Sober Living Homes and Halfway Houses How do they work?

Sober living homes, or at least those that are well managed, can provide the sort of safe living arrangements that lend to recovery. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), substance abuse relapse rates are as high as 40 – 60%. In addition, completion rates for rehab vary across the board and there is no set standard yet for measuring the long term success of these programs. However, there is data to support the idea that alumni programs and ongoing services are tied to reductions in substance use, higher completion rates for rehab, and reduction in ongoing psychiatric symptoms. When you pick your sober living home, you can do research on what kinds of therapists, support groups, and doctors are available near you. Mornings in sober living homes generally start with daily chores like making your bed, cleaning the room, or helping to make breakfast.

Additionally, maintaining your sobriety typically requires a home that is free of substances. Sober living facilities are often thought of as a sober sober house person’s pipeline to life in mainstream society. As we’ve said many times already, there’s no one answer to, “How do sober living homes work?

A Safe Rehab Environment

In the ’40s and ’50s, California began to dismantle its custodial care systems (e.g., local jails and state psychiatric hospitals), creating an even greater need for sober living houses. However, the existing 12-step recovery houses usually refused to accept inebriates. Instead, they required applicants to begin their sobriety before approaching the sober house. Recovery programs filled the gap by initiating abstinence and including detoxification. It offers the opportunity to maintain sobriety (from drugs and/or alcohol) after leaving a more structured residential treatment (rehab) situation. One of the biggest differences between a sober living home and a rehab center is freedom.

• However, it is important to do this step-by-step while helping people safely practice new skills.
• Like every other portion of your recovery, sober living location should be determined by your unique needs.
• In the United States, 60.1% of individuals ages 12 and older use at least one substance (like tobacco, alcohol, or an illicit drug), according to the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
• A second issue is financing the houses, which often includes government funding.

Sober living houses are alcohol and drug-free environments where residents can establish or maintain their sobriety. Through peer support, proven recovery principles, peer empowerment, and individual responsibility, residents can solidify their sobriety and prepare to return home or live independently. To learn more about the residential treatment, intensive outpatient, and sober living programs at Wasatch Recovery Treatment Center, give us a call today. You can also use our easy online booking tool to schedule a virtual or in-person visit at any time.

A Brief History of Sober Housing

Learn more about our addiction treatment programs and transitional living today. Transitional living during early sobriety can increase the likelihood of long-term success in sobriety. Studies have also shown that stable sober living environments can increase longer periods of abstinence, higher rates of employment, and fewer legal issues. Some SLHs offer intensive outpatient services, including on-site medical care.

While this is a step in the right direction, again, for New Life House residents, this model is generally not sufficient. 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. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), between 40 and 60 percent of those undergoing addiction treatment relapse within the first year.

The Benefits of Living in a Sober Home

Halfway houses serve as the halfway point between an institution and independent society, with residents usually coming from either correctional or inpatient treatment facilities. Today, sober houses are “free-standing,” independently owned and operated. They’re not licensed by an official body, nor do they provide licensed professional services onsite.

Unfortunately, relapse is a reality for many individuals even while in sober living homes. Sober living homes are properties owned by third parties, usually separate from treatment centers. They offer housing for newly recovering individuals, as well as curfew enforcement, random drug testing, and in some cases even employment opportunities and referrals. These kinds of rules and guidelines can help keep residents accountable while allowing them the freedom to integrate back into society. Sober homes are an especially beneficial option for those without a strong, sober support system at home.