Christmas Presents you Cannot Bring to Friends and Family in Inpatient Rehab

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, family support is extremely important to recovery. This is particularly true around the holidays. When you have a friend or family member in inpatient rehab, you might want to play Santa Claus and drop off a few presents for them. Inpatient rehab is never pleasant but little extras such as presents do help. It is important to know what to bring and what not to bring. Certain presents will be instantly confiscated.

Anything Resembling a Weapon

Do not bring anything that even remotely resembles a weapon. This includes:

• knives,
• guns,
• letter openers,
• ropes,
• toy or mock knives and guns,
• razors,
• decorative razor sets,
• poisons, or
• anything that resembles any of these things.

Since depression goes hand in hand with drug detox and withdrawal, it is important that the rehab center keeps everyone safe. Your friend or relative might not be suicidal but the staff has to worry about all of the other patients in the unit. It is best just not to give anything that can be used as a weapon.

Anything with Drugs or Alcohol on it

Certain gifts are not allowed in rehab!

Although this might seem obvious, any article of clothing or object that promotes drug or alcohol use is strictly forbidden. This includes:

• t-shirts with negative slogans on them,
• mugs or cups that allude to drug use,
• drug paraphernalia,
• anything picturing drugs or alcohol on it, and
• anything that might be a trigger for a former drug users.

Some t-shirts and clothing might have what you think are cute or ironic sayings on them about insanity or drug rehab on them. These are also in poor taste. If you are in doubt check with the staff before you give the recovering addict the gift.

Anything with Drugs or Alcohol in it

Again this might seem obvious but you would be amazed at how many products contain drugs or alcohol in them. Some of these products are:

• perfumes,
• syrups,
• cough medicine,
• other medicines,
• cosmetics,
• aerosols and hairsprays,
• hair styling products, and
• many other seemingly benign liquids.

Checking the ingredients in anything that you purchase is a good idea. If it has any alcohol in it, chances are it will not be allowed in the rehab facility. The one most commonly seized according to many rehabs is perfumes or colognes. These tend to contain larger quantities of alcohol in them.

If you are unsure of what to give as a gift to a friend or family member in rehab, ask the staff. Most of them not only know what is allowed, they might even know what the resident wants. Remember that it is difficult to be away from your family and friends during the holidays so even just a visit from you can make all the difference. For more information on rehabs over the holidays, give us a call at 800-430-1407Who Answers?.