Can I keep my phone, and can family call or visit?

Why programs limit contact

Residential programs may restrict phones and visits, sometimes more in the first days. A program may say the rules help people focus on treatment, protect other residents' privacy or reduce contact with situations linked to drinking or using. Whatever the reason, the rules should be explained to you, and you should know what they are before you arrive.

Outpatient and telehealth care usually do not involve these limits, because you live at home. The questions in this guide are mainly about overnight programs.

What state rules can say

Some states set out rights for people in treatment facilities. Rules vary by state, so the example below is only an illustration.

In Texas, the client bill of rights for chemical dependency treatment facilities says people in residential programs have the right to have visitors, make phone calls and send and receive sealed mail. It says these can be restricted for an individual by the physician or program head for treatment or security reasons, and that a client can still contact an attorney. It also says clients have the right to have their rights explained to them within 24 hours of admission.

Check whether your state or the program's state has similar rules. The program should be able to tell you which rights apply.

Questions to ask before you go

Ask whether you can keep your phone, and if not, when and how you can use it. Ask whether there is a period at the start with no calls or visits, and how long it lasts.

Ask when family and friends can call you, and whether you can call them. Ask about visiting hours, who can visit, whether visits are supervised and whether children can visit.

Ask about mail and packages, and whether they are opened. Ask whether you can use a computer or phone for work, banking or legal matters, even for a short time.

Ask what happens in a family emergency. If someone at home becomes ill or a child needs you, how would staff reach you, and how would you reach them?

Raise what you cannot do without

Some contact is not optional. You may be the main caregiver for a child or a parent, have a court date, need to speak to an employer about leave, or rely on a device because of a disability or language need. Tell the program before admission and ask how it will be handled. Ask for the answer in writing if the arrangement is important.

If a rule would make it impossible for you to attend, say so. The program may be able to make an arrangement, or it may not. Either way, you need to know before you arrive.

Before you hand over your phone

If your phone will be stored, write down the numbers you may need, such as family, your doctor, your pharmacy, your employer and a lawyer if you have one. Tell the people who expect to hear from you how and when they can reach you, and give them the program's main number.

Think about accounts that might need attention while you are away, such as bills or work messages, and decide who, if anyone, can help. Do not give someone access to accounts unless you are comfortable with it.

If you are the one trying to stay in touch

If someone you love is in a program, a missed call may not mean something is wrong. Ask the person, before they go, how they would like to keep in contact. The program may not be able to confirm that someone is there without their consent. Ask for the general policy on calls and visits, and how to reach staff with an urgent concern.

If a rule seems wrong

If you are in a program and a contact rule seems unfair, is applied only to you or stops you reaching a lawyer, ask a staff member to explain the reason and who made the decision. Ask how to raise a concern. If the issue is not resolved, you can ask how to make a complaint to the program. The guide to raising a complaint about a program covers what can happen next.