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Want to reach seven days sober? Take it one hour at a time Whether you’re in treatment, detoxing on your own or in an AA meeting, it’s a really good idea to find someone who has been sober just a little longer than you have. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions The old-timers or therapists who have been sober for years are not as much use in the first week of sobriety. They have forgotten the shakes, the rage, the unbearable cravings to use or drink one more time. They might have even forgotten the agony of withdrawal. Once you…
Castle Craig Rehab Blog
Alternatives to private rehab for addiction recovery
No single treatment type is right for everyone Plenty of people in the public eye talk about going to rehab. Many musicians, actors and artists speak very openly about it, but is this the only type of drug and alcohol addiction treatment on offer? Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions The answer is: No, there are in fact other options available to you, and your GP may be a good place to start. Organisations range from NHS treatment to charities and private companies. However, the quality of care varies and many have long waiting lists. Your options often depend on…
There Is No Rehab Centre Near Me, What Should I Do?
Finding a rehab centre is easy, but finding a world-class treatment centre near you is harder. So what should you be looking for? While there are many private residential rehabs in the UK, the number is still in the very low hundreds and they are mainly found in or around cities. Other inpatient NHS treatment centres are available, however, the number of these facilities is just as low and entry waiting lists are long. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions Although cities can be well serviced, outside of urban areas rehabs are thin on the ground. So what should you do…
How a day in rehab works, timetables schedules/structure
What A Typical Day in Rehab Looks Like Every patient is an individual and has different needs and requirements. However, there is common ground within all addiction treatment that can be incorporated in a ‘programme.’ Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions When starting one of our addiction recovery programmes, people work with their therapist and consultant psychiatrists on their addiction and co-occurring issues that leads them to use or drink in the first place. Many patients have a dual diagnosis. This means they may present symptoms of poor mental health. This is also treated at Castle Craig. Our model is…
I wish I knew then what I know now: a journey through rehab
When you are ill and in the throes of addiction, disasters seem to follow you around When you are ill and in the throes of addiction, disasters seem to follow you around while drinking, lying, sleeping, crying, using, shouting or simply blacking out. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions One thing is certain though: you know absolutely nothing about getting sober. Denial is something that therapists frown on, but for the active alcoholic, it can keep you and your addiction alive. “It’s not too bad, it will get better, she/he will fix me, that car/job/new phone will magically make everything…
Choosing the right rehab. Local, nationwide or abroad, where to go for rehab?
Which where and why? Now that you’ve decided to get help for your drug or alcohol addiction, the next step is to look into the most suitable rehabs that can equip you with the right tools for long-term sobriety. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions City or countryside? The type of location is often a personal choice. Some people find being in the countryside more relaxing, others want to remain in a town or city. It is important to remember that you only really leave the facilities during a stay in residential rehab to go to an AA or NA…
How to Help Someone with an Addiction
How to Help an Addicted Friend or Family member This section will guide you on how to help someone with an addiction. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions When someone struggles with addiction, it can have serious negative effects on their relationships with family, friends, and work colleagues. If you know or suspect that someone in your life suffers from alcohol or drug addiction, you will probably want to help the one that you love, but this can be met with hostility or denial. Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing emotional illness, and the path to recovery for someone who…
How to Deal with Stress without Alcohol
Stress is a natural reaction that occurs in response to our everyday experiences, and we all have to deal with it from time to time Whether it comes from our day-to-day responsibilities like work and family, or serious events such as illness or death, stress is an inevitable part of our lives. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions Problems may occur, however, if you begin dealing with stressful situations using unhealthy methods, like turning to alcohol. This page will explore how using alcohol to cope with stress can cause further harm to your wellbeing while also outlining helpful ways to…
Why Does Alcohol Cause the Shakes?
This article is medically reviewed by Dr Peter McCann, MSC, MBBS. Dr McCann is a is a Psychiatry and Internal Medicine Resident at Duke University Hospital, USA. What are ‘the shakes’ and what causes them? The ‘alcohol shakes’ is a term to describe tremors caused by Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome, which occurs in some frequent alcohol users when they suddenly stop drinking. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions It is part of a condition called alcohol withdrawal syndrome that occurs in around 50% of people with heavy alcohol use. In the mild form, typical symptoms other than tremor…
Castle Craig Rated ‘Exceptional’ in Latest HIS Inspection
Castle Craig had an inspection from our regulators Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) recently and today we have received the official report. They found our infection prevention and control policies and procedures, were excellent and comprehensive. They commented on the thorough Covid-19 risk assessments which had been carried out and the effective processes we had in place to minimise the risk of Covid-19 transmission. The inspectors commented on the positive attitude and evident teamwork of all the staff that they spoke to, and also the supportive and appreciate attitude of the patients. HIS uses the ratings ‘Exceptional’, ‘Good’, ‘Satisfactory’ or ‘Unsatisfactory’…
8 Reasons why online gambling is more addictive than casino gambling
Online Gambling vs Casino Gambling In 1996 the first-ever real stakes online casino was launched. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions Now there are thousands of gambling sites, and millions of gamblers place their bets and participate in the world of online gambling. It might seem like harmless fun to start with, but Sheldon Adelson, Chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., the largest bricks and mortar casino operating company in the world, describes online gambling as ‘fools gold’ and ‘a societal train wreck waiting to happen. The ‘Richest Man in Vegas’ may have a vested interest in attacking…
8 Reasons to Spend Christmas in Rehab
Would you believe it if we said that Christmas is the perfect time of year to leave your family behind, forget the parties and gatherings and Christmas shopping, and Christmas markets and go to rehab? Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions However, if you’re struggling with alcohol, drugs, or any type of addiction, it could be the best time of year for you to go for rehab treatment. Not only will you give yourself an opportunity to escape a challenging and trigger-filled environment but you create an opportunity to get ahead on your New Year’s resolutions and begin the new…
How are we performing? Recent patient satisfaction levels
We regularly run audits on patient satisfaction levels to make sure we are listening and responding to what our patients are saying. Recent surveys taken in July and September found the following: Our patients describe our staff as ‘very kind’, ‘supportive’, ‘diligent’, ‘fantastic’, ‘absolute treasures’, ‘rays of sunshine’ and ‘efficient’. Every category rated 100% Good, Very Good or Excellent, with particular praise for nursing care, individual therapist care and staff support. Ratings increased to Very Good or Excellent for ‘Catering’ (88%), ‘Accommodation’ (89%), for ‘Fitness’ (89%). New fields for ‘Use of ICT’ and ‘Hygiene, Health & Safety and Infection Control’…
In memory of Father Hugh Purcell
Everyone at Castle Craig was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Father Hugh Purcell, who recently died suddenly at St John Vianney’s parish house in Gilmerton at the age of 62. Father Hugh had a long relationship with Castle Craig; for many years he was our pastoral counsellor, helping many patients into recovery. He spoke openly of his addiction issues and our patients and staff loved his warmth, his spirit, and his down-to-earth nature. An obituary can be read on the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh website, while some of the team at Castle Craig have said…
Royal College of Psychiatrists show drinking has nearly doubled since lockdown
High-risk drinking has nearly doubled since lockdown, reports the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and addiction services are in desperate need of funding. Castle Craig’s data supports this, with website visitors more than doubling, a record number of daily enquiries to our Help Desk, and a rising number of enquiries about the Castle Telehealth online addiction therapy programme. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions The Royal College of Psychiatrists today issued a statement after analysing data from Public Health England which shows that the rate of people in England drinking “high risk” amounts of alcohol has almost doubled at 19% in…
How Has 12 Step Recovery Helped You Prepare for the Coronavirus Pandemic?
In recovery we remember the isolation our addiction brought us to, so we knew what isolation meant and how it felt. In 2020, that’s something which has been new for a lot of people – especially family members of those with addiction – they didn’t understand what it meant when we talked about those feelings of isolation. Now they’re really realising what that is and what that does to you. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions Most important of these is Step 1. Step 1 – Admitted we were powerless and our lives were unmanageable In terms of global issues…
Coronavirus presents a new challenge to sobriety
Addiction sufferers and their families face new challenges. Coronavirus increases the dangers faced in recovery and has also adversely affected some well-tried responses which, until now, have proved reliable. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions The sudden arrival of coronavirus has brought everyone out of their comfort zones. Stress levels are high, mainly due to fear of the disease itself. There is also fear of consequences such as financial meltdown. Throughout the UK and around the world people are anxious, afraid and wondering what to do about it all. We are being told to self-isolate and distance ourselves socially and…
Half a lifetime helping addiction recovery – Peter McCann celebrates 80th birthday
Almost 40 years ago, Peter McCann and his wife, Dr Margaret Ann McCann, began helping people with drug and alcohol addiction into a life of recovery. This eventually led to the founding of Castle Craig Hospital in 1988. As he celebrates his 80th birthday having spent half of his lifetime helping people overcome addiction, we asked Peter to look back on his own life, and the changing face of addiction treatment. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions A genuine understanding of addiction Peter’s passion for helping people overcome addiction came from his own experience, along with coming from a family…
Castle Craig Extends a Lifeline for Addiction Sufferers During Lockdown
Following warnings from the World Health Organisation that people may increasingly turn to alcohol as an “unhelpful coping strategy” during the Coronavirus lockdown, Castle Craig Hospital, has restructured its intensive rehab programme into “Castle Connect” an online package to be transmitted across telehealth platforms. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions Our team of skilled psychotherapists and addiction specialists are needed more than ever by people suffering from addictions, anxiety, stress and isolation. The online rehab programme, Castle Connect, enables people to engage with specialist addiction therapists from the comfort and safety of their own home. Many people who have considered rehab in the past will be able to use the lockdown as an opportunity to get the help they need. Professor…
Alcohol and Viral Immunity – Heavy Drinking Increases the Risk of Virus Infection
Excessive alcohol consumption is known to cause damage to both the physical and mental well-being, especially if consumed regularly or in large amounts. More so, it can lead to a lowered immune response, particularly when combined with stress. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions Castle Craig’s Medical Director, Professor Jonathan Chick, advises that during the COVID-19 pandemic it is important to avoid regular heavy drinking and heavy drinking sessions. Reducing or ceasing heavy drinking should improve immunity within days, (except in the case of liver damage). It is advisable to take extra precautions to keep ourselves and each other safe….
New Admissions Unit Opens at Castle Craig to Meet the Challenges of the Coronavirus Pandemic
This blog article is not updated. For our latest Covid-19 Preparedness & Response Updates please visit our page castlecraig.co.uk/coronavirus In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, Castle Craig rehab clinic has launched an innovative, separate admissions and detox unit to treat drug and alcohol addictions. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions The separate admissions unit, Kirkurd Unit, was created in response to the unprecedented Coronavirus pandemic and the increased demand on NHS resources and closure of Private and NHS detox beds and rehab clinics around the UK. The Kirkurd Unit strives for enhanced Covid-19 screening at all stages of admission and detox…
Addiction Recovery Support During the Coronavirus Epidemic
In the midst of the coronavirus epidemic, the biggest factor that will affect your day-to-day life is limiting public interaction. You may need to work from home, might avoid visiting elderly relatives, limit public gatherings and if you have children you will need to look at home-schooling them should the schools close. If you have symptoms or have been in contact with someone who has the virus you will need to self-isolate. As a person in addiction recovery, this makes things complicated. After all, you need to attend frequent recovery fellowship meetings, especially in the first months after treatment. Rehab…
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and Alcoholism
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a highly complex, stigmatised, and often misunderstood mental illness. So is alcoholism. Either one can make life very difficult for a person. Having both makes for an even bigger problem. Sadly, the rate of comorbidity between BPD and addiction, especially to alcohol, is extremely high. About half of those diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder meet the criteria for substance abuse or alcohol abuse disorder. BPD has one of the highest rates of dual diagnosis with alcoholism among all psychological illnesses. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions When a person has both BPD and alcoholism, diagnosis…
A Drug Summit Drums Up Support for Scotland
Drug summits are being held today and tomorrow to address the drug death epidemic in the UK Ironically, this is happening in Glasgow, which is at the heart of the problem. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions For Scotland, this is literally a life-or-death turning point as the country has seen some of the highest numbers of drug and alcohol-related mortalities in the world while having a drastic decline in addiction treatment funding. Since last year, Scotland has seen a 27% rise in drug-related deaths, with the majority of it being from opioid overdoses. Meanwhile, admissions to treatment centres, especially…
Fentanyl: UK’s Next Drug Epidemic?
When it comes to illicit drug use, heroin and crack cocaine are often considered the worst drugs someone can take. They are responsible for the majority of drug-related deaths and are the leading cause of concern in most countries. Now with synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, becoming more widespread, it seems that there’s a new epidemic coming. And soon, it is expected to hit the UK as well. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions Fentanyl has been around since 1959, but it first made headlines in 2016, when it killed Prince, an iconic American musician. He died from an accidental overdose…
