Alcohol and Other Drug Rehabilitation programs.

Rehabilitation is for anyone who would like to make long-term changes to their alcohol or other drug use and put in place different routines that can be maintained after the program ends.

If you’re finding your alcohol or other drug use is impacting other areas of your life, for example your relationships with people close to you, your physical or emotional health, or your ability to maintain employment, you might like to try making some changes with support from other people who can understand what you’re going through.

Detox – known as withdrawal – is the process of stopping use of alcohol or other drugs so your body can get used to not having substances in the short term. Most people need support to do this, as withdrawal symptoms can be unpleasant and difficult to manage alone.

Once withdrawal has taken place, people may decide to start rehabilitation so they can maintain the changes to their alcohol or other drug use. Uniting offer alcohol and other drug detox services in Melbourne Metro, Ballarat, and Traralgon. 

A residential rehabilitation program means participants stay overnight in a facility, usually for a week or more. A day rehab program, or ‘dayhab’, only runs during the day, and participants return home each afternoon. This is usually easier for parents, or people with other commitments. It also helps people integrate what they’ve learned during the day into their routines and relationships. People who have been through the day program say this has helped them meet their long-term goals, because they get to practice their new skills with their family or support network as they go through the program.

Yes, we recommend you stop taking substances while you attend a rehabilitation program, as it will be easier to attend, make new habits, and find the motivation to continue.

Please seek medical advice and a dedicated withdrawal (detox) program before stopping, as withdrawal symptoms can be unpleasant and difficult to manage alone. Information on Uniting’s withdrawal programs is available here

Once you decide to make changes to your substance use, our staff can work with you to identify your goals and help you choose the right service. The service might be delivered by Uniting, or another organisation that’s convenient for you to access.

If you’ve completed Catalyst, you will have access to ongoing support through the Momentum program, and can still access free counselling if you’d like to continue receiving support. Everyone’s journey is different, and some people may attend a rehabilitation program more than once to get to the goals they have set for themselves.

The Catalyst and Torque rehabilitation programs have supported over 1,000 people to reduce or stop substance use by helping to put new habits in place throughout the program. Because the program runs during the day, people find they can return home each day and start to put the habits they’ve learned into practice immediately. People who have completed the program say they feel more empowered to understand their thought patterns, and make different choices in the long-term.

It might take some people a few times to complete a rehabilitation program. Some people might prefer a residential program instead of a day program. Each person will have their own goals, so it’s important to speak with our team about what you’d like to achieve, so we can recommend what your first steps might be.