Rehab on NHS

[OrangeTatin]

I have a DB with substantial drug use issues- cannabis, ketamine, alcohol. He also has schizophrenia.
Is his getting sent to a rehab centre on the NHS even an option?

He needs to engage with the local drug and alcohol service. Has he? If he shows willing there are NHS funded rehab beds, but not very many. Nowhere near enough for every addict.

Has he tried to quit as an outpatient?

What does he want to do?

He wants to spend his increased PIP on drugs. His response was to offer my DF some cannabis and smoke a joint in his face. He's never engaged with a drug or alcohol service. He did write a letter to his GP about his alcohol use but I don't think the appointment was very helpful. Do I have any chance of getting him to engage with the local drug and alcohol service? I think he will be dead in five years at this rate.

He’s got to want to go in. He doesn’t.

Do you have any chance of getting him to engage ? Unlikely - he needs to want to change, treatment for addiction can’t be done TO a person, it’s delivered in collaboration with the person

Unfortunately a lot of these places (private or NHS) are consent based and have a certain expectation of personal responsibility and commitment. It doesn't sound like your DB is in that frame of mind currently. Don't let him affect you and your life whilst he likely continues to spiral. It's easy to get caught up and try to rescue addicts and truly you can't change someone if they don't want that change themselves. Take care OP.

Will depend on what area you stay in. Where I’m from yes but could be up to 16 weeks on the waiting list. That’s after the case has been taken for approval/funding secured. The person needs to show willingness/motivation to engage/participation in pre-hab work. Sometimes you’ll detox in a medical facility first for a few weeks then move onto rehab for around 3-6 months.
We also have a crisis service but beds are very limited and people often leave early as no prep work done.

Would you feel comfortable saying where you are from?

The key bit here is “The person needs to show willingness/motivation to engage/participation in pre-hab work”

The short answer is, not really/realistically.

We have been in this position with BIL for years now, in reality you have to exhaust all other options before they will even consider residential rehab (community support, talking therapy, medical detox etc), and you have to really really push. If the individual doesn’t prove they are committed, prepared to engage and participate it’s a pointless task to even start.

We ended up paying for rehab for BIL, he insisted he was ready to quit and get clean once and for all. He lasted a few days, basically long enough to sober up, and then declared himself cured. Walked out, because they can’t force you to stay, and was back at it a couple days after that.

I think outpatient is best option.

DB was referred for talking therapy but my gut feeling was the therapist didn't feel comfortable with him and they fobbed him off by saying they don't offer the therapy to people with schizophrenia.

Sorry to ask a dumb question but how can I make him want to stop.

Do I cut him out of my life and say I'll see him again when he has stopped for two years, had some therapy and is going to regular support? I can't be part of a roller coaster.

You can’t make him want to stop. Nothing on god’s green earth can make an addict want to stop, only themselves.

I think you should consider logging onto some Al-Anon meetings yourself online. You can’t change him.

search local addiction support in your area - very well known one is CGL. You can send an online referral on his behalf, but can’t force him to go.

IF he would consider it - AA and NA meetings online or in person could help. Again though, he had to want this or at least be curious to wanting it. You can’t make that happen.

Is he medicated for his schizophrenia? He is likely to be ‘using’ as a way of managing - obviously not effectively

meeting finder for you - loved ones affected by addiction

https://al-anonuk.org.uk/getting-help/find-a-meeting/?advsearch=1

Heres a 9am one online this morning
Zoom meeting URL:
https://zoom.us/j/2997913982?pwd=T3INeUFJRmQIVFZocn-JJWHN6NWt2QT09
Zoom meeting ID: 299 791 3982
Zoom meeting passcode: 298935

Here's the thing. The only thing that will make him want to stop is once his physical health declines to such a point that its really bad. But it will have to be permanent damage, and he'd probably adjust first by limiting his life so much that carers would step in thus easing enough discomfort that he could continue.

Yes he's been medicated for schizophrenia since 2005. He was sectioned once in 2004 and has voluntarily readmitted himself once for respite. He takes his antipsychotic every day. He was discharged to the GP with an annual psychiatric review, no social worker, no community mental health team, been this way for 20 years. Initially he was at home, then moved to supported accommodation (largely as wasn't hugely getting on with our DF, he wasn't completely stable on meds for a while). It was there that he continued cannabis use and in every property he has been a target for a drug user who befriends him.
I've done an adult safeguarding referral who have now banned the current chaos friend from property.

It certainly doesn't sound as if your brother is ready to seek recovery, often addicts don't begin to recover until they hit rock bottom. Addicts are not motivated to seek help if they have a roof over their heads, access to money, food etc.

Good rehabs, will often ask for addicts to attend 90 NA/AA meetings in 90 days. This is to demonstrate that they are serious about recovery. There are also plenty of online and face to face meetings UK and worldwide, at all times of the day. The only requirement to attend is to want to recover.

I have addiction in my family, so I attend www.famanon.org.uk meetings. They have a website, forum, helpline, litrature etc. I have learnt tough love, setting boundaries, letting go with love, not to enable and most importantly to look after myself

The 3 C's of addiction are
You didn't CAUSE it
You can't CONTROL it
You can't CURE it