Rehab Visitation Rules & FAQs

Rehab Visitation Rules

Yes, you can visit someone in rehab. Each rehab facility has their own rules and policies in place for visitation though.

Please contact the facility you are interested in for the most up to date rules as visitation rules could be impacted by COVID-19. Typically, family members may be able to visit their loved ones for about 1-3 hours on a set day of the week. In most cases, visitors are not allowed to visit during detox due to the nature of the withdrawal process. There is also commonly a black-out period in which during the first approximately 3 days visitors are not allowed, in order to allow your loved one to become acclimated to their new environment and the treatment process.

Common rehab visitation rules to abide by:

• Get the visit approved by the patient’s therapist beforehand with a written release of information.
• Stay in designated visitor areas.
• Smoke only in designated areas.
• Never bring drugs or alcohol.

Each facility has its own set of rules and visitation periods. Call ahead to get more information.

Aside from visitation, if family members would like to take a more active role in treatment, some facilities offer family therapy and counseling as well. The following is an example of a daily rehab schedule in order to better understand how programming works in rehab.

Can I Bring Things for My Loved One in Rehab?

As with visitation, please contact the facility for rules on gifts and things you may bring.

Gifts, care packages, and letters are encouraged. Please do not bring any of the following:

• Weapons.
• Lighters.
• Cellphones.
• Illicit drugs of any kind.
• Alcohol.

Items will be subject to inspection by the care team and any prohibited items will be returned.

Items like clothing, memorabilia and photos, a soft blanket, and similar items are recommended.

What Are Other Ways to Communicate With Someone in Rehab?

Other ways to communicate with your love one during rehab are through:

• Phone Calls: Cellphones and payphones are available during certain times of the day.
• Skype.
• Letters.

When a patient enters a longer period of stay in rehab during inpatient and residential treatment programs, it is always nice to have someone in their corner helping them through this tough time.

Dealing With “I Want To Go Home!”

Negative emotions and resistance to treatment is common, especially during the detox and withdrawal periods. Remind yourself and your loved one that we all want to see them succeed in long-term recovery not only for their loved ones, but for themselves. Programs in rehab will help them learn:

• Coping strategies without the use of drugs or alcohol.
• How to enjoy the life of sobriety.
• How to draw strength from community and avoid relapse.
• And more

You may also let your loved one’s therapist know so that they can provide the support they need.

Take Our Substance Abuse Self-Assessment

Take our free, 5-minute substance abuse self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with substance abuse. The evaluation consists of 11 yes or no questions that are intended to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of a substance use disorder. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result.