Do Rehab Centers Allow Patients to Work While Attending Treatment?

In some instances, patients can work while attending rehab. This depends heavily, though, on the treatment program itself, the nature of the patient’s work, and the level of stress they are under. To find a rehab program that will fit your needs, call 800-256-3490 now.

What Type of Treatment Do You Need?

If your addiction isn’t severe, you may be able to work during rehab.

It is important to consider the type of rehab center you should attend and how this program could best benefit your needs. For example, the National Institute on Drug Abuse states, outpatient treatment “costs less than residential or inpatient treatment and often is more suitable for people with jobs or extensive social supports.” This type of rehab allows patients to attend treatment sessions frequently (often daily at first and then usually two or three times a week) and still be able to work every day and see their families. Unlike inpatient programs, outpatient centers provide the freedom for patients to live their lives while attending treatment.

However, outpatient care isn’t always enough for every patient. Those who need more intensive treatment for comorbid disorders, medical issues associated with addiction, a safe and secure environment where they will not be tempted, or any other reason should attend inpatient care instead.

Not all inpatient programs provide patients with the ability to work while in the program, but some do. If you believe this would be a beneficial option for you, it is important to search for an inpatient rehab center that allows patients to work during their stay.

How Can I Work and Attend Rehab at the Same Time?

As stated above, you can choose to attend an outpatient program that allows you to keep your regular work schedule intact. If you choose an inpatient or residential center that allows individuals to work from the facility, many accommodations are often made for this purpose.

For instance, while cell phone and other types of electronics use are not normally permitted in residential treatment centers, many provide patients with a specific time of day in which they can check email, correspond with coworkers, and do other things necessary to keep up with their careers.

In fact, many employers actually want to help patients get the treatment they need, and through Employee Assistance Programs (or EAPs), they provide easily accessible care to patients in a way that is beneficial for their employment, not just their addiction (US Office of Personnel Management). Sometimes patients are allowed to work while attending treatment, but others, they are given the freedom to attend rehab and to know that their job will be secure when they return.

How Is Rehab Success Defined?

Should I Work While in Rehab?

This is a very important question to ask yourself, and it can help you understand why some residential treatment centers prefer that patients do not work at all. According to the NIDA Archives, “We know that stress is one of the most powerful triggers for relapse in addicted individuals, even after long periods of abstinence.”

Since work can be one of the most stressful aspects of a person’s life, it can be unwise for someone in the very early stages of their recovery to work in an extremely stressful job while trying to attend treatment. Still, some abide by the philosophy that patients should be able to periodically take on certain aspects of their regular lives as they attend treatment in order to have a more effective recovery.

Depending on the severity of your addiction, the stress level your job causes you, and a number of other aspects, it is important to ask yourself if you would be better off working or not working during rehab.

If you do decide you want to be able to attend treatment and still work, though, make sure to find a rehab center that fits your needs (as there are programs that allow this type of care) and that you discuss the matter with your employer, as you can likely find a better solution for both of you this way.

Take The First Step Toward Recovery

Whether you work while attending treatment or not, make sure you choose the program that is best for your needs. We can help ensure this outcome: call 800-256-3490 now, and let us match you with the safest, most effective facility for your individual situation.