Seven-day, medically assisted withdrawal detox in North London
If you are suffering from an addiction to alcohol or drugs, an important first step may be for you to undergo a comprehensive detoxification or ‘detox’ process, before you commence with addiction therapy. Detox is the systematic process by which all traces of harmful and addictive substances are removed from your body, whilst managing the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that you may experience when you no longer have alcohol or drugs in your system. The detox process at North London lasts for seven days and is led by a specialist team of consultants and other highly qualified mental health professionals. You will also have access to round-the-clock mental health nursing care for the duration of the detox process. In addition, we are able to offer medical intervention and prescribe medication during detox if this is required, in order to ensure that you are physically stable in preparation to start addiction therapy.
Residential addiction treatment
Once all traces of alcohol and drugs have been removed from your body during detox, you will be ready to commence with intensive inpatient (residential) treatment and therapy. Inpatient treatment provides you with much-needed structure, 24-hour monitoring and support, and also takes you away from your day-to-day life in order to remove any negative influences or temptations that may be contributing to your addiction. Inpatient treatment involves regular meetings with your consultant psychiatrist, which take place twice a week for the full 28-day programme, and you will also benefit from continual input from a team of therapists, as well as 24/7 nursing care.
North London’s residential Addiction Treatment Programme consists of a wide range of established therapeutic methods, as well as access to a number of 12-Step support groups that take place on-site. One of the main areas of focus during the Addiction Treatment Programme is to provide you with the coping strategies and tools to improve your lifestyle and ensure a positive and fulfilling future.
At North London, we understand that the prospect of residential treatment can be overwhelming, and it can be one of the hardest decisions that you have to make, not only on a personal level but also within the competing demands of family, work and your daily routine. However, you can be assured that we have successfully treated many people on our Addiction Treatment Programme and we are committed to ensuring that you receive the care and attention that you need, in order to fully address your addiction.
Day care addiction treatment
Day care addiction treatment can be used as a step-down in treatment intensity once you have completed your 28-day inpatient programme. This form of therapy consists of you attending North London for a set number of days each week, depending on the intensity of the support that you require, and taking part in addiction therapy groups alongside current residential patients. However, unlike our residential programme, you will not stay at the hospital overnight and will return home following a day of therapy. Day care is useful for individuals who still require comprehensive support for their addiction, but no longer need intensive 24-hour monitoring.
Trauma reduction programme
We also offer a five-day trauma reduction programme during addiction treatment, which can either take place during the residential Addiction Treatment Programme or be embedded within day care. This workshop has been specifically designed to address traumatic childhood memories and issues, which are quite common in the backgrounds of addicts.
Childhood trauma (which does not need to be sexual or physical), can result in individuals developing a condition known as ‘co-dependency’, as adults. Co-dependency is characterised by an individual developing dysfunctional relationship dynamics such as excessive reliance on other people and an obsession with gaining the approval of others, and has been found to be common in those who struggle with addictive behaviours. The purpose of trauma reduction therapy is to address an individual’s traumatic memories and their resulting co-dependency, reduce the impact of this on addictive behaviours, and crucially, help to prevent relapse.
Whilst trauma reduction therapy at North London is primarily a component of our Addiction Treatment Programme, it can also be used as part of our general mental health treatment programmes, as this form of therapy has also been found to be effective in alleviating the symptoms of conditions such as depression.