What to Expect During Addiction Treatment Intake

Visiting a treatment center to recover from a substance use disorder can be both an exciting and daunting experience. Our goal is to help you feel at ease and as comfortable as possible the moment you get here so you can embark on a healthy, successful recovery.

Getting to Desert Hope

Desert Hope Treatment Center
2465 East Twain Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89121

Desert Hope is located roughly 4 miles away from Harry Reid International Airport. When leaving the airport:

• Head northwest on East Russell Road toward Landing Strip Avenue.
• Make a right onto Spencer Street.
• After one-quarter mile, turn right onto East Hacienda Avenue.
• Turn left onto McLeod Drive after one mile.
• Stay on McLeod Drive for 2 miles, then turn left onto East Twain Avenue and drive one-quarter mile.
• Desert Hope Treatment Center is located on the right.

Our treatment facility is safely tucked inside a gated community for your protection and privacy. When you arrive at the gate, use the telephone at the entry to let us know you’ve arrived so we can open the gate for you.

Your First 24 Hours in Rehab

When you first arrive at Desert Hope, you will be welcomed by our administrative staff, who will notify our treatment team of your arrival.

Next, you will undergo a medical and psychiatric evaluation so we work with you to create a customized care plan that takes your unique situation and goals into consideration.* You may also be asked to undergo a drug screening so we can assess your immediate medical care and detox needs.

Following the intake process, you will be shown to your room and given a tour of the facility. For the first 24 hours, you will be included in a routine safety check and your vitals will be closely monitored by our medical team. It is possible that you’ll begin therapy sessions during your first day, though this will be based on your current medical condition.

* In some instances, the psychiatric evaluation may take place on your second day at Desert Hope.

Please note that at this time, additional COVID protocols are also taken for new admitting patients.

What to Pack for Addiction Rehab

We want you to feel as comfortable as possible during your recovery. We encourage bringing:

• Weather-appropriate clothes, including sweaters and pullovers to wear in cooler temperatures. NOTE: While it gets very hot in Las Vegas during the summer months, you will also be spending a considerable amount of time indoors in air conditioning during your personalized treatment sessions. Don’t overpack. We will have laundry facilities on-site and provide powdered laundry detergent.
• Books. We encourage you to bring reading material that is not harmful to your recovery efforts.
• Any prescription medications you are taking for other medical and health conditions. Please make sure your medications are in their original prescription bottles so we can properly screen them at the time of your intake.

You may bring cell phones and laptops. At the beginning of your stay when you are acclimating to your new environment, we will ask that you store your cell phone in a safe, locked area during detox or for the first 72 hours of residential treatment to minimize outside distractions. Use of cell phones may also be restricted by staff at other times, as per our cell phone and electronics policy.

Please note that we discourage bringing items of great value since we are not responsible for items that are lost or stolen during your stay. You will have access to a locked drawer in your room where you can store your personal belongings. We also have lock boxes accessible only by staff members for you to store items of high value, such as jewelry.

Please remember to bring your driver’s license or ID and your insurance card.

You may also bring:

• Drinks in plastic bottles with lids (unopened)
• Pre-packaged snacks
• Toiletries
• Cigarette packs or cartons (unopened).
• Vapes (must be brand new unopened).

You may smoke or vape during non-programming hours. You can also purchase cigarettes and vapes from the on-campus store or receive them (unopened) in the mail.

What NOT to Pack for Addiction Rehab

On the day you begin inpatient or residential treatment, our staff members will look over your belongings to make sure they are safe and appropriate to bring into the treatment center. Please do not bring:

• Energy drinks
• Drinks in aluminum cans
• Drugs and alcohol
• Weapons (we do not house firearms for patients)
• Vapes that are not brand new
• Inappropriate clothing
• Homemade or fast food
• CBD or marijuana products

If you are not sure what you can bring to our facility, please contact us before your arrival so we can confirm whether or not the item is allowed on the premises.

A Typical Day in Rehab at Desert Hope

The exact structure of a day in addiction treatment will vary depending on your level of rehab care. In medical detox, you will be monitored by our treatment team, who will intervene as needed for your safety and strive to alleviate your withdrawal symptoms.

For those in our residential program, PHP, or IOP, the days revolve around therapy sessions. PHPs offer a minimum of 6 hours of therapy per day (at least 5 days per week), while IOPs offer a minimum of 3 hours of therapy per day (at least three days per week).

We offer a range of different rehab therapies including:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy.
• Dialectical behavior therapy.
• Family therapy.*
• Individual and group counseling.

You may also participate in drug education classes and 12-step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.

You’ll receive 3 full meals per day, prepared by our on-site 4-star chef. These balanced and delicious meals will help you address nutritional deficits that commonly arise as a result of continued substance abuse and neglect of physical health. Our cafeteria is open during mealtimes and can accommodate those with special dietary needs.

*Family therapy is currently virtual due to COVID precautions. 

Rehab Curriculum at Desert Hope Treatment Center

In addition to our full schedule of individual and group therapy sessions, we use an interactive curriculum called Embracing Change: Recovery for Life. Patients can work on this curriculum on their own time at their own pace, as well as during group classes led by therapists.

Embracing Change: Recovery for Life is a series of workbooks that focus on substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders. Patients learn how to identify and overcome common triggers that lead to relapse, while also gaining the skills needed to manage and respond to stressful and uncomfortable situations. The workbooks included as part of this curriculum feature self-reflection exercises, therapy practices, and journaling assignments as well as information about recovery, aftercare, and the 12 steps.