Key Takeaways
- Pack less than you think you need — most facilities do laundry and have strict limits on what comes onto the unit.
- Bring essentials only — ID, insurance card, prescription medications, 7-10 days of clothing, basic toiletries, phone numbers on paper.
- Leave valuables at home — jewelry, large amounts of cash, expensive electronics, and anything sentimental should stay behind.
- Check facility-specific rules — phone policies, clothing restrictions, and allowed toiletries vary significantly between programs.
- If you forget something, family can bring it later — don’t let packing logistics delay admission if you’re ready to go.
Not Sure What to Pack? We’ll Get You a Specific List.
Every facility is slightly different. Call us and we’ll match you to a program AND give you their exact packing list. Admissions often happen same-day.
What This Guide Covers
Packing for rehab is harder than it sounds. You’re likely already emotional, scared, and exhausted. Now you have to decide what to bring into a place where you’ll live for 30-90 days — with rules you’ve never dealt with before. Bring too little and you’ll feel uncomfortable. Bring too much and half of it gets confiscated at intake.
This guide gives you a complete, field-tested packing list based on what most accredited inpatient and residential programs actually allow. Use it as a starting point and then verify specifics with your chosen facility.
The Essentials (Bring These)
Documents
- Government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, or passport)
- Insurance card (front and back photos on your phone as backup)
- List of current medications with doses and prescribing doctor’s contact info
- Phone numbers on paper for family, sponsor, therapist — in case you can’t access your phone contacts during detox
- Payment method if applicable (debit card for incidentals, small cash)
Medications
- Current prescriptions in original, labeled bottles
- Over-the-counter medications you take regularly (vitamins, allergy meds, pain relievers)
- Medical devices (CPAP machine, glucose monitor, inhaler)
Basic Clothing (7-10 Days Worth)
Pack for about a week — facilities typically do laundry weekly, and you can always have family bring more.
What Clothing to Pack
What Most Programs Want You to Bring
- Comfortable shirts and tops: 7-10 items, t-shirts, long-sleeves, no revealing cuts
- Pants and shorts: 5-7 items, jeans, sweatpants, casual wear
- Undergarments: 10 pairs of underwear, 10 pairs of socks
- Sleepwear: 2-3 sets of modest pajamas
- Shoes: 1 pair of comfortable walking shoes, 1 pair of slip-ons or sandals, 1 pair of shower shoes
- Jacket or sweatshirt: A/C can be aggressive
- Workout clothes: Many facilities have gyms or outdoor activities
- 1 “nice” outfit: For family visits, chapel services, or special programming
- Swimsuit: Modest, one-piece preferred, only if pool access exists
Commonly Prohibited Clothing
- Revealing clothing (crop tops, short shorts, tight or low-cut tops, tank tops with thin straps)
- Clothing with drug/alcohol references, offensive language, or triggering imagery
- Strings on hoodies (removed at intake for safety)
- Belts with metal (in some stricter programs)
- Steel-toed boots or heavy boots
- Clothing requiring dry-cleaning
Dress code is about safety, not modesty shaming
Some rules exist to prevent triggering others in treatment (alcohol/drug logos), some for physical safety (drawstrings), and some for maintaining therapeutic boundaries. Follow them. Fighting dress code on day one creates unnecessary tension with staff.
Toiletries and Personal Care
What to Bring
Most facilities require unopened, alcohol-free toiletries. Common allowed items:
- Shampoo and conditioner (alcohol-free, unopened)
- Body wash or bar soap
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
- Deodorant (non-aerosol preferred, alcohol-free)
- Feminine hygiene products (enough for your entire stay)
- Hair brush, comb, hair ties
- Contact lenses, solution, case, glasses
- Unscented lotion (alcohol-free)
- Lip balm
What to Leave Behind
- Mouthwash (most contain alcohol — facility provides alcohol-free if needed)
- Hand sanitizer (alcohol-based)
- Perfume, cologne, scented lotions (alcohol content, also trigger for others)
- Razors (provided by facility — sharps are controlled)
- Aerosol sprays (hairspray, deodorant, etc. — flammable)
- Nail clippers, scissors, tweezers (controlled as sharps)
- Essential oils (can contain alcohol)
- Anything in glass containers
Makeup and Hair Care
Most facilities allow basic makeup (unopened or minimally used). Skip anything heavily scented. Hair dryers and straighteners are usually allowed but sometimes restricted — verify with facility.
Medications and Medical Items
Prescription Medications
Bring ALL prescription medications in their original, pharmacy-labeled bottles. Staff will take control of them at intake and dispense them at scheduled times. Include:
- Mental health medications (antidepressants, anti-anxiety, mood stabilizers, ADHD medications)
- Physical health medications (blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid, cholesterol)
- Allergy medications
- Pain medications (if prescribed — controlled substances managed carefully)
- Inhalers, EpiPens, nitroglycerin
What Happens to Your Controlled Substances
If you’re prescribed controlled substances (benzodiazepines, opioids, stimulants like Adderall), the facility medical team will review them during intake. Some may be continued, some may be tapered, some may be replaced with alternatives. This is a medical decision — don’t hide medications you’re prescribed.
Medical Equipment
- CPAP machines are allowed and often necessary
- Diabetic supplies (glucose monitors, insulin, syringes managed carefully)
- Hearing aids, batteries
- Orthopedic supports, braces
What NOT to Bring
Obvious Prohibited Items
- Any illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia
- Alcohol in any form
- Weapons of any kind
- Pornography or explicit materials
Less-Obvious Prohibited Items
- Mouthwash, cough syrup, or any product containing alcohol
- Kombucha or other fermented drinks
- CBD products, kratom, or nootropics
- Prescription medications not in original bottles
- Someone else’s prescription medications (even aspirin in a friend’s bottle)
- Outside food or beverages
- Video games or gaming consoles
- Books with drug/alcohol/violence themes
- Candles, incense, matches, lighters
- Cash in large amounts (>$50)
- Expensive jewelry or family heirlooms
- Pets (even “support animals” vary by facility)
Don’t try to smuggle anything
Intake includes a thorough property search at virtually all facilities. Anything found that’s prohibited will be confiscated or held. Attempting to bring drugs, alcohol, or weapons can result in expulsion and law enforcement involvement. Don’t start your recovery with a lie.
Phones, Laptops, and Electronics
Detox Phase
Most medical detox units restrict phone access for the first 1-7 days. This is partly safety (preventing patients from contacting dealers or triggering connections during vulnerable early recovery) and partly therapeutic (giving your nervous system a break from constant connection).
Residential/Inpatient Phase
Policies vary widely:
- Strictest programs: No phones at all, with designated landline call times
- Moderate programs: Phones surrendered, returned during scheduled times (e.g., 1 hour daily)
- Flexible programs: Phones allowed throughout stay, with restrictions on specific apps (social media, dating, messaging)
What to Do Before Surrendering Your Phone
- Write down phone numbers of 5-10 key people (family, sponsor, therapist, employer HR)
- Set up automatic bill pay for anything due during your stay
- Email-forward critical accounts
- Let your employer know about your absence if applicable
- Tell close people when you’ll likely be reachable
Laptops
Most inpatient programs don’t allow personal laptops. Some executive programs do, with restrictions. Outpatient programs don’t restrict laptops.
Other Electronics Usually Allowed
- E-readers (Kindle without internet)
- MP3 players (non-internet devices)
- Alarm clocks
- Electric shavers (not straight razors)
- CPAP machines
Ready to Pack and Go?
Don’t let packing delay admission. Call us, we coordinate everything — program match, insurance, packing list, transportation. Often same-day.
Comfort Items That Are Usually Allowed
Rehab can feel sterile and institutional. Small personal touches help.
- Small framed photos (2-3, without glass if possible)
- Paperback books (recovery-related, fiction, non-triggering content)
- Journal or notebook and pens
- Recovery materials (Big Book, NA literature, devotionals)
- Small blanket or pillow (check with facility — some provide, some allow personal)
- Stuffed animal (yes, many adults bring them — and yes, it’s fine)
- Sketchbook, colored pencils, adult coloring books
- Deck of cards
- Prepaid phone card for landline calls if phone access is restricted
- Stamps and envelopes for letters
- Prayer beads, religious items (most programs accommodate faith practices)
Packing Differences by Program Type
Detox (3-10 Days)
Pack light. A single small bag is plenty. Comfortable clothes, toiletries, medications, ID, insurance card, phone numbers on paper. You’ll likely sleep a lot — pack for comfort, not appearance.
Residential / Inpatient (28-90 Days)
Everything on the essentials list plus comfort items. Plan for 7-10 days of clothing (laundry done weekly). Seasonal considerations matter — if you’ll be there 90 days spanning a season change, pack layers.
Partial Hospitalization (2-4 Weeks)
You’re living at home or in sober living — pack for home. At the facility, bring a water bottle, snacks (if allowed), notebook, comfortable clothes for sitting all day.
Intensive Outpatient (8-12 Weeks)
Minimal — you’re home every night. Bring a notebook, pens, water bottle, and a folder for handouts.
Sober Living (Transition Housing)
Pack like you’re moving — because you are. Full wardrobe, bedding (in some houses), dishes, toiletries, kitchen basics. Check with the specific house.
Frequently Asked Questions
Go anyway. Most facilities have emergency toiletries, and family can bring personal items within the first few days. Willingness to admit is more precious than any packing list. Don’t let “I need to pack first” become a stall tactic. Grab ID, insurance card, medications, and the clothes on your back if you need to — everything else is solvable.
Yes, bring it — but expect restricted access. Policies vary: some facilities surrender phones entirely, some allow designated use windows, some are more open. During detox, expect 1-7 days without phone access. Write down critical phone numbers on paper as backup.
Usually no. Facilities provide all meals and snacks. Exception: if you have documented dietary restrictions or allergies, bring documentation and staff will accommodate. Never bring outside food thinking you’ll sneak it in — this violates rules and can cause expulsion.
Family members can drop off allowed items during visiting hours or ship them to the facility. Most facilities also have a small commissary with basic supplies. Needing something unexpected isn’t a crisis.
$20-$50 is plenty for most programs. Some facilities hold cash in a safe and dispense as needed. Uses include vending machines, commissary items, and sometimes field trip activities. Don’t bring large amounts — it creates risk and isn’t needed.
Yes. Virtually all facilities conduct a thorough property search during intake. This isn’t personal — it’s standard protocol to protect you and other patients. Staff handle belongings respectfully. Contraband is confiscated; legal items not allowed on unit are held until discharge.
Sources & References
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Treatment Admission Resources. samhsa.gov
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). What to Expect in Treatment. nida.nih.gov
- American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). Clinical Practice Guidelines. asam.org
- Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). Standards for Addiction Treatment. carf.org