Safe & Expert Addiction Treatment & Detox
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 Abuse
Ballymena, and 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.
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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.
- How to Access Rehab With Health Insurance
For those experiencing existing mental health conditions in Ireland, there are private medical insurers who can help you cover treatment. As addiction experts, we know that receiving the appropriate care and support when you have a mental health disorder is pivotal to attaining long-lasting recovery. Below, we will go through the various health insurance options to help you understand your options when it comes to seeking private residential care for substance abuse. Please note that there is no guarantee that you can be covered for all addiction problems as policies are always assessed on a case-by-case basis. Find Out More
- My Loved One Doesn’t Want Help, What Do I Do?
You can’t force someone to go to rehab. At the end of the day, it needs to be their decision because they are the ones that need to be open to turning their lives around. There are ways in which you can encourage someone to enter treatment, one of these ways is via an intervention with a trained interventionist, who facilitates an honest discussion between family members and the addict. This is something Smarmore Castle can arrange – contact us today.
- Which Drugs Does Smarmore Castle Detox From?
We can detox people from any drugs whether they are illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin, ketamine; or prescription drugs such as benzodiazepines or zopiclone, oxycodone, zolpidem, klonopin, methadone, cannabis; and legal drugs such as alcohol.
- How Long Is the Treatment Programme?
Our treatment programme starts at 4 weeks and is flexible in length, giving you the opportunity to extend for a longer period if you need it.
- Do You Treat Dual Diagnosis?
All patients are reviewed by a consultant psychiatrist in the first week and we can diagnose and provide treatment for a number of co-occurring mental health conditions.
- Do I Need to Be Abstinent Before Admission?
Our medically managed detoxification with 24/7 medical cover means that we can perform complete and complex detoxes at Smarmore Castle. You don’t need to be abstinent before arrival.
- How Do I Get To Rehab Safely?
Smarmore Castle is one hour north of Dublin international airport and we can arrange a driver to collect you and bring you straight to us for free.
We can also arrange a ‘sober transport’ service with a trusted driver, from anywhere in Ireland or Northern Ireland, at an additional cost.