A note on exceptions: Every person entering treatment has unique needs. Individual exceptions to this list may be made at clinical discretion. If you have a specific concern — a medical need, a cultural practice, or a product you rely on — reach out before you arrive. We would rather have that conversation early than have you feel unprepared on intake day.
You Are Almost There. Let Us Make This Part Easy.
If you are reading this, you are probably days — maybe hours — away from one of the most important decisions you have ever made. You or someone you love is getting ready to enter residential rehab. And somewhere between the relief of finally taking that step and the anxiety of not knowing what to expect, someone is standing in front of a suitcase wondering what goes in it.
That is exactly where this guide is meant to meet you.
Most packing guides for rehab say the same vague things: bring comfortable clothing, leave valuables at home, check with your facility. That is fine as far as it goes. But it does not tell you whether your specific shampoo is allowed. It does not tell you about the small things — the things nobody mentions — that end up mattering more than you expect.
This guide is different. We are sharing Liberty Health Services’ actual approved toiletries list and belongings policy so you can pack with complete confidence. We are also sharing the things people wish they had thought to bring — the ones that do not show up on any standard list but make a real difference during your stay.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) identifies arriving prepared and supported in early treatment as something that meaningfully improves engagement and retention in care. Packing well is a small act that signals something important: you are ready.
The Quick Answer: What to Bring to Rehab
If you are short on time, here is the essential list. The full detail for each category follows below.
Documents and ID: Valid photo ID, insurance card, pharmacy card, written list of medications and dosages, emergency contact list written on paper.
Clothing: 7 to 10 days of comfortable, modest, weather-appropriate clothing, workout clothes, pajamas, underwear, flip flops for the shower, walking shoes, layers for New Hampshire weather.
Toiletries (new and sealed only): Alcohol-free shampoo and conditioner, body wash or soap, toothbrush, alcohol-free toothpaste, alcohol-free mouthwash, deodorant stick or roll-on, lotion, feminine hygiene products if needed.
Medications: Prescribed medications only, in original pharmacy bottles with your name and dosage on the label.
Personal comfort items: A journal, a pen, a book or two, photographs of people you love, a small amount of cash ($50 to $100).
Things people forget but wish they had brought: Stamps and envelopes, a written phone number list, comfortable slippers, a meaningful comfort object, a recovery-focused book.
Everything else is either provided by Liberty or covered in the sections below. If you want to understand the full structure of what residential treatment looks like day to day, our residential drug and alcohol rehab page covers everything from the daily schedule to clinical programming to what happens after discharge.
What Not to Bring to Rehab — And Why
Before packing, it helps to understand the thinking behind these rules. When someone enters residential treatment, they are in one of the most vulnerable stages of early recovery. Triggers are everywhere. The structure of the residential environment is not incidental to treatment — it is part of the treatment itself.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) consistently identifies the treatment environment as a core factor in recovery outcomes. Every item a facility restricts exists to protect that environment — for you and for every other person in the program.
Anything Containing Alcohol
This is the one that surprises people most — because alcohol is not just in bottles.
Standard mouthwash like original Listerine contains up to 26.9% alcohol. Many perfumes, colognes, nail polish removers, some hand sanitizers, and certain skincare products also contain alcohol as an ingredient. For someone in early recovery from alcohol use disorder, these products can trigger cravings or, in some documented cases, be misused during acute withdrawal. This is one of the most important things to understand before packing. Our alcohol addiction treatment page explains in more detail why even trace exposures matter in early recovery.
At Liberty, any product containing alcohol as an ingredient is not permitted. Alcohol-free alternatives exist for almost every product — the specific approved brands are listed in full below.
Leave behind: Standard mouthwash, perfume, cologne, nail polish remover, aerosol sprays, hand sanitizer with alcohol, any product with alcohol listed in the ingredients.
Aerosol Products of Any Kind
No aerosol sprays are permitted — dry shampoo sprays, aerosol deodorants, hairsprays, anything in a pressurized can. Switch to stick, pump, or roll-on versions before you pack.
Weapons and Sharp Objects of Any Kind
This includes pocket knives, multi-tools, scissors of any size, and any bladed object. Razors and beard trimmers are permitted but stored behind the nurses’ station and checked out when needed.
Medications Not Approved by Medical Staff
Do not bring any medication — prescription or over-the-counter — without disclosing it first. This includes vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. All medications must be in their original pharmacy packaging with your name and dosage on the label. Opened bottles, pill organizers, and unlabeled containers will not be accepted. If you are currently on medication-assisted treatment, the admissions team can discuss how your medications will be managed before you arrive. You can also learn more about medication-assisted treatment at Liberty.
Outside Food and Beverages
No outside food or drinks are permitted. Liberty’s in-house chef prepares breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. If you have dietary restrictions or food allergies, notify the admissions team before arrival.
Products Not in Original Sealed Packaging
All toiletries and personal care items must be new and sealed at intake. Opened items will be stored in your locker and not accessible during your stay. If you have a favorite product, buy a new one before you come.
Gaming Devices and Internet-Connected Electronics
Gaming consoles, handheld gaming devices, and internet-connected electronics are not permitted. Phone and device chargers are also not part of the standard allowance — contact admissions if you have specific questions.
Clothing That References Drugs or Alcohol
Anything with brewery logos, drug references, offensive language, or imagery that could be triggering to others in early recovery should stay at home. This protects both you and the people around you.
Valuables
Leave expensive jewelry, large amounts of cash, and anything irreplaceable at home or with a trusted person. Things occasionally get misplaced in shared living environments, and arriving without valuable items removes that concern entirely.
Liberty’s Exact Approved Toiletries List
This is the section that makes this guide genuinely different from anything else out there.
Rather than telling you to bring alcohol-free toiletries and check with your facility, we are sharing the exact approved product list our intake staff uses at Liberty Health Services. All products must be new and in original sealed packaging at intake. If your preferred product is not on this list, call or email admissions before you arrive.
Shampoo and Conditioner
- Dove Daily Moisture Shampoo
- Dove Daily Moisture Conditioner
- Vanicream Shampoo
- Vanicream Conditioner
- Aveeno Daily Moisture Shampoo
- Native Shampoo — Unscented / Sensitive Formula
- Native Conditioner — Unscented / Sensitive Formula
- SheaMoisture — Fragrance-Free / Sensitive Formula Only
Body Wash and Soap
- Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash
- Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser
- Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash
- Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Castile Soap
- Dial Antibacterial Bar Soap
Toothpaste
- Colgate Cavity Protection (non-whitening)
- Crest Cavity Protection (non-whitening)
- Tom’s of Maine Fluoride Toothpaste — Non-Whitening, Alcohol-Free
Mouthwash — Alcohol-Free Only
Standard mouthwash contains significant amounts of alcohol. At Liberty, only these alcohol-free versions are approved:
- ACT Alcohol-Free Mouthwash
- Listerine Zero
- Crest Pro-Health Alcohol-Free Rinse
- Tom’s of Maine Alcohol-Free Mouthwash
Deodorant — Stick or Roll-On Only, No Sprays
- Dove Stick Deodorant (unscented or solid stick)
- Secret Solid Deodorant
- Native Deodorant Stick
- Arm & Hammer Essentials Solid
Lotion and Skincare
- Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion
- CeraVe Moisturizing Cream or Lotion
- Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion
- Eucerin Original Healing Lotion
- Vanicream Moisturizer
Items Stored Behind the Desk — Available When Needed
These items are permitted but kept at the nurses’ station for safety in a shared environment:
- Razors — checked out for use and returned directly after
- Beard trimmers
- Hair straighteners and styling tools (items with cords)
- Cosmetic glue
The Full Clothing Guide
New Hampshire has real seasons. Whether you are arriving in January or July, pack layers. A typical residential stay at Liberty involves clinical groups, physical activity, meals, quiet time, and occasional outdoor time — so you need clothing that works across all of it. Liberty’s fitness programming on Thursdays and yoga on Tuesdays mean athletic clothing is genuinely useful, not just nice to have. You can see the full daily schedule on our residential treatment page.
Bring 7 to 10 days of comfortable, casual clothing. Laundry at Liberty is washed, dried, and folded twice a week — so you do not need to overpack. Include T-shirts, sweatshirts, and long sleeves for layering, comfortable pants such as sweatpants or jeans, pajamas and sleepwear, underwear and socks for your full stay, athletic or workout clothes, comfortable walking shoes and sneakers, flip flops or shower shoes for shared bathrooms, a light jacket or hoodie regardless of season, and seasonal outerwear if arriving in fall or winter.
Leave behind clothing with drug or alcohol references or brewery logos, revealing or form-fitting clothing, dry-clean only items, and more than you realistically need.
Documents and Paperwork — Do Not Forget These
This is the category where people most commonly show up underprepared. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID, your insurance card for both medical and pharmacy coverage, a written list of all current medications and dosages, an emergency contact list written on paper, and any relevant medical records if you have complex health needs.
Why written contacts matter: most residential programs limit phone access to scheduled times. If your contacts are only saved in your phone and you cannot access it freely, you will not be able to reach anyone when you want to. Write down the 5 to 10 numbers that matter most before you arrive. If you have questions about insurance coverage before admission, Liberty’s paying for rehab page explains what most plans cover and how the team can verify your benefits at no cost.
Comfort Items That Actually Help
These are the personal items that make your space feel like yours and give you something meaningful to return to during downtime. Bring a journal and multiple pens — therapy generates a lot of material worth writing down. Bring photographs of family, friends, or pets to keep in your room. A recovery-focused book, devotional, or general fiction is equally valuable. A small comfort object that is not valuable but is grounding, stamps and envelopes if you want to write letters, and a small amount of cash for incidentals round out the list.
Why books over screens: most programs limit or prohibit internet-connected devices. A book gives you something to do with your mind during quiet time that does not require a screen — and many people in treatment discover reading again for the first time in years.
Things You Would Never Think to Bring — But Will Be Glad You Did
This is the section that does not exist on any other packing list. These are the things people consistently say they wish they had thought of before arriving.
A Physical Phone Number List Written on Paper
Not in your phone. Not in a notes app. On paper in your wallet. You will have phone time at Liberty every day — at lunch and in the evenings. If the numbers you want to call are only saved in your phone and access is limited, you are stuck. Take ten minutes before you arrive to write down the numbers that matter.
Stamps and Envelopes
There is something powerful about writing a letter during treatment. It forces you to slow down, be intentional, and communicate in a way that texts and calls cannot. Many people write letters to family members, to people they have hurt, or to their future selves during their stay. You cannot do that without stamps.
A Comfort Object From Home
Not something valuable. Not something you would be devastated to lose. But something small and grounding — a worn-in hat, a stone from your yard, a small stuffed animal, a rosary, a coin. Something that carries a feeling rather than a dollar amount. Early recovery is disorienting. A small physical anchor to something real helps more than people expect.
A New Journal — Not a Used One
Bring a fresh, empty journal rather than one you have already written in. Treatment is the beginning of something new. Starting with blank pages is not just practical — it is symbolic. And you will fill more of it than you think.
Slip-On Shoes or Comfortable Slippers
You will not always want to lace up sneakers to walk down a hallway at night. A pair of slip-on shoes or soft slippers for inside wear is one of those small comfort items that makes daily life in a shared residential space feel less institutional and more like home.
A Favorite Pillow or Small Blanket
Personal bedding is permitted at Liberty. Your own pillow from home can make an enormous difference to sleep quality in an unfamiliar environment, especially in the first week when sleep is already disrupted by withdrawal, stress, and adjustment. NIDA research on treatment effectiveness consistently identifies physical stabilization — including sleep quality — as foundational to early recovery progress.
Something to Look Forward to Reading
Not just any book — something you have genuinely been meaning to read for years and never gotten to. Treatment gives you something rare: unstructured time. Having a book you are genuinely excited about makes those hours feel like a gift rather than a gap.
A List of Things You Want to Say to the People You Love
Not to send right away. Not to hand anyone. Just for yourself. Therapy is going to bring things up that have been buried for a long time. Having a private list of things you want to eventually communicate — apologies, gratitude, things you have never said out loud — gives that material somewhere to go before you are ready to act on any of it. Family therapy at Liberty is part of the residential program for exactly this reason — it creates a structured, supported space to begin working through those conversations when the time is right.
What Happens at Intake if You Bring Something Not on the List
When you arrive, staff will review your belongings. Items on the approved list can be given to you immediately. Items not on the list are held for a leadership review the following day. After review, they will either be returned to you or stored in your locker until discharge — nothing is discarded without your knowledge.
After admission, you can order items as needed. Any packages received must be opened with a staff member present. Approved, non-contraband items will be given to you directly. The process is designed to be fair, not punitive. SAMHSA’s guidelines for residential treatment emphasize that transparent, client-centered intake processes support trust and engagement from day one — and that is the intention behind Liberty’s approach.
What Family Members Can Bring During Visitation
Liberty holds Saturday visitation from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. If you are a family member planning to visit or send something, the same policies apply to anything you bring. Do not bring food or drinks from outside. Do not bring products containing alcohol. Do not bring opened items. If you want to send a care package — a letter, a photograph, a book, an approved comfort item — call admissions first to confirm it can be received.
The most important thing a family member can bring to visitation is presence. Showing up matters more than any package. If you want to understand how Liberty involves families in the recovery process, our family therapy page and our blog post on whether family can visit during residential treatment cover exactly what to expect.
Packing for Different Lengths of Stay
For a 30-day stay, pack for 1 to 2 weeks of clothing. Laundry is handled twice weekly so you will not run out. Keep it simple — one bag is enough. Our blog post on how long residential treatment lasts covers what determines length of stay in more detail.
For a 60-day stay, pack for 2 weeks of clothing maximum. Consider asking a family member to bring a few fresh items during a Saturday visit if your wardrobe needs rotating.
For a 90-day stay, the same principle applies — focus on having enough comfort items, reading material, and personal touches to make the space feel like yours for the duration.
Your Packing Checklist
Print this and check off each item before you leave.
Documents
- Valid photo ID
- Insurance card (medical and pharmacy)
- Medications in original labeled bottles
- Written list of medications and dosages
- Emergency contact list written on paper
- Small amount of cash ($50 to $100)
Clothing
- 7 to 10 days of comfortable, casual clothing
- Pajamas and sleepwear
- Underwear and socks
- Workout clothes
- Walking shoes and sneakers
- Flip flops or shower shoes
- Layers and jacket appropriate for NH weather
Toiletries (new and sealed)
- Shampoo (approved brand)
- Conditioner (approved brand)
- Body wash or soap (approved brand)
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste — alcohol-free (approved brand)
- Mouthwash — alcohol-free only (approved brand)
- Deodorant — stick or roll-on only (approved brand)
- Lotion (approved brand)
- Feminine hygiene products if needed
- Razor (will be stored behind the desk)
Comfort and Personal Items
- Journal — new and blank
- Pens (multiple)
- Books — recovery-focused or general reading
- Photographs of family and friends
- Stamps and envelopes
- Slippers or slip-on shoes for inside
- Pillow or small blanket from home (optional)
- Small comfort object
- Written phone number list
A Note Before You Go
Packing for rehab is the last practical task before one of the most meaningful experiences of your life begins. Getting it right removes one more thing to worry about on a day when you are already carrying a lot.
But here is what matters most: you do not need to arrive with everything perfect. You need to arrive.
The team at Liberty has helped people walk through that door hundreds of times. They have seen every kind of bag and every kind of worry. What they remember — what matters — is that you came.
If you have questions about anything on this list, call or email before you arrive. The admissions team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is no question too small.
Call (855) 689-5685 or email admissions@libertyhealthdetox.com.
Learn more about what to expect in Liberty’s residential drug and alcohol rehab program, explore Liberty’s medical detox program if you are still in the early stages of deciding on a level of care, or read our related post on preparing for residential treatment.
Last Updated: April 2026 — This approved items list is a working document reviewed regularly. Individual exceptions may be made at clinical discretion. If you have a specific need or a question about an item not on this list, call or email our admissions team before arrival.
Call (855) 689-5685 or email admissions@libertyhealthdetox.com.
Liberty Health Services is a Joint Commission accredited residential drug and alcohol rehab located at 29 Ashleigh Drive, Derry, New Hampshire. Serving individuals and families throughout New England.
