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At Serenity Lane, our electronics policy is designed to protect the recovery environment for everyone in the program, while recognizing that devices are a real and essential part of modern daily life. You won't be asked to go dark; you will simply be asked to remain present when it counts.
STAT News published a piece by national recovery advocate Ryan Hampton in 2025 to plainly make the case for phones in treatment: "To enforce a complete digital blackout in treatment for addiction is to prepare individuals for a world that no longer exists." Phones are how people stay connected to family, manage their lives, and increasingly, support their own recovery. Treating them as the enemy doesn't serve anyone.
Before you start packing, it helps to know exactly where things stand. Serenity Lane's policy is straightforward: devices that support your daily life are welcome, and the limits that exist are there to protect the recovery environment – not to make treatment harder. Here's the full picture at a glance.
| Device | Allowed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cell phone | ✅ Yes | Allowed during non-program hours; not permitted in common areas or during group |
| Laptop | ✅ Yes | Allowed during downtime; working is discouraged but not prohibited – not permitted in common areas or during group |
| Tablet/iPad | ✅ Yes | Allowed during non-program hours – not permitted in common areas or during group |
| Kindle/e-reader | ✅ Yes | Allowed |
| Gaming systems | ❌ No | Not permitted |
| Smartwatch | ❌ No | Not permitted |
| E-cigarettes/vapes | ✅ With conditions | Factory-sealed, manufacturer-produced only; no refillable vapes or loose vape juice |
| Cameras/recording devices | ❌ No | Not permitted; protects other clients' privacy |
Personal devices may be used in patient rooms during non-program hours. Use discretion about what you bring; Serenity Lane is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal items.
Phones are permitted throughout your entire residential treatment at Serenity Lane. There is no blackout period. While Serenity Lane has used communication blackouts in the past, that policy has changed; phones are too essential to daily life to be restricted entirely, and we trust clients to use them responsibly.
That said, there are boundaries that exist to protect the therapeutic environment:
Clients who feel their phone is a distraction to their own recovery have the option to voluntarily hand it over to staff for safekeeping. It won't be taken from you, but if you want the option to lock it away, we will support that.
The limits that do exist are not about punishment and isolation; they are about creating the conditions where recovery can actually happen. Group therapy works when people are fully present – not checking a screen between their shares.
Common areas are shared spaces where other clients are processing difficult things, and a ringing phone or a loud video can disrupt that for everyone. Privacy is also a genuine concern. A device capable of taking photos or sending messages could compromise the confidentiality of every client in the building.
The goal is simple – protect the space for everyone in it, and give recovery the attention it deserves during the hours dedicated to it. What you do in your room on your own time is yours.
Don't wait any longer to live the full life you deserve. The team at Serenity Lane can guide you to freedom from addiction.
Being in residential treatment doesn't mean being cut off from the people who matter. Clients may use their own phones or the facility phone to contact family and loved ones during non-program hours, and family members can leave messages at Serenity Lane's main line.
Family involvement goes beyond phone calls, too. Serenity Lane's Family Program provides structured, in-person weekend programming – available every Saturday and Sunday – where family members can participate in education sessions, therapy discussions, and aftercare planning alongside their loved one's treatment team.
Laptops are permitted at Serenity Lane. That said, our honest recommendation is this: If you can take a break from work, take it. Residential treatment is one of the few opportunities to step back from the demands of daily life and focus entirely on your recovery. The time here is limited. The inbox will still be there.
It's also worth knowing that substance use disorders qualify for job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Our admissions team can help you navigate the paperwork if needed.
For clients who do need to stay connected to work or school obligations:
If staying connected to work or school is a significant concern, outpatient levels of care – including our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and Level I Outpatient – may be a better fit for your situation. Our admissions team can help you think through which level of care makes sense.
As for valuables, we encourage you to bring only the personal electronics you feel you'll genuinely need during your stay. While approved devices are always welcome, Serenity Lane isn't able to take responsibility for items that are lost, stolen, or damaged – so if something is hard to replace or holds real sentimental value, it's probably best to leave it somewhere safe at home.
If you're not sure whether something you want to bring is permitted, just call us before you pack. It's much easier to have that conversation before you arrive, and we're always happy to help you sort it out.
Packing for treatment doesn't have to be complicated. Here's a simple reference for electronics specifically – what's welcome at Serenity Lane, and what's better left behind.
| ✅ Bring | ❌ Leave at Home |
|---|---|
| Cell phone | Gaming consoles or handheld gaming devices |
| Laptop (use during downtime only) | Smartwatches or wearables that can receive messages or calls |
| Tablet or iPad | Cameras or recording devices of any kind |
| Kindle or e-reader | Refillable vapes or loose vape juice |
| Chargers for permitted devices | Bluetooth speakers or shared audio equipment |
| Factory-sealed, manufacturer-produced vapes | Anything with photo, video, or recording capability cannot be used in shared spaces |
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