Sober Living

According to ART, Sober Living Homes (SLHs) are houses that provide supportive living conditions for people that just completed drug rehabilitation programs. They can also be called sober living environments, a halfway house and sober homes. Sober homes also accept people who have not completed a rehabilitation program but are in the process of recovering. Going back to environments that are not abuse free can lead to a relapse. This is why these homes help you to get back to your daily life routines and develop healthy habits seeing as it may be difficult. 

Support Process

People who go to SLHs have to handle the costs because the homes are not funded by the state or federal government. They offer a 12 step recovery program, group therapy, drug tests, outdoor excursions and wellness classes. Group therapies are very efficient because it makes people feel like they are not alone. This may sound bad but people tend to feel better when they know they are not the only one going through a particular phase. 

You also create a relapse prevention plan in therapy; there you can highlight the things you know can make you relapse. It could be a friend or an environment, this way, you know who and what to keep at arms length. The residents are not restricted to staying in the SLHs campus and this makes it easier for them to feel comfortable and not suffocated. They have clinical workers, psychiatrists, resident managers, overnight workers, and other staffs trained in addiction. 

They provide supervision 24/7 and give residents the care and support that they need. The overnight workers are there to help residents when they have a craving for drugs/alcohol and their support system is not available. If you want to abstain from abuse then a drug and alcohol free home is best for you. 

Features of SLHs

• Most sober homes are gender specific.
• Provides an alcohol and drug free environment for those who want to abstain from that lifestyle. 
• Residents are strongly encouraged to participate in the 12 step program as there is no formal treatment.
• Sober living homes are affordable.  
• It is voluntary to stay in the house provided you comply with the house rules and regulations. 
• Residents must comply with the house rules which are; paying of rent, maintaining abstinence, doing house chores etc. 
• Residents pay rent and other costs themselves. 
• Sober living homes are like typical family homes in communities. 

Resident Requirements of SLHs

• There will be random drug and alcohol tests. 
• Residents must abstain from alcohol and drugs. 
• They must attend house meetings. 
• Medications must be taken as prescribed and supervised by a house staff to avoid abuse. 
• Sexual relationships between residents are prohibited. 
• Residents who are not working or schooling must be off the campus for a particular time during the day. 
• They must take permission and have approval to be out overnight.
• Performing of house chores and keeping their environments clean is a requirement for residents. 
• There should not be any violence, be it physical or verbal, between residents. 
• Attending group therapy, individual therapy sessions are highly encouraged. 
• Stealing and damaging of house properties or belongings of other individuals is not allowed. 
• Guest fee payments are to be paid on time.
• Residents should actively participate in recovery meetings. 

Payments and Length of Stay  

As written earlier, residents are the ones who cover the costs of rent and they also pay for food. This helps to strike a sense of responsibility in them. SLHs are usually in communities so most residents get jobs in that community.  For those who still live under their parents (school-goers), they can cover the cost. Through this, residents find it easier to go back to their normal lives. It will be just like a day-to-day lifestyle (wake up in the morning, go to work, come back home) with all other things added. 

The length of stay solely depends on what the patient needs and how far he/she has recovered. Some stay for 6 months, some a year and some 90 days. One of the requirements of being allowed to stay in a sober living home is accepting the length of stay you have been given. 

Benefits of Sober Living Homes 

• They improve your chances of getting sober and better. 
• You get to make meaningful relationships that will improve your sobering process. Everyone in a sober living home knows what it is like to be depressed and lost; coming together will ignite the fire to change in you. 
• This experience helps people to make up with their family and friends that they hurt during the time of their abuse. 
• It helps people to rebuild their life skills and obligations that must have been abandoned during their addiction. Obligations like going to work, spending time with and catering for family. Life skills like eating healthy foods and doing what you love the most. 
• Sober living homes serve as an easy transition back to your daily life and routine. 
• They help residents to be independent. 
• They provide a positive space for recovery
• It is also a great program for people who want to return back to their normal lives but are scared of facing people who are associated with their abuse.
• They provide support and guidance. 

Recovering from drug and alcohol abuse can be a very difficult process. Most people feel alone, they go through depression and feel lost. SLHs provide everything that a person will need to go through these tough times with a smile on their face. Commitment is equally important; residents have to be committed to get better. Sober living homes will not only give you the support that you need but also a friendly environment that will inspire you to make positive choices. These positive choices will definitely change your life for the better. 

Sober homes have high success rates and your success depends on how long you stay. The random drug tests will prevent you from relapsing and there are strict house rules so you will have no choice but to stay sober. You can rest assured that sober living is one of the best ways to recover.