What Should I Bring With Me to Rehab?

Choosing to attend an inpatient rehab is one of the best decisions that you can make for yourself. Three months in inpatient rehab is currently considered the gold standard in addiction treatment. Inpatient rehab completely removes people from the temptations, triggers, and stresses of the outside world. During your program, you’ll be able to focus exclusively on healing and getting well. However, for all of the benefits and rewards that lie just on the horizon, you might be a bit nervous about leaving everyone and everything that you know behind.

Fortunately, not only is this a temporary exchange, but you’re guaranteed to return far better than you were before. One of the best ways to deal with the mingled excitement and anxiety that going to rehab entails is by packing for your trip. This is an opportunity to make sure that you’ll have everything you need, and to stash away a few comfort essentials. It’s also an important time for making sure that you understand the rules of the facility you’ll be attending, and that you don’t accidentally bring along any contraband items.

Start by Packing the Essentials

Start by packing everything that you’ll need for paying for your treatment. This includes your:

  • Health insurance card
  • Personal, government-issued identification
  • Credit card or debit card

Even if your health insurance plan will be covering the majority of your treatment costs, you may need your debit card or credit card for co-payments, deductibles, or prescription fees. It’s also a good idea to bring along a small amount of cash. You’ll want to carry this in coin or in small bills. Most rehab centers have onsite vending machines where patients can grab soft drinks, bottled water, snacks, and trial-sized hygiene items. If you’ll be staying a month or more, try to carry between $50 and $100 in small bills for vending machine purchases. Apart from these things, there aren’t any other valuables that you should bring along. You can certainly wear or pack your wedding ring or any other jewelry that you always have on. However, everything else is best left at home.

Dress for Comfort

The absolute best way to dress for addiction treatment is comfortably. Pack loose-fitting clothes that you feel comfortable lounging around in. Bring along a few pairs of pajamas, plenty of undergarments and socks, and warm, cozy sweaters. Make sure that you have a nice assortment of clothes to choose from so that you’re able to dress warmly on cold days, and you don’t have to bundle up if the outside temperatures rise. Slippers, bathrobes, and workout clothes are also worth packing. Consider the different forms of on-campus recreation that your chosen rehab center provides. If there’s a swimming pool, golf course, or hiking trail, you might want to gear up for these things too. You should also pack one to three months worth of toiletries. These include:

  • Toothpaste and dental floss
  • Deodorant
  • Body wash
  • Shampoo and conditioner
  • Lotion
  • Make-up
  • Shaving implements

However, you should avoid bringing along any personal care products that contain alcohol such as mouthwash, hand sanitizer, or perfume.

Reading and Writing Materials

Most rehab centers don’t allow their patients to hang onto their cellphones or other personal devices. If you want to stay in contact with your friends and family members throughout your treatment, pack some stationary and stamps. If you like reading in your spare time, you can throw in a good book or two as well. However, before packing your own reading materials, make sure that outside books aren’t on the list of contraband items. In their efforts to avoid exposing patients to unnecessary triggers or temptations, some rehab centers prefer people to choose reading materials from their own on-campus libraries.

What Not to Bring to Rehab

In addition to alcohol-containing toiletries, be sure to leave behind the following items:

  • Electronic cigarettes or vaping devices
  • Incense and candles
  • Video games and consoles
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Revealing clothing
  • Nail polish or nail polish removers
  • Weapons
  • Food or beverages

If you have prescription medications that you need to continue taking while in treatment, these should be packed in their original, labeled containers and checked in at the front desk upon your arrival. Apart from these, you should avoid bringing along any narcotics, unlabeled prescription medicines, or health supplements. To find out more about packing for rehab or to find the right rehab facility for your needs, give us a call today at 772-266-5320.

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Essentials mission is to renew lives impacted by addiction through personalized and complete behavioral healthcare. Our main purpose is to provide services and education to the client and family that will support long lasting recovery of mind, body, and spirit.