Sober living homes are transitional places where people live after inpatient treatment but before living on their own. The idea is to give people a little more autonomy than they would have in inpatient treatment but still provide some peer support during a tricky time. If you are just leaving inpatient treatment, a sober living home might be worth looking into. They are typically not very expensive, comparable to getting your own apartment. There is some staff, but less than inpatient care. You may also meet new friends there, which can be an asset moving forward. Specific amenities depend on the sober living home. They are typically in quiet areas as opposed to the middle of the city in order to keep stress and temptation to a minimum. The main condition for staying in a sober living home is that you have to stay sober. When you live with other people fresh out of treatment, it’s not practical or courteous to bring drugs into the house or come home intoxicated. They usually give random drug tests to make sure residents are staying sober. There are also typically chores everyone has to do and some other rules to follow. There is typically a curfew and residents are often required to work or look for work. Otherwise, people in sober living homes are responsible for themselves. They have to pay their own rent and buy their own food. They are also expected to follow up on their treatment plans and attend 12-step meetings. As with any part of recovery, how effective a sober living home is depends on how much effort you put in. If you are committed to staying sober, going to meetings, doing your part around the house, and generally sticking with your recovery plan, a sober living house can be a good transitional environment for you. One of the biggest obstacles people face after treatment is not having a stable, safe, sober environment to go home to. A sober living house can solve that problem while you get used to doing daily things like go to work and shop for groceries. People also frequently stumble because of loneliness or boredom. When you are living with other people in recovery, this is less of an issue. There are some possible downsides, though. Sober living homes are especially good for people who have had trouble transitioning to regular living in the past, and there may be some people who relapse while living there. Even if that doesn’t cause you to relapse, it might cause stress or guilt if a new friend overdoses. Also, like any treatment facility, not all sober living homes are reputable. Do as much research as you can before deciding to enter one. If possible, talk to residents or former residents and try to have a good idea of what you’re getting into. Sober living homes aren’t for everyone. If you’re lucky enough to have a supportive family who can provide a stable, sober environment while you get back on your feet, that will probably be the better option. If you’re not sure where you’re going to live, or if you’ve stumbled during the transition before, you might want to consider a sober living home.
If you or a loved one struggles with addiction, we can help. Recovery Ways is a leading addiction treatment provider with an excellent recovery rate. Our expert staff includes masters and PhD level therapists and board certified addiction psychiatrists. Our comfortable facilities will help to make your treatment as enjoyable as possible and our therapists use proven techniques like sensory integration and recreation therapy to help to engage the world without the assistance of drugs or alcohol. Call us today at 1-888-986-7848 or email us through our contact page to learn more.
