Safe & Expert Addiction Treatment & Detox
County Antrim Alcohol and Drug Abuse
In 2014, an estimated 170,000 people drank at dangerous levels in Northern Ireland. Over-consumption of alcohol can have dire consequences; alcohol binges accounted for 12,000 admissions to hospitals in 2011/12. County Antrim, 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 low rate of alcohol-related deaths in County Antrim and the northern region of the country in 2009 compared to other areas of the country (12.7 per 100,000).
Smarmore Castle Private Clinic, near County Antrim, is a residential rehab clinic providing treatment for drug and alcohol addiction and behavioural addictions including gambling. We are located very close to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, in County Louth, just a 1.5-hour drive from County Antrim.
Personalised Treatment
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 region including County Antrim, where 79% of those in treatment had used cannabis.
Of those treated in the County Antrim area, 27% had used cocaine. The use of opioid pain-relief drugs was highest for those patients in the County Antrim area than any other region of Northern Ireland, with 28% having tried these drugs before.
Residential Rehab Treatment Clinic, near County Antrim
At Smarmore Castle, our mission is to provide the highest quality and most effective treatment for our patients and those suffering from alcohol, drug and gambling addiction in County Antrim. We receive patients from County Antrim, Northern Ireland, the UK, EU and further afield. We offer many different options for referral and admission.
Admissions for Patients from County Antrim and the Rest of Northern Ireland
Patients from County Antrim and the rest of Northern Ireland can access drug detoxification and addiction rehab treatment at Smarmore.
Contact us for more information on our admissions process.
Get in Touch Today
To find out how we can help you, please telephone Smarmore Castle on our 24-Hour Helpline: +353 41 214 5111 or click here to arrange a free addiction assessment. You’re almost there.
Download our Brochure
Our 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 that follows the 12 Steps Model and offers a rapid admissions process. On arrival, patients receive a thorough medical assessment and physical examination. This informs the development of their personalised detox and treatment plan. The detox stage of the treatment is closely managed by our experienced medical team.
Specialist addiction therapies that form our core treatment programme include:
- Individual therapy, group therapy, CBT, Trauma therapy, grief therapy, and family therapy
- Dual diagnosis treatment for those suffering from psychological conditions like depression or an eating disorder in addition to a primary diagnosis of drug and alcohol addiction
We also offer a range of complementary therapies to patients, including:
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy,
Equine therapy,
Drumming therapy.
We develop a two-year continuing care plan for each patient after discharge.
Our programme is based on the clinically proven rehab treatment model pioneered by Castle Craig, our partner establishment in Scotland.
Our Location, 1.5 hours from County Antrim
Smarmore Castle is situated just 1.5 hours from County Antrim, 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
Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous in County Antrim
We recommend you begin your journey to abstinence by seeking self-help through attending peer support groups in County Antrim. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings are organised across Northern Ireland, in County Antrim, Belfast, Derry, and Lisburn, among others. They provide an invaluable network of support for those suffering from alcohol and drug addiction in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Free Confidential Addiction Assessment
Reaching out for help can feel daunting, our team is here to guide you.
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 County Antrim 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 County Antrim, please contact us for advice.
Health and Fitness at Smarmore Castle
At Smarmore Castle, we value physical health as much as psychological well-being. Sustained alcohol and drug abuse damages the body’s organs and can impair cognitive abilities. An essential part of the recovery process is repairing this damage through a programme of exercise and healthy eating.
Exercise releases endorphins which produce a natural high, boosting feelings of well-being and positivity. This can help to relieve the emotional stress the patient may experience during their early recovery period.
Smarmore Castle is equipped with both a gym and a pool, which patients can use during their leisure time. For those patients that are physically weak, we offer aqua therapy sessions, where they can do aerobic activity in the water.
We have extensive, scenic grounds that patients can walk or jog through. Following a period of exercise, our sauna and steam room facilities provide an excellent form of relaxation.
- 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.