Can a rehab facility force you to stay if you want to leave?
There is a common rehab misconception that you cannot just get up and walk away whenever you feel like it. Rehab is not jail. No one can stop you from walking out the front door if you decide not to stay.
Families that send a family member to residential rehab for help are often surprised by this fact. They believe once they get their loved one admitted to a facility, that they are safely tucked away, no longer in danger from their addiction.
In the movie, “Beautiful Boy”, starring Timothée Chalamet and Steve Carrell, the father is shocked to learn that his son has disappeared from rehab. The counselor informs him on the phone that they cannot hold him if he chooses to leave.
So, why does anyone stay in rehab? What happens if you leave rehab early? There must be an incentive that keeps clients from walking away.
In many cases, insurance will cover rehab and private detox, but a high deductible, or lack of coverage may mean the family is going to have to pay. Family members would like to have some assurance that their loved one will not walk away after they have paid thousands of dollars for rehab.
When the time comes to go to rehab, most clients are at the end of their rope. They have run out of ways to get easy access to drugs, or they have had a scare, such as a near-death overdose.
Can you leave rehab early and go back home?
Can you leave rehab whenever you want? Will your family take you back if you just show up at the door one day while you are supposed to be away, in rehab?
Unfortunately, addictive behavior causes rifts in families. Addiction may drive a person to steal from their family, or to lie repeatedly.
How does a wife feel when her husband goes to the store for a gallon of milk and shows up at home several days later? What about when it has happened multiple times?
Another example might be that an addicted family member has repeated angry outbursts due to the effects of drugs or withdrawal from drugs. Or, they show up to family events intoxicated, such as nodding out during dinner in front of the children.
The effects of addiction on the family are a source of pain and resentment. When an addiction has progressed to the point that rehab is necessary, the addicted person is often no longer welcome in their own home.
Staying in rehab and sticking to the plan provides hope that the rehab client may eventually return home and to a normal life. They may first have to stay in a sober living home for a while, but if they stay on track, there is hope to reunite with the family and return to the family home.
Does going to rehab mean that a person has finally agreed to give up drugs or alcohol for good?
Interestingly, a person who goes to rehab for help with an addiction may be doing the right thing for the wrong reasons. They may hold reservations, which means that they still have plans to return to drug use when the time is right.
While they may tell family members that they are now dedicated to following a path of recovery, their secret plan is to lie low and give their body and brain a chance to heal. When all the fuss over their addictive behavior has calmed down, they believe they can resume using drugs.
Is this necessarily a bad thing that a loved one with an addiction goes away to a very expensive rehab program with a secret intention to get high again? Of course, it would be ideal if they were fully prepared to give up all substance use and move forward in recovery.
However, going to rehab can still be a positive experience for an addicted person with strong reservations. While in rehab, they may gain new insight into their situation and make a decision to work harder on their recovery.
The person who goes into rehab with no intention of staying drug free may walk out a changed person. The key is a positive rehab experience where clients can feel safe to explore the idea of embracing a life free from drug or alcohol use and free from addiction.
To learn more about why people stay in rehab, please listen to our recovery podcast. We discuss many topics relating to addiction, rehab, and recovery.
