World-Renowned Addiction Treatment
Choosing the best rehab centre for your needs can be difficult, there are many factors to weigh up including the treatment programme, cost, reviews, privacy and much more. Here are some reasons to support your choice of Castle Craig as the place to begin your recovery.
- Treating addiction and dual diagnosis since 1988
- High success rate
- Unrivalled facilities
- Range of therapies
- Two individual therapy sessions per week, a variety of groups, complementary therapies
- Consultant Psychiatrist-led medical team
- Recognised by a variety of private insurers – BUPA, AXA, WPA, GeoBlue, Allianz and more, all trust us to care for their patients
- Rated Outstanding on inspections by Intertek ISO 9001 in 2024
- Private, countryside location
- Quick admission
- High patient satisfaction
- Medical management
- Women-only rehab accommodation and sessions
- Aftercare: 6 months (included for self-funding patients)
40 Years of Expertise
Castle Craig was founded by Peter and Dr Margaret Ann McCann who are two of the UK’s leading experts in the field of addiction treatment. They opened their first treatment centre (Clouds House, Wiltshire) in 1983 and also founded EATA (European Addiction Treatment Agency) in the early 1990s and stood on the board of the International Council on Alcohol and Addictions.
For the full story of the McCanns’ journey helping those struggling with alcohol and drug addiction, read this blog article.
Castle Craig is now a second-generation family-run clinic, and our core values remain the same – centred around the vision and compassion that has always been at the heart of what we do.
Our mission has stayed true to its original focus of helping those with addiction “achieve stable abstinence, empowering them, so they may enjoy a fulfilling, sober, meaningful and productive life in recovery.”
Our Treatment Is Proven to Work – 36 Years, 10,000 Patients and Consistently High Success Rates
No treatment centre develops and grows for 36 years without offering treatment that genuinely works. Over 10,000 patients have passed through our doors since 1988, and a majority of our patients who completed treatment have gone on to achieve long-term, abstinent recovery from their addiction. Our most recent research shows 73% of our patients achieving long-term abstinence, and 92% showing overall improvements.
Our treatment is evidence-based, and our independent outcomes studies provide further evidence that our treatment works for the majority of patients.
Lynda’s Recovery Journey
Lynda shares her inspiring journey from the depths of addiction to a life in recovery with Castle Craig. Listen to her powerful story as she reflects on past struggles and how rehab transformed her life.
Unrivalled Facilities
Castle Craig is extensively resourced so that our patients are kept busy and stimulated for the weeks that they are with us:
- 50-acre woodland estate
- Campus setting
- Dedicated detox unit
- Two medical centres
- Communal rooms
- Therapy rooms
- Dining rooms
- Gym and playing fields
- Shop with toiletries, snacks, clothes, books
- Computer room
- Chapel/prayer room
- Animals: alpacas, dogs, squirrels, rabbits, birds
- Transport service to/from nearby international travel hubs
Privacy in 50 Acres of Beautiful and Inspiring Countryside
Castle Craig is situated on 50 acres of private woodland, guaranteeing you privacy, inspiration and tranquillity as you recover. Our private grounds enable us to offer outdoor fitness activities. Studies into “green therapy” have shown that the countryside and fresh outside air can bring relief to a variety of health and emotional conditions and psychological disorders.
In the beautiful hills and woodlands of the Scottish Borders, patients are blessed with freedom and detachment from the outside world, yet we are easily accessible being located only 40 minutes from Edinburgh International Airport. Once you arrive through the entrance and drive up the private country road into the estate, no other houses or roads can be seen ensuring privacy and confidentiality.
The air is fresh and clean, wildlife, trees and plants are everywhere and the private water supply comes straight out of the surrounding hills – it is good enough to bottle.
Learn more about the experience of Castle Craig.
Recognised by Other Experts
Castle Craig is regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (formerly the Care Commission). During a recent. Intertek International ISO 9001 quality standard inspection, the management of the hospital was described as ‘exemplary’.
98% Patient Satisfaction Rate
In our most recent survey, core elements of our programme such as nursing care, individual counselling, detoxification and group therapy all scored 90% or above, and overall satisfaction with our treatment experience was 98%.
More poignant than satisfaction levels are the messages we received from our former patients, often many years after they’ve left Castle Craig. We publish a selection of them online, or you can visit our social media pages on Facebook Instagram and LinkedIn to see what people are saying about us.
We Are Proud of Our 98% Patient Satisfaction Levels and We Publish the Results Online.
Fully Medically Managed
This is an important fact. You can be assured that your treatment team is led by expert doctors, extensively trained, fully GMC registered, engaged in continuous professional development and who undergo external, independent annual appraisals.
They are employed at Castle Craig and attend throughout the week and are on-call throughout the night. We meet the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s highest level of care which is ‘medically managed inpatient detoxification and inpatient treatment’. This is the highest level of medical input and is distinct from a service that is simply under medical supervision or even medical direction.
Medical Team
Our medical team includes internationally recognised experts in the field of addictions who work for us full-time or as visiting specialists:
- Medical Director, Dr Peter McCann, MBBS, MSc, MRCPsych,
- Dr Malcolm Bruce, Consultant Psychiatrist in Addiction
- Dr Margaret Ann McCann, MB BCh, BAO (Co-Chair),
- Professor Jonathan Chick, MA (Cantab), MPhil, MBChB, DSc, FRCPsych, FRCPE,
- Dr Maria Kelly, MBChB, DipPsych, MRCPsych
- Dr Giedre Putelyte
- Dr Felicity Sasada
- Dr Michael McCann, MD, MA, DIH, MFOM (Board Member).
We Innovate
We Follow New Evidence-Based Treatments, and We Conduct Our Research
- In 1988 Castle Craig was the first treatment centre to bring the 12 step facilitation programme to Scotland.
- In 1999 we were the first treatment centre to introduce accreditation for all therapists.
- In 2008 we were the first to offer hyperbaric oxygen therapy for patients in treatment (discontinued in 2024).
In these and many other ways, Castle Craig has always been willing to help lead the way in our field of work.
Download Our Brochure
Extensive Complementary Therapies
From personal fitness training to equine-assisted therapy; art group to mindfulness meditation; alpaca walking to music evenings – there are complementary therapies for everyone to benefit from at Castle Craig.
Wide Range of Therapies
Many people who suffer from addiction experience other mental health and emotional conditions such as depression, grief, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder which also need to be understood, helped and treated. We carry out mental health assessments and personalised care plans, combined with a wide range of interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy, eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), group therapy, family therapy and grief therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Reality Therapy, Motivational Interviewing.
We also include two one-to-one therapy sessions per week in our treatment programme – many other addiction centres do not offer this much one-to-one therapy. And we offer the option of purchasing extra therapy sessions on top of this.
Quick Assessment and Admission
We offer rapid assessment and admissions – we are ready to help you as soon as you are ready for help. If you want treatment at Castle Craig there won’t be any waiting list to join or any delays in getting you into treatment. Our admissions department is available to respond to your call in the evenings up to 8 pm, and at weekends.
We Are Recognised by Major Insurers
Thanks to our consultant psychiatric care, Exceptional HIS rating, and our ISO 9001 accreditation, Castle Craig is recognised by major insurance companies both in the UK and internationally. Contact our admissions team for more information.
Our Partners & Medical Insurers
Each Patient Matters to Us – Before, During and After Treatment
At the core of Castle Craig’s values are compassion, empathy and care. The staff are inspired by and dedicated to their work – many have fought their illnesses and, once fully recovered, have committed to helping others. One of Castle Craig’s symbols is the mustard tree, which is significant because recovery from addiction is said to grow out of a small seed into a great tree, which in turn provides support to others entering recovery.
After their time at Castle Craig has finished, patients are invited to return as guests every year for an annual day of the reunion and to attend continuing care. Recovery Club allows us to keep in touch with our alumni on Facebook and Instagram, so they can keep gaining more from their experience at Castle Craig.
Contact Us
Castle Craig has been renewing lives and helping families affected by addictions since 1988.
The staff at Castle Craig are here to answer your questions about treatment and the admissions process. To speak to someone who can help call 01721 546 263 or email us via our contact form.
How Can Castle Craig Help?
Who will I speak to when I call Castle Craig?
When you call you will reach our Help Centre team who will give you all the information you need to help you decide whether to choose treatment at Castle Craig. If you decide that you would like to have a free screening assessment you will be asked a series of questions to build up a picture of your medical and drug use history as well as any mental health issues you are facing. If you decide you want to proceed with treatment you will be put in touch with our admissions case managers who will guide you through the admissions process.
How long is the rehab programme?
Residential rehab treatment starts at 4 weeks and can go up to 12+ weeks. Research shows us that the longer you stay in rehab and are part of the residential therapy programme, the longer the likelihood of continued abstinence and stable recovery.
How do I pay for rehab?
One concern we sometimes hear from people is how they will fund their rehab treatment. You can pay for treatment at Castle Craig privately, or through medical insurance, and some people receive funding through the NHS. The cost of rehab varies depending on what kind of accommodation you choose.
What happens at the end of my treatment?
Castle Craig thoroughly prepares patients before departure by creating a personalised continuing care plan which is formulated following discussions with the medical and therapeutic team. We offer an online aftercare programme which runs for 24 weeks after leaving treatment, in order to ensure a smooth transition back into your everyday life. Patients leaving treatment automatically join our Recovery Club where they can stay connected via our annual reunion, events, online workshops and recovery newsletters.