Can I Leave Rehab Any Time I Want?

Leaving rehab early often comes with serious risks, whether you voluntarily or involuntarily receive care. People who don’t complete addiction treatment are much more likely to relapse, which means that their physical, mental, and emotional health will continue to suffer, greatly affecting their quality of life.

People who are looking to overcome drug or alcohol addiction may go to a treatment center. When a person voluntarily begins rehab, they can legally leave treatment at any time. However, people who are mandated to receive substance abuse treatment will face legal ramifications, like jail time, if they leave rehab early.

Regardless of whether you enter treatment by your own free will or the decisions of other people, leaving rehab early can pose serious risks to your physical, mental, and emotional health.

Learn about the health risks involved when leaving a drug rehab center early, and get tips for finding support during treatment.

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Consequences Of Leaving Rehab Early

When a person leaves rehab early, they prevent themselves from experiencing the full benefits of professional addiction care.

Shortly after arriving at a rehab center, you will be given a personalized treatment plan addressing all of your needs and goals in recovery. If the treatment plan isn’t completed, you will miss out on aspects of your care that your care team recommended for lasting recovery. Being in a treatment center also ensures a safe and supportive environment for people facing addiction to focus on recovery. When the choice is made to leave prematurely, it prevents clients from getting all of the tools needed to resist the temptation of drugs and alcohol. Instead, they are more likely to revert to old ways of thinking and behaving, which can segue into a relapse.

There are many possible consequences to leaving rehab early. The most serious of risks, however, is the risk of losing the battle with addiction.

Risk Of Overdose

Drug and alcohol addiction often involves becoming tolerant to the substance. When a person with addiction is separated from their drug of choice for some time, their tolerance will likely decrease. This means that if they were to return to substance use, a smaller amount than they were previously using would have more powerful effects.

However, people may use the same amount as before, which can lead to an overdose. An overdose is always serious, but it can be fatal if lifesaving measures aren’t promptly administered.

Risk Of Relapse

While in rehab, people receive many tools to combat the disease of addiction. This includes techniques for coping with irrational thoughts and heavy emotions, as well as difficult relationships and stressful situations. Without healthy coping skills developed, these stressors often become triggers for people with substance use disorders to use drugs or alcohol.

Coping skills take time to learn, but their impact can last a lifetime. According to Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, it can take an average of two months, and more than two-thirds of a year, for a habit to become automatic. Leaving rehab early cuts this process short.

Considered the gold standard in treatment for opioid use disorder, and also highly effective in treating alcohol addiction, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is available at many rehab centers and provides another tool to prevent relapse and encourage long-term recovery. Leaving rehab early means that clients who have begun MAT or may be good candidates for this treatment method won’t be connected with the right resources going forward.

Declines In Physical And Mental Health

People may be able to receive preliminary treatment for medical conditions that were overlooked during active addiction. Staying in treatment can connect people with the resources to manage other conditions beyond rehab, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or hepatitis. Leaving rehab early can undo any efforts made to stabilize these conditions, which can lead to further declines and premature death.

Mental health can also fall to the wayside if a person leaves treatment early. Of the 20.3 million adults in the U.S. with a substance use disorder, 37.9% also had a mental illness, according to recent figures from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Some of the most common mental health disorders that coexist with a substance use disorder, also known as a dual diagnosis, include depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. While in treatment, medication may be started, coupled with therapy, to simultaneously treat co-occurring disorders. Leaving rehab early can mean the end of treatment and medication, which can significantly affect the person’s quality of life.

Can I Leave Rehab That Was Involuntary?

People can be involuntarily committed to a rehab center through a court order. When a person faces sentencing for charges where the offense involved drugs and/or alcohol, the judge may propose addiction treatment instead of jail. People can also be involuntarily committed to rehab if they live in a state where forced custody and substance abuse treatment is allowed.

There are currently 37 U.S. states that have involuntary commitment laws. Depending on the laws in your state, a person can be mandated to rehab by a family member, guardian, friend, medical professional, police officer, and/or any responsible party. Commitment times also differ by the state and range from 72 hours to a year.

People who are involuntarily committed are required to attend and complete a drug treatment program. If a judge offers court-ordered treatment instead of jail time, it is an opportunity for rehabilitation before resorting to punishment. If treatment is not completed, jail time or large fines may follow. In some states, failure to complete court-ordered treatment is even considered a felony.

When someone is court-ordered to attend rehab and leaves early, the treatment center is legally required to alert the authorities. The penalty a person receives will depend on several factors, such as the reason why they left treatment, their conduct at the facility, and how active they were in treatment prior to leaving. On the contrary, if treatment is completed, the judge may be motivated to dismiss all charges.

Common Reasons For Leaving Rehab Early

You’re not alone in being worried about completing treatment. Going to rehab brings about tremendous change. No matter the amount of dysfunction that a substance use disorder causes in the mind, body, and spirit, it brings with it a routine. Even through the chaos, there may be a sense of comfort in the familiar. In active addiction, you know what to expect and loosely how the day will go.

In rehab, everything is new, which can be staggering, especially at first. Some people may convince themselves that it’s too overwhelming to bear. But remember, the reason rehab may feel unmanageable at times is because it’s meant to help you recover and heal, and prepare you to live a fulfilling, enriching, and peaceful life. In order to change your current reality, a transformative experience is often necessary.

Common reasons why people may consider leaving rehab early include:

  • denial of having a substance use disorder
  • fear—of the unknown, of working on themselves, of change, of taking accountability, of dealing with trauma, of facing their past, of living sober, etc.
  • intense withdrawal symptoms
  • post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS), a lengthy withdrawal process that can occur when a person stops using drugs and/or alcohol after a long period of usage
  • the desire to use drugs and/or alcohol
  • uncomfortable emotions, such as anger, boredom, and/or loneliness

Education provided at addiction treatment centers can help you understand withdrawal symptoms, overwhelming emotions, and other common experiences associated with the recovery process, in addition to giving you the tools to deal with these experiences.

What To Do If You’re Thinking Of Leaving Rehab Early

If you’re thinking of leaving rehab early before you’ve even begun treatment, consider researching rehab centers carefully before selecting one to ensure that its offerings align with your needs.

For example, treatment centers offer activities for clients to participate in. These activities are designed to be therapeutic, providing participants with another outlet to manage their emotions. Different activities will be available depending on whether a rehab center is private or public, and its location. Participating in the programs available can also give you an opportunity to have fun in recovery.

Activities that may be offered in drug rehab centers include:

  • cooking
  • exercise classes
  • gardening
  • guided meditation
  • making art, e.g., drawing, painting, writing, scrapbooking/collaging, knitting, etc.
  • horseback riding
  • nature experiences, e.g., walks, hikes, wilderness activities, etc.
  • playing board games
  • playing sports
  • skill-building workshops
  • yoga

However, if the question, “Can I leave rehab early?,” enters your mind after beginning treatment, there are a few ways to find support so that you don’t make the hasty decision to leave early.

Talk To Your Care Team

When you’re in rehab, you’ll have access to a team of people who are trained to help you with whatever you’re going through, which may include counselors, therapists, and medical professionals. Rehab alumni may also be available to offer peer support. These are people in recovery from substance use disorders who have already completed treatment at the same facility you’re attending. They understand what you’re feeling and can offer words of wisdom and hope.

Call A Family Member

If you’re thinking about leaving rehab early, it might be because you’re missing your loved ones. According to BMC Psychiatry, relationships are one of the main reasons people give for leaving rehab early. Scheduling a call with a family member can motivate you to continue along your journey.

If your loved ones are aware of your addiction and the effect it’s had on your life, then they’ll support your decision to better yourself and your life. When you finish treatment, you’ll be able to enjoy a stronger relationship with your loved ones now that substances aren’t a factor.

Chat With Your Peers

You’ll be in rehab alongside people who are going through the same whirlwind of emotions that you are. Forming friendships in rehab is not required, but doing so can provide another tier of support as you go through the process. You may be able to chat together as a group, such as in peer support meetings or during group therapy with the support of a therapist, or one-on-one during personal time.

Get Help Today

If you or a loved one is dealing with a substance use disorder, you aren’t alone—and you don’t have to attempt recovery alone either. Call Bedrock Recovery Center today to learn about our comprehensive, client-centered treatment programs.

Written by Bedrock Recovery Center Editorial Team

Published on: July 17, 2024

© 2025 Bedrock Recovery Center | All Rights Reserved

* This page does not provide medical advice.

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