitioner (GP). However, there are some instances where people may not feel comfortable speaking to their GP about their situation. When this occurs, the best option is to make contact with your local drug treatment service directly.

Reaching out for help can feel like a mammoth task. However, doing so places your feet firmly in the right place for the climb of recovery to take place. When you first see a GP, you may be asked to speak about your current situation. This can include being asked questions about your physical and mental health, alongside some lifestyle queries, such as:

How often do you drink, and how much?
Do you use recreational drugs?
Do you misuse prescription medications or legal highs?
Do you smoke?
Are you currently safe?
Do you feel that you are at risk of harm from anyone, or may be a risk to anyone around you?
What is your current housing situation?

These kinds of questions can give the health professional a clearer understanding of your situation which will allow them to assess what types of support may be most appropriate for you.

You may then be referred to private drug treatment through the NHS, put into contact with a local addictions services charity, or access mental health support or medication through your GP or a specialist team.

Appointments with specialist services

Attending your first appointment with a specialist service can be daunting. Often, you may be asked some of the same questions a GP may have asked beforehand. You may also be asked to give some more information on your living situation, including details on your family, work and current living conditions. During this appointment, you may be asked to provide a sample of some kind. This will then be used for a drug screening.

Following this, you will be allocated a keyworker. This key worker will be a contact throughout your treatment and will help you build a treatment plan. The type of treatment you access will vary and could take the form of:

Psychotherapy
Medically assisted therapy
Detox
Self-help / support groups
Help with harm reduction
Residential rehab

In the context of the NHS, it is less common to access inpatient rehab (where you temporarily stay in a rehab centre for the duration of your treatment). This is usually due to long waiting lists, limited places and high costs. This means that you are likely to engage with other forms of support before a residential rehab option is offered. This does not mean that residential rehab is not offered in severe cases – it solely means that this may not be the first option utilised.

NHS addiction rehab: The benefits

There are several forms of rehab available – NHS rehab is not always suitable for everyone, but it does have some tangible benefits, such as:

being cost-effective (treatment is accessed for free)
you can maintain close contact with your GP or primary care team
community support can be accessed
with being largely accessible at home, you can maintain your usual routine commitments

How Much Does it Cost?

Like other forms of healthcare, rehab on the NHS is available free of cost. If you pay for your prescriptions, then you may be expected to pay the cost of any medications you are recommended to use. There may be instances where you need to pay to cover the cost of travel to treatment, but the treatment itself will be free of charge.

How do I know when I need rehab?

Sometimes, it can be difficult to identify when an addiction has taken hold. This is often because a key aspect of addiction psychology leads us to believe that we ‘need’ to maintain specific behaviours in order to feel better. This can lead us down the route of denial and make it hard for us to accept that we have a problem.

Potential signs of an addiction include:

being unable to stop thinking about substances
feeling guilt about substance use
trying to reduce substance use and failing
needing to use substances to get through the day (especially in the morning)

If you are worried that you or a loved one need help for addiction, then asking for advice – whether through the NHS or through a private provider – is always advised.

Accessing rehab centres near me

NHS online recommends researching local drug and alcohol rehabs through the following avenues:

making an appointment with your GP
speaking to your local drug service
Contacting us at Lindwood House

Frequently asked questions

How much does NHS rehab cost?

NHS rehab is free for patients in the UK. Costs are covered by the National Health Service through taxation.

How do I get into rehab with the NHS?

To access rehab through the NHS, you typically need to visit your GP, who can assess your needs and refer you to a specialist service or addiction treatment programme.

How long is the wait time for NHS rehab?

Wait times for NHS rehab can vary significantly based on demand and location. Generally, depending on the availability of services in your area, you may expect a wait time of a few weeks to several months.