…In the not too distant past, Concept Houses were committed to somewhat irrational and humiliating procedures… For all their perceived flaws, long-term in-patient facilities have long been recognized as being the most effective treatment when it comes to helping people achieve long-term stability based on abstinence. While people have criticized it as being ‘brainwashing’, it’s advocates generally reply that it worked for them, and besides, some brains actually need a little washing – and it’s rather hard to argue with that. Unfortunately, finding a place at a TC or a rehab is no longer as easy as it used to be. A few years ago, the government changed the arrangements under which payments were made for long-term drug treatment. In the past, anyone who could find a place at a rehab or TC could pretty well just go. Today, there is a limited amount of money allocat-
ed to each Social Services department to pay for a place in a long-term facility. These places still do exist, but it can be almost impossible to get a place in one. The people who stand the best chance of getting into such places are those who can demonstrate a reason why they should be treated as a priority. You will also need to be referred into such a service, so you will probably need to see a drugs counsellor, an advice and information worker, a social worker, or a keyworker at a methadone clinic. These people will be in the best position to tell you what sort of criteria are required to be considered a priority, and will be able to give you a realistic estimate of whether you will be able to get into such a facility in any reasonable time
