Making the decision to seek treatment for your addiction is one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. To get the most out of your time in rehab, it’s important to prepare yourself for treatment adequately. This includes knowing what to bring and what not to bring with you to rehab.
Addiction treatment centers have strict policies in regard to what you can and cannot bring with you to treatment. Most programs provide future patients with a packing list or checklist of what to pack for rehab as well as a list of prohibited items.
When you first arrive at rehab, the center’s admissions team will go through your luggage and your personal belongings to make sure you didn’t bring any prohibited items. Some treatment centers will even make a list of things that you bring with you to ensure all of your items stay with you and are safe during your stay.
Packing appropriately by bringing only items that are allowed and absolutely needed can make the entire rehab process easier.
What to Pack for Rehab
Following this checklist can help you pack thoroughly. However, it’s still important to check your rehab center’s policies before you arrive.
Appropriate, Comfortable Clothing
Addiction treatment centers often have strict dress codes to promote a safe, comfortable environment for everyone around. If you’re unsure of whether or not something is appropriate, ask yourself if it would have been appropriate for elementary school or middle school. If not, you should probably leave it at home.
Avoid bringing clothes that are too revealing or have references to drugs, alcohol, or crime. Instead, pack for comfort and practicality. Be sure to pack:
- Comfortable shoes. Bring flip-flops or other shoes for everyday wear as well as a pair of tennis shoes for activities, sports, and outdoor events. You may also consider bringing waterproof flip-flops for the shower.
- Comfortable clothing. Rehab isn’t a fashion contest and most of your time will be spent in therapy or healing activities. As a result, you want to bring things like comfortable t-shirts, sweaters or jackets that you can layer if it is cold, jeans, sweatpants, or leggings. Bring warmer clothing in the winter as New Jersey winters can get cold and bring cooler clothing in the summer. You will have access to a washing machine so try to only bring 7 days’ worth of clothing.
- One or two dressy or semi-formal outfits for special occasions
- Socks
- Undergarments
- One swimsuit
- A hat for outdoors. Some rehab centers do not allow hats indoors, but you may wear one outside.
Toiletries and Self-Care
When packing personal hygiene and beauty products, you must make sure each item you bring is alcohol-free. You also cannot bring aerosols.
A list of toiletries you may want to pack for rehab include:
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Dental floss
- Deodorant
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Body wash
- Hair styling products that come in a tube or pump–no aerosols
- Hair brush or comb
- Sunscreen
- Lotion
- Makeup
- Feminine hygiene products
Toiletries such as toilet paper, laundry detergent, and hand soap will be provided by the treatment center. In most cases, you cannot bring electric or handheld razors for shaving. Instead, they are provided to you on an as-needed basis by the rehab facility.
If you have any questions about a certain item, call the rehab center beforehand and ask if it is okay that you bring it with you.
Packing the Necessities
Preparing for rehab means more than just packing clothing and personal hygiene items–it also means packing important documents and other items. Be sure to pack:
- Your insurance cards
- A form of personal identification (driver’s license, passport, etc.)
- Any medications you are currently taking in their original bottles or packaging with the prescribing label intact
- Any medical documents that may be of use to the clinical team (recent doctor’s visits, hospital stays, etc.)
- A small amount of cash (you may not be able to access an ATM, but will be able to have small amounts of cash for store runs, vending machines, and other amenities)
- Your credit or debit card to pay for medications or other services that aren’t covered by your insurance
- A list of names, phone numbers, and addresses of friends or family that you’d like to stay in touch with during treatment
- A journal and a writing utensil
- Stamps and envelopes if you’d like to write letters home
- Pictures of loved ones to keep with you
Items You Shouldn’t Bring With You to Rehab
Certain items like drugs and alcohol are obviously not allowed, but other prohibited items you may not even think about being considered contraband. Here is a list of items that you shouldn’t bring to treatment:
- Weapons including knives, scissors, razor blades, and sharp objects
- Food and drinks
- Pornography
- Hygiene products that contain alcohol
- Aerosols
- Nail polish or nail polish remover
- Video games, computers, and other electronics
- Cleaning supplies
- Candles, incense, and diffusers
- Personal items or clothing with references to drugs, alcohol, violence, sex, or any other type of profanity
If you accidentally bring any of these items with you, they may be confiscated and locked away safely, only to be returned to you after you are discharged from the treatment program.
Start Your Recovery With Moving Mountains Recovery Center Today
When you choose Moving Mountains Recovery to help you overcome your addiction, we make the admissions process as easy as possible. Call now to speak with a team member about starting treatment, what you should bring, and how you can prepare for a life in sobriety.
