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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 Recovery Blog
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 admission 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 the 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…
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…
Managed Alcohol Programmes: A New Strategy for Harm Reduction
Is one solution to alcohol abuse… more alcohol? Some in Canada think so. A few years ago, several cities have implemented managed alcohol programmes (MAP) to tackle severe alcoholism, particularly among those with an unstable housing situation and who drink non-beverage alcohol. Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions After several years of seemingly successful results, other countries including Australia and Scotland are interested in replicating the concept. Already, a homeless shelter in Glasgow wishes to pilot the idea. While it’s true that such a programme appears to be beneficial in some way for some people, there is a lack of…
Hidden Alcoholism and Secret Drinking
Are you concerned about your own drinking habits and that you’ve lied about how much you drink? Do you keep alcohol hidden from friends and family? Or are you worried that someone else’s secret drinking is a sign that he or she is an alcoholic? …
What is an Alcoholic? Characteristics & Levels of Alcoholism
An Alcoholic is Someone who has a Physical and Mental Dependence on Alcohol. We here at Castle Craig view alcoholism as a brain disease. Alcoholism is a serious psychological illness defined as the inability to stop drinking despite potential or actual, negative consequences. An alcoholic is someone who suffers from alcoholism. 4 Common Characteristics of Alcoholics You’ll find many definitions of “alcoholism” and “alcoholic,” most of which have these four characteristics in common: Physical compulsion or need: Without a drink, withdrawal symptoms appear; you have an inability to stop or cut down on drinking. Mental obsession: You lack control and have abnormal cravings…
Fear and Loathing After Drinking – Can Alcohol Cause Depression?
The connection between drinking alcohol and depression is real, although which comes first — alcohol or depression — is up for debate. Does alcohol cause or worsen depression? Or does depression lead to alcohol misuse and abuse?…
Going Cold Turkey: The Wrong Way to Quit Alcohol
If you have been using alcohol for a long time — because you have been self-medicating with alcohol or habitually drinking — and you’re ready to stop, it’s important for you to understand the dangers of suddenly stopping alcohol….
Self Medicating With Alcohol – Avoiding the Dangers
Self medication theory is the idea that people use substances or gratifying behaviours to treat underlying problems without the advice of and without following a prescription from a licensed healthcare professional….
Why People Do Coke and Why You Should Not
Curiosity, peer pressure, depression, and being under the influence of alcohol or other drugs are common reasons why people try cocaine for the first time…
Wintertime Holiday Mocktail Recipes
The winter holidays are rich in tradition, merriment, and cherishing our relationships. For those amidst their recovery it can also present new challenges to staying sober. Christmas parties, New Years, and family get-togethers can be fraught with triggers and temptations…
