How Confidential is Rehab

You may wonder how confidential is rehab? Most things you share in recovery or at a drug and alcohol rehab are private, as laws exist to protect your privacy. Everyone has the right to confidentiality.

Knowing that drug and alcohol rehab is confidential makes for a great start in healing. Patients are more likely to trust the treatment process and open up to staff and fellow service users — a vital part of the recovery journey.

 

What Laws Protect My Privacy?

It’s reassuring to know that various laws exist to protect your privacy and keep your data confidential. The staff who look after you at rehab adhere to the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018.  Rehab centres take data and confidentiality laws seriously. They could be sued if they breach the law, and share your data without persmission.

When you attend rehab, anything that you talk about, whether to doctors, addiction specialists, or counsellors, will be kept confidential. This includes the things you say and your written records, for example, medical files and therapy notes.

There are times when your therapist or doctor will need to share information about you with others. If you’re at risk of harming yourself, including children, and harming other residents at rehab, rehab staff will inform the relevant authorities. Sharing this type of information is required by law to keep everyone safe. If patients are at risk of an emergency and they can’t give consent to treatment, staff are permitted to share information with other professionals to keep them safe and well.

In the unfortunate circumstance of a patient breaking the law while staying in rehab, staff will inform the police and pass on any relevant information. Staff will likely inform other patients if you’ve violated your residential stay’s terms and conditions and leave rehab. Counsellors and therapists have to notify the police if patients reveal anything regarding the abuse of a minor.

By law, you have the right to access any information a rehab centre holds about you, and you can ask to see it at any time.

 

Confidentiality Works Both Ways

Rehab patients often get to know other recovering addicts throughout their stay at a clinic. Support groups, group therapy, and free time mean that patients often mix, providing valuable support to aid recovery. You must respect other patients’ privacy. If they have told you something in confidence, you mustn’t share it with other patients or gossip. Patients are advised to speak to a staff member if they are concerned about another service user.

To ensure privacy, most rehab centres don’t allow patients to take photos of staff, patients or the premises and clinics often have a ‘no social media’ policy. These rules mean no pictures on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  There is still a stigma associated with addiction and many people want to keep their personal live private.

 

What About My Family?

Involving your family in your treatment plan can work wonders for your recovery if you have a good relationship with them. Patients have a higher chance of long-term recovery if family members are involved. Rehab centres only involve your family if you give permission. Drug and alcohol addiction can cause devastation to families. Family therapy helps heal the rifts caused by drug and alcohol misuse, so family involvement is always encouraged.

Families want their loved ones to recover and often like to be informed at every stage of treatment. Staff often communicate with family members, as having the help and support of those closest to you positively impacts your recovery.

 

Addiction And Employment

Patients are often reluctant to tell their employer that they are going into rehab. They are embarrassed and may have worked hard to keep their private lives separate from their work lives. Employers are often sympathetic and understanding when they learn about an employee’s addiction. The best employers want you to do everything to recover and provide compassionate leave or sick leave for rehab.

Modern day employers recognise that addiction is an illness that needs treatment. If you’re nervous about speaking to your employer, staff are often happy to talk with them and answer any queries (with your permission.) You don’t have to tell work that you’re starting rehab if you don’t want to; it’s your decision.

 

Telling Others – It’s Your Choice

If you’re considering starting treatment, you may decide to keep it quiet. Addiction is very personal: some people don’t care if others know they’re attending rehab, as it shows the world that they are seeking help to live a better life. Others want to keep it a secret, as they are embarrassed; everyone is different. If you’re having a problem with drugs or alcohol, and you want to keep it private, it’s best to find treatment straight away. An untreated addiction always gets worse, and it can become evident to others that you have a problem.

Patients often choose a rehab clinic away from their homes as they want to keep their addiction private. This is particularly true for outpatients who often return home every day from rehab, as they don’t want to bump into neighbours or work colleagues on the journey.

Keeping your addiction to yourself is your choice. If you decide to tell people, make sure you confide in someone you trust.

 

Ready To Get Help For Your Addiction?

Step One Recovery has helped thousands of people to beat drug and alcohol addictions. We run private, confidential addiction recovery centres throughout the UK, providing treatments that help heal the mind and body.

Our teams consist of the best addiction specialists, doctors and counsellors who work together to provide a bespoke treatment programme to help those struggling with drugs and alcohol.

Call our admissions team to arrange a confidential chat with one of our addiction therapists. You’ll learn about how we can help, and we’ll suggest a personalised treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Contact us today on 0800 012 6006 and take the first step in your recovery.