Being Referred to an Alcohol Rehab Clinic

Being Referred to an Alcohol Rehab Clinic

If you’re interested in seeking alcoholism treatment and perhaps staying in a rehab centre, you may be concerned about being referred to one. Here’s a little more about how the process usually works.

You can be referred for alcoholism treatment by your GP or another addiction professional. However, you don’t need to be referred by a health professional; you can normally apply yourself.

A good rehab clinic will assess your situation and needs as part of the admission process. If they feel that the centre can’t meet your specific needs, they should let you know this and refer you to a service which is more suitable for you.

Rehab clinic admissions are obviously subject to vacancy availability and a good rehab centre will admit a limited number of residents at any one time. You should be placed on a waiting and list and given information on the date you’re likely to be admitted. Even when you’re on a waiting list for alcoholism treatment, staff should stay in touch to stay updated on your progress, discuss any queries and maintain your motivation.

In some cases, it is possible to be admitted as an ‘emergency’ case, depending on your circumstances. If your circumstances warrant it, your application can be fast-tracked via telephone for immediate admission.

What happens when you’re admitted to a rehab clinic?

When you arrive at the alcohol rehab centre, you’ll be greeted by staff. You’ll then undergo an admission assessment and there will be paperwork that you’ll probably need to sign. The staff will talk you through what’s happening and don’t be afraid to ask any questions about the process.

Clinic staff will talk to you about any medication that you require during your stay.

You should be aware that at the start of your stay, and perhaps during it, your possessions may be searched by centre staff. This is to ensure that you have not smuggled alcohol into the clinic.

Once the administration is out of the way, you’ll be helped to settle in and the detox process will be started.

Rehab centre rules

There are some rules in alcohol treatment centres. This is for the benefit of patients. Rules include:

A strict no alcohol policy
No non-prescribed medication
Violence will not be tolerated

Those who don’t follow these rules will seriously jeopardise their recovery. They also run a risk of losing their place at the centre.

Next steps

If you think you may have an alcohol problem, consider an alcohol rehab clinic.