What To Expect on Your First Day at Addiction Rehab
People see addiction rehab from a very generalized viewpoint. You’re aware of the purpose of addiction rehab centers and how they help individuals suffering from addiction, but you don’t know what actually happens inside.
If you’re considering addiction rehab services, it’s helpful to know what to expect from the moment you walk through those doors. This guide will explain everything likely to happen on your first day and how this sets you up for the future.
The Intake Process
Your journey begins with the intake process, where a lot of admin happens. At Peaks Recovery Centers, we see the intake process as an initial screening step to get to know each person and why they’re here.
Be prepared to answer plenty of questions about your lifestyle and health. Answer all questions as openly and honestly as possible. There’s no point going down this path if you aren’t willing to be honest, especially regarding medical conditions, as your answers will affect some of the treatments you’ll be given later.
The more thorough and honest you are, the better. Part of the initial phase of the intake process includes a drug history; this is where you mention all drugs you’re either currently taking or have taken in the past. Before moving on to the next step, you will be asked why you’re here. This may sound like an obvious question, yet it’s essential to help us ensure that everyone is at addiction rehab for the right reasons.
Addiction Rehab Screenings
After answering all the questions in the initial intake process, you’ll have to deal with a couple of more thorough screenings. This comprises two main steps:
- An inspection of your belongings
- A full medical screening
We appreciate that you’re probably taken aback by the idea of fully inspecting your belongings. It feels like an invasion of privacy, yet it’s a crucial step to help every individual on the path to recovery. You may face addiction triggers during the recovery process that tempt you back into old ways. Part of the reason we inspect your belongings is to ensure there’s nothing in there that could serve as an obvious trigger. This may include drugs, alcohol, or anything else that’s deemed potentially dangerous. We will inform you of what you can or can’t bring to addiction rehab during the first phone call when you check in. Still, this additional inspection is necessary for both you and everyone else’s safety.
Following this, you will receive a full medical screening. A doctor will provide a physical examination to see your current state of health. Again, this all assists us in putting together a recovery program to suit YOUR specific needs. Existing health concerns may be spotted that tell us we can’t use a particular treatment option as it may cause more harm than good.
Meeting Your Treatment Team
As you may be aware, there are many types of addiction services you could receive during the addiction rehab process. Once you’ve completed all your screenings, you’ll be given a tour of the facility to meet the different treatment teams.
This includes seeing all the doctors, medical professionals, therapists, nurses, and so on. It helps you get accustomed to seeing these people – as you may spend a lot of time with them – while also allowing you to see the facility as a whole.
Part of this step involves meeting two very important people on your road to addiction recovery:
- Your Primary Therapist – This is the lead therapist working on your case. They’ll be the person you talk to the most and open up about your drug addiction. While you’ll undergo plenty of other services during your time here, you’ll see your primary therapist more than most. Meeting them now helps to ease the tension when the therapy begins.
- Your Case Manager – Every client at an addiction rehab center will have a case manager. Their job is simple; they manage your case and liaise with all the treatment providers to arrange services based on your needs. They’re also a point of contact for clients if they have anything they need to discuss about the recovery treatment plan.
Creating Your Personalized Treatment Plan
It might feel like you’re dealing with a lot on your first day at addiction rehab, but these steps are critical to getting everything in order right away. Our integrated care team will help create your treatment plan and then give you a daily schedule. They’ll map out what you’ll be doing and who you’ll be seeing throughout the upcoming days/weeks.
In our experience, giving clients a schedule helps massively from a mental health perspective. You made a huge decision coming to a rehab center, and you weren’t sure whether it was right. The main reason you came here is to get help – you need guidance as you’ve tried to kick the habit before but with little success. As such, we think it’s essential for you to see a schedule right away. It means you can settle down on your first day and clearly see what lies ahead. This brings mental clarity and provides a good dose of hope.
If you didn’t get a schedule on your first day, you’d be left wondering what will happen or what you’ll be doing. This only makes you more anxious, so we take the time to plan things out immediately. Yes, this results in a heavy first day, but it’s worth it in the long run.
Settling Into Addiction Rehab
The completion of your treatment plan and schedule signals the end of the “admin” portion of your first day. Now, you can start settling into addiction rehab. Your physical health is the top priority, so any medical conditions that require attention will be seen by the medical team.
If you’re in good physical health, you’ll be shown to your room and can get a more extended tour of the facility if you wish. Depending on the time of day, you could be invited to a group therapy, an elective, or an individual therapy session.
You also get the chance to have a meal if you’re hungry. We’ll show you to the eating area and you can pick one of the meals currently on offer that day. Feel free to ask any questions at this point as it’s all about making you feel comfortable. If there’s something you want to do, we’ll do our best to facilitate that – as long as it fits without our rules and guidelines for addiction recovery.
And so concludes your first day at addiction rehab. It feels a bit overwhelming and a lot is going on, but it will feel like there’s a huge weight off your chest at the end of the day. You made a big step going to a rehab center, and one of the hardest parts if over. Now, you can focus on following your treatment plan and getting on the road to recovery.
Reach Out To Peaks Recovery
If you or a loved one needs addiction treatment, please reach out to Peaks Recovery for support. We offer a continuum of care designed to generate greater mindfulness and well-being, even if life sometimes becomes challenging.
Call at 855-222-1610 to speak to our friendly team.
Medical Disclaimer: Peaks Recovery Centers uses fact-based content about recovery treatment, addiction medicine, and behavioral health conditions to improve the quality of life for those struggling with drug and alcohol addiction or mental health disorders. This information is not intended to replace professional medical guidance, diagnosis, care, or treatment. This information should not be used as a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare provider and/or your physician.