Returning to daily life after completing intensive addiction treatment can be a challenging prospect and may be difficult to accomplish successfully without support. It is well known that going back to an environment filled with the same addictive triggers is a recipe for failure. Sober homes can help eliminate relapse triggers that may cause cravings or temptation.

• The idea is to provide a safe and supportive environment where individuals can live while working on their recovery goals.
• They’re not licensed by an official body, nor do they provide licensed professional services onsite.
• For some those offenders who are motivated for abstinence and capable of handling some degree of autonomy SLHs might be a viable and effective option for recovery that is currently underutilized.
• To help limit social isolation and reduce costs residents share bedrooms.

A sober living house is a great place for clients to begin their sober recovery process after they get out of rehab. For those seeking housing after treatment, the NIDA recommends at least 90 days of residence in a sober living home for the best outcome. A study published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs found that participants who lived in a sober community after competing residential treatment or outpatient treatment achieved the https://curiousmindmagazine.com/selecting-the-most-suitable-sober-house-for-addiction-recovery/ best long-term results. Managers of sober living homes are aware of the financial struggles that individuals with addiction often face. As a result, many of these managers offer flexible pricing options, such as sliding scale rates, and help residents secure employment in order to pay for their stay on a deferred basis. This helps to make sober living more accessible to those who may not have the financial means to afford it upfront.

Making the Most of a Sober Living Home

Some measures assessed the entire 6 months between data collection time points. Others, such as the Addiction Severity Index, assessed shorter time periods of 30 days or less. This support system allows residents to avoid the isolation that can sometimes come with returning home while in recovery. It further provides an environment to support recovery from substance abuse and addiction for those who are emerging from rehab. Sober living homes provide a combination of freedom and structure to help the person begin to adjust to life outside of rehab.

They are not allowed to come and go as they please and, depending on the facility, are limited when it comes to technology use and visitation. At a halfway house, it is largely treated as any other home setting would. The person has a job, can come and go as they please, and lives a relatively normal life, with certain exceptions.

Benefits of Sober Living Homes

After World War II, groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) began to develop across the country. These organizations created 12-step houses that offered an alcohol or drug-free living space while also encouraging attendance at AA meetings. These measures were taken from Gerstein et al. (1994) and labeled Peak Density and 6-month abstinence.

• The intensity declines as an individual comes closer to early recovery.
• As long as you are actively pursuing your recovery in some way, abiding by community rules, and paying all dues, you should be free to remain in a sober living community for as long as necessary.
• If you are ready to make a change, check out some of our testimonials or contact Design for Recovery today.
• In a sober living program, you’ll live in a supervised home with a group of others who are also on the road to recovery.
• While this seems like a disadvantage, paying rent can help a resident continue responsible financial habits.

Residents are encouraged to provide mutual support and encouragement for recovery with fellow peers in the house. Those who have been in the house the longest and who have more time in recovery are especially encouraged to provide support to new residents. This type of “giving back” is consistent with a principle of recovery in 12-step groups.

Similarities Between Sober Living and Halfway Houses

We also include a discussion of our plans to study the community context of SLHs, which will depict how stakeholder influences support and hinder their operations and potential for expansion. Some houses have a “residents’ council,” which functions as a type of government for the house. Some facilities require a minimum number of days of sobriety from substance abuse, but many will work with you to determine if you’re a good fit. You should move into a sober living home after a stay at an inpatient facility if you have any concerns about staying sober on your own. While you may want to live on your own right away, you might not be ready to manage total freedom at first. Sober living offers a balance between living in the real world and receiving some structure and monitoring.

To that end, many sober living home residents are enrolled in outpatient programs where they receive counseling, medication monitoring, and other services. They tend to be somewhat inflexible in terms of the recovery model, often forcing residents to comply with their specific program rather than operating democratically. However, the biggest disadvantage of halfway houses is that they often stipulate a limit on how long residents can stay. As a result, many people who go to halfway houses find that they are forced to leave long before they are ready. Sober Living houses have rules designed to keep residents on-track to sobriety.

So, how do sober living homes work, anyway? What even are they?

More restrictive houses may not allow residents to have cars, cellphones or overnights away, until a specific period of time has passed. They may require the resident to attend school, be employed, or actively looking for employment. These houses may also require sign-in/sign-out and a specific number of meeting requirements per week. In addition, more structured sober homes employ 24 hour staff to provide oversight.

Sober houses are meant to bridge the gap between addiction treatment and returning back home. The structure and support that are provided by sober housing help people who are new to recovery keep sobriety as their top priority. Sober houses are homes for those in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction.

While getting sober may require a simple detox or rehab program, living sober requires constant commitment and care. For many, returning home after treatment jeopardizes that ability to truly live sober. If a person’s home life is filled with stresses or pressures (such as old haunts or taxing relationships) it can significantly increase their risk of relapse. It is important to understand that these facilities are much more than a place for sober people to sleep. Addiction experts recommend that anyone in a sober living work actively to address their addiction issues.