Outpatient drug addiction treatment at Priory Hospital Ticehurst House

The drug addiction treatment that we provide in Sussex is guided by best practice National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, as well as being recovery-focused and person-centred. We offer:

• Flexible outpatient therapy
• Therapy delivered in a number of different formats including:
  • 1:1 therapy
  • Family therapy
  • Couples therapy
• Tried and tested therapy types including:
  • Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
  • Person-centred therapy (PCT)
  • Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
  • Mindfulness
  • Psychoeducational sessions

You can read more about drug addiction treatment on our approach to addiction treatment page.

The addiction treatment team at Ticehurst House have extensive expertise in the treatment of drug addictions, and we ensure that our practice is evidence-based and individually tailored to your unique needs and requirements.

Individuals may become addicted to a wide range of substances, from legal prescription drugs, to illegal drugs such as cocaine and cannabis.

Some of the most common drug addictions that we treat include:

• Prescription drug addiction - prescription drugs, particularly those with painkilling properties, are typically prescribed by doctors or other medical professionals in order to alleviate pain following an operation or injury. However, as these drugs often cause feelings of relaxation, euphoria and pleasure, they can be highly addictive
• Cocaine addiction – cocaine is a dangerous illegal drug which usually comes as a white powder and can be snorted or injected. Cocaine use results in intense and prolonged euphoria which makes this drug highly addictive and causes tolerance to build rapidly
• Crack cocaine addiction – crack cocaine, also known as simply ‘crack’, takes its name from the cracking or popping noise that it makes when it is exposed to heat. Crack cocaine is typically smoked and although its effects are much more rapid when compared to cocaine, these peak quickly and only last for a few minutes. This rapid cycle of abuse is highly conducive to tolerance and addiction
• Ecstasy addiction – ecstasy, also known as ‘MDMA’, is a powerful stimulant drug, which is typically swallowed in tablet form although it can also be snorted as a powder. Ecstasy causes users to experience euphoria and high energy as well as intense feelings of elation, closeness and intimacy due to this drug causing the brain to release ‘happy chemicals’, serotonin and dopamine. The effects of ecstasy mean that this drug is popular amongst club and party-goers, and it has become one of the most widely used ‘club drugs’
• Cannabis addiction – cannabis, which is taken from the cannabis plant, is also commonly known as ‘weed’ or ‘marijuana’. Cannabis is usually smoked but it is becoming increasingly common for this drug to be cooked or baked in various foods, or even brewed into tea. Cannabis causes users to experience relaxation and tranquillity which is why this substance is so often abused
• Amphetamine addiction – amphetamine, or ‘speed’, is a potent stimulant drug that typically has the appearance of white powder or small crystals. Amphetamine is ingested by smoking, injecting, snorting, or dabbing onto the gums and causes users to experience alertness, confidence, intense euphoria and extreme bursts of energy
• Ketamine addiction – ketamine, which is also referred to as simply ‘ket’, is a dangerous anaesthetic and hallucinogenic substance that was originally designed to offer pain relief during human and animal operations. Ketamine can come as a white, grainy powder which can be swallowed or snorted, or in liquid form which can be injected directly into a vein
• New psychoactive and illicit substance (legal high) addiction – new psychoactive substances, widely known as ‘legal highs’, are powerful psychoactive substances that usually contain a range of chemicals that have not undergone adequate testing to understand the effects that they can have on the human brain and body. Illicit substances are substances that are widely available and can cause psychoactive effects when they are misused e.g. sniffing glue and solvents. New psychoactive and illicit substances tend to mimic the effects of illegal drugs and can cause significant harm and death. One of the most commonly abused new psychoactive and illicit substances is a drug known as spice.

As well as taking and administering drugs on a regular basis, the following are all common signs and symptoms that a harmful drug addiction may be present:

• Finding that you need to take more of the drug(s) in order to experience the desired ‘high’ – this is due to developing a tolerance towards the substance
• Experiencing withdrawal effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or excessive sweating, if you haven’t taken the drug(s) for a certain amount of time
• Ensuring that you have a constant supply of the drug(s)
• Spending lots of money on the drug(s), even if you can’t afford this
• Focusing more and more time on obtaining and using the drug(s)
• Lying to loved ones about your drug use
• Social withdrawal
• Driving or engaging in other risky behaviours when under the influence of the drug(s)
• Taking the drug(s) for stress relief
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Increased anger and irritability
• Sleep problems, including insomnia

Read more about the signs and symptoms of drug addiction.