Spice Addiction Treatment & Rehab

Spice has been marketed as an alternative to cannabis which gives the impression that it is a ‘safer’ drug which is misleading, Spice can be up to 100 times more potent than THC (the active ingredient in cannabis) which can lead to dependence and an addiction to Spice in a relatively short amount of time.

Your brain changes during addiction in ways that can take a long time to bring back to a healthy state. An intensive treatment programme designed around your specific needs, recovery and healing is made possible.

If you have noticed that the need to include Spice into your daily life is becoming hard to control, please reach out to us so that we can help you return to a life that is Spice free.

Understanding Spice Addiction

Although the use of Spice is often voluntary in the first instance, the development of addiction occurs through a variety of circumstances. Spice produces a euphoric feeling by triggering large amounts of dopamine in certain regions of your brain responsible for the feeling of reward.

Addiction occurs when using Spice takes over these circuits and increases your craving to consume more and more to achieve the same rewarding effect. (Addictive disorders: Causes and reasons they may get worse)

If you would like to learn more about residential rehab or would like to speak to an expert regarding the different treatment centres here in the UK, please give us a call.

a group therapy session

Why Spice Addiction Treatment is Necessary

Spice is manufactured in a multitude of ways with any number of chemicals that are harmful to your mental and physical health. There is no quality control or consistency in how it is manufactured and because it is sprayed over dried plant materials, there is not an even disbursement of chemicals and therefore no control over the dose you receive. (K2/Spice: What to Know About These Dangerous Drugs Drugs like K2 and Spice have been)

While the long term effects of Spice on your brain has not been studied, the addictive properties have shown similar mental health issues as other drugs:

Deciding to quit using Spice and receive addiction treatment will help to reverse or prevent any long-term health issues.

a rehab group session

Treat the Addiction, not the Spice!

Addiction is classified as a mental health illness (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)) characterised by the chronic urge to keep using the substance in question (Spice). You may think that if you can rid your body of Spice (detox) that you will be starting with a clean slate and will now be ‘cured’.

Addiction is classified as a mental health illness (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)) characterised by the chronic urge to keep using the substance in question (Spice). You may think that if you can rid your body of Spice (detox) that you will be starting with a clean slate and will now be ‘cured’.

A holistic treatment including behavioural therapies is the most beneficial in the long-term recovery of people suffering from addiction, and although treatment for Spice addiction is still in the early stages if you can follow an evidence-based treatment programme you will have a better chance at a life free from Spice addiction.

Don’t be afraid to admit you have a problem

Over time, addictive substances can change how your brain works, you may go into denial and think that you are not like the societal portrayal of a ‘drug addict’, you may think you can control how much and how often you use Spice.

You may even think that your situation is hopeless and that you are in an inescapable cycle where Spice rules your life, but there is always hope, recovery is possible if you seek treatment.

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Choosing a Treatment Option

Getting better from Spice addiction can take time. There’s no cure for addiction, but treatment can help you stop using Spice and stay drug-free. Your treatment may include counselling, medicine, or both.

Contact our team to discuss the best options available for you.

Private Rehab

Receiving treatment in a private rehabilitation facility gives you more choice and control over the treatment you receive, admission can often be arranged in hours as opposed to weeks through the NHS.

If you are considering the options available, you have likely accepted that either you or a loved one require assistance with a dependency issue with Spice and private rehab may serve you better in the long run.

How does Private Rehab Work?

There are 3 phases in a typical rehabilitation programme for addiction treatment, these would be structured or adjusted to suit your needs and may depend on the severity of your dependence on Spice.

Detox: Easing your body and mind through the withdrawal process may produce uncomfortable symptoms and may require a medically supervised detox to monitor and ease these symptoms. A detox precedes the rehabilitation process to give you a stable and focused mindset to continue with your treatment.

Rehabilitation Programme: Any substance use disorder has underlying causes especially where addiction is diagnosed, your rehabilitation will commence with intensive therapies to address the underlying causes and provide you with the building blocks to rebuild your life free from Spice.

Aftercare or secondary treatment: either as a resident in a treatment centre or as an outpatient, secondary treatment assists with reintegration back into your life, therapy is continued to address any further underlying issues you may have.
(Rehab for Treating Addiction)

Choosing a Rehab Centre

A private rehabilitation facility that best suits you and can support your treatment will keep you invested in your recovery, we suggest considering the following factors when making your decision:

  1. Where are they located? Being away from your environment may be more beneficial with less temptation
  2. Do they have a decent CQC rating? All residential treatment centres in the UK are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (What we do | Care Quality Commission), the independent regulator of health and social care in England.
  3. Is the treatment team credible, certified and experienced in dealing with Spice addiction?
  4. Does the centre offer a treatment program that you like? different treatment centres utilise different therapeutic models:
    • 12 Step Model -A spiritual abstinence-based programme that focuses on your motivation to change your addictive behaviours within the treatment and recovery process. (The 12 Steps of Recovery Programs)
    • Non 12 Step Model – Focus is on addiction’s multifaceted issues and offers a treatment programme that includes both physical and psychological therapy.
  5. Medical – Does the treatment centre offer medical assistance to aid your recovery? Can the centre provide medication to assist with your withdrawal?

There is a wide range of treatment facilities available throughout the UK and we can assist in finding the best fit for you.

The Benefits of Private Rehab

  • Fast admission
  • A flexible, adjustable treatment plan
  • Confidentiality and a team of support you can trust
  • Multiple treatment methods taking place on one site
  • Access to continual support from a range of professional therapists, time to build trust
  • Additional therapies offered – Art, Exercise etc
  • Visiting/phone call times from family
  • Aftercare programmes to support your recovery beyond your stay

Types of Behavioural Therapies for Treating Addiction

The marketing of Spice as ‘safe’ has made it popular and unfortunately, the rate of addiction to Spice has superseded the studies on treatments that could be available, at this time, there are no pills, patches, or inhalers approved to treat Spice addiction.

Therapy is one of the best ways to overcome any addiction. Therapists can treat Spice addiction in the following ways:

Motivational enhancement therapy teaches you self-motivation techniques to quickly stop using Spice.

support

Cognitive-behavioural therapy

Known as the “talk therapy,” encourages you to change how you think so you stop using Spice.

Rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT)

Identifies irrational beliefs, actively challenges these beliefs, and teaches you to recognise and change these thought patterns.
(Different approaches to psychotherapy)

Contingency management

It is another type of therapy in which you set goals and earn rewards for staying drug-free. It also removes rewards if you suddenly start using Spice.

Paying for Treatment

Private rehab facilities are generally paid for by the client, some offer a payment plan where the final payment is made on discharge.

In some cases, clients have received funding from benefactors, charity groups or their families.

Free Outpatient Services

The NHS (The NHS website – NHS) only offers outpatient care for the treatment of addiction and there can be waiting lists before you may start treatment in your area (Find Drug addiction services), so if you require urgent admission, contact us and we will help you find the right private treatment centre for your needs.

In cases where your withdrawal is very uncomfortable, free outpatient services may not be able to assist with your detox as closely as you can expect from private rehab centres and the medical assistance may not be as focused as you need.

Advice on Quitting Spice

Removing Spice from your life may feel scary or even beyond your capabilities, but with continued therapy, support, compassion and re-affirmation of your commitment, long-term recovery is indeed possible.

Ensure that your home is free of any Spice paraphernalia (Vapes, packets, liquid etc), and try to stay away from the environments, shops and ‘friends’ that you may have purchased or used Spice with in the past.

Incorporate a new healthy lifestyle into your life and concentrate on the new skills, hobbies and interests you to help keep your focus on sobriety and recovery.

Support Groups are Useful

Rehabilitation is only the first phase of your recovery and healing from addiction, having long-term involvement in therapy and with support groups such as:

Jason Sheirs
Author / Jason Shiers / Dip. Psych MBACP
Jason Shiers is a Certified Transformative Coach & Certified Psychotherapist who is a specialist in addiction, trauma and eating disorders. He has been working in the field of addiction for 25 years now.