You may realise by now that we usually advocate residential treatment in a private rehab clinic for most addicts dealing with alcohol, drug, or behavioural addictions like gambling or sex. Yet we do understand some addiction rehab programmes can be cost prohibitive. Thankfully, there are low-cost rehab solutions available to those who need them.

The first thing you need to know is that low-cost rehab does not necessarily mean free; it simply means that rehab treatment costs less than other, more expensive options. Secondly, you need to be aware of who provides low-cost rehab services. They are offered by:

• private clinics

• professional counsellors

• addiction recovery charities.

We don’t normally include NHS services under the low-cost category because such services are free to anyone who wants them. They also are not as effective as the treatments and services offered by private organisations and charities.

Private Clinics

On one end of the scale, there are luxury private clinics that offer 6 to 12 week programmes that can easily cost tens of thousands of pounds per month. However, there are others on the other end of the scale to. For example, you can find low-cost rehab centres with 28-day programmes for just a few thousand pounds. Helping you find the right clinic for your budget is one of the things we do.

If you worry that low-cost rehab does not offer the same chances of success for long-term sobriety, let us put your mind at ease. The high-end luxury clinics only cost so much because they include a long list of amenities their wealthier clients appreciate. Nevertheless, you don’t need those amenities to recover from addiction.

Low-cost rehab clinics offer what you absolutely need: detox, counselling, and various other therapies necessary to help you break free from addiction. You may have to share a room; you may not have access to a fully equipped spa and gym; your meals may not be prepared by a gourmet chef. However, you will get the treatment you need.

Professional Counsellors

There may be times when an addict cannot afford residential treatment or it’s just not necessary. In such cases, professional counsellors can be very helpful at a very reasonable cost. It’s not uncommon to pay on a per-session basis for as long as you need the counselling.

Professional counselling works best when paired with group support. The best thing about group support is that it’s usually free. What’s more, there are enough support groups across the UK to cover just about any addiction in any geographic location. We can help you locate both professional counsellors and support groups.

Addiction Charities

Although you might not realise it, there are charitable organisations offering rehab services in the UK and abroad. Some of these charities are religious based; others are completely secular. Yet what they all have in common is the availability of different types of therapy at no cost or a reduced rate.

How can these charities afford to operate? They operate thanks to the generous donations of individual patrons, businesses, corporate grants, and limited government grants. The only downside to using these charities is that their services may be limited as their funding sources allow.

The Need for Commitment

We cannot stress enough the need for total commitment when using low-cost rehab services. We say this because it is not uncommon for addicts to think of low-cost services as being not as effective or not likely to help. When the addict adopts this mindset, he or she may not give a programme their best effort.

If you truly want to break free of addiction, you must be ready to commit yourself 100% regardless of the programme you use. Without that commitment, you are likely to not put forth the effort needed to recover. Remember this: recovery from any sort of addiction is only possible through long-term abstinence. If you are not fully committed to that abstinence, you are not likely to succeed.

A commitment to rehab requires the following:

• Attendance – Whether you seek low-cost rehab through a private clinic or a charity, you must attend every meeting that’s been arranged for you. As soon as you miss one, it’s easier to miss two, then three and so on. Missing appointments is a good way to tell those administering your programme that you are not committed to getting well.

• Effort – During your rehab, you need to be willing to do whatever is asked of you. Even if you’ve been given instructions that sound foolish. Maximum effort on your part will help achieve the best results possible. A lack of effort will do just the opposite.

• Accountability – For you to be truly free of addiction there needs to be accountability in your life. During treatment, someone will be checking up on you to make sure you’re meeting your obligations. You’ll need to learn how to hold yourself accountable during your treatment so that you can continue after it’s completed. Accountability means you’re going to answer to someone for your actions, be they right or wrong.

Availability of Low-Cost Rehab

In almost every case, there are low-cost rehab options available to those who get in touch with us. However, whether or not those services include residential treatment may depend on current demand. We cannot promise you a low-cost residential programme is available the moment you contact us.

If not, we can get you on a waiting list while we help you access free, local services in the interim. It’s important that you be just as committed to these temporary services as you plan to be during your residential treatment. Demonstrating that same level of commitment now will only make residential treatment easier.

If you find yourself in an emergency situation, we’ll do what we can to get you admitted to a programme right away. Some of the clinics we work with have agreed to set aside a certain number of beds for emergency admissions. That’s not to say they are always available, but many times they are.

We are ready to assist you in finding appropriate treatment for your addiction. Our staff are on call 24 hours a day, every day of the week. Please understand we cannot help you until you contact us. We urge you to pick up the phone and call or send an e-mail right now.