Drug Addiction Treatment

Clinically reviewed by Robin Lefever, Managing Director & Therapist. Last reviewed: 17 September 2026.

This page is for people who want to know how treatment works, and for families who are not sure which substance page to open. You do not have to choose a drug first. Assessment is the starting point.

At a glance

To take a next step, arrange an assessment or call London on 0207 581 8222 or Kent on 01304 841 700. Enquiries are confidential and there is no pressure to decide on the call.

What is drug addiction treatment?

Drug addiction treatment is structured clinical support for people who cannot reliably stop or cut down, even when the drug is causing harm. It is not only about stopping the substance. Treatment looks at cravings, the pattern of use, withdrawal risk, mental health, physical health, relationships, and what the drug has been doing for the person (confidence, sleep, trauma, work, sex, or numbing low mood).

At Promis, treatment begins with assessment rather than a fixed programme. The plan may include medically supervised detox, individual and group therapy, weekly psychiatric input, family work, relapse prevention, and support for co-occurring anxiety, depression, trauma or other addictions. The right intensity (outpatient, day patient or residential) depends on risk, not on a label.

This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for emergency care.

When is residential treatment needed?

Residential treatment is often the safer option when drug use is severe, when previous attempts to stop have not lasted, when home life contains strong triggers, or when the person needs a protected setting with medical monitoring and daily therapeutic support.

It also tends to be the better fit when withdrawal may be medically risky, when mental health is unstable, when several substances are involved, or when outpatient support has not been enough. Residential care at Promis can include detox, individual therapy, group work, psychiatric input, family support, relapse prevention, and planning for life after treatment.

Outpatient or day patient care may be enough when risk is lower, home support is stable, and the person can stay safe between sessions. That decision is made at assessment, not from a webpage.

If someone is in immediate danger (collapse, chest pain, severe confusion, psychosis, overdose, or talk of suicide), call 999 or go to A&E. Promis is a voluntary clinic and is not an emergency service.

What happens during an assessment?

Assessment at Promis is a confidential first conversation to understand what is happening and what kind of help would be safest.

The initial call covers the immediate concern, current risks, treatment history, and whether residential, day patient, outpatient, detox or family support may be appropriate. The clinical assessment then considers substance use, withdrawal risk, mental health, physical health, medication, family context and practical needs, before recommending a pathway.

If Promis is the right fit, the team can discuss availability, admission, insurance, transport and what to expect. If another service is more suitable, they will say so. There is no pressure to make a decision on the call. Families can also request advice; you do not have to wait until the person using drugs is ready to speak.

How does Promis treat addiction and mental health together?

Drug problems often overlap with anxiety, depression, trauma, or other substance use, including alcohol. Treating the drug in isolation, and leaving the mental health work for later, is how people relapse.

Promis is a mental health and addiction clinic with weekly psychiatric input. Care is formulation-led: the team builds a shared map of what is driving and maintaining the drug use, then keeps therapy, medical treatment and family work aligned with that map. Psychiatry provides diagnostic clarity, medication review and stabilisation where needed, so psychotherapy can focus on the pattern underneath the use.

Relatives can be involved through the family programme where family dynamics are part of the picture.

Outpatient support, detox, residential treatment and aftercare

This is a guide, not a self-diagnosis. The right level of care is decided with a clinician.

To take a next step, arrange an assessment or call London on 0207 581 8222 or Kent on 01304 841 700.

Substance treatment pages

The cards below cover the substances Promis treats most often. If you are not sure which one fits, or more than one substance is involved, start with an assessment rather than choosing a card first. Alcohol is covered separately on the alcohol addiction page.