Addiction Treatment Used By The Rich And Famous Is Now On Offer At A Clinic In Southgate.>

ADDICTION treatment used by the rich and famous is now on offer at a clinic in Southgate.

Priory clinics have helped many troubled celebrities overcome drink and drugs addictions in the past.

And now Grovelands Priory Hospital in The Bourne has launched a new range of services to help others with addiction related problems.

Former Arsenal footballer Paul Merson went to the Priory treatment clinic in south London for drink and alcohol problems and former Spurs and England player Paul Gascoigne was admitted for stress related problems.

Other past clients include supermodel Kate Moss and TV personality Paul Yates and Caroline Aherne, alias blue-rinsed comedienne Mrs Merton.

Priory clinics have a 75 per cent success rate -- but at a cost. Prices start from £60 for a group session up to a £2,500 a week fee for an inpatient.

They do, however, offer an initial free assessment by one of their therapists and a free 12-month aftercare service.

A spokeswoman said: "We're there for them and we can go on being there for them -- we don't just shut the door on them when they leave."

Priory Heathcare has just launched a new range of addiction services called Priory Addiction Care and Treatment, or PACT for short.

PACT will offer people with alcohol, drug and other behavioural addictions, a range of treatment programmes tailored to meet individual needs.

Dr Vik Watts, consultant psychiatrist at Grovelands, said: "What's so exciting about PACT, is that for the first time we are able to offer a nationwide range of services from treatment to aftercare support for the individual and the family maximising their chance of staying free of alcohol, drugs or other behavioural addictions in the long term."

There are 28,000 alcohol and drug related deaths each year and addiction costs the NHS an estimated £150 million a year.

For further details of PACT call freephone 08080 477467.

National charity Turning Point also runs an addiction helpline on 0171 702 2300.

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