Preparing for Addiction Rehab: A Checklist for Families
Once a family decides to bring a loved one into treatment, the next questions come right away. What documents are needed? What should go in the bag? Can they bring a phone? And how do we tell them? This uncertainty leads many families to postpone, even though every day of waiting is a day the problem may get worse.
Good preparation makes the first day of treatment go smoothly, reduces anxiety for both the person and the family, and helps the care team plan around their symptoms from day one. Below is a practical checklist for residential treatment at Day One Rehabilitation Center.
First Step: Book an Appointment and Talk Before Admission Day
Before packing, contact our staff to describe the situation and book an admission date. Talking in advance helps the care team assess any risks they need to prepare for, such as potentially severe withdrawal, psychotic symptoms, or existing health conditions. It also gives the family a chance to ask all their questions before the day.
If you are not sure whether the problem calls for residential treatment, you can start with a free screening test.
Information to Prepare for the Care Team
The more complete the information, the better the care team can plan. Families should write down the following in advance.
General information about the person
- Full name, nickname, sex, age, nationality, and main language
- Weight, height, and education level
- Full name of the main family contact
Health information
- Existing health conditions and current medications
- Medication or food allergies, and any foods they cannot eat
- Previous treatment, both for substance use and for mental health
Substance use information
- The substances used, including any used together
- How long they have been used, and when they were last used
Current symptoms
- Psychotic symptoms such as hearing voices, delusions, or paranoia
- Emotional symptoms such as depression, thoughts of self-harm, irritability, or aggression
- Physical symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, restlessness, aches, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, tremors, or urinary problems
- Anything that needs special monitoring
If the person has been in treatment before, also share where, for how long, and what happened before they relapsed. This helps the care team plan the new treatment more effectively.
What to Bring on Admission Day
- National ID card or passport for both the person entering treatment and the family member
- Their regular medications
- Underwear
- Sports shoes and socks for daily exercise activities
- Personal items such as soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, and body lotion
Items Not Allowed in the Center
For the safety of everyone in treatment, the following are not allowed:
- Cigarettes and e-cigarettes
- Any drugs or addictive substances
- Communication devices such as mobile phones and tablets
- Weapons and sharp objects
- Illegal items or anything that could cause harm
Why Can’t People in Treatment Use Their Phones?
This is the most common question. At Day One, people in treatment do not use phones during their stay; staff contact the family on their behalf instead. Using a phone or the internet during this period can make emotions unstable, lead to contact with old friends, or result in pressuring the family to take them home early. Removing these triggers for a while helps the person focus fully on recovery. People in treatment are also not able to leave the center during their stay.
What Families Should Know Before Admission
Age and Consent
Day One accepts people aged 15 and over. Those under 18 need a legal guardian to sign consent for treatment on their behalf. For adults aged 18 and over who have mood disturbances, psychotic symptoms, or substance use that puts themselves or others at risk, but who refuse treatment, a legal representative can sign consent on their behalf. For children under 15, we recommend consulting Piti Clinic, which is part of the same team as Day One.
How Long Treatment Takes
Day One recommends starting with 4 weeks, because most people’s physical and emotional symptoms become more stable after about 4 weeks. Treatment should not be shorter than 2 weeks, which is the period for detox and physical recovery. The longer the treatment, the lower the risk of relapse. See Day One’s 4-phase residential treatment program and how long treatment takes and how many months it takes to quit drugs.
Daily Life at the Center
Each day follows a clear schedule, from waking up and morning health checks, to therapy activities in the morning and afternoon such as group therapy, individual therapy, art, music, cooking, and gardening, to exercise in the late afternoon and chanting or meditation before bed. A regular routine helps the body and mind gradually regain balance.
Getting Here
The center is in Mueang Nakhon Nayok District, about 1 hour’s drive from Bangkok. Families can bring the person themselves, or, if that is not convenient or there are safety concerns on the way, an ambulance transfer service is available, charged by distance. Please ask our staff for details.
If Your Loved One Still Refuses Treatment
Packing may be easier than getting your loved one to agree to come. Start with a caring conversation at a time when they are not intoxicated, and make an agreement together about quitting and entering treatment. Read our tips on how to talk to someone about getting treatment and how to bring someone with a drug problem to treatment.
If talking does not work, for example they keep using, break the agreement, or start showing emotional or psychotic symptoms, it may be necessary to bring them for treatment even without their consent, to help them before the effects on the brain become too severe. The Day One team can help families plan for this situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What documents are needed to enter a rehab center? Bring a national ID card or passport for both the person entering treatment and the family member, along with health information, current medications, treatment history, and details of substance use.
Can I bring a phone into rehab? At Day One, communication devices are not allowed in the center. Staff contact the family instead, so the person can focus on recovery and stay away from old triggers.
How many days does treatment take? We recommend starting with 4 weeks, and no less than 2 weeks. Longer treatment, such as around 3 months, makes quitting more stable. The psychiatrist and the family decide together based on actual symptoms.
What age do you accept? We accept people aged 15 and over. Those under 18 need consent from a legal guardian. For children under 15, we recommend consulting Piti Clinic.
Good Preparation Is the First Step of Recovery
Bringing a loved one into treatment takes courage. When the information and belongings are ready, the first day goes more smoothly and the care team can start helping in the right way from day one. Some remaining worry is normal, and you do not have to figure everything out alone.
If you are preparing to bring a family member into treatment, or still have questions, contact Day One Rehabilitation Center to book an appointment and get advice. We are available every day, and all information is kept confidential.
Phone: +66 2-028-7775
LINE: @dayone
Location: 99/1 Moo 6, Si Chula, Mueang Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Nayok 26000, Thailand (only a 1-hour drive from Bangkok)