Drug Addiction Treatment & Help

When drugs start to take over your thoughts, feelings and actions, it’s time to seek help. Get confidential drug addiction treatment from a leading UK rehab clinic.

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Addictive substances, including alcohol, cigarettes and drugs on a table

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Psychiatrist at Delamere

Dr Catherine Carney

February 11, 2026

What is drug addiction?

Drug addiction is a chronic and progressive brain disorder characterised by a compulsion to take drugs despite negative consequences.

People take drugs to feel pleasure, reduce stress or enhance performance. With continued use, drugs can cause changes to brain circuitry which affect our response to reward, stress and self-control.¹

When drugs become a priority over basic care needs, affecting work, family and social life, it’s time to seek drug addiction treatment.

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Delamere speaks with ITV Granada about addiction recovery

We’ve helped over 368 guests break free from drug addiction

Find out more on our YouTube channel

Drug addictions we Treat

Recreational drugs

We also treat other recreational drug addictions

Prescription Drugs

We also treat other prescription drug addictions

Drug rehab and detox

Find out more about how drug rehab and detox can help with drug addiction

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Delamere's Innovative Approach

“Delamere focuses on equipping you with the tools to love sobriety and understand what led to the addiction in the first place which really helped me grow.” – Former Delamere guest

Drug Rehab Drug Detox Call now: 0330 111 2015

We provide exemplary care in first-class facilities, focusing on creating lasting outcomes for our guests and their families. Helping them not just overcome their cocaine addiction, but grow beyond it.

Martin Preston Founder & CEO

Signs and symptoms

Physical signs and symptoms of drug addiction (Substance Use Disorder) differ depending on the type of drug being used. Stimulants, such as cocaine, speed up the body and brain, while depressants, like cannabis, slow speech and movement down. There are, however, some general physical and mental red flags that signal drug abuse.

Early warning signs of drug abuse

Strong drug cravings and compulsion to use
Drug tolerance: needing more or mixing drugs for effect
Drug dependence: experiencing withdrawal without drugs
Being unreachable for extended periods
Frequent drug intoxication

Behavioural changes in drug addiction

Increased anxiety or depression
Becoming socially withdrawn and demotivated
Mood swings and irritability
Erratic, unpredictable behaviour
Hiding drugs or lying about using
Neglecting work or school

Physical health indicators of a drug problem

Substantial changes in sleeping pattern
Changes in weight and appearance
Poor coordination
Bloodshot or ‘glazed’ eyes
Constricted or dilated pupils
Slurred speech

Who needs drug addiction treatment?

Not everyone who takes drugs will develop an addiction but there are certain factors that put people at a higher risk.

These include a history of trauma or adverse childhood experiences, an unstable home environment, social pressure, and certain personality types.

Your home environment and social circles also play an important role in your relationship with drugs. For instance, people who grow up with parents who abuse drugs, and are exposed to drugs at a young age, are more likely to develop serious problems in the future. ¹

The key takeout is that drug addiction does affect people of all ages from all backgrounds and there is no shame in seeking professional treatment.

Stop

This phase addresses any physical aspects of your addiction.

Our medical team is on hand 24/7 to ensure a safe and effective withdrawal.

Start

During ‘Start’ we help identify the psychological underpinnings of your dependency as you participate in a variety of addiction treatment therapies.

Grow

Our ‘Grow’ phase is the process of integrating the Delamere learning experience into life after treatment.

Bloom

Our ‘Bloom’ phase offers intensive support on a weekly basis for the first three months of recovery once guests return home.

People typically seek drug addiction help within a drug rehab when their relationship with drugs has become detrimental to themselves and the people around them physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.

Over the years, our professionals have worked with many guests who have battled drug addiction. For this reason, we understand that we’re all unique and different drugs present different challenges. Our experts assess the level of the problem before devising a tailored drug detox and support plan.

Our Treatment Model Our Environment

Drug Detox and Withdrawal – What to expect

The first part of your drug addiction treatment is a medically supervised drug detox. This is a simple procedure that provides all the clinical support you need to safely withdraw from drugs. You’ll be introduced to some light therapy and prescribed medication, if necessary, to help you recover at your own pace.

Day 1 to 2

During the first couple of days of drug withdrawals you’ll start to experience symptoms such as anxiety, restlessness, headache and nausea. Our nursing team will help you to manage any discomfort.

Up to 72 hours

By day three most symptoms will have subsided, and we will continue to provide ongoing care to put you at ease.

Week 1 to 2

In week one following your detox you’ll start intensive therapy with a focal counsellor and within group settings to help overcome your addiction.

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How to encourage a loved one to get help for drug addiction

Family members, friends, and even work colleagues also suffer as a direct result of the dysfunctional behaviours and the immense fear that addiction creates.

If you’re looking for help for someone who is displaying symptoms of a drug addiction, we’re here to help. It may be that the person in question is in denial about the extent of their problem and resisting professional help.

At Delamere, we provide family support services and help your loved one confront addiction.

We can also offer intervention services where we help prepare and rehearse a formal intervention that will culminate in your loved one entering treatment with us.

Discuss an intervention

Frequently Asked Questions

Everyone has different treatment needs depending on many factors, including the drug they are addicted to and how long they have been taking it for.

At Delamere, we believe that our deliberately intensive, immersive, and comprehensive treatment programme encourages profound transformations within a relatively short space of time. For this reason, we offer 28- or 42-day packages to our guests.

If you’re unsure how long you might need to stay with us, contact us today for a free and confidential assessment from our friendly admissions team.

Our Delamere clinical team treat all manner of drug addictions intensively and comprehensively within our state-of-the-art private rehab centre.

This includes cannabis addiction, ecstasy addiction, steroid addiction, amphetamine addiction, crack addiction, ketamine addiction, cocaine addiction, heroin addiction, and prescription drug addictions.

Whatever form addiction presents itself in for you or your loved one, it requires professional drug addiction treatment and support to successfully overcome it.

No, you can usually self-refer. While it can be helpful to share your concerns with your GP, it’s entirely your choice if you wish to access private treatment.

Calling Delamere directly means you get immediate access to the advice and support you need at a time to suit you. If you’re concerned about a friend or family member’s drug addiction, we can also help you stage an intervention.

We believe in treating each case on an individual basis, which is why we offer a wide range of different drug addiction treatments.

A typical rehab programme will include a drug detox followed by both one-to-one and group therapy. Your treatment can include art therapy, music therapy, equine therapy, meditation, mindfulness, yoga, journalling, fire ceremonies, and nature walks.

Just like illicit drugs, prescription drugs can also be extremely addictive and begin to take control of a person’s life.

If you are worried about any form of prescription drug addiction, whether for you or someone you care for, we can help.

We provide both a full prescription drug detox and prescription drug rehab treatment to help you or a loved one safely and successfully stop the addiction once and for all.