Teen Alcohol Addiction Rehab Recommendations

[FenShipMum]

Hello,

My almost 20 y/o DD has taken the brave decision to go to a rehab facility for her alcohol dependency. She has been struggling for two years, particularly since going to university, and despite trying AA thinks she would benefit from residential rehab.

Hopefully, this is going to be a life-changing experience. However, since I do not have medical insurance, it's also going to be hugely expensive, so I would like to make sure she has a positive experience in a safe environment that really helps her through this.

Does anyone have any experience of this kind of treatment and could recommend a facility - ideally in the South/East of England?

I have heard only of The Priory - the most famous and I imagine more expensive - and I don't know anyone personally who has gone through this that I can ask for advice.

Thanks so much!

As a recovering alcoholic please focus on what support there will be after the rehab as that is just as important. Personally,AA saved my life so I would look for a rehab that's based around the 12 steps and that connects them to local meetings throughout their stay.

I've never done inpatient but the outpatient NHS one I attended in my local borough was actually outstanding. Can your GP refer you?

And if AA isn't her bag I thoroughly recommend SMART recovery. It's also community but sort of CBT practical tips.

Thanks so much for your advice. She is registered to a different GP from myself, as she is living away from home at university. However, she tells me she has been referred to an outpatient NHS service, but feels this will not be enough for her - at least initially. She had severe withdrawal symptoms when she tried to quit by herself (with the support of AA) so feels she needs to do an inpatient monitored detox. I think she may need to do 2/3 weeks inpatient and then she might be able to manage outpatient, followed up by AA support. I really hope this will help her turn the corner.

She has found an AA support group she likes but the actual detox process she is finding incredibly hard due to the shaking, nausea, vomiting and inability to eat anything etc.

Clouds

Bosence Farm Cornwall - housing benefit can pay. It's not a private facility.

Not all rehabs are the same. Some are money making ventures with little or no support afterwards.

Residential isn't a quick fix either. It's a good place to get space but you have to learn to live alcohol and drug free for the rest of your life.

Being a young female it is tough you can feel you're missing out on a lot and there will be people who try to advantage too.

Your daughter strong older long sober clean females to guide her in this. It's good if young people are around too however so you don't feel alone.

If she "gets this" the world is at her feet and her life far from over just beginning.

Sorry I'm aware I've missed out words in my post!

She cannot quit cold turkey, alcohol withdrawal kills. She can reduce slowly but that is so so hard. Rehab will give her the medical and controlled detox in 7 days. Some facilities will allow stays for 7 or 10 days to complete detox and give some rehab skills. Please ask her to be aware that if she enters a 12 step rehab then it is very very focused on that. I found AA just too much, you end up thinking about drinking or the affects of your drinking, the bad times, the horror you put yourself or others through constantly... Yes it does have good results but the evidence is unclear if it is much higher long-term. However, I have very good friends who would not be here without it. Some community addiction services can do home detoxes, it is tough and terrifying but ultimately that got me clean and sober. You are wonderful to support and help her, please remember this is an evil disease which literally rewires the brain.

I have been effectively rejected by the local drug/alcohol service, and deemed not in need of medical detox, a questionable decision. My own enquiries and investigations into private provision suggest that even hugely expensive private detox and rehab facilities are of dubious value. None are able to cite any scientific evidence of longer term benefit. I realise this is not particularly helpful, but please be very wary of spending a lot of money on something of questionable value.

I think it depends on what you're after from a rehab. You can take a huge amount from rehab: skills, ways of living, friendship, therapy, CBT, DBT techniques which will help keep you you sober, but it is also not necessarily the magic bullet.

@Redburnett if that's the case then you can do detox at home without supervision, you just need to be super careful. Your GP can make a plan for you. Many many addiction services can't medical detox, it requires too much supervision for their staffing levels 😔

SMART recovery have almost daily online meetings that may be useful, details on website. There is also a handbook you can buy.
smartrecovery.org.uk/online-meetings/