Starting the journey toward recovery from addiction is a courageous and life-changing decision. As you prepare to begin treatment, it’s natural to wonder what to pack for this important step.
Knowing which personal belongings to bring—and what to leave behind—can help you stay focused on your recovery without unnecessary distractions. This guide is here to provide clarity, offering a straightforward overview of how to pack for this transformative chapter in your life.
From the essentials that bring comfort to the items you’ll need for your daily routine, understanding what’s permitted and what isn’t can make the transition into rehab smoother. With the right preparations, you’ll set the stage for a more focused and successful path toward a healthier future.
What to Bring to Treatment
At Aliya Veterans, our treatment programs seek to foster the most productive, safe, and positive environment for patients to recover in. To do so, we ask that all patients adhere to some simple rules regarding what to bring to treatment.
Personal items we encourage you to bring to treatment include:
- Driver’s license or State ID
- Insurance Card
- FMLA paperwork or contact information
Health and hygiene products we encourage you to bring to treatment include:
- Always bring your most up-to-date medication
- If medication is over the counter, it must be new & sealed.
- New & sealed toiletries (ie, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, shampoo, personal care products)
- Appropriate items needed for a CPAP machine
- Appropriate items needed for a glucose meter
- Readers, glasses, or contacts
Clothing we encourage you to bring to treatment includes:
- Outfits for the next 7–10 days
- Comfortable, casual clothes*
- Workout attire
- Pajamas
- Sweater or jacket (temperature can vary in the building)
- Closed-toed shoes
- Flip flops for bedroom/shower.
*Additional items for rainy or cold weather
Other items you can bring to treatment include:
- Journal or Notebooks
- Pens
- Coloring books
- Books
- Personal photos
- Play cards
- Battery-operated watch
- MP3 player/ ipod shuttle/ cassette player.
- Candy
- 5 Non-perishable snacks
If choosing to bring the following items, they will be secured in a locked area during inpatient treatment:
- Mobile phone and/or any device with internet access*
- Automobile keys (if car is being kept on property)
- Link card
*This is during clinical hours. If you’re residing in a recovery home, you’ll receive earned mobile phone/internet access once you reach a certain stage in your treatment.
What Not to Bring to Treatment
If residing in a rehab facility and/or structured living, please do not bring:
- Alcohol, illicit drugs, or paraphernalia
- Medications that don’t match the name and/or information on the label
- Weapons of any kind or items that pose a danger to self or others
- Open or unsealed toiletries, vapes, cigarettes
- Large electronics (TVs, gaming systems)
- Candles or incense
- Money exceeding $20, credit, debit, or gift cards
- Valuables*
- Personal or used pillows, blankets, or bedding**
- Any items deemed unsafe by staff
*We cannot assume responsibility for lost, stolen, or damaged personal items or belongings.
**This needs to be brand new and in packaging to be approved.