Addiction treatment at Smarmore Castle

Ambivalence about whether a problem exists is one of the most common features of early-stage addiction. It’s often a signal that clarity is worth seeking, rather than a reason for delay.
Drug use is sufficiently widespread, that comparison to others offers little. Between 2022 and 2023, 17% of people aged 15 to 34 in Ireland reported using illegal drugs. In that context, the line between ordinary use and dependency can be difficult to identify from the inside
The indicators tend to be behavioural rather than comparative: patterns of use that feel less chosen than before, attempts to cut back that don’t hold, a growing sense that the substance is taking up more space than it once did..

Addiction changes the way the brain works, but these changes respond to medical treatment; with each stage building on the last

Residential addiction rehab treatment follows a clear sequence. Detox helps your body through withdrawal safely, where that’s needed. Therapy works through the thinking and behaviour patterns that developed around the addiction. Continuing care supports recovery after you leave. 

Detox is the first stage of treatment, not the whole thing. For some people, it is necessary before therapy can begin in full. For others, it may not be needed at all.

When someone stops drinking alcohol after a period of heavy, regular use, withdrawal symptoms can begin within eight hours and get worse over the next two days. In serious cases, withdrawal from alcohol can cause fatal seizures and severe symptoms called Delirium Tremens. 

Drug detox and withdrawal varies depending on the substance and can also carry serious risks. For alcohol and substances like benzodiazepines, medical supervision during detox is always required.

At Smarmore Castle, detox takes place in a specialist medical unit with nursing care available around the clock. Medication is used to make withdrawal safer and more manageable. Not everyone will need it, and our clinical team decides on a case-by-case basis. Therapy begins during the latter stages of detox when you’re feeling ready. It happens in the same place as detox. There’s no gap in treatment, and you don’t need to move to unfamiliar surroundings.

With repeated use, the brain starts to treat a substance or behaviour as something it needs. It can also begin to associate certain situations and emotions with using drugs, alcohol, gambling or gaming. But, there are many types of therapy that address these emotional, psychological, social, and environmental aspects of addiction. 

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a first-line treatment for addiction. CBT targets those associations directly, building the skills to manage triggers and find alternatives to using. Research shows CBT can reduce substance use and improve symptoms of co-occurring mental health conditions.
• Group therapy is a central part of the Smarmore Castle programme. Sessions provide peer connection, a shared framework for recovery, and accountability from the other people in the group.
• Individual counselling runs alongside group work, providing a chance to focus on individual recovery needs with a personal therapist.
• 12 Step facilitation is integrated throughout. It is designed to make the step into a 12 Step group like Alcoholics Anonymous easier after discharge. You can find out more about the full range of types of therapy available at Smarmore Castle.

Mental health conditions have been considered widespread in Ireland. Some research suggests over 40% of Irish adults meet the criteria for at least one mental health disorder. For many people, a mental health condition and addiction exist at the same time.

Anxiety, depression, and trauma-related conditions are common alongside addiction. Each condition can make the other worse, so treating only one of them seldom works in the long term.

At Smarmore Castle, mental health is assessed at the start of treatment. This allows us to create a plan so that both are treated at the same time, by one team.