
Smarmore Castle Drug & Alcohol Rehab
Introduction
This page introduces the services that Smarmore Castle private rehab clinic offers to the people of Bangor. We regularly welcome private patients from Bangor to our residential addiction treatment programme and we can arrange sober transport services from Bangor to bring you safely to our rehab. Our treatment programme is covered by VHI and those under the care of the HSE in Bangor can be referred for inpatient addiction treatment to Smarmore Castle. We offer aftercare counselling online from your home in Bangor. Additional services we offer to those in Bangor include interventions and a meeting at your home in Bangor 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 Bangor which we will list on this page.
Bangor Alcohol and Drug Misuse
In Northern Ireland, in 2015/16, it was found that a fifth of the population drank above the recommended weekly allowance. In 2011, 78% of people surveyed said that they had drunk up to or above the weekly recommended limit at least once in the previous week. In the Southeastern region of Northern Ireland, including Bangor, there was the third highest rate of alcohol-related deaths in 2009, compared to other regions.
In the Bangor area, 62% of people in treatment were seeking help for alcohol misuse in 2010. Over-consumption of alcohol has dangerous consequences. In 2011/12, approximately 12,000 people were admitted to hospital because of alcohol-related emergencies. Alcohol use in Ireland killed almost three times as many people as drug use in Northern Ireland in 2014.
Of people seeking treatment for drug misuse, over half of those in the Bangor and South Eastern area had used benzodiazepines. In 2014, 1.5 million prescriptions for tranquilisers and sleeping pills given out in Northern Ireland. For Bangor and the surrounding areas, only a third of these patients had tried stimulant drugs.

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Residential Rehab Treatment Clinic Serving People in Bangor
At Smarmore Castle, our mission is to provide the highest quality treatment for our patients and those suffering from alcohol, drug and gambling addiction in Bangor. We receive patients from Bangor, Northern Ireland, the UK, EU and further afield. We offer many different options for referral and admission.

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Admissions for Patients from Bangor and the Rest of Northern Ireland
Patients from Bangor and the rest of Northern Ireland can access drug detoxification and addiction rehab treatment at Smarmore Castle Private Clinic in the following ways:
- As a private patient
- Through a private medical insurance plan
Contact us for more information on our admissions process.

Our Drug and Alcohol Treatment Programme
The addiction treatment model at Smarmore Castle has been developed over 30 years by a world-renowned team of doctors and psychologists. We provide an intensive rehab programme which follows the 12 Steps Model and includes:
- Rapid admissions process
- Thorough medical assessment and full physical examination
- Detoxification from alcohol and drugs, managed by our medical team
- Specialist addiction therapies including individual therapy, group therapy, CBT, Trauma therapy, grief therapy, family therapy
- Complementary addiction therapies, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, equine therapy and drumming therapy
- Dual diagnosis treatment including eating disorders and depression
- Use of our 22 metre indoor heated swimming pool with sauna and steam room, gym and sports with our fitness instructor
- 16 acres of private gardens
- Continuing care after discharge.
Our residential rehabilitation treatment programme is based on the clinically proven rehab treatment model pioneered by Castle Craig, our partner establishment in Scotland.
Our Location, Two Hours from Bangor, Northern Ireland
Smarmore Castle is situated just two hours from Bangor, 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 a leisure centre, gym and swimming pool. It is set within 15 acres of scenic landscape, which patients are able to explore in their leisure time.
AA and NA Meetings in Bangor
We recommend you begin your journey to abstinence by seeking self-help through attending peer support groups in Bangor. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings are organised across Northern Ireland, in Belfast, Derry, and Lisburn, among others. They provide an invaluable network of support for those suffering from alcohol and drug addiction in Bangor, Northern Ireland. They help people from Bangor to achieve sobriety through a 12-step programme.

Contact Us for Addiction Advice
The team at Smarmore Castle is always available to answer questions about our rehab treatment programme, admissions, or funding. If you are from Bangor 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 Bangor, please contact us for advice.
Personal Therapy for Addictions at Smarmore Castle
Personal therapy forms the backbone of our treatment programme at Smarmore Castle. It is essential for the patient’s psychological healing and drives their progress to sobriety. The therapy is patient-led and personalised to their unique life history and current circumstances.
In the safe space created in these one-on-one sessions, patients can discuss sensitive personal issues and past experiences. The therapist will help them to address attitudes and behaviour which might impede them on their journey to recovery. Visit our dedicated Personal Therapy page to learn more.