What to Expect at Addiction Treatment

Getting to Laguna Treatment Hospital

Laguna Treatment Hospital is conveniently located just 20 minutes from John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County.* Other nearby airports include:

  • Los Angeles International (LAX).
  • San Diego International (SAN).

Your time at Laguna begins the moment you land. One of our caring case managers will pick you up at baggage claim and drive you to our facility in Aliso Viejo, answering your questions and preparing you for the admissions process along the way.

Local Southern California patients receive the same level of hands-on care. We will pick you up directly from your door and transport you to the facility where you’ll begin the admissions process for detox and inpatient treatment to start your rehabilitation.

*Travel arranged to and from the facility are your responsibility. We do not book flights at the facility.


Your First 24 Hours in Rehab

The admissions process at Laguna Treatment Hospital is peaceful and easy. The admissions process includes an evaluation by a provider who will:

  • Screen for any alcohol or drugs in your system.
  • Take your vitals to determine if you have any immediate health issues that must be addressed.

All patients are evaluated by a provider within 24 hours of arrival at addiction treatment.

Patients experiencing acute withdrawal will be seen immediately by our nursing staff, who will assess their condition and administer any necessary medications. Should you need medical detox, that will be your first step in your treatment.

Once patients are stable, they are taken to the residential floor and shown to their room. Your first day at rehab will include plenty of time to tour the facility, meet your medical team, and rest.

What to Pack for Rehab

The length of patient stay at Laguna Treatment Hospital is variable and may depend on insurance coverage, medical necessity, the individual patient’s progression in treatment, and other factors. Limit belongings to enough clothing for one week (2-bag limit).

Due to limited storage capacity, clothing in excess of one week will be stored by facility staff, but there are washers and dryers at the facility available for use.

Patients may bring one swimsuit, so they can enjoy our on-site pool. Note that women must wear full one-piece swimwear, as two-pieces and bikinis (or thong-style one piece suits) are not allowed.

Patients also need to bring their own toiletries. All shampoos, conditioners, lotions, body washes must be sealed new and unopened.

We allow cigarettes, as long as they are unopened when brought to the facility. We allow outside vapes if they are sealed and disposable. However, vape juice may not be brought to the facility, even if it is unopened. Vape juice is available for purchase 3 days per week (M,W,F) at Laguna. Outdoor smoking patios and non-smoking patios are accessible on each of the two floors. Patios are locked after 11 p.m. and reopen at 7 a.m.

Upon admission, patients will be required to temporarily check in phones and electronics for the first 5 days of treatment. See our cell phone and electronics policy for more information about rules and restrictions.

What NOT to Pack for Rehab

Drug paraphernalia, contraband, alcohol of any kind (or toiletries containing alcohol), and weapons (including pocket knives) are strictly prohibited.

All patients will be searched as part of the admissions process, and residential rooms are searched regularly. The grounds at Laguna are monitored by our resident drug-sniffing K-9, Logan. 

No outside food or beverage items are permitted into facilities. All meals are provided at the facility. Healthy snacks are also provided throughout the day.

For your safety, please do NOT bring your own vape, as we don’t know what substances might be in the vape and it may impact your addiction treatment course.

Please do not bring any large electronics such as TVs. There are 2 large screen televisions on each floor for you to watch television as well as available games on the patios.

Also, Laguna’s hotel-style rooms are fully furnished and supplied with blankets and linens, so please don’t bring your own bedding from home. Please also avoid bringing any pillows or stuffed items to the facility.

Please do not bring any two-piece bathing suits or one-piece suits with a thong-style bottom.

A Typical Day in Treatment

Not every day in treatment will be the same; however, you can expect regular structure as you go through the rehab program.

Here is an example of a typical schedule:*

  • 7 am: Breakfast
  • 8:30 am: Town hall patient meeting
  • 9:00 am: Recovery group meetings, with 10-minute breaks once per hour
  • Noon: Lunch, medications, and vital signs taken at the nurse’s station
  • 1:30 pm: Individual therapy sessions, specialty groups, and physical activity, with 10-minute breaks once per hour
  • 5:00 pm: Dinner, medications, and vital signs
  • 6:30 pm: Personal time
  • 7:00 pm: 12-step meetings
  • 9:00 pm: Reflection on the day and go over next day’s assignments
  • 11:00 pm: Lights out

*Note: This is just a sample schedule. Daily programming is subject to change.

Was this page helpful?
Thank you for your feedback.

American Addiction Centers (AAC) is committed to delivering original, truthful, accurate, unbiased, and medically current information. We strive to create content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand.

Read our full editorial policy

While we are unable to respond to your feedback directly, we'll use this information to improve our online help.

(0/100)