Safe & Expert Addiction Treatment & Detox
Introduction
This page introduces the services that Smarmore Castle private rehab clinic offers to the people of Ballymena. We regularly welcome private patients from Ballymena to our residential addiction treatment programme and we can arrange sober transport services from Ballymena to bring you safely to our rehab. Our treatment programme is covered by VHI and those under the care of the HSE in Ballymena can be referred for inpatient addiction treatment to Smarmore Castle. We offer aftercare counselling online from your home in Ballymena. Additional services we offer to those in Ballymena include interventions, a meeting at your home in Ballymena or online that helps people realise that they have an addiction and need help. There are also various free alcohol and drug treatment services in Ballymena which we will list on this page.
An integral part of beating addiction is gaining self-awareness and insight into your behaviour, in addition to being able to recognise feelings of denial, shame and guilt. During group therapy, all of these topics are addressed, giving a patient the best possible chance for recovery. If you wish to learn more about group therapy at Smarmore Castle, please visit our dedicated page.
Last updated & clinically assessed 23 March, 2022
At Smarmore Castle, our mission is to provide the highest quality and most effective treatment for drug, alcohol and gambling addiction for our patients from Ballymena. We are located very close to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, in County Louth, just a two-hour drive from Ballymena. We receive patients from Ballymena, Northern Ireland, the UK, EU and further afield. We offer many different options for referral and admission.
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Our Addiction Treatment Programme
The addiction treatment model at Smarmore Castle has been developed over 30 years by a world-renowned team of doctors and psychologists. Our residential rehabilitation treatment programme is based on the clinically proven rehab treatment model pioneered by Castle Craig, our partner establishment in Scotland.
We provide an intensive rehab programme which follows the 12 Steps Model, and offers a rapid admissions process. Patients receive a full medical assessment and physical examination before beginning their treatment. They then complete a stage of detoxification from alcohol and drugs, closely managed by our medical team.
Our treatment programme incorporates specialist addiction therapies including:
- Individual therapy, group therapy,
- CBT, trauma therapy, grief therapy and family therapy,
- Dual diagnosis treatment for those suffering a psychological condition such as depression or an eating disorder in addition to drug or alcohol addiction.
We also offer a range of complementary addiction therapies, including:
We continue to support patients after they have completed their treatment with us by offering:
- A two year continuing care plan,
- Teletherapy sessions,
- Weekly group therapy sessions.
Admissions for Patients from Ballymena and the Rest of Northern Ireland
Patients from Ballymena and the rest of Northern Ireland can access drug detoxification and addiction rehab treatment at Smarmore Castle Private Clinic as a private patient or through a private medical insurance plan.
Contact us for more information on our admissions process.
Our Location, Two Hours from Ballymena
Smarmore Castle is situated just two hours from Ballymena, in a stunning, countryside location in County Louth, Republic of Ireland. Patients will find both comfort and privacy in a renovated 14th-century castle, housing excellent facilities including:
- Gym,
- 22-metre, heated swimming pool,
- Sauna and steam room,
- 15 acres of scenic landscape, which patients are able to explore in their leisure time.
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Ballymena and Northern Ireland Alcohol and Drug Misuse
Ballymena, the Northern region of the country, had the second lowest rate of alcohol consumption compared to other regions in Northern Ireland in 2011. This was reflected in the relatively low rate of alcohol-related deaths in the Ballymena region in 2009 compared to other areas of the country (12.7 per 100,000). Nevertheless in 2014, an estimated 170,000 people drank at dangerous levels in Northern Ireland. This had tragic consequences; alcohol binges accounted for 12,000 admissions to hospital in 2011/12.
Of drug users admitted to treatment in 2014/15, cannabis was the most widely used drug across all regions of Northern Ireland. This was particularly true for the northern area including Ballymena, where 79% of those in treatment had used cannabis. Of those treated in the Ballymena area, 27% had used cocaine. Use of opioid pain-relief drugs was most prevalent among patients in the Ballymena area than any other region of Northern Ireland, with 28% having tried these drugs before.
Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous in Ballymena
We recommend you begin your journey to abstinence by seeking self-help through attending peer support groups in Ballymena. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings are organised across Northern Ireland, in Ballymena, Belfast, Derry, and Lisburn, among others. They provide an invaluable network of support for those suffering from alcohol and drug addiction in Ballymena, Northern Ireland.
Contact Us for Addiction Advice
The team at Smarmore Castle is always available to answer questions about our rehab treatment programme. If you are from Ballymena and are thinking of entering rehab or if you are the family member, friend or employer of someone who is suffering from an alcohol or drug addiction in Ballymena, please contact us for advice.
Group Therapy at Smarmore Castle
Group therapy is an essential part of treatment at Smarmore Castle, and takes place twice a day. In these sessions, patients will share their experiences with each other and receive support and empathy, as well as gentle nudging towards healthier attitudes and thought patterns.
An integral part of beating addiction is gaining self-awareness and insight into your behaviour, in addition to being able to recognise feelings of denial, shame and guilt. During group therapy, all of these topics are addressed, giving a patient the best possible chance for recovery. If you wish to learn more about group therapy at Smarmore Castle, please visit our dedicated page.