Are There Lockdown Rehab Centers, Where You Can’t Leave?

Rehab is a place where people regain control of their lives, stop using drugs and alcohol, and commit to a life of sobriety.

Sometimes addiction treatment is mandatory. And while compulsory treatment is on the rise, you can avoid it by enrolling yourself in a rehab program and making a commitment to achieve sobriety

Are There Lockdown Rehab Centers?

Yes and no. A rehab center is not like a jail and cannot bar the doors to keep you from leaving. However, the court can order treatment to take place in lieu of jail time.

If clients of court-ordered treatment centers leave before treatment is completed then they will have to serve their jail term that treatment was meant to replace.

So in that sense, there are treatment centers where you can’t leave, but they probably aren’t like what most people would think of as a lockdown facility.

Types Of Compulsory Drug Treatment

There are a couple of different types of compulsory treatment that you may experience if you refuse to seek treatment yourself.

Court-Ordered Substance Use Treatment

If people with substance use disorders are facing criminal charges for possession, drug trafficking, or related crimes such as stealing, they could be ordered to attend a drug rehab program.

This often comes as a relief to the people facing charges or their families, because court-ordered treatment usually replaces or reduces fines, community service, or jail time.

Court-ordered addiction treatment as a strategy for homelessness and repeat drug crime offenders is on the rise. President Joe Biden advocated it in 2020. In 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom of California also advocated for mandatory treatment.

Involuntary Commitments

In 37 states, there are laws that enable families or medical professionals to petition courts to have a family member or patient committed to involuntary treatment.

In some states, these commitments can last up to a year or as little as a few days. In some states families or law enforcement and medical professionals can petition a treatment facility directly without a court order.

In the states that allow this, involuntary commitments have been on the rise.

Addiction Treatment Options In Jail

There is another kind of compulsory treatment. This compulsory treatment occurs in jail under the management of government organizations such as the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).

The BOP claims that there is reduced relapse, criminality, recidivism, and inmate misconduct as a result of their treatment programs.

However, some state prison systems do not advocate compulsory treatment.

How Long Does Court-Ordered Rehab Last?

The duration of rehab typically depends on the type of care offered at the facility. Court-ordered programs can last 30, 60, or 90 days.

Conversely, there are substance abuse treatment facilities that last between six months and a year.

Long-term addiction treatment can be beneficial for people facing a severe substance use disorder or who need time to build new habits and life skills so they don’t return to criminal behavior.

Again, substance abuse treatment is not going to look the same for everyone. A thirty-day rehab may not work for a person who struggles with an intense addiction. A program that mandates attendance and restricts access to anything outside of rehab may be what some people need.

Find Addiction Treatment Today

If you or a loved one are looking for addiction treatment, you can find it today. Give us a call. We have more information that can help start your journey into recovery.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff