With the Government now closing the doors for non-essential businesses, many have been left wondering how they can access vital addiction treatment during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Thankfully, as a medical necessity for many, addiction treatment is not under lockdown. According to the announcement, we are able to go out for also:

“…any medical need, including to donate blood, avoid or escape risk of injury or harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person”

In light of recent decisions, private addiction treatment centres throughout the UK will remain open to provide fundamental and life-saving services to those in need. We understand you may feel reluctant to seek treatment during these difficult times, or you may have concerns about a loved one’s health and wellbeing. We’re here to reassure you that seeking treatment today is safe, secure and fundamentally important.

Should I Postpone Treatment during COVID-19?

Postponing treatment may feel like a natural decision given the recommendations to stay at home, but this is exactly why you should go ahead and trust your health in the hands of the addiction staff, within a safe and secure facility. Addiction clinics are sanitary, always have medical personnel working for them and can help you solve any undergoing conditions to aid your recovery.

Mental Health

Staying at home with little or no social interaction may heighten feelings of sadness and anxiety. Research shows that adults who are living alone often suffer from common mental disorders, including anxiety and depression. This survey does not only include the elderly but people of all ages, more than 20,000 participants to be precise.

This, in turn, could worsen addictive behaviours and lead to worsened physical and mental wellbeing.
A residential treatment centre, such as those provided by UKAT, thrive off social interactions in a safe and secure therapeutic setting. Any concerns you may have about mental wellbeing will be addressed by a medical professional, as all UKAT facilities work with certified and accredited psychiatrists. If it is deemed appropriate, medication may be provided to reduce symptoms of anxiety and alleviate withdrawal symptoms you may be experiencing.

Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus

If you struggle with substances, including alcohol, you may find the idea of self-isolating stressful. To lower the feeling of helplessness and calm down the nerves, you should look for options to be safe, within an enclosed environment, but at the same time within a community.

Any unregulated contact would put you in danger of contracting the virus, including handling unsanitised packages and containers. This is a risk you may be willing to take; however, consider the wellbeing of also your elderly relatives living with you, infants or people who are with pulmonary or heart conditions with whom you have medically unsupervised contact.

In addition to health risks, continuing to live the addicted life, you may fall under the hardest law enforcement we are facing in the past decade. It’s already seen in other countries which enforced lockdowns earlier than the UK: there is a more extensive, more cautionary police presence everywhere. Citizens are more willing to call law enforcement if they see others going outside without abiding by the new rules and regulations. Currently, all excuses not to start a journey to recovery are all very much exhausted and irrelevant; this is why admissions to both NHS and private rehabilitation facilities are well sought-after.

Private Rehab Is “Staying Indoors”

The UK Government has instructed everyone to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. What you, or your loved one who is battling an addiction, needs is relaxation, to be away from all the stress related to handling household responsibilities during a lockdown, to find the right focus – health, mending broken memories and habits, looking forward to a positive, addiction-free life.

This is also why inpatient addiction rehab is an excellent solution at this very moment.

What the UKAT centres offer is world-class addiction treatment including home-made meals, entertainment, en-suite bathrooms, fitness rooms and a ton of fun among the communities formed within our rehabs.

Most importantly: here, you can let your mind roam free throughout the day, worry-free from minor, exhausting topics such as staying in line for hours at the local grocery store or how to manage social interactions during the lockdown.

When you’re advised to stay indoors, this means self-isolation. However, as we already mentioned, loneliness may cause your already existing mental health conditions to worsen, which is why staying indoors alongside like-minded individuals and medically-trained personnel is the better option. Especially if you are struggling with addiction.

Which Rehab Should I Attend During the Outbreak?

We hope the information above has helped you decide on continuing treatment, and we wish you the best of luck in finding the right help during these uncertain times.

If you are yet to be convinced on a particular treatment centre, we kindly ask that you take into consideration our rehab centres, which are spread out across England including in Essex, Surrey, Yorkshire and more. Maybe it’s time to ditch the dangers of communicating with dealers, facing eventual punishments for trading with illegal substances and risking your health and that of others around you while being out during the lockdown.

Likely, you’re asking yourself the following:

• What precautions has the rehab put in place to reduce the spread of Coronavirus?

We have increased pre-admission protocols and screening, as well as the COVID-19 screening of any new symptoms within the rehabs.

• Have they stopped regular visitors?

Yes. We have temporarily postponed all external contact with our residents, including family therapies in order to protect both our inpatients and their loved ones.

• Have they put measures in place for washing hands/clothes frequently?

We are following the strict guidelines set daily by the Care Quality Commission and Public Health England.

• Have there been any confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the treatment centre?

All of our treatment centres are currently with no reported cases of COVID-19.

• How far is the rehab and can you avoid public transport to get there?

We are able to help you with sober transportation; call our free lines to discuss.

Feel free to speak with our admissions team so that you can learn what precautions have been put in place to reduce the risk of infection within our rehabs. In addition, you can read about our more-general safety measures here.

At UKAT, we are proud to have taken the necessary actions required to reduce the risk of infection as soon as we were made aware that the number of COVID-19 cases has started growing in the UK. Our team continues to work night and day to ensure the safety of our residents and their family members.

More Reasons to Choose UKAT

The safety of our residents is crucial in fighting the spread of Coronavirus, but there are many more reasons to choose UKAT as your preferred rehab provider.

• Choice: We offer 7 rehabs situated throughout the UK with a choice of treatments and budgets.
• Aftercare: 1 year free aftercare. **Please note that family support programmes are on hold until further notice due to COVID-19.
• Alumni: Access to our life-long recovery community events and support programme. **Please note that events are redirected to remote meetings where possible or postponed during the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Rated ‘Good’ and ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
• State-of-the-art facilities for optimal recovery
• Personalised treatment programmes for those struggling with existing mental health conditions.

Give us a call today for a confidential chat about your circumstances.