People who struggle with addiction face a lifelong condition that requires continuous care beyond rehab. It’s not always easy to stay on track with recovery and maintain sobriety.
This is where sober living houses come in. It’s a living situation where people can easily transition to daily life after rehab. In this article, we’ll discuss sober living houses and how they work.
What Is a Sober Living Home?
A sober living home is an environment designed to address a person’s needs after addiction treatment. Since independent living is not always quickly possible after rehab, sober living homes help residents maintain sobriety and rebuild their lives while navigating daily life.
Sober living homes are available for anyone who struggles with substance abuse. It’s recommended for those who have gone through inpatient treatment but think they need additional support to stay sober.
In inpatient treatment, patients receive 24/7 medical support for substance abuse. Those who go through this setup may have gotten used to having round-the-clock support available, and adjusting to the sudden absence of these professionals isn’t always ideal.
The lack of structure can be a significant challenge when transitioning to independent living, so many people in recovery turn to sober living homes to make the process easier.
What To Expect In A Sober Living Home
Here’s what a person can expect in a sober living home after substance abuse treatment:
Structured Environment and Schedules
Sober living homes have a structured environment and follow strict schedules to help minimise idle time. In addiction treatment, less idle time equals less time spent engaging in risky behaviours and giving in to drug and alcohol cravings.
The structured environment means that residents must follow strict house rules so that everyone in the home can commit to sobriety. Whether this is a curfew, chores, or other responsibilities, these rules are imposed so everyone can recover smoothly.
Substance-Free Environment
Those staying in a sober living home must commit to a sober environment, no matter what. This substance-free environment means that everyone must commit to abstaining from substance use. It may also mean that the home must be free of anything that can trigger drug or alcohol use.
A substance-free environment is important since addiction has a high risk of relapse. Even the most minor exposure to drugs or alcohol can trigger cravings. With a substance-free environment, residents can focus on their recovery journey.
Supportive Community
In sober living homes, residents can always expect a supportive community. Everyone in the home is committed to one main goal: achieving long-term recovery. As such, a supportive community is important so people never feel alone in their struggles.
The supportive community can come in the form of people who work in a sober living home. House managers and on-site counsellors can oversee daily operations and offer ongoing support for residents. This helps keep operations running smoothly and provides a sense of stability.
Support can also come from those living in the sober home. Many sober living homes are peer-led, so residents depend on each other for guidance and accountability. The shared experience of overcoming addiction together already creates a supportive community that can reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Stable Living Conditions
Sober living houses provide stable living conditions that are crucial for recovery. People can expect access to a clean, organised, safe space supporting overall well-being. These houses provide the basic necessities that help reduce the likelihood of relapse.
One of the risk factors of addiction is the person’s environment. In many cases, people end up addicted to harmful substances because their environments encourage and normalise substance abuse. Their environments usually lack the support and resources necessary to overcome addiction.
Stable living conditions mean predictable outcomes and reduced chaos. People in early recovery need to live in these kinds of environments because they provide a sense of security and reduce stress, which are highly important for maintaining sobriety.
Professional Oversight
People who live in sober living houses can also expect professional oversight during their stay. Most homes employ staff who guide and help ensure people adhere to rules.
Professional oversight also means that patients have access to counselling and support services. Therapists and other healthcare providers offer additional resources for those slowly trying to transition to independent living after rehab.
The presence of professionals also offers crisis management since they’re trained to handle emergencies or conflicts. As such, residents can expect to live in a safe environment that prioritises their recovery.
What Are the Benefits of Sober Living?
People who seek sober living environments after inpatient rehab can experience the following benefits:
Structured Support
As mentioned earlier, those living in sober living homes must stick to strict schedules that promote sober environments. The support available in these environments helps clients stay committed to sobriety. The structured support from house managers and mentors makes it easier for residents to maintain accountability and develop healthy routines that help them achieve long-term sobriety.
Sense of Community
A sense of community is very important for anyone trying to overcome addiction, as this helps make them feel less lonely. Those living in sober living homes are focused on quitting their harmful behaviours for good, and residents often find community in this shared goal.
Reduced Risk of Relapse
The reduced risk of relapse is one of the main benefits of staying in a sober living home. Living in a substance-free space removes major triggers within the living environment that can lead to relapse.
There’s also peer accountability, where everyone must be committed to working towards the same goal. In addition, a sober living home provides access to resources that support long-term recovery.
Opportunities for Personal Growth
Staying in a sober living home also provides different opportunities for personal growth. For example, the centres operating these homes can connect residents with possible job opportunities when they are ready to re-enter the workforce.
Sober living homes also offer life skills training wherein residents can learn practical skills needed when reintegrating into daily life. These skills may include cooking, budgeting, and time management.
Stronger Independence
Ultimately, living in a sober living home will promote stronger independence for all residents. Taking up responsibilities and following rules are baby steps in achieving long-term recovery. It’s a way to ensure they can care for themselves even without round-the-clock access to healthcare professionals.
What Are The Rules Of Sober Living?
Sober living houses often have strict rules, and following them is important to ensure the well-being of every resident.
Commit to Sobriety
Everyone who lives in a sober living home must commit to sobriety. It’s the main goal of living in this kind of environment. People who enter this living situation aim to achieve long-term recovery, and committing to sobriety shows respect for everyone else’s goal.
Commitment to sobriety also means participating in mandatory drug and alcohol testing. These tests help ensure compliance and create accountability among residents.
No Substances
There is a strict no-substance policy in sober living homes. Any drug, alcohol, or paraphernalia is strictly prohibited so that the place remains free from triggers that can lead to relapse.
Participate in Programmes
In sober living homes, residents are required to actively participate in programmes like group therapy, holistic activities, or other skills development workshops. These programmes are designed to promote overall well-being and make it easier for them to rebuild their lives outside the home. With active participation, residents can stay engaged with their recovery process.
Follow House Rules
When in a sober living house, following house rules is important. These rules may vary per home, but they usually include following strict curfews and completing assigned chores. Violence is also strictly prohibited within the premises, and disputes must be handled properly.
Failure to follow house rules may result in warnings or extra responsibilities. If residents continuously fail to follow these rules, they may even be dismissed from the home.
Be Responsible
Everyone in a sober living home must be responsible for their actions. It’s important to remember that every action can impact other people’s recovery journeys. The shared responsibility is a mutual effort that helps everyone in a sober living house achieve their goals.
How Much Do Sober Living Homes Cost?
A sober living home costs roughly around $500 to $5,000 per month. However, overall costs are influenced by different factors, such as:
- Location: Homes in more affluent areas tend to get more expensive because of the higher living costs. More accessible sober living homes may also cost more than those in more remote areas.
- Amenities: The amenities in a sober living home also affect the overall cost of the stay. For instance, private rooms, on-site gyms, and recreational areas make the overall cost more expensive.
- Type of Facility: Facilities run by professionals are typically more expensive since professionals require salaries and benefits. They also offer a higher level of support and structure at an additional cost.
- Additional Fees: Sometimes, sober living homes require additional fees like move-in fees, guest fees, and deposits. These will vary depending on the home.
Sober-living homes are also typically not covered by insurance, so most people who opt to live in these homes must pay out of pocket.
Who Should Consider A Sober Living Home?
Sober living homes are ideal for many people in recovery looking for a supportive and substance-free environment. Those coming from inpatient rehab are usually encouraged to consider a sober living home. People in the early stages of recovery often face different challenges as they slowly adjust to a life without substances.
A person who wants to be more accountable for their actions can also consider living in a sober home. It can be difficult to stay accountable to sobriety goals, but the house rules and presence of mentors in sober living houses can help residents stay on track.
People who want to achieve long-term recovery but don’t have a stable home environment to return to after rehab may also consider a sober living home. This type of environment provides a less stressful environment while looking for a better, more supportive living situation.
Difference Between Sober Living and a Halfway House
Sober living homes and halfway houses may be similar, but they have a few differences. Halfway houses usually target broader aspects of reintegration into society. They may help people released from prison from incarceration or those with other substance abuse issues. On the other hand, sober living houses are solely focused on helping people stay sober and usually require those who want to be admitted to have finished a primary care programme.
Since halfway houses cater to broader issues, they also provide wider services. Those living in halfway houses can also find support for job training, mental health support, life skills development, and more.
Halfway houses are also usually government-funded, which makes them less expensive than sober living houses. However, they may have stricter rules since they’re associated with the criminal justice system. Some sober living homes can be flexible with their house rules as long as a person is committed to staying sober, but the same cannot be said for halfway houses.
How Long Is the Length of Stay in a Sober Living Home?
Generally, people stay in a sober living house for at least 90 days. This provides residents ample time to receive support for their recovery and develop the life skills to stay committed to sobriety.
Some people may extend or shorten their stay depending on their progress inside the home. If people feel they can’t fully live independently, they can stay longer. Residents can use their extended time in the facility to develop stronger coping skills and build stronger support networks to achieve long-term recovery.
Requirements to Get Into a Sober-Living Home
People who want to live in a sober living home must pass different requirements before they are admitted. First and foremost, everyone must show they are willing to live a sober lifestyle. This means that they must promise to follow the house’s rules and refrain from any substance abuse while living in the sober living house.
Those looking to get into a sober living home must also show that they have spent some time staying sober. A sober living home is not a detox or addiction treatment facility. It’s a place where people who have already completed a period of detoxification or rehabilitation can continue their recovery journey.
As such, prospective residents may be required to submit to drug and alcohol screenings to prove that they’re not using harmful substances. Background checks may also be conducted to assess any potential safety concerns.
Benefits Of Addiction Treatment Before Sober Living
People who haven’t gone through addiction treatment may not be admitted to sober living houses. They may not be stable enough to live in that kind of environment and even lack the skills to be able to live in a shared space.
In addiction treatment, people learn how to manage their cravings, identify and avoid triggers, and develop healthy coping mechanisms. These skills are essential for success in a sober living environment.
Sober living only provides additional assistance to those who are done with treatment. It shouldn’t be treated as a place to look for primary addiction treatment.
Transition to Sober Living with Liberty Home Clinic
Transitioning to sober living can be tough, but Liberty Home Clinic is here to help. At Liberty Home Clinic, we offer comprehensive addiction treatment for those struggling with substance abuse. After treatment, our clients have the option to stay at a sober living home at our Belgian facility. Regardless of your needs, our team is here to create a personalised treatment to help you stay sober and live a more fulfilling life. We’re here to help if you’re ready to take the next step in your path to recovery.
