Can I Bring My Cell Phone to Rehab?

Knowing how to prepare and what to bring to your addiction treatment program can seem overwhelming and bring up countless questions. One question many people have before starting alcohol and drug rehab is whether or not they can bring personal electronics like their cell phones.

Many individuals entering alcohol and drug addiction treatment may want to bring their phones to stay connected to the outside world, maintain a sense of familiarity, or keep them entertained in their free time.

Technology, such as cell phones, can play a unique role in recovery based on many different factors. While phones can be beneficial to some, they come with the need to balance personal electronic use with treatment and privacy matters.

Keep reading to find out more about bringing your cell phone to drug and alcohol rehab including how it may be used, the benefits and risks, and more.

When it comes to electronics policies, treatment centers differ quite a bit. In other words, each facility often has its own rules for personal electronics.

While some rehab facilities do allow personal electronics such as cell phones, others prohibit them entirely. There are also plenty of recovery centers that allow electronics but have specific restrictions around their use.

It’s not uncommon for rehab centers to prohibit personal electronics. This may be for several reasons including concerns about distractions, security and privacy issues, and poorer therapeutic outcomes.

Because the rules surrounding electronic use in rehab differ so vastly, you must research a specific treatment center’s policies before enrolling in a rehab program. This way, you know exactly what to expect regarding your cell phone and potential use.

There are many ways patients may choose to use their cell phones during drug and alcohol addiction treatment.

First and foremost, there are actually many constructive ways you may use your smartphone during recovery. This can include using your phone to access online therapy, virtual support groups, or staying in touch with your loved ones.

If you are choosing to continue work or school during rehab, having access to your phone can help support you in maintaining responsibilities related to your job or education. This is especially common for company executives who are unable to step away from work entirely during treatment.

It’s important to note that cell phone use in rehabilitation must be balanced with therapeutic activities and treatment responsibilities. In other words, your phone should not take away from your treatment time and efforts.

Cell phones, as well as other personal electronic devices, can benefit individuals receiving addiction care when used responsibly and appropriately.

One common benefit of having access to one’s cell phone during treatment is the ability to easily stay in touch with loved ones and other support systems. Having someone familiar to rely on and confide in during treatment is incredibly important. Additionally, support systems can help hold individuals accountable and increase motivation during rehab.

Cell phones also allow individuals to access resources that may supplement their recovery. For example, you could use your phone to access educational materials or online support networks related to addiction and recovery. This can help foster a sense of community and help individuals stay informed.

Simply put, having your cell phone in treatment can help provide a sense of normalcy. It is very common to feel disoriented when first starting addiction treatment. Most addiction treatment programs have very regimented schedules that can make everything feel unfamiliar and overwhelming. By having access to your phone, you may feel a bit more comfortable and like yourself.

Much like any other part of addiction recovery, bringing your phone to rehab can also come with potential drawbacks. For some, the benefits outweigh the risks, but it’s important to understand the challenges having your phone in rehab can cause.

A common concern with allowing individuals to have their cell phones during rehab is the potential for distraction. Electronics can be very attention draining and many people can zone out for hours while scrolling on their phone. This can distract individuals from treatment, causing them to put in less effort, which often leads to poorer treatment outcomes.

There are also security and privacy concerns with having one’s cell phone in treatment. Because there is so much personal health information in an addiction treatment center, it can be dangerous for individuals to have access to personal devices that could share this information.

Another risk of having your phone in recovery is the potential to overuse technology. Overusing digital devices can prevent individuals from taking the time to process their recovery and replace one bad behavior with another. This can hinder emotional and mental recovery, both of which are just as important as physical recovery in addiction care.

It’s essential to understand that even if a rehab center does not allow personal electronic use such as cell phones, there are alternatives you may have access to for communication and entertainment.

To contact your friends or family, you can try different ways of staying in touch like writing letters, making phone calls on the facility phones, or contacting them through online platforms like social media during supervised internet access.

As far as entertainment goes, many people find activities like reading, participating in group sessions, or getting involved in rehab activities like hiking or taking a nutrition class to be rather enriching during treatment. These options are also great for supporting recovery as they teach healthy coping skills and habits and also allow individuals to connect with their peers.

Some treatment centers may allow different types of personal electronics even if they don’t allow cell phones. Again, this is dependent on the treatment facility, so you’ll want to clarify with the care center you choose for details.

You may find that you are able to bring digital devices like laptops, tablets, or e-readers to treatment. These can have the same benefits and drawbacks as cell phones in recovery, so use these devices with discretion.

The rules surrounding electronic use will depend on your rehab program’s technology policies, so be prepared to only use your devices at certain times or for certain durations.

Once you’ve determined the type of addiction treatment services you are interested in receiving, you’ll want to narrow down your options by also looking for specific amenities or policies that are important to you during treatment.

For example, if it is important to you to have access to your cell phone or other personal electronics throughout recovery, you’ll want to ensure the facility you choose aligns with your needs.

We recommend searching for technology-friendly rehab centers and taking a look at each facility’s website for more information on their policies. Further, it’s always a good idea to call for clarification.

If there are a few treatment centers that meet your needs in this area, be sure to compare their technology policies to get a better idea of how they balance personal electronic use and therapeutic responsibilities. It’s important that a treatment center monitors and promotes healthy electronic use.

As mentioned previously, one of the main concerns with allowing personal electronic use in addiction rehab is the potential for legal issues and privacy breaches.

Because personal electronics pose a threat to personal information, they also pose a threat to regulations like The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Regulations like HIPAA are designed to protect patient health information and privacy regarding their treatment.

With unsupervised digital devices, this personal information may be vulnerable to non-consensual sharing. This also poses a threat to privacy regulations like non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) designed to protect high-profile individuals receiving treatment.

Supervision and monitoring policies are vital when personal electronic use is permitted in a treatment program to avoid threats to these regulations.

There are a few ways a treatment facility may choose to monitor your cell phone use in addiction rehabilitation.

Most care centers that allow cell phones have restrictions on the use of the device. This can include only allowing cell phone use at a scheduled time, for a certain amount of time each day, or with monitored internet access only.

Addiction rehab staff members need to monitor electronic device use to ensure it aligns with recovery goals to avoid potential drawbacks. On an individual level, it’s also important for staff to make sure your electronic use is not interfering with your treatment’s efficacy.

As we’ve discovered, there are many benefits to having a cell phone in rehab. However, several drawbacks can inhibit personal growth and recovery in rehab. So is it even worth it to bring a cell phone?

This is completely dependent on you and your individual circumstances. We recommend weighing the pros and cons of having a personal electronic device in rehab. Is it important to you to have your phone during recovery for a specific reason? If so, can you use other tools or resources for that activity? If this is the case, consider trying rehab without your phone. However, if you need your phone for work responsibilities, you may find that access to it outweighs the risks it poses in recovery.

You need to determine if having your cell phone will help your recovery or hinder your progress. We know, this can be a difficult thing to determine on your own, so don’t be afraid to ask for a professional’s input if you’re feeling lost. You can also ask yourself questions about your goals and habits. Do you think having your phone with you will help ground you in recovery? Do you think having your phone will distract you from truly focusing on sobriety? Remember, rehab is temporary – you won’t have to go without your phone forever if you choose to go to rehab without it.

Try to be honest with yourself about what having your phone in rehab will mean for you. If you feel that your cell phone will help you achieve your goals and meet your needs in this difficult time – go for it! On the other hand, you may want to take this opportunity to challenge yourself and find other ways to unwind in treatment.

The first step in recovery is finding the right treatment center for you. This means finding one that fits your needs. In addition to having technology policies that align with your electronic use needs, you’ll want to ensure a rehab facility offers the type of treatment you’re looking for, the amenities you need, and payment options that work for you.

Unfortunately, addiction rehab can be pretty expensive, depending on the type of treatment, length of program, and location. That being said, you’ll want to discuss payment options with the care center you choose. Make sure they accept your insurance if you’re hoping for health insurance coverage to pay for the cost of your treatment. If not, ask about payment plans and sliding scale fees.

If you’re feeling lost in the sea of treatment center options, we encourage you to use online search resources like our lists of top rehab centers in each state, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) treatment locator, or the NIH National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) search engine.

These can help you narrow down your options to reliable treatment centers that meet your needs.

Our lists of treatment centers in each state not only offer information about payment and treatment options but also contain contact information for each facility. Be sure to take advantage of this and call potential recovery centers with any questions you may have about their policies and treatment approaches.

Here are a few questions to get you started:

• What are your payment options?
• What are your technology policies?
• Do you take private healthcare?
• Can I bring and use personal electronics?
• How long is your treatment program?
• What amenities do you offer?
• Do you offer personalized treatment plans?
• Is your program inpatient or outpatient?
• What aftercare support do you offer?
• What are your visitor restrictions?
• What steps do you take to ensure privacy?
• Do you offer detox services?
• How will my treatment plan be developed?
• What do your housing arrangements look like? Will I be sharing a room?
• Do you offer specialized treatment programs?

Bringing your cell phone to rehab is not allowed at all addiction treatment facilities. Even those that do allow phones often have restrictions around their use. Having your phone can have potential benefits and drawbacks in rehab, depending on the individual and their goals.

Have more questions about bringing your cell phone to rehab? Give our helpline a call today for additional guidance on the subject.