There is no question that drug and alcohol abuse is a growing problem UK-wide and a persistent problem in London. England's capital is one of the most dynamic cities in all of Europe and home to all sorts of people and varied activities. So one would expect that any sort of activity found elsewhere, including alcohol and drug abuse, would also be prevalent in London. However, just how serious is the problem?

According to Time Out London's 2013 drug survey, it is pretty serious. London is a hotspot for narcotics and a channel for new drugs coming into England and Wales. As far as crimes related to drug and alcohol use are concerned, the Westminster area alone recorded nearly 3,600 offenses in 2012.

According to the survey, 90% of the respondents admitted to using marijuana. An additional 70% said they used ecstasy, 62% claimed using cocaine, and 45% admitted using amphetamines. It is a pretty dismal picture, indeed.

If you find yourself among those in the London area abusing drugs or alcohol, you have a choice to make. Either you can continue living a lifestyle that promises to only become more destructive with each passing day, or you can get help at one of the area's rehab clinics. We urge you to make the latter choice. Overcoming a drug or alcohol addiction is one of the best things you can do for yourself, in both the short and long terms.

Reasons to Rehab

It can be difficult to see through the haze of drug and alcohol addiction to understand what life would be like without substance abuse. Let us assure you that there are plenty of good reasons to rehab – even if you cannot see them. What are those reasons? Here are just a few:

• Your Health – Nothing good can come of drug and alcohol addiction where your own personal health is concerned. Addictive substances are, by their nature, damaging to your body. Much of that damage is to the brain, but addictive substances also harm the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and immune system. Rehabbing is the first step toward improving your health.

• Your Family – Addiction is not something that affects only those who drink or take drugs. It also affects family members who must live with addicts. Family members include spouses, domestic partners, parents, and children. Trust us when we say they suffer right along with you. If you will not rehab for yourself, would you consider rehabbing for them?

• Your Finances – As a drug or alcohol user, you already know how expensive your habit is. You are spending an awful lot of money for a temporary experience that, more often than not, turns out not to be worth it. You can take a giant step toward pulling yourself out of financial ruin by getting rid of the one thing costing you so much money.

• Your Community – Drug and alcohol abuse takes a heavy toll on a community as well. Between healthcare costs and crime, communities spend a lot of money combating the drug and alcohol problem. Drug-related activity also leads to community blight and lost economic opportunity.

• Your Future – Lastly, there's your future to think about. If you continue down the road of alcohol and drug abuse, you will have no future. Now is the time to start working on your future by going through rehab.

How Rehab Works

There are multiple opportunities for rehab in London and the Greater London area. Rehab is available for alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, legal highs, and behavioural addictions. We can help you locate the rehab most appropriate for your circumstances.

The rehab process is pretty much the same regardless of the substances you use. So let's talk about alcohol as an example of how rehab works. Overcoming an alcohol addiction begins by admitting you have a problem that needs professional help. After that, it is a three-step process.

The first step is to detox. It is the first step because your physical dependence on alcohol must be overcome before any other kind of rehab will be effective. You can detox at a hospital, a private rehab clinic or at home. The best thing about it is that detox can usually be completed in about seven days. Then it's on to step two.

The second step is what we call rehabilitative therapy. This series of psychotherapeutic treatments and group support helps you deal with psychological and emotional issues. Remember, addiction is more than just physical. It involves the mind as well. Where detox helps to cleanse the body, rehabilitative therapy cleanses the mind.

The third and final step is known as aftercare. It involves providing additional support services and counselling in the weeks and months following the completion of rehabilitative therapy. Oftentimes, aftercare includes one-on-one counselling and active participation in a community support group like Alcoholics Anonymous.

Depending on the severity of your problem, the total combined time for detox and rehabilitative therapy is between 4 and 12 weeks. Aftercare can be utilised for as long as necessary. For some people, a few months of aftercare is sufficient. Others continue for up to a year or longer.

Where to Rehab

Choosing where to undergo your rehab is very important. Rehab is available through the NHS, private clinics, charities, and community-based organisations. Yet not every programme and facility is right for every recovering addict. The best choice for you depends on a number of different factors that need to be carefully considered.

Having said all of that, a large number of alcohol and drug users in the London area choose to rehab using the free services provided by the NHS. If you are considering doing the same, you need to know that the NHS does not provide residential rehab of any kind. All of their services are offered on an outpatient basis through hospitals and health clinics. You should also know that the NHS is oversubscribed most of the time. That means you might be put on the waiting list before being treated.

As helpful as rehab services from the NHS can be, we believe a better option is to seek treatment at a private rehab clinic. Private clinics tend to have higher success rates because these are focused only on addiction recovery. Without having to handle everything the NHS is tasked with, these clinics can concentrate all of their resources on helping clients get well.

Rehabbing at a private clinic offers you the added bonus of a distraction-free, residential environment where you are able to focus on your recovery. The private clinics we work with are staffed by medical professionals and support staff who truly care about the health and well-being of each and every client. They are there to listen, teach, encourage, and challenge you as you seek to break free from alcohol or drugs.

If you are willing to undergo treatment for your abuse or addiction issues, we can help. We can provide you with a free and comprehensive assessment of your circumstances, recommendations for treatment, and even assistance in gaining admission to a programme. Please do not hesitate to contact us any time of day or night. Our counsellors are waiting to assist you in any way they can.

[b]Sources:[/b]

Time Out London – http://www.timeout.com/london/health/time-out-london-drugs-survey-2013