Rehab Visitation Rules & FAQs

Rehab Visitation Rules

Yes, you can visit someone in rehab. Each rehab facility has its own rules and policies in place for visitation. Some may allow weekly or biweekly visits; others may host family visits once a month.

Please contact the facility you are interested in for the most up-to-date rules as visitation rules. In most cases, visitors are not permitted during detox due to the nature of the withdrawal process. Many facilities also utilize a blackout period during the first few to several days of someone’s treatment program. This allows your loved one to become acclimated to their new environment and the treatment process.

As previously mentioned, rules vary by facility but typically include something similar to the following:

• Visits must be approved by the patient’s therapist beforehand with a written release of information.
• Visits must take place in the designated visitor areas.
• Smoking is only permitted in the designated areas.
• Drugs and alcohol are never allowed on the premises.

Aside from visitation, there are ways in which family members can take a more active role in their loved ones’ recovery. Some facilities offer family therapy and counseling.

If you want to better understand the rehab process at American Addiction Centers, you can check out the guide on what to expect.

Can I Bring Things for My Loved One in Rehab?

As with visitation, please contact the facility for the dos and don’ts regarding bringing or sending gifts and packages. Some facilities have a strict policy against it. Others may allow it depending on your loved one’s stage of recovery and other unique challenges.

Generally speaking, even if gifts and/or care packages are permitted, you should not send food or drink of any kind. Other things that are typically not allowed in rehab include:

• Any toiletry item containing alcohol.
• Weapons.
• Drug paraphernalia.
• Vapes.
• CBD.
• Marijuana products.
• Illicit drugs of any kind.
• Alcohol.

Instead of sending a gift; however, you may inquire about how to send them mail. An impactful letter filled with words of encouragement and a few favorite photos might help your loved one in their recovery more than any other gift.

Note that gifts and packages will likely be checked prior to passing them along to the patient.

What Are Other Ways to Communicate With Someone in Rehab?

Staying in touch with supportive family members can be an important component of success in recovery. While most facilities facilitate communications as often as possible, it may not be possible to talk with your loved one for the first several days they are in treatment. After that, communication may be done outside of programming hours in a number of ways, including:

• Via cell phones or landlines.
• Via Skype or similar online meeting platform.
• Via letters.

Dealing With “I Want To Go Home!”

Treatment for addiction can be positively life-changing, but it can also be very difficult at times. Negative emotions and resistance to treatment is common, especially during the detox and withdrawal periods after your loved one first arrives. They may find many reasons to leave early and ask you to help them do so. Remind yourself and your loved one that you want to see them succeed and achieve long-term recovery. You may also need to lovingly disconnect for a period of time to allow them to orient themselves with the program and begin feeling the benefits of recovery.

In treatment, they will learn several things, including (but not limited to):

• Coping strategies for dealing with stress and other triggers without the use of drugs or alcohol.
• How to enjoy the life of sobriety.
• How to draw strength from community and avoid relapse.

Take Our Substance Use Self-Assessment

Take our free, 5-minute substance use self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with substance use. 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.