What Is Sober Living?

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 best long-term results. Many of those in the early phase of recovery find it challenging to move from the structured environment of residential rehab directly into independent living. At a sober living home, you can benefit from a house manager who will oversee operations, and you can count on other residents for help as you move toward independent sober living at home. There are many benefits to staying in a sober-living home, including attending 12-step programs, creating structure, accountability, and creating a sober fellowship.

• Many residents will finish chores and other activities, based on their daily schedule.
• Less restrictive houses may allow residents to have their vehicles, cell phones, etc. and allow overnights based on trust and knowledge that the resident is in compliance with all house rules.
• A big part of staying in a sober living home is creating positive friendships that help to reinforce the desire to abstain from drugs and alcohol.
• You’re free to work or go to school while also being held accountable for your recovery.

Neither type of program is the same as a residential inpatient program. Halfway house residents must complete or have active enrollment in rehabilitation. Also, applicants with a criminal record will be denied at many of these homes.

Addictions

This can help you continue your recovery in a supportive environment while living in a substance-free home. At Bridges of Hope, we can help connect you to an appropriate sober living community and our outpatient treatment program, all conveniently located here in Indiana. A sober living home is a stable living space for someone in recovery from drugs or alcohol. This is especially beneficial for anyone whose previous home environment was dysfunctional, as that has been shown to hinder efforts to stay sober.

SLHs tend to be more flexible than Halfway homes for early recovery support. SLHs and Halfway homes may have other differences depending on the programs. The Association for Addiction Professionals represents the professional interests of more than 100,000 addiction-focused health care professionals in the United States, Canada and abroad.

Sober Living Eligibility Requirements

Although “program first” is often the best path to take, it is not a requirement in some homes. Some sober houses, including Vanderburgh House, will accept residents who are new to recovery provided they are willing to stay sober. However, sober house applicants should have already completed any detox program required to cure physical addiction so they are not acutely ill and unable to work while living in the house. Sober living homes may accept residents who are new to the rehab process, but most applicants have gone through a program before applying.

• All of these are key components needed to overcome anxiety, depression and substance use.
• Sober houses are generally gender-specific, although there are a small number of co-ed houses.
• It further provides healthy coping skills and emergency contact numbers in times of high-stress or high-cravings/urges to use.
• Improvements were noted in alcohol and drug use, arrests, psychiatric symptoms and employment.

Most residents of these homes have recently completed an inpatient or outpatient treatment program. For those who decide to spend some time in a substance abuse halfway house, there will be plenty of benefits. Although halfway houses share a lot in common with sober-living homes, there are sober house a few key differences that set them apart. Our mission is to foster long-term sobriety by creating a supportive environment where house members participate in each other’s recovery. We encourage everyone to reinforce positive lifestyle changes through adventure, support, and peer feedback.

Choose Recovery Over Addiction

All residents have daily assigned chores to help them rebuild their life skills and take on responsibility. Also, all residents are expected to either work or be actively seeking employment. Take time out of your daily schedule to seek out jobs that can work with your lifestyle.

• They first came into existence when a group of active participants in the Alcoholics Anonymous group created a “12-step” residence.
• As such, you will need to identify aspects of a great recovery home for the best chance at sobriety.
• SLHs tend to be more flexible than Halfway homes for early recovery support.
• This way you will have a plan of action for what to do during these times and have healthy ways to manage triggers in your daily life.
• Zero-tolerance SLHs will evict residents in violation for any breach of their requirements.
• Addiction is a chronic and relapsing brain disorder with relapse rates of between 40% and 60% similar to the relapse rates of other chronic health conditions.

However, some people may need to go through detox or rehab before they can successfully live in a sober living home. Some chart an up-front fee, others charge a deposit, and some don’t charge anything up front. In Worcester, Massachusetts, our homes range from $140-$180 per week.

It’s important to choose a rehab aftercare program that cares about making sobriety sustainable. Unfortunately, there are a lot of shady tactics in the addiction treatment industry. For a lot of people in recovery, moving into a sober living home after treatment makes the difference between going back to their old habits or continuing on the path of sobriety.

Sober living houses, also known as sober living, sober homes, and sober houses, are sober living environments that have people in recovery from substance use disorders living together. These facilities are normally certified or governed by Sober Living Coalitions or networks and structured around 12 step programs and ideologies. 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 living homes are generally less strict than halfway houses and allow residents more independence in terms of curfew, visitors, and access to technology.