What help is available?
There's no single right way to get better. Many people use several kinds of help, and most start with something free. You don't need to know which one you need before you ask. A helpline, GP or local service can help you work it out.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to go to rehab to get well?
No. A lot of people get and stay well without ever going to a clinic, with help from their GP, a free local drug and alcohol service, and a peer group: a 12-step room like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, or SMART Recovery if the 12-step wording isn't for you. Some manage it with nothing more than a doctor's support and a meeting they keep going back to. But it doesn't work for everyone. For some people rehab is the only way to get the help and support they need to make it stick: when stopping at home isn't medically safe, when the house is full of triggers and old routines, when a few attempts to stop alone have already ended in relapse, or when there's a mental health problem on top of the drinking or using. A clinic takes the day-to-day decisions away for a few weeks, keeps you medically safe, and gives you therapy, structure and support you can't easily build at home. What matters isn't which route you take. It's that you take one, and that some support stays in place afterwards.
What's the difference between detox and rehab?
Detox is the medical part: getting alcohol or drugs out of your body safely, usually over 7 to 10 days, often with medication. Rehab is the treatment that follows: therapy, groups and a routine that looks at why you drink or use. You can have a detox without going to rehab, and many people do. Stopping heavy drinking suddenly can be dangerous, so detox should always be supervised by a doctor.
Do I have to go to 12-step meetings?
No. AA and NA are free, run in almost every town, and for many people are what keeps them well, but the 12-step wording puts some people off. SMART Recovery is a non-12-step alternative that works on practical skills, and there are secular, women-only and LGBTQ+ meetings too. Most clinics and local services will suggest some kind of peer support, because it's free and it's still there after any programme ends. Try a couple of meetings and keep whichever feels right.
How do I know if rehab is right for me?
Ask yourself three things: have you tried to stop before and what happened, does your home make staying still hard, and would stopping on your own be medically safe? If you've relapsed more than once, or you're not sure a detox at home would be safe, talk to a local service or a clinic rather than deciding alone. You can also start with free help and move to rehab if it isn't enough. It isn't a one-way decision.
Kinds of help, from first steps to rehab
Helplines
Free, confidential phone and text lines for you or someone you're worried about. A good first step if you don't know where to start.
Cost: Free.
Your GP
Your doctor can talk things through, check your physical health, prescribe medication to help with cravings or withdrawal, and refer you on.
Cost: Free on the NHS.
Local drug and alcohol services
Every area of the UK has a free community service. You can usually refer yourself. They offer assessments, key workers, groups, prescribing and help applying for rehab funding.
Cost: Free.
Counselling and therapy
One-to-one or group talking therapy, such as CBT, to understand why you drink or use and build ways to cope. Often used alongside other help.
Cost: Free through NHS Talking Therapies or local services. Privately, often £40 to £100 a session.
12-step and peer support groups
Meetings with people who've been through the same thing, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and Cocaine Anonymous. SMART Recovery offers a non-12-step alternative. Al-Anon is for families.
Cost: Free. Meetings in person and online, most days.
Medical detox
Safely stopping alcohol or drugs with medical support, usually over 7 to 10 days. Stopping heavy drinking suddenly can be dangerous, so detox should be supervised.
Cost: Free through NHS services in some areas. Privately, often £2,000 to £6,000 in the UK.
Residential rehab
Living at a clinic, usually for 4 to 12 weeks, with therapy, group work and daily structure. Often includes detox at the start.
Cost: Sometimes council-funded. Privately, roughly £4,000 to £15,000 a month in the UK, and often less in Thailand.
Outpatient treatment
Therapy and support while living at home, from a few hours a week to most days. Good for people who need to keep working or caring for family.
Cost: Free through local NHS and council services. Private programmes vary widely.
Aftercare
Ongoing support after treatment: groups, counselling and check-ins. Recovery usually takes longer than any single programme.
Cost: Peer groups like AA and NA are free. Private aftercare is often included or low-cost.
Costs are rough guides only. Always ask clinics for their full price in writing.
Free help in the UK
You can usually refer yourself to your local drug and alcohol service without seeing a GP. They can assess you, offer outpatient support and, in some cases, apply for council funding for residential rehab.
Questions worth asking any clinic
- Are you registered with the regulator, and can I see your latest report?
- Is medical detox done on site, and by whom?
- What's included in the price, and what costs extra?
- What happens after the programme ends?
- Can family be involved?