Drug Rehabs That Allow Vaping and E-Cigarettes

Edited By: Editorial Staff

Last updated on February 28, 2023

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Rehab Centers That Allow Smoking or Vaping E-Cigarettes

Cigarette smoking is one of the leading causes of many preventable health problems, disabilities, and even death in the U.S. In fact, smoking is the underlying cause of 1 in 5 deaths, which means about 480,000 people lose their lives each year due to cigarette smoking. In 2019, approximately 14% of adults smoked, meaning that there were about 34.1 million adults in the U.S. who were cigarette smokers.1

While smoking has declined in the past several years, there are more than 16 million US residents living with a disease related to smoking.1

Similarly, approximately 1 in 5 high school students participate in vaping. Vaping can lead to many health problems due to a high amount of nicotine. Despite this, vaping is becoming increasingly popular in recent years. As such, rehab centers that allow vaping or smoking are becoming sought-after.2

Do Rehab Centers Allow Smoking Cigarettes?

Smoking is a big problem in people with substance use disorders (SUD). While approximately 25% of the general public smokes, this percentage is as high as 85% in people who are in alcohol recovery. In fact, people who are in alcohol recovery are more likely to die from smoking-related conditions than from their SUD.3

You can find many rehabs for smokers in the U.S. In fact, it seems to be more challenging to find a rehab that doesn’t allow smoking. It is estimated that ⅔ of SUD treatment and a ½ of mental health facilities allow smoking on their campuses, although most will only allow it outdoors due to laws and regulations. However, it’s important to check with your preferred facility whether you will be allowed to smoke while in rehab.4

Overall, there are several policies that a rehab facility can implement during treatment to be more friendly toward active smokers or help encourage them to quit. These include:5

Allowing limited smoking on campuses, such as outdoors, in states where this is legal.
Counselors can encourage smokers to quit smoking while they are in rehab.
Improving treatment for tobacco addiction, including FDA-approved medication and counseling, as well as creating individualized treatment programs for people with co-occurring disorders.
Entirely eliminating smoking from campuses, making it free from secondhand smoke exposure.
Staff can be prohibited from smoking together with patients or providing them with cigarettes.

Do Rehab Centers Allow Vaping E-Cigarettes?

Just like cigarettes, vaping isn’t allowed in indoor areas in most states. This includes rehab centers, as well. However, vaping is allowed indoors in the states of Tennessee, Rhode Island, Nevada, and Nebraska. If you live in these states, you might be allowed to vape indoors. In general, regulations about vaping are looser than the ones about smoking. 6

Therefore, your best option is to contact a treatment facility to see if they allow vaping. Facilities have their own policies that might change over time. This is something you should check before you’re admitted into treatment.

Do Rehab Centers Allow Smoking Marijuana?

Some people wonder if there are rehab centers that allow “weed”. No reputable treatment center will allow this. In fact, most rehab centers will also deal with marijuana addiction.7,8

Approximately 30% of marijuana users actually have a marijuana use disorder. This is especially common in people who’ve started using marijuana before they turned 18. Marijuana use disorders are associated with dependence, which means some form of withdrawal will be present when a person isn’t actively using marijuana.7

In general, a person is addicted to marijuana when they cannot stop using it even in cases when this interferes with their everyday life. While the exact number of people with marijuana addiction is challenging to determine, around 9% of users will become dependent on the substance, with these numbers increasing to 17% in people who started using marijuana as teens.7

Therefore, if you’re struggling with the thought of going into rehab without being able to use marijuana, you might want to contact treatment specialists that can offer you proper treatment. There are several rehabs for individuals who smoke marijuana that might be able to help.7

Should I Consider Quitting Smoking or Vaping During Recovery Treatment?

Smoking is a way some patients cope with overwhelming emotions they experience during treatment. However, not many people realize just how addictive nicotine is. About 33% of people who use tobacco become dependent on nicotine. Compared to this, 23% of heroin users and 17% of cocaine users develop dependence. Between 70% and 80% of people who are being treated for SUD also want to stop smoking.9

Smoking helps create social connections between individuals undergoing treatment, as it can help them feel as a part of the group. While this might help recovery, it also increases tobacco dependence, as individuals might feel as if quitting tobacco will harm their relationships with other people.9

In fact, if treatment providers allow patients to go on smoking breaks rather than reinforcing some healthy alternatives such as walking, this is likely to increase the dependence on tobacco.9

Due to these both positive and negative connections tobacco can have with addiction treatment, it’s important to contact a treatment specialist. They will determine whether you should start treatment for tobacco dependence while in treatment for SUD, or if you should be transferred to a smokers’ rehab. Still, it’s important to note that there isn’t an indication at what point of recovery you should also start your treatment for nicotine dependence.9

Health Risks of Smoking in Rehab

There are some indications that smoking can hinder recovery. If a person smokes in rehab, they’ll be more likely to relapse, as they are connecting cigarettes with other substances.9

People who are struggling with SUD, especially alcohol dependence, and who are also smoking are at a very high risk of suffering from many health conditions.10 For example, many smokers who are dependent on drinking alcohol have an increased risk of developing conditions such as heart and lung problems and even several forms of cancer.9,10

As mentioned, smokers are more likely to experience relapse and go back to abusing illicit substances while also smoking, which is why smoking in rehab can be a major obstacle to recovery.9,10

What if I Want to Quit Smoking or Vaping While in Rehab?

It’s possible to quit smoking while undergoing treatment for other substances. People who are in recovery can quit smoking without returning to the substance they used to abuse.3

In fact, smoking usually goes hand in hand with other substances, most notably alcohol. People who smoke in rehab are more likely to feel cravings for alcohol or other substances. Therefore, if struggling individuals quit smoking while in treatment, this can help increase their chances of staying sober.3

People who haven’t smoked for a long period of time claim they feel more in control and have fewer mental health issues such as anxiety and depression than when they smoked.3

So, if you feel like rehab is the right time to quit smoking as well, you should consult with your therapist or specialist who might be able to construct the right treatment plan for you.

Some Questions to Ask the Facility When Getting in Contact

When looking for a rehab for cigarette smokers or for people who vape, there are a few questions you should consider asking to acquire all the necessary information. Of course, you first need to ask them about their smoking policy. It’s important to know that, while the facility doesn’t necessarily have to follow local health recommendations, it has to obey federal and state laws regarding smoking and vaping bans. In general, rehab centers should have a written policy about tobacco use on the premises, so you might also want to ask about it.6,9

You should also consider learning about whether they provide treatment for smokers and, if they do, what type of treatment is available. Ask them about whether they use cessation medications or counseling, and what type of treatment might be the best for you.9

Finally, you should also ask them about available payment options and whether or not they’ll accept your insurance. However, if you don’t have insurance, there are many facilities that accept private payments or offer various other payment methods.11

How to Find Rehab Centers Near Me That Allow Smoking or Vaping E-Cigarettes

If you are searching for rehab centers that allow smoking or vaping, the first thing you can do is call a local substance abuse hotline and ask them for rehab facilities that provide specialty services or that allow smoking on the premises. Another option is to ask your insurance provider and see whether they cover treatment at some of the local rehabs for smokers. This might also be a good moment to check how much the expected costs of your SUD treatment are.12

Another option is to call American Addiction Centers (AAC), a nationally renowned provider of addiction treatment services. You can explore their facility directory and check whether some of their centers across the country meet your needs.

You might be even eligible for treatment at some of the recognized facilities. AAC features:

If, for any reason, you’re not suitable for treatment in some of the AAC facilities, a professional dispatcher will give you a recommendation via phone and direct you to some other rehabs for smokers that might be a better choice for you.

Does Insurance Cover Alcohol and Drug Rehab Treatment?

Most insurance providers will cover SUD treatment. In fact, they are required by law to provide you with the same coverage for your mental health and substance abuse as for medical issues.11

Depending on your treatment plan, you might be eligible for treatment at professional inpatient facilities that care for people struggling with SUD, as well as outpatient programs for people with mild SUD. There are also residential treatment centers for struggling individuals who don’t require hospitalization but would benefit from 24/7 care. Certain programs might even cover sober-living expenses, as well as aftercare programs and medication for ongoing care.

If you are uncertain about whether you are covered for treatment, you can always contact AAC via their hotline or the online form below to verify your insurance and check your payment options. If you choose to call them, you can use this opportunity to check your benefits.