As a result, many patients are forced to choose between competing philosophies of treatment rather than benefiting from the best of what both science and psychological treatments have to offer.

In this talk, Dr. Mike McPhillips discusses how doctors, psychologists, therapists and counselors need to work closely together to ensure that the patient gets the best possible outcome.

The Causeway Retreat believes that it’s patients should have the very best in treatment, whether they choose individual therapy, group therapy, medication or any combination of these treatments.

It was very well attended during the two days and particularly at the evening event on the first night.

The main focus of the conference was to bring together leading experts from around the world. The conference was an unique opportunity to gain insights into the latest developments and techniques in addiction and neuroscience teaching and research. It was a rare opportunity to learn from globally respected medical professionals and network with like minded colleagues.

On the first night over 170 people from the medical profession came to our evening Event, drinks and buffet were served before Dr Mike McPhillips and Dr Laszlo Mechtler gave short talks on the two organisations hosting the event.

Amid the socialising one thing became very clear: the world of neuroscience and addiction research is fast moving and what awaits us in the next decade is very exciting!

Here are a few testimonials:

“Neuroscience and addiction research is a very fast-moving area- it was a very valuable conference to take stock of where we are at and what will be happening in the next decade. I found Dr Howell’s lecture on psychopharmacology and the addicted patient very interesting. And was glad to hear Dr Kotz drawing attention to the specific health issues women’s binge drinking creates and the challenges we must overcome- to make treatment more effective for female clients.”
Sarah Graham - Sarah Graham Solutions, London

“A quick word of sincere thanks from Marie and me for including us in your Neuroscience & Addiction conference this week. It was so informative and we enjoyed meeting the participants.”
David Delapalme, Therapist, Paris

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to attend your conference last week. I found it all very informative especially as being a psychotherapist, it gave me a huge insight into the medical science of addiction. Already I have been singing your praises to colleagues and friends.”
Christine Boyd - Transpersonal Psychotherapist MA Psych UKCP MBACP, London

“Quite a spectacular event. Thanks for inviting me. Best, Ken”
Dr. Kenneth Paul Rosenberg - Clinical Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Public Health - Weill Cornell Medical College/New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York

“I found the evening very stimulating, informative, and with an excellent guest list of international opinion-leaders.”
Dr Ian Drever - Consultant Psychiatrist, London

“I had a WONDERFUL experience at the conference. It was extremely informative, progressive, covered a wide variety of topics, and provided a great opportunity to meet SO MANY terrific colleagues from Europe. I was thrilled at the great turnout.”
Dr Terry Eagan - Consultant Psychiatrist, Los Angeles

Our Medical Director Dr Mike McPhillips is a leading authority on the treatment of psychiatric and addiction disorders and is a member of The Royal College of Physicians and Psychiatrists. His private practice is at 2, Lower Sloane Street, London SW1W 8BJ
The Causeway Retreat works with all the major private Health Insurance Companies. Please ask for details.

The Sponsorship Programme will offer one client a month’s free in-patient care in the Village, Osea Island, 12 months free after care based in London and follow up by Dr. Mike McPhillips, The Causeway Retreat’s Consultant Psychiatrist and  Medical Director.

General Practitioners, Consultant Psychiatrists and Therapists throughout the UK are all invited to refer cases to Dr McPhillips, where they will be reviewed and a short list (chosen from the referrals received) will be presented to the Board of Trustees. They will then decide which client they feel is most likely to benefit from the free treatment on The Island and subsequent follow up care.

The Causeway Retreat, which is situated on a private island off the coast of Essex and just 40 miles from London, has been successfully rehabilitating people since 2004. Well known for specialising in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction, The Causeway also deliver the very best in-patient care and treatment for general psychiatric conditions, including depression, bi-polar disorder, anxiety and stress-related illnesses.

Brendan Quinn RMN BSc (Hons), Managing Director at The Causeway said:

We’re really excited to be launching this service nationwide, it gives us the chance to open our doors and help people who wouldn’t normally be able to access to such specialised care. We’re looking forward to receiving the referrals and getting the service started.

The Causeway Retreat, based on Osea Island has a long history in improving people’s lives. In 1903 Frederick Charrington purchased the Island and set up a retreat for alcoholics and people with addiction problems to seek help.  Thus began a tradition of sponsoring free treatment and under his guidance Osea Island became a centre of temperance and philanthropy. Sadly this period of enlightenment came to an end during the First World War when the island was requisitioned by the Admiralty for use as a top secret torpedo manufacturing base. The centre was re-launched in 2004 by a team of experts and has returned to its former glory with the addition of modern ways of working and treatment.

For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us in a strictest confidence: 0207 100 7260

While receiving a treatment for drug addiction, people in treatment will need to change their behaviour to adopt a healthier lifestyle, like for those who are with diabetes or heart disease. Even though the ultimate goal of drug addiction treatment is to enable an individual to achieve lasting abstinence, the immediate goals should be reducing drug abuse, minimize the medical and social complications and improve the patient’s ability to function.

A recent analysis shows that the annual cost of illicit drug abuse alone is more than 125 million pounds per year. When this is combined with alcohol and tobacco costs, the total cost reaches up to 350 billion pounds which includes criminal justice, healthcare and lost productivity. A successful drug abuse treatment can certainly help reducing the costs in addition to crime and the spreading of infectious diseases. It is estimated that for every pound spent in the cost of drug related crimes, there is 3 to 6 pounds reduction in the cost of drug related crimes. With some outpatient programmes, the ratio can go up to 12:1.

To be continued…

To find out more about private counselling visit our drug addiction pages or simply call us on 020 100 7260.