Visiting at a Rehab

[loveliestangel]

Does anyone visit someone at a Rehab? How is it? Is it similiar to prison? Do I have to be careful with what I wear? Can I bring anything?

How do the visits go? Is it contact? Are you alone? Do they search you? Any metal detectors?

Thanks for any info!

[dridlen]

Is the rehab you are talking about at a prison?

My son is about to go into drug treatment, but he is at a State Prison. So we can't visit him there except for the usual visiting days.

I know when he was in regular rehab we could visit on the regular visiting days, no dress code or anything there and they didn't check us.

I imagine the type of facility he is in will make a difference.

D.

[loveliestangel]

Hi,

Thanks for answering. No, it's not in a prison. It's a facility next to the hospital I believe. They take Department of Correction inmates into an inpatient program there. They also have regular people not in the prison system there.

They only let you visit once a month on Open House which is the last Thursday of the month, and it's from 6 pm to 9 pm. This is what they told me when I called.

This is a place he needs to be which was ordered by the court since he got caught selling drugs. I am just wondering if I can bring my purse, cell phone, etc. If I can bring pictures for him, or anything else for that matter.

Thanks!

[dark04]

I'm not sure if I should attempt to answer this but I would imagine the basic rules to visiting rehab would be the same no matter what age the patient is. My son is only 16 but was in an inhouse rehab program that was court ordered. The best advice I ever got was one simple sentence and it seems to work for any and all visitation. The one guy told me when I asked about visiting : "if you wouldn't wear it to your grandma's then don't wear it here"! That one sentence seems to work well for visiting my son at juvie and for when I visited him in rehab. I was allowed my purse but no cell phone. I personally just left everything but my keys (to lock the car) in the car. I was so excited to actually get a hug that I didn't need anything else! *grin* Any pictures I usually mailed to him so that if there was anything they thought questionable then they sent it back to me rather than have it confiscated and create a bigger problem for my son. Also, keep in mind, they don't have a lot of room to store personal belongings. Kind of like going to summer camp.....don't take anything (or send anything) you couldn't bear to lose.

[Fashionista]

Originally Posted by loveliestangel

Does anyone visit someone at a Rehab? How is it? Is it similiar to prison? Do I have to be careful with what I wear? Can I bring anything?

How do the visits go? Is it contact? Are you alone? Do they search you? Any metal detectors?

Thanks for any info!

well it is always good to check with the rules of the program but in my limited experience i wore what i want as long as it wasn't too revealing (i did wear a tube top one day because it was hot) and yes i did bring stuff-i brought money, cologne, a calling card and lunch for us to eat.

the only thing we couldn't do was walk around the place to get a tour-all i saw was the lobby, common area, dinning room and backyard and i had to sign a confidentiality agreement.

the place he was at had limited staff on the weekends so we were left alone for the duration of the visit-no one was really bothering us-yes plenty of contact too! . maybe about 1x per hr did a worker pop up to do a head count to make sure no one left

[loveliestangel]

Thank you both for the replies.

I wanted to wear a halter top, jean skirt, and some flip flops. My usual everyday attire. Just want to look cute. (I am sure you know what I mean!)

As for calling cards...Is that something you can leave with them so they can call you? That's great if so.

I will call the place this week and ask some questions about dress code, etc. I just didn't want to ask SO many when I called the 1st time.

Is there anyway around the 1 time a month visit thing? It seems SOOOO long of a wait. I was wondering if I could just stop by for a few minutes or so. It kills me that it's so close to home, and the jail was 2 hours away!

[Fashionista]

Originally Posted by loveliestangel

Thank you both for the replies.

I wanted to wear a halter top, jean skirt, and some flip flops. My usual everyday attire. Just want to look cute. (I am sure you know what I mean!)

As for calling cards...Is that something you can leave with them so they can call you? That's great if so.

I will call the place this week and ask some questions about dress code, etc. I just didn't want to ask SO many when I called the 1st time.

Is there anyway around the 1 time a month visit thing? It seems SOOOO long of a wait. I was wondering if I could just stop by for a few minutes or so. It kills me that it's so close to home, and the jail was 2 hours away!

well when in doubt about the dress code bring another outfit to change into.

as for the visit situation they set it up certain ways because your loved one is supposed to be totally submersed into the program. so they might not let you visit more. where he was at they had 2 visits per month but it was so expensive getting there so i could only go once. i tried asking for an extended visit and was told no. maybe sometime during teh program he could get a pass to leave or something so you could have more time together

also from what i understood the staff seemed suspicious of everyone because in their experience usually spouses/mates, friends and sometimes fam had a nagative affect on treatment because they were using to. so sometimes they limit contact because of that. so until they know who is who they might not budge either. i was even under the microscope too,


where he was at a female had her b/f coming for visits but he was still using drugs and the staff was trying to get him off the visiting list even though she was trying to cover for him. not sure how that situation ended

as for calling cards-the rules per place vary-sometimes they are allowed calls sometimes not unless they earn the right to use them. i used to sneak him a card so he could call me on his doc visits so i could know what was going on because he was not allowed to use the phone at all.

[loveliestangel]

Originally Posted by Fashionista

well when in doubt about the dress code bring another outfit to change into.

Originally Posted by Fashionista

as for the visit situation they set it up certain ways because your loved one is supposed to be totally submersed into the program. so they might not let you visit more. where he was at they had 2 visits per month but it was so expensive getting there so i could only go once. i tried asking for an extended visit and was told no. maybe sometime during teh program he could get a pass to leave or something so you could have more time together

also from what i understood the staff seemed suspicious of everyone because in their experience usually spouses/mates, friends and sometimes fam had a nagative affect on treatment because they were using to. so sometimes they limit contact because of that. so until they know who is who they might not budge either. i was even under the microscope too,


where he was at a female had her b/f coming for visits but he was still using drugs and the staff was trying to get him off the visiting list even though she was trying to cover for him. not sure how that situation ended

as for calling cards-the rules per place vary-sometimes they are allowed calls sometimes not unless they earn the right to use them. i used to sneak him a card so he could call me on his doc visits so i could know what was going on because he was not allowed to use the phone at all.

Hi,

Thanks for this information. When I call they are so snotty! They say they can't tell me anything for confidentiality. I can understand that, but I am asking general questions like when are visits, phone calls, etc. They are not being very nice.

He is in there for selling drugs. This is his 3rd offense I believe. He has never used so that is not an issue. This is court ordered. I am not sure how long he has to stay there for. I don't do drugs, and never have so there are no worries there. I am not trying to sneak anything in. I just want him to come home, and wouldn't even think about doing anything wrong.

I can see why the staff has to be weary of everyone because I am sure family, and friends can make people relapse.

Thank you again for the info. I can't wait until the 31st!

[dark04]

Originally Posted by loveliestangel

He is in there for selling drugs. This is his 3rd offense I believe. He has never used so that is not an issue. This is court ordered.

I'm a little confused! I realize I'm new to this site and my son is only 16 but I didn't think Courts ordered rehab for selling? I thought rehab was for addicted users? Please tell me if I misunderstood this? Thanks!

[loveliestangel]

Originally Posted by dark04

I'm a little confused! I realize I'm new to this site and my son is only 16 but I didn't think Courts ordered rehab for selling? I thought rehab was for addicted users? Please tell me if I misunderstood this? Thanks!

To be honest, I don't know the answer to that. He got charged with SALE OF HALLUCIGEN/NARCOTIC SUBSTANCE. This was ordered by the court before he could be released. His original release was 7/2009.

He was sentenced to 6 years. This is his 3rd offense as I have mentioned previously. He filed a sentence modification, and he was approved on parole. The requirements were to be in a drug program, and then a halfway house. I have been with him on again, off again for 13 years. I know he has never used a day in his life.

Sorry I couldn't give a better answer.

[Fashionista]

Originally Posted by loveliestangel

Hi,

Thanks for this information. When I call they are so snotty! They say they can't tell me anything for confidentiality. I can understand that, but I am asking general questions like when are visits, phone calls, etc. They are not being very nice.

He is in there for selling drugs. This is his 3rd offense I believe. He has never used so that is not an issue. This is court ordered. I am not sure how long he has to stay there for. I don't do drugs, and never have so there are no worries there. I am not trying to sneak anything in. I just want him to come home, and wouldn't even think about doing anything wrong.

I can see why the staff has to be weary of everyone because I am sure family, and friends can make people relapse.

Thank you again for the info. I can't wait until the 31st!

i understand what you are going through when i called they were too nice either and then at some points they didn't even return my call and i was unsure if he was even allowed to have a visit. the last thing i wanted to do was travel and have to go back home.

anyway i never did drugs ever and they treated me a certain way because they have no way of knowing who is enabling their behaviors or what influence you have. once they see that you are not in that lifestyle and you are there for support they will lighten up. as annoying as it is don't take it too personal, the treat pretty much everyone like that

[Fashionista]

Originally Posted by dark04

I'm a little confused! I realize I'm new to this site and my son is only 16 but I didn't think Courts ordered rehab for selling? I thought rehab was for addicted users? Please tell me if I misunderstood this? Thanks!

where my b/f was they had 2 people who were court mandated after being caught selling. my b/f used to sell AND use (how crazy does that sound?) but never admitted to using until recently and he was sent to a rehab center as part of his probabtion with his first case. it sounds silly be it is done. i am not sure how the program works for sellers since i never had experience myself but i can ask and post my b/f's experience and post them here

[loveliestangel]

Originally Posted by Fashionista

where my b/f was they had 2 people who were court mandated after being caught selling. my b/f used to sell AND use (how crazy does that sound?) but never admitted to using until recently and he was sent to a rehab center as part of his probabtion with his first case. it sounds silly be it is done. i am not sure how the program works for sellers since i never had experience myself but i can ask and post my b/f's experience and post them here

Hi,

Thanks for the words of advice. I am glad to hear that it's nothing personal, and they are mean to everyone. LOL I did find out that he is only allowed to use the phone on certain days, and times. That is a help! I was wondering why the heck he only called once, and then two days later. Everytime he did call I was at work and couldn't answer my cell. Bad timing!

I am going to their "open house" on the 31st which is from 6 pm to 9pm. I just can't wait! I know they are going to have the same attitudes in person so I am prepared for the worst. LOL

Posting your bf's experiences would be great. Thank you. Sorry to hear that he was using. Using and selling, now that is not something you see everyday. Best wishes to you and him.

[DAVIDSWIFE78]

Hello My Hubby Just Got Out July 15 Well He Has A Drug Problem So He Went To His Po For Help Well His Po Vop And Now Hes In County Jail Waiting To See The Judge On Tuesday We Wentall Day Last Sat To Hospitals And Rehab Cause He Wants Help But There Were No Bed So They Said Your Po Can Help So Thats What He Did And Now He Is In County For Wanting Help What Is This World Coming To Being Lock Up Aint Going To Help Them

[Sunnie]

I am sorry Davidswife. Usually its the norm, them assisting the inmate in getting treatment. I mean that is what you would think right??

It doesn't always work that way. Please encourage him to ask the judge for treatment, or have him speak to his public defender.

Good luck!

As far as the question you have about rehab. Your best bet would be to call the rehab and ask them what the rules and regulations regarding vistits, and what one can and can't bring, wear, etc. It varies from each facility and state.