What Happens If You Leave Rehab Against Medical Advice (AMA)?
Addiction treatment can be difficult, and some people feel tempted to leave rehab before they’ve completed their treatment program. Leaving rehab against medical advice (AMA) can cause many issues for people who are working on the recovery process.
Here, we’ll explore why people in addiction treatment may leave rehab AMA, the potential consequences of leaving rehab before the completion of a treatment program, and how you or a loved one can learn more about getting started with addiction treatment.
Leaving Rehab Against Medical Advice (AMA)
Leaving rehab against medical advice—or leaving rehab AMA—is the technical term for leaving rehab against the recommendations of your treatment providers. You’re allowed to leave rehab at any time, but there can be serious consequences to leaving your rehab facility before your team of providers gives you the go-ahead. People diagnosed with substance use disorder are especially vulnerable to the negative outcomes, including death, that are associated with leaving treatment against medical advice.1
There are many reasons why a person going through rehab may want to leave AMA. For example, the medical detox process can be difficult, and challenging mental and physical symptoms can make people want to leave AMA so they can use and feel better. Some people worry about family, relationships, children, and job responsibilities, and they want to leave rehab to tend to these facets of day-to-day life.
Additional risks can include relapse, mental health issues, overdose, and more.2 If you’re thinking about leaving rehab AMA, talk to your substance use disorder counselor. They’ll be able to work with you to develop a plan to help you stay on track with your treatment.
Can You Leave Rehab Early?
Yes, you can leave rehab early. Rehab is not prison or jail, and people who are seeking addiction treatment at a rehab facility are free to leave if they choose to do so.
While you can technically leave rehab at any time you choose, it’s not recommended. Failing to complete the plan developed by your treatment team can make it harder for you to move forward in your recovery and can increase your risk of consequences such as those listed above.2
Will My Family Be Notified if I Leave Rehab?
If you’re thinking of leaving rehab early, you may be wondering whether your treatment provider will contact your family to let them know that you’ve left treatment against medical advice. Individual state laws determine whether your treatment facility will reach out to your emergency contact to let them know that you’ve left your treatment program.
If you have a friend or family member who is living with addiction, your support can make all the difference when it comes to helping them get treatment. Click here to learn more about the process of getting a loved one into rehab.
Voluntary Departure from Rehab
If you’re curious about leaving rehab, you may be interested in learning about the difference between leaving rehab against medical advice and a voluntary departure from your treatment facility. As previously mentioned, leaving AMA means that your treatment team has determined that it’s not advisable for you to leave. However, if you’re leaving rehab voluntarily, that means that your treatment providers do not have any legitimate health-related reason to advise your stay, but you haven’t completed your treatment program. Neither voluntary departure nor leaving rehab AMA typically leads to lasting recovery.
What Are the Risks of Leaving Rehab AMA?
When you begin inpatient or outpatient rehab, you’ll get the chance to get away from the people, places, and things that trigger your addiction. By leaving rehab AMA, you increase your risk of relapse, as you have yet to develop the relapse prevention skills you’ll need to stay strong against triggers. You may also find that logistical factors—such as arranging time off of work, child care, etc.—need to be revisited if you decide to return to rehab.
Legal Implications of Leaving Rehab AMA
If you’ve been required to attend court-ordered AA meetings or treatment, leaving against medical advice may put you in violation of your court order. This may lead to fines, penalties, or jail time, depending on your agreement with the court. Your rehab facility may be required to notify your parole or probation officer if you choose to leave treatment against medical advice.
Financial Implications of Leaving Rehab AMA
When you leave rehab AMA, you may not receive a refund for the treatment you did not complete. If you’re on a payment plan or are receiving another type of financial assistance, your full balance may be due immediately. Your treatment facility can provide you with additional details about how leaving rehab AMA may affect you financially.
How to Prevent a Loved One From Leaving Rehab AMA
If your loved one is in rehab and is considering leaving treatment, you may feel scared, frustrated, and unsure of what to do next. Your loved one may complain to you about issues they’re having in rehab. They might also say that they need to leave to work, that they’ll come home and attend a different type of treatment, or that they promise they’ll attend meetings after they leave.
Listen to your loved one’s concerns. Talk with them about how proud you are that they’re sticking out their treatment. It can be hard to hear that your loved one is struggling, and you may want to give them the go-ahead to leave treatment. Doing so, however, will likely allow them to quickly return to their addiction.
While it might sound counterintuitive, working on your own boundaries can help increase the likelihood that your loved one completes treatment. Letting them know that you’re going to hold your bottom line can help. Getting support in the form of Al-Anon meetings can give you the strategies and strength that you need to stay strong amid a codependent relationship with your loved one.2
What to Do If a Loved One Leaves Rehab Against Medical Advice
Often, people who leave rehab AMA do not believe their family members will follow through with their bottom lines. If you’ve told a loved one that you’ll no longer be in contact with them if they don’t complete treatment, you must follow through. It takes many people several attempts to get through a full course of rehab. When your loved one sees that you’re serious about your commitment to helping them get sober, they’ll be more likely to return to treatment.
It’s also important to take care of yourself when your loved one is in the throes of active addiction. Disappointment and a sense of grief are normal emotions when your loved one leaves treatment AMA. You may feel that the sense of relief you had when they agreed to go to treatment is gone and that all of your fears have returned. This is normal, and talking with a therapist and attending Al-Anon meetings can help.
How to Help Someone Struggling with Addiction
If your loved one is living with addiction and you’re working to help them begin the recovery process, understanding your treatment options can be a good place to start. Some people begin treatment by completing a medical detox program before they move on to an inpatient or outpatient rehab.3 The most intensive form of treatment is inpatient rehab. During inpatient care, patients live at the facility and are completely removed from the environment where they experienced addiction.3
Outpatient addiction treatment programs (including intensive outpatient addiction treatment programs and partial hospitalization programs) provide different levels of care, all less intense than inpatient treatment. Outpatient programs allow patients to receive therapy and treatment while continuing to live at home.3 This level of treatment is appropriate for those with mild to moderate substance use disorder who have a high level of support at home. Aftercare (including sober living programs) is also an important part of treatment and can help your loved one maintain their sobriety after their formal inpatient or outpatient rehab program ends.3
Start Your Recovery
When you’re dealing with alcohol addiction or drug addiction, learning more about your treatment options is a smart first step toward wellness. Reach out to the team at American Addiction Centers today to talk with an admissions navigator about using health insurance to pay for rehab, what to expect from treatment, and how to get started. Your call is free, confidential, and doesn’t obligate you to move forward with treatment. The AAC team can help you get well—reach out today at .