Frequently asked questions
What Kind of Things Can I Bring With Me to Inpatient Drug Treatment?
Answer: The good news is that you can bring many of the things that make you comfortable at home to your inpatient rehabilitation program. The exact list of what’s allowed and what isn’t will vary from treatment center to treatment center. But here’s a list that shows some of the things many patients bring with them to these programs:
Comfortable clothing and shoes
Toiletries like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and deodorant
Electric razors for shaving
Any prescription medications you’re currently taking
Sunscreen and facial care products
Cigarettes
Chewing gum
Small amounts of cash for vending machines and store runs
Notebooks and journals
Stamps and envelopes
Pictures of loved ones
Inpatient rehab is one of the top support options for people who want to recover from substance abuse issues. These treatment centers place some restrictions on the individuals who use them to ensure that nothing interferes with their healing process.
One of those restrictions is the type of items that a person can bring with them to their inpatient treatment program. If you’re interested in learning more about that, you’ve come to the right place.
Keep reading to learn everything that you need to know about what’s allowed in inpatient drug treatment.
What kinds of things can I bring with me to inpatient drug treatment?
The good news is that you can bring many of the things that make you comfortable at home to your inpatient rehabilitation program. The exact list of what’s allowed and what isn’t will vary from treatment center to treatment center. But here’s a list that shows some of the things many patients bring with them to these programs:
- Comfortable clothing and shoes
- Toiletries like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and deodorant
- Electric razors for shaving
- Any prescription medications you’re currently taking
- Sunscreen and facial care products
- Cigarettes
- Chewing gum
- Small amounts of cash for vending machines and store runs
- Notebooks and journals
- Stamps and envelopes
- Pictures of loved ones
Can I bring any electronic devices with me?
Most inpatient rehab facilities won’t allow you to bring any electronic devices with you. They restrict you from bringing these items for a few reasons.
One of the reasons is that inpatient rehab is a time for you to focus on your health. It’s an opportunity for you to remove all of the outside distractions from your life that get in the way of it. If you had electronic devices like cell phones and laptops with you, then you would be able to stay in touch with the outside world, which could distract you from focusing on your health.
Another reason for this is that things like cell phones and laptops enable you to stay in touch with the people you associated with while abusing drugs and alcohol. This opens up a pathway for relapse that you can avoid by temporarily not being in direct contact with the outside world.
Why are some things banned from inpatient treatment?
You may be disappointed by the fact that you won’t be able to bring everything that you want into your inpatient treatment program with you. But there are very valid reasons why this is the case.
First, as we said in the last section, you can’t have electronic devices on you because those would enable you to contact the outside world. You may end up using that capability to facilitate a relapse.
Additionally, rehab can be a time of intense emotional stress. Both your body and mind will be transitioning and this can cause you to act out behaviorally in ways that you wouldn’t under normal circumstances.
Inpatient treatment centers also remove some of their patients’ items because of this. They want to make sure that you’re safe at a time when emotions will be running high.
Is inpatient care right for me?
As you read about in the sections above, inpatient care can be restrictive. There’s a good chance that, if you signed up for it, you would need to leave behind some of the items that you use every day at home.
But that doesn’t mean inpatient treatment is a bad choice. Making these small and temporary sacrifices could pay dividends for the rest of your life if you’re able to maintain your sobriety after completing inpatient treatment.
Of course, there are also other treatment options to choose from. If you’re not able to give up access to your phone or laptop for some reason, then outpatient care could be a better choice. It gives you a bit more freedom, which can be a benefit or a challenge depending on your life situation.
Get the substance abuse support you need at Still Water Wellness
If you’re ready to commit yourself to an inpatient drug treatment plan, then the Still Water Wellness Group is here to help. We provide personalized rehab options to help those with all different types of recovery needs heal from substance abuse.
You can get in touch with one of our addiction specialists today to learn more about what we do and how we can help. They’re happy to answer any questions you have and to make a personalized recommendation about your care.