Alcohol rehab
Get help for alcohol addiction from our world class experts at Priory.
- Evidence-based treatment options
- Online and face-to-face treatment
- Highly qualified specialists
For many people, enjoying the occasional alcoholic drink can be a harmless pleasure. However, if your drinking is becoming more frequent, this can soon spiral into a serious problem. Alcohol addiction, also known as ‘alcoholism’ or ‘alcohol use disorder’, develops when someone drinks alcohol in an excessive way, leading to their body becoming dependent on alcohol in order to function on a daily basis.
At Priory, we recognise that without expert support, alcohol addiction can cause a range of long-term physical and psychological problems, and can even be fatal. However, it’s important to understand that you don’t have to struggle alone; alcohol addiction is treatable and we can help you every step of the way towards recovery.
Our alcohol rehab centres
At Priory, we believe that the treatment environment is just as important as the treatment itself when it comes to alcohol addiction recovery.
Our beautiful hospital facilities, several of which hold listed building status, create nurturing and comfortable settings, providing an ideal space for you to unwind, relax, and concentrate on your recovery. Our wellness centers provide discreet and inviting atmospheres in central areas, ensuring convenient access to flexible outpatient treatment for alcohol addiction.
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Alcohol addiction treatment near me
We have alcohol rehab centres located throughout the country, ensuring that you can access the support you need in a location that's convenient for you. To find your nearest treatment centre, please use the search form below.
When to get alcohol addiction help
There are a number of signs to look out for that may suggest you’re struggling with alcoholism and should seek support.
Some of the most common symptoms of alcohol addiction include:
- Finding that you’ve built a tolerance to alcohol, meaning that you need to drink more to feel ‘drunk’
- Drinking heavily on your own, even to the point of passing out
- Intense cravings for alcohol, to the extent that these affect your mood and concentration levels
- Missing out on special occasions due to your drinking habits
- Feeling as though alcohol has taken over your life
- Lying or being deceptive about your drinking habits
- Continuing to drink despite the negative effects this has had on your home, work, social life or your mental health
As well as looking out for the signs above, you can also use a screening test to determine whether you might be struggling with an addiction to alcohol. A commonly-used method is the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT). This consists of a series of questions that help you to identify your level of risk for alcohol dependence.
What happens at Priory's alcohol rehab?
At Priory, the first step in your alcohol rehabilitation journey is to go through our free alcohol addiction assessment. This takes place with one of our addiction specialists at any one of our addiction rehab centres across the UK. Our free assessment guide offers in-depth information on what can be expected if you seek help and support for an addiction with Priory.
Detox
Depending on the severity of your alcohol addiction, you may need to go through our medically assisted detox process when you first come in for treatment. During detox, you’ll be supported to stop drinking and we’ll also help you to manage any unpleasant alcohol withdrawal symptoms you might experience when you no longer have alcohol in your system.
During alcohol detox, you’ll have access to round-the-clock care to make sure you’re comfortable at all times. We can also prescribe medication if needed, to help with your symptoms.
Therapy
As soon as you’re physically able, you’ll be able to commence with our intensive programme of addiction therapy. Therapy usually takes place as part of a group, although you will also have individual sessions with members of your addiction treatment team.
We use a whole range of tried and tested therapeutic methods to help you with your addiction. These include techniques such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), transactional analysis (TA) and mindfulness. We also offer a wide range of wellbeing activities to help you stay healthy in mind, body and spirit while you’re with us. These can vary depending on the rehab centre you’re receiving treatment at, but can include things like meditation, yoga and other exercise activities such as walking.
Aftercare
We’re committed to your ongoing recovery when you leave treatment, which is why we offer free aftercare to everyone who completes an addiction treatment programme. Aftercare provides you with ongoing therapy and support, as well as access to alumni events, helping you stay connected within our community and continue building on your recovery.
Why do people become alcoholics?
Ultimately, people become alcoholics because of a process known as ‘positive reinforcement’. Positive reinforcement encourages certain patterns of behaviour to form by offering a perceived ‘reward’ for that behaviour.
In the context of alcoholism, drinking can cause you to experience ‘positive’ outcomes such as feeling confident, relaxed and carefree, which can mean that you want to drink alcohol over and over again to feel the same effects.
Over time, repeated drinking can mean you develop a physical tolerance to alcohol. With a high tolerance, you’ll need to drink even more to feel these effects, and will experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking. This can then feed into a vicious circle because you need to drink to get rid of your withdrawal symptoms, causing the cycle to continue.
Who is most likely to become an alcoholic?
Research also shows that men are more likely than women to become alcoholics. A study reported by the CDC found that in 2019, 7% of men had an alcohol use disorder, compared with 4% of women. In addition, men are also more likely to binge drink than women, and have a higher rate of alcohol-related hospitalisations than women.
In addition, a review by Lancet Psychiatry found that people who are already struggling with a mental health condition, such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, may be at greater risk of developing alcohol addiction. This is because these people may use alcohol to self-medicate and bring temporary relief from their psychological symptoms.
Causes of alcoholism
There are a number of potential causes and risk factors for alcoholism. These include:
Family history and genetics
You're at increased risk of developing alcohol addiction if you have a close family member with an addiction, such as a parent or sibling. Research suggests there are significant genetic factors and hereditary elements of alcohol addiction. It might also be down to environmental influences and the result of witnessing heavy drinking in the home, potentially from a very young age, which may have normalised this behaviour for you. It might also be that these nature and nurture elements both have an impact on the likelihood of you developing an addiction.
Life events
Stressful life events have also been linked to someone developing an alcohol addiction. Examples might include going through a bereavement, losing your job, experiencing a traumatic event or struggling with financial problems. The stress and trauma that surround these types of events may lead you to try to self-medicate with alcohol, which can lead you to develop a harmful addiction. These alcohol statistics also show that 60% of people in alcohol treatment also need mental health treatment for co-occurring conditions.
Experiencing abuse and/or neglect in childhood
Experiencing abuse or neglect, especially if this happened when you were a child, can also increase your risk of developing alcoholism in later life. This may be due to the fact that you weren’t able to develop healthy coping mechanisms as a result of the abuse and/or neglect you suffered, which means you may turn to drink and drugs to help you cope with life.
Social factors
There are a number of social factors that may also contribute to the chances of you becoming an alcoholic. These can include things like your culture, religion, work and your current life stage. For example, if you’ve recently started university, your drinking may have increased due to the ‘culture’ around student drinking, fresher’s week and wanting to make friends.
Peer pressure is another social factor that can play a role. When your partner, friends or work colleagues drink regularly and encourage you to join them, it’s natural for this to influence your own choices about alcohol.
Underage drinking
The age you start drinking can also have an impact on your chances of struggling with addiction. If this happens early in life, or when you’re still underage, it can make it more likely that you’ll develop problems in the future.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the younger the age of drinking onset, the greater the chance of you developing an alcohol use disorder in the future. The NIAAA found that young people who began drinking before the age of 15 were 4 times more likely to develop alcohol addiction than people who started drinking at the legal age.
Alcohol addiction treatment
Our highly qualified treatment team have extensive clinical experience in treating alcohol addiction. We can deliver a wide range of established techniques to help you to address your symptoms, and resolve the underlying causes and triggers of alcohol addiction.
We ensure that everyone who seeks support with us is placed at the centre of their rehab journey. This means you'll benefit from a collaborative treatment experience that produces the best outcomes for you.
In addition, all of our alcohol treatment centres offer peaceful, homely and highly compassionate environments. At Priory, we provide you with the ideal setting to address your challenges and get well again.
Remember, you don’t have to struggle with alcohol addiction. Recovery is possible and we can help you get back on track.
Introducing Priory Hospital Woodbourne
Priory Hospital Woodbourne in Birmingham is one of the leading inpatient rehabilitation services in the Midlands. Helping people struggling with alcoholism and drug abuse to challenge and overcome their addictions. Starting with medically assisted detox, leading into intensive therapy, Priory Hospital Woodbourne can help you live your life again.
Hear more below:
FAQs
Here, you'll find some commonly asked questions about addiction treatment in London.
How much is alcohol rehab?
The cost of alcohol rehab can vary significantly across the UK, influenced by various factors including the type of treatment programme, its duration, the level of care required, and the amenities provided by the treatment centre. At Priory, we provide a diverse array of treatment options, from outpatient sessions to residential stays, each tailored to meet individual needs and circumstances. For precise pricing and to discuss the most suitable treatment plan for your situation, we recommend contacting us directly. Our team is equipped to provide detailed information on the costs associated with each option, helping you make an informed decision that aligns with your needs and budget.
How do I pay for rehab?
There are two main ways to pay for rehab at Priory:
- Self-paying - you can choose to pay for your treatment yourself. This option allows you the flexibility to select the specific treatment and duration that best suits your needs
- Private medical insurance - Priory is an approved provider for all the UK’s leading private medical insurers, including Aviva, AXA Health, Bupa, Cigna, Healix, Vitality and WPA. You can use your private health insurance to cover the cost of your treatment, subject to the terms of your policy
For more detailed information on self-funding your treatment or utilising your private medical insurance, please call us on 0800 098 4816 or visit our fees and funding page. This will provide you with all the necessary details to make an informed decision about financing your rehab.
What if I'm in crisis?
Priory’s customer service team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure that people in crisis can be signposted to the best possible support, as quickly as possible. For immediate crisis support, they may direct you to your local NHS facilities. The specialist teams at our residential facilities can help to stabilise people in need of immediate assistance, including providing access to medically assisted detoxification for drug and alcohol addictions, where required.
How long should I stay in rehab?
The duration of your stay in rehab depends on several factors, including the severity of your addiction, your personal health needs, and your progress through treatment. At Priory, we tailor our treatment programmes to each person to ensure the most effective care.
Twenty-eight days is the recommended treatment length for inpatient addiction treatment, although this can vary depending on your individual needs and the type of treatment you're receiving with us.
To determine the most appropriate length of stay for your specific circumstances, it's best to have a detailed assessment with our specialists who can recommend a treatment plan suited to your needs.
Is there free rehab available?
While there are some free rehabilitation services available through the NHS and charity programmes, it's important to consider that these options may have long waiting lists and might not offer the same level of comprehensive and tailored care that private facilities like Priory provide.
At Priory, our focus is on delivering high-quality, evidence-based treatment tailored to each person's needs and structured within NICE guidelines. This approach helps to ensure the most effective recovery outcomes. Investing in a private rehab programme at Priory can significantly enhance your journey to recovery through immediate access to therapy, medical support, and a range of specialised treatment options.
We also offer various payment options and are an approved provider for the UK’s leading private medical insurers. We encourage you to contact us to discuss the most suitable treatment options for you and to explore how these can be funded.
Further information
Private medical insurance
All of the services that we offer at Priory can be funded through private medical insurance. This includes:
- Mental health treatment
- Addiction treatment
- Eating disorder treatment
All clients will have access to our highly skilled and accredited clinicians, many of whom are published experts in the field of mental health and addiction treatment. Whatever your needs, we're committed to working with you to get your life back on track.