Types of Addiction We Treat at Abbington House
At Abbington House, we treat alcohol, drugs, and behavioural addictions with compassion, not judgement. Whether you’re struggling yourself or supporting someone you love, we’re here to help you make sense of it and take the next step forward.
Understanding Addiction Comes First
Addiction doesn’t always look how people expect. It isn’t always chaotic. And it doesn’t always involve daily use. For some, it’s a constant cycle of bingeing and regret. For others, it’s silent dependence that builds behind closed doors. The truth is, addiction takes many forms – and no two people experience it the same way.
At Abbington House, we understand that addiction is more than a habit. It’s often the result of unmet emotional needs, deep-rooted trauma, or a nervous system stuck in survival mode. That’s why we don’t just treat the symptoms. We focus on healing the person.
Whether you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol, drugs, or compulsive behaviours like gambling, this page will help you better understand the types of addiction we support and how we help people recover with dignity, empathy, and real, lasting care.
Substance Addictions
Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol is one of the most socially accepted and widely misunderstood substances in the UK. From high-functioning drinkers to people experiencing blackouts or daily cravings, alcohol addiction often hides in plain sight. At Abbington House, we support clients through detox, therapy, and long-term healing in a safe and private environment.
Learn more about alcohol rehab →
Cocaine Addiction
Cocaine use is on the rise across all age groups, often linked to stress, social pressure, or the need to keep going. But the crash that follows emotionally and physically can take a serious toll. Our team works with clients to understand the emotional cycles behind use, build new coping strategies, and repair confidence.
Learn more about cocaine rehab →
Prescription Drug Addiction
Addiction to prescription medication can happen slowly and often starts with a legitimate need. But over time, dependency on opioids, painkillers, or benzodiazepines can develop, leading to distress, shame, and withdrawal symptoms. We help people safely taper off medication, understand the underlying patterns, and recover without judgement.
Ketamine Addiction
Once viewed as a party drug or experimental treatment for depression, ketamine is now at the centre of a growing addiction concern. Its dissociative effects can quickly become psychologically addictive, especially for people looking to escape trauma, anxiety, or emotional pain.
At Abbington House, we treat ketamine addiction with a trauma-informed, personalised approach — exploring not just the habit, but the emotional reasons behind it. Whether it started at festivals, in private clinics, or behind closed doors, you’re not alone — and you don’t need to keep managing it by yourself.
Learn more about ketamine rehab →
Cannabis Addiction
Cannabis is often described as “harmless” or “natural,” but that doesn’t mean it’s risk-free. For some people, regular use becomes a way to escape from stress, social pressure, anxiety, or unresolved trauma. Over time, it can impact memory, motivation, and mental health. At Abbington House, we work with clients who feel “stuck” in their use – especially those with ADHD or co-occurring mental health conditions – and help them find relief without losing themselves.
Heroin & Opiates
Opiates like heroin, morphine, or methadone are powerfully addictive, and coming off them is often painful both physically and emotionally. But it is possible to rebuild your life, even after years of use. Our approach includes medically supervised detox, trauma-informed therapy, and practical recovery planning. We help clients stabilise not just their body, but their nervous system – so they can feel safe again.
Learn more about heroin rehab →
Polysubstance Addiction (e.g. Alcohol and Cocaine)
It’s more common than you think: many people who seek treatment aren’t dealing with just one substance. They’re managing the chaos that comes from several addictions at once – like alcohol and cocaine, cannabis and ketamine, or benzos and opioids. This is known as polysubstance addiction, and it requires specialist care.
What Is Polysubstance Addiction?
Polysubstance addiction means someone is using more than one addictive substance in a recurring or dependent way. Sometimes it’s planned – mixing cocaine with alcohol to balance out the effects. Other times, it happens unintentionally. You stop drinking, but suddenly your cannabis use escalates. You reduce your painkillers, but turn to alcohol to sleep. It’s a complex, dynamic cycle – and far more common than people realise.
Why Is It So Dangerous?
When multiple substances are used together, the effects on the brain and body are compounded. Mixing stimulants and depressants, like alcohol and cocaine, creates unpredictable and often dangerous outcomes – increasing the risk of overdose, heart problems, or severe mental health deterioration. It also makes withdrawal more complicated, both physically and psychologically.
Can Rehab Treat Multiple Addictions at Once?
Yes and it absolutely should. At Abbington House, we’re experienced in supporting people with complex patterns of addiction, including those involving multiple drugs and alcohol. Our clinical team builds a tailored detox and therapy plan that considers every substance, every trigger, and every underlying issue.
These aren’t rare cases. They’re the reality for many people we treat at Abbington House.
Behavioural Addictions
Addiction isn’t always about substances. In many cases, it’s the behaviour that becomes compulsive often offering short-term relief at the cost of long-term wellbeing. These addictions can be just as distressing, but they’re frequently misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or dismissed as “bad habits.”
At Abbington House, we treat behavioural addictions with the same depth, care, and individual attention as substance use disorders. We never pathologise your coping mechanisms – we help you understand them, and gently untangle the patterns beneath them.
Gambling Addiction
Gambling addiction is a compulsive disorder that can wreak havoc on a person’s finances, relationships, and sense of self-worth. It often coexists with high stress, risk-taking behaviours, or an underlying need to feel in control. Whether it’s sports betting, slot machines, or online casinos, we support individuals in reclaiming their agency and their dignity through specialised therapy and trauma-informed care.
Pornography & Sex Addiction
Struggling with sex or porn addiction can feel isolating and shameful. But at its root, it’s often linked to emotional regulation issues, unmet needs for connection, or early experiences of trauma. Our team offers a safe, judgement-free environment where clients can explore the emotional drivers behind these behaviours and work toward healthier, more fulfilling relationships with themselves and others.
Gaming, Internet & Social Media Addiction
In a world that runs on screens, it can be hard to tell where entertainment ends and addiction begins. For some, gaming and internet use offer comfort or escape; for others, they become compulsions that take over daily life. We support clients in identifying the purpose these habits serve, exploring the root causes, and building a more balanced, connected life offline.
Addiction Rarely Stands Alone: Dual Diagnosis Matters
Addiction Rarely Stands Alone: Dual Diagnosis Matters
People don’t wake up one day addicted. There are often years of emotional pain underneath – untreated grief, toxic stress, or neurodivergence. That’s why our treatment approach looks at what’s driving the addiction, not just the addiction itself.
We take the time to explore these questions in depth:
Are you self-medicating something deeper?
Have you tried to stop before, only to find your mental health deteriorated?
Does your recovery feel harder than it “should”, and you can’t quite explain why?
These are signs that something more is going on and we won’t ignore it.
Personalised Addiction Treatment: There Is No One-Size-Fits-All
Every person who comes through our doors brings a different story. You might be a parent struggling quietly. Or a professional hiding a growing dependence. You may not even label yourself as “addicted” – just stuck, exhausted, and scared about what’s next.
That’s why we don’t offer generic programmes. We personalise every treatment plan based on:
- Your substance use: Whether it’s alcohol, cocaine, prescription meds, or several at once.
- Your mental health: Anxiety, trauma, ADHD, or anything else you’re dealing with.
- Your background and lifestyle: Work, family, relationships, housing, identity.
- Your goals: Whether it’s regaining stability or repairing trust.
From day one, we’ll work with you to map out a plan that actually makes sense for your situation – one you feel empowered to follow not pressured into.
We combine evidence-based therapies (like CBT and EMDR) with holistic supports (like mindfulness, breathwork and trauma-informed care). Everything is tailored to help you feel safe, understood, and in control of your recovery.
You Deserve to Feel Better - Let’s Start Together
At Abbington House, we don’t just treat addiction. We treat people. With care, respect, and the belief that recovery should feel human, not clinical.
Whether you’re struggling with one substance or several, whether your mental health is fragile or you’re just burnt out - we can help.
Reach out today. One simple call or message could be the moment your life starts to feel manageable again.