Legal Highs Addiction Treatment (Rehab and Detox)

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Last Updated:

May 8th, 2024

The deceptive nature of legal highs can quickly lead to serious consequences for health and well-being. While legal high addiction can be a scary, all-consuming condition, Sanctuary Lodge’s legal high addiction treatment can help guide you back to health and well-being. We take a three-stage approach to treatments, which begins with legal highs detox, transitions into rehab therapy and continues after you leave rehab with our relapse prevention plan. This comprehensive programme gives you the best possible chance of recovery and a new future.

Step one: Legal high detox

Detox is the medically monitored process of eliminating addictive substances from the body. It is crucial for recovery from addiction as it breaks physical dependence and safely manages the withdrawal process under professional care.

Legal high withdrawal symptoms can be severe and distressing and in some cases, even life-threatening. Legal high detox helps mitigate the acute psychological and psychological symptoms while effectively purging the body of toxins.

At Sanctuary Lodge, legal high detox is not just about the purging process. Our medical detox programme will help you lay the foundations for the next stages of treatment so you can move forward with a clearer mind and body. We provide bespoke legal high detox plans based on a full medical assessment on arrival. This allows us to cater to your needs and provide any necessary medication and support to help you.

What to expect for legal high withdrawal

Knowledge of what to expect during legal high withdrawal can help you prepare for detox and prevent any unpleasant surprises. Legal high withdrawal symptoms vary from substance to substance, but some common symptoms include:

Mood swings
Irritability
Insomnia
Physical issues such as sweating, shaking and nausea
Severe anxiety
Depression
Hallucinations
Seizures (in extreme cases of legal high withdrawal)

How long does withdrawal from legal highs last?

Legal high withdrawal can vary significantly in duration, largely due to the diverse nature of the substances, personal health status and how you react to detox. Generally speaking, symptoms start within hours or days of the last use and can last from a few days to several weeks.

Acute legal high withdrawal symptoms tend to peak after 2-3 days and get better after the first week but some psychological symptoms such as cravings, anxiety, and depression may persist for longer periods, requiring ongoing support and management.

Step two: Legal high rehab

Rehab aims to dismantle the psychological reliance on legal highs while promoting mental and physical health recovery. It is designed to help individuals rebuild trust in themselves and others, re-establish their self-esteem, and adopt a lifestyle free from substance dependence.

At Sanctuary Lodge, legal high rehab includes a blend of therapies and holistic treatments tailored to treat the multi-faceted nature of legal high dependency. Some of the benefits of our legal high rehab programme include:

Inpatient treatment to remove you from temptations
Staff and recovery peers to motivate you and share your experiences with
Both individual and group therapy which provide different routes to healing
Top-class facilities and accommodation
A comprehensive aftercare programme upon completion of legal high rehab

Legal high rehab therapy at Sanctuary Lodge

The unpredictable nature of legal highs means that effective rehab treatment requires a broad and adaptable therapeutic approach. Sanctuary Lodge’s legal high rehab programme includes a variety of traditional and holistic therapies to address the complex effects and causes of dependency. These include:

Individual therapy

There are focused one-on-one sessions that help you tackle the specific challenges and psychological effects posed by legal highs, fostering personal growth and self-understanding. Individual therapy is rarely offered during NHS rehab programmes but is one of the most effective ways to work through your individual needs.

Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)

DBT combines CBT and mindfulness techniques to help you to manage stress, regulate emotions and improve relationships with others. This is crucial for addressing the disruption legal highs can cause to social lives and their impact on friends and family.

Art therapy

Engaging in creative activities like art therapy provides a non-verbal outlet for expression and emotional relief. This can help you process feelings linked to your legal high use that may be too difficult to articulate through words.

Group therapy

Group therapy helps to build community support at Sanctuary Lodge and enables you to learn from the experiences of others. This is valuable as it can show you that you are not alone on your journey and allow everyone to make meaningful relationships.

Motivational interviewing

This technique enhances your motivation to change by looking at any doubts or ambivalence you have. It can help you commit to the legal high rehab process by reminding you of your goals during difficult moments.

Sound therapy

This deeply-reaching approach uses sound as a tool for healing, helping to align your physical and emotional states. Sound therapy promotes relaxation and reduces the anxiety that can accompany withdrawal from legal highs.

Step three: Legal high relapse prevention

The path to recovery does not end when you leave rehab and can be fraught with challenges when you return to daily life. Sanctuary Lodge provides continued support to navigate this journey successfully through our relapse prevention plan. Some of the most important strategies for preventing a return to legal high use include:

Attending aftercare

Sanctuary Lodge’s aftercare programme offers a year of free group therapy sessions after rehab. These sessions are crucial for reinforcing the coping strategies learned during treatment and for receiving ongoing support.

Trigger identification and management

Identifying what triggers your desire to use legal highs is a fundamental part of your treatment. After completing rehab, We will help you develop personalised management strategies to handle these triggers effectively.

Support group attendance

Engaging regularly with support groups like Narcotics Anonymous can provide essential peer support and help reinforce your commitment to recovery.

Healthy lifestyle changes

Implementing healthy lifestyle changes not only boosts your overall health but also helps maintain mental clarity, reducing reliance on legal highs.

Stress management techniques

Effective stress management is critical in avoiding relapse. Sanctuary Lodge’s rehab programme will equip you with tools such as meditation, yoga and other relaxation techniques to help manage everyday stress without turning to legal highs.

Staying connected to your support network

We emphasise the importance of staying connected to a support network that includes family, friends, peers and counsellors who can provide ongoing encouragement and support.

Legal high addiction treatment at Sanctuary Lodge

Sanctuary Lodge provides three-stage treatment for a range of legal highs. These include:

Benzo Fury rehab

Benzo Fury addiction treatment integrates a thorough detox process with a range of targeted therapies. This approach is vital for dealing with the strong cravings associated with Benzo Fury use and helping you build the foundations for lifelong recovery.

Benzo Fury rehab →

Mephedrone rehab

Mephedrone addiction treatment emphasises detox, behavioural modification, stress management and relapse prevention training. This will equip you with the skills needed to maintain long-term recovery and avoid relapse.

Mephedrone rehab →

Spice rehab

Spice addiction treatment requires a tailored approach due to the unpredictable effects and chemical variability of synthetic cannabinoids. Sanctuary Lodge’s treatment involves a medically monitored detox phase to mitigate severe withdrawal symptoms.

Spice rehab →

Begin legal high addiction treatment today

The journey to recovery from legal high addiction is complex and fraught with challenges, but Sanctuary Lodge is here to guide and support you every step of the way. Our treatment programmes and dedicated professionals will ensure that you receive the care you need to achieve lasting sobriety.

Don’t let addiction dictate your future any more. Contact Sanctuary Lodge now and start your path to recovery.

FAQ’s

Is detoxing from legal highs at home dangerous?

Detoxing from legal highs at home can be dangerous, particularly because these substances can have severe and unpredictable withdrawal symptoms. Without professional medical observation, there is a higher risk of complications such as dehydration, psychological distress and severe physical reactions. A monitored detox in a medical facility like Sanctuary Lodge is strongly recommended to ensure safety and provide necessary support.