Call Us Now: Our Senior Specialist Therapist Teri Lyn Fairnie speaks about how the people in recovery from addictions who follow the 12 Steps are better prepared for the challenges of pandemic lockdown. Are people who live in healthy 12 step recovery are better prepared to face life’s challenges such as the Coronavirus pandemic we are facing today? Rehab Costs & Options for Alcohol | Drugs | Other addictions When you’re in healthy recovery, Step 1 is about realising that life can be unmanageable and there are things that we are powerless over and so, in terms of addiction recovery, recognising how addiction has made your life unmanageable…
Category: Castle Craig
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Safety Response
Castle Craig is open and we continue to offer our much needed residential addiction treatment for patients during the Coronavirus pandemic. Travel to Scotland from the rest of the UK and all European countries is allowed and our admissions team can advise you on the latest Scottish Government advice. These are difficult times and we want to reassure our patients, their families and people who desperately need treatment for alcohol and drug addiction, that we are committed to providing the safest environment for recovery possible. We have taken special measures to ensure that our clinic operates safely and some complementary…
What is crisis care and how to access emergency care for addiction
Crisis Care & Emergency Admissions for Addiction An addictions crisis describes a situation where a someone’s behaviour exposes them to a greater risk of harming themselves or others through drugs or alcohol. You may have heard of this described as ‘rock bottom’. Their mental health disorder and/or substance abuse could have prevented them from being able to care efficiently for themselves or function properly within their communities. Anyone can experience a mental health crisis, at any time in their life. The crisis or breakdown may have been brought on by initial feelings of guilt, anger and grief – but whatever…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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….
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…
Alcohol Trends: Consumption Worldwide vs the UK
Find out about alcohol trends across the world, how they compare to alcohol consumption in the UK, and why they are rising. Castle Craig alcohol rehab, UK…
What is a “Dry Drunk”?
Discover what a dry drunk is, what the symptoms are, and how to help, including entering addiction recovery. Castle Craig, alcohol and drug rehab, UK…
The Dangers of Mixing Painkillers and Alcohol
Read on to discover the dangers of mixing painkillers and alcohol, both long and short-term, and risk of overdose. Castle Craig alcohol and drug rehab, UK…
Drinking at Work: Alcoholism in the Workplace
Read on for more information about alcoholism in the workplace, how common it is, how to spot it, and what you should do. Castle Craig rehab, UK…
Living with an Alcoholic
Read on to find out what it’s like living with an alcoholic, the issues you face, and how to help. Castle Craig, alcohol and drug rehab, UK…
The Reality of Being an Alcoholic Woman
Learn more about the difficulties alcoholic women face – physical, emotional, during treatment and risk of relapse. Castle Craig, drug and alcohol rehab, UK…
How Can Alcoholic Parents Affect a Child?
Learn more about the negative effect that having an alcoholic parent can have on children-psychological, emotional, future addiction. Castle Craig rehab, UK…
