Safe & Expert Addiction Treatment & Detox
It is vital to address problems of addiction as soon as possible to ensure the best chance for recovery. This means it is important to be able to recognise the early signs of addiction in others, so you can offer help immediately. Around 50% of people with addiction problems are left untreated. One way to improve this proportion is early detection.
Signs of Addiction and Common Traits of Compulsive Behaviours
- Prioritising drug and alcohol use: If the person’s life revolves around obtaining and consuming drugs and alcohol, and recovering from episodes of substance use, then this is a sign that they have an unhealthy relationship with substances
- Cravings: The person experiences strong, uncontrollable impulses to drink alcohol, or take drugs
- Secrecy: The person becomes increasingly secretive, for example, refusing to disclose who they were with, or where they were.
- Changes in their circle of friends, or places they spend time
- Changes in their appearance: Particularly appearing more dishevelled, pale, or tired.
- Experiencing financial difficulties: If someone is becoming more concerned about their spending, or frequently asking for money, this is a sign that they may have an addiction problem
- Unease: Appearing uncomfortable in social situations where they do not have access to alcohol or drugs
- Effort: the person goes to a lot of effort to obtain alcohol or drugs, for example, travelling a long distance to obtain drugs
There are some additional signs exclusive to those suffering from alcohol addiction:
- Drinking in the mornings or during the day
- Drinking frequently by themselves, in greater quantities than is socially acceptable. For example, arriving at social functions already smelling of alcohol or appearing intoxicated.
- Increased reports of blacking out after episodes of drinking, or drinking more than is socially acceptable at functions.
- Marked changes in personality and behaviour such as depression, anxiety, lack of self-esteem, and isolating themselves from their usual social circle.
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More symptoms of alcohol and drug addiction
Concealing Evidence of Their Alcohol and Drug Use
Addicted people generally go to great lengths to hide evidence of their addictive behaviour from others. This denial stems from the deep shame surrounding addiction, and causes the individual to deny their addiction to others and even to themselves.
Failed Attempts to Stop Using Alcohol or Drugs
People suffering from drug and alcohol addiction make frequent attempts to decrease or stop their alcohol or drug use. When it comes to alcohol, they may try to stick to a low alcohol drink such as cider, or only drink on certain days of the week. These attempts may be successful in the short term, but the addicted person will eventually return to their normal pattern of drinking or drug taking behaviour.
Reducing Social Contact
The person may cease to take care of their appearance, and reduce contact with their normal circle of friends and family.
Quick Assessment & Admissions
Experiencing Work Related Issues
- Arriving late to work
- Being unreliable
- Smelling of alcohol in the workplace
- Missing work appointments or meetings due to incapacitation
- Drinking alcohol at lunchtime
- Erratic and unpredictable behaviour
- Taking unnecessary risks
Continued Drinking Despite Health Problems
The person carries on drinking or taking drugs despite experiencing health problems that were either caused or exacerbated by this behaviour.
Developing Tolerance to Alcohol or Drugs
Long-term, heavy drug use causes the user to build up a tolerance to drugs and alcohol. This means that they must take more drugs or drink alcohol, more frequently, to achieve the same level of intoxication.
Reaching Out
- 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.