The Benefits of a Sober Living House
Sober living house offerings provide people in recovery from substance abuse with a transitional housing arrangement. These sober houses act as an extra layer of support and accountability in recovery.
A sober living house continues to provide structure following inpatient treatment while also allowing for more independence and freedom during early recovery. Through accountability measures and access to sober housing staff, these sober houses keep you away from the usual distractions and temptations of residing at home. In doing so, sober living is a valuable resource for those in recovery from dependence and addiction.
How Can a Sober Living House Help My Recovery?
Unfortunately, it is common that the quicker a person goes home after inpatient treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, the more likely an individual is to relapse and require more time in rehab at a later date.
To combat relapse, a sober living house is a perfect transitional living situation for people who still require assistance following detox and residential inpatient treatment. During lower levels of care, sober living houses provide structure and accountability to help you prevent relapse.
While in partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), and outpatient (OP), you gain more and more freedom while reducing the level of restrictions during treatment. For this reason, pairing sober living with PHP, IOP, and OP can offer you additional support once you finish each day in treatment. With access to a built-in sober support system and recovery resources, sober living provides extra assistance as you gain more and gain independence in recovery.
What to Expect in Sober Living
- Rent and utility costs similar to a private residence
- Full kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, living rooms
- Trained staff members
- Mandatory meeting attendance
- Shared responsibilities for property upkeep
- Technology (computers, TVs, gaming stations)
- Accountability measures
- Recovery resources
A sober living house provides a healthy social environment with varying levels of structure and accountability during recovery from addiction. However, while a sober living house provides the amenities of an independent living space, it is not. Therefore residents must follow the rules and policies of the sober house in order to maintain their residence.
The Benefits of Sober Living
- Minimizes distractions
- Lessens temptations
- Reduces family-related stress
- Maintains focus on recovery
- Teaches and instills life skills
- Create and retain meaningful relationships
- Ongoing staff and peer support
- Upholds structure and accountability measures
- Simplifies transition into lower levels of care
- Reduces the risk of relapse
- Access to resources and connections
- Encourages participation in sober support groups
- Promotes recovery-related discussions
- Prevents premature reintroduction to past triggers
Sober Living House Polices
- No drugs or alcohol are allowed on the premises
Exceptions may be made for certain non-addictive prescription medications
- Pay the agreed-upon rent for living expenses
- Participate in household activities, such as chores and routine meetings
- Attend appropriate therapy sessions per level of care
- Maintain participation in 12-step meetings
- Sleep at the house per the sober living polices
- Participate in drug and alcohol screenings
- Remain accountable when offsite
- Follow the sober house’s curfew
- Abide by any rules pertaining to guests
- Respect other residents and staff
- Completion of inpatient treatment
As a general rule, no drugs or alcohol permitted within a sober living home. Of equal importance, no residents may abuse any substance.
Many sober living homes have policies regarding following the rules and tending to responsibilities, limited visitation, and discouraging intimate relationships between residents.
People who maintain the rules of the sober house and continue to uphold the values that make it a safe place with minimal distractions are welcome to live amongst others in recovery.
However, those disrespect the rules of a sober living house are not permitted to stay. This keeps the sober living house a safe and stable environment for those wanting to maintain their sobriety.
Many day and evening intensive outpatient programs (Day-IOPs, Evening-IOPs) are aligned with sober living facilities which enables a fresh new start including:
- Independent living
- Day or evening employment
- Day or evening IOP
- Aftercare
- Self-help meeting attendance
- Privacy
- A social life
- Another chance
Reach Out
Sober living houses can provide an extra layer of support and accountability in recovery from substance abuse. If you or someone you know is struggling to remain sober or is currently struggling with a substance abuse problem, please reach out to our addiction specialists for guidance and support, at (877)-RECOVERY.
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