Addiction recovery involves creating a network of sober friends and family members who are willing to provide support through the process of quitting drugs or alcohol. As the support person for someone who is dealing with an addiction, it is normal to want to be as actively involved as possible. Your friend or family member may be hesitant to go to rehab if they feel like they will not be able to see the people that they love. They may also be worried about being away from their spouse or children for a lengthy period of time. Although going to rehab does mean spending some time apart, you may still be able to arrange visits that help you to feel closer. The answer to whether or not it is possible to visit someone at a drug rehab center can vary according to the program’s guidelines. Generally, you can visit your loved one in rehab to provide them with support during their recovery.
People who are going through a drug or alcohol addiction treatment program often need inpatient care to help them work through challenges that they face with getting sober. A residential rehab program may take a period of weeks or months for a person to complete. During this time, they often welcome the opportunity to see their loved ones. Visits to a drug rehab may involve casual times when you can just sit together and talk. You might also attend counseling sessions together. Rehab programs often offer family therapy sessions where you can begin to mend your relationship before your loved one returns home.
How Do Visits at a Drug Rehab Work?
Drug rehab programs encourage visitation, but inviting people to visit the center is done with the safety of everyone in mind. First, it is important to understand that visitation is only allowed if your loved one lets the staff know that you are approved as a visitor. This means that you will need to talk to your loved one about whether or not they want visitors during their time in rehab. Once you are approved, you may also need to follow a few guidelines that are designed to keep everyone as safe as possible with visitors are in the building. Typically, this means following the allowed visitation hours. You may be asked to only visit during times when people are not trying to sleep or complete important counseling sessions. You might also need to follow a few other safety guidelines such as leaving certain personal property in your vehicle. Confidentiality is important for the people in the program. Therefore, you will likely need to abstain from using your cell phone during the visit, and picture taking is usually prohibited.
The recent pandemic has also led to a few changes regarding who can visit people in rehab. Your loved one’s rehab program may request that you check your temperature before you come, and be willing to delay your visit if you have any unusual symptoms such as coughing or muscle aches. This just protects others from getting sick when they are working on improving their health. If you are feeling well and your loved one approves your visit, then you can look forward to getting to see them during their recovery. A visit with someone in rehab may have several different purposes, and you might do different things during your time at the treatment center. Here are some tips to help you enjoy the best visit possible:
- Find out the visitor guidelines before your visit
- Avoid bringing prohibited items to the rehab center
- Try to stick to positive conversation topics during casual visits
- Show up on time for group therapy sessions
- Respect the privacy rights of other people in the program
- Be encouraging if your loved one expresses frustration
People often go through several different stages during their recovery. During your initial visits, your loved one might be struggling with withdrawal symptoms that can make visits challenging. Remind them that these will pass, and they will begin to feel better as they work through the program. As your loved one begins to make progress, you’ll notice that they begin to look better and feel more like they did before they fell into their addiction. Seeing your loved one improve their physical and mental wellbeing feels good, and your presence makes it possible for them to begin developing the support network that they’ll rely on once they go home.
Do you have other questions about what going to drug rehab is like? We’ve got the answers! Give us a call today at 833-364-0736 to get the help you need with making this important decision.