The Priory Hospital North London 2016-07-09 Person 4 5 0

I was on the addiction therapy programme three years ago and have stayed clean ever since. In my rating on "Did you feel involved enough in decisions made about you" I gave a low score because when I entered upon treatment I handed over my health and addiction to the doctors, nurses and therapists working there. It was my "control" over decisions that had led me to addiction and the mess I was in at the time. Did I feel respected? Absolutely. Did I feel cared for? Yes. When I first arrived two nurses gave very good advice and told me just to go along with everything that I was told to do. Is it a perfect system? Of course not and anyone who expects that, is in my experience from The Priory, looking for someone or something to blame rather than taking responsibility for their own actions. There are other ways to beat addiction and cheaper ways but The Priory, Southgate provides treatment in a beautiful setting with luxury private rooms and excellent food and it is not necessary to wait months or years for admittance. The price is not cheap but bear in mind you are paying for 24 hour care and intensive personalised treatment. Even though I have very little money I took out a loan to attend the addiction programme and 3 years later am still paying off the loan. Every penny of that loan was worthwhile. I also opted for day care. Why? Because of the psychological benefits of making the conscious decision to go (of my own free will) every day. This re-inforced my commitment to stop drinking. In fact, now three years later I am flying to London to re-visit The Priory to re-in force all I learned there. My advice to anyone considering the addiction therapy programme for themselves is to follow the advice that was given to me by those two nurses and that is to "go with the flow." Do everything you are told to do. Allow your personal life and relationships to be completely exposed and hold nothing back. The mortality rates for addiction are 1/3 of patients die within two years, 1/3 stay abstinent and 1/3 struggle with addiction for the rest of their lives. From my group in The Priory, one is now dead and one threw himself under a train. But most of the others have stayed clean even though some have had the odd relapse. You will get out of the programme as much as you put in - it's up to you. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending the ATP in this hospital and no hesitation in recommending the staff. I am alive and for that I am very grateful