Sober Living Homes

Although the need for alcohol and drug treatment among this population is high, very few receive services during or after their incarceration. In California, studies show that few offenders being released from state prisons have adequate housing options and in urban areas such as San Francisco and Los Angeles up to a third become homeless (Petersilia, 2003). Housing instability has contributed to high reincarceration rates in California, with up to two-thirds of parolees are reincarcerated within three years. In a study of women offenders released from jails in New York City 71% indicated that lack of adequate housing was their primary concern. It was noteworthy that a wide variety of individuals in both programs had positive outcomes. There were no significant differences within either program on outcomes among demographic subgroups or different referral sources.

While living in a sober living home, residents have the chance to cohabitate with like-minded individuals all doing their best to hold on to sobriety. The fact that residents in SLHs make improvement over time does not necessarily mean that SLHs will find acceptance in the community. In fact, one of the most frustrating issues for addiction researchers is the extent to which interventions that have been shown to be effective are not implemented in community programs. We suggest that efforts to translate research into treatment have not sufficiently appreciated how interventions are perceived and affected by various stakeholder groups (Polcin, 2006a).

What is New Life House?

The “treatment gap” is over 90% in behavioral health, and this extends to sober living providers. Most people with a SUD have followed their own will, have done as they pleased, and are not used to following rules. 5 Tips to Consider When Choosing a Sober Living House Having accountability and responsibility for your actions are a large part of learning life is less what a person wants to do—and more of what is good for the community and how to live a healthy lifestyle.

Others, such as the Addiction Severity Index, assessed shorter time periods of 30 days or less. The residents of halfway houses are typically court-mandated to live there, and the facilities are therefore run by the state. Sober living homes provide an excellent transitional living situation after recovering addicts complete an inpatient rehab program or while continuing to attend outpatient treatment. These recovery homes help recovering addicts get back into the groove of independent living as they transition from an addiction treatment program back to the real world. It’s also important to note that sober living homes and halfway houses are not the same.

Newsweek Ranks Best Addiction Centers in 20 U.S. States

Residents who participated in a 12-step group while living in a sober home had even better outcomes than their peers in recovery. Studies like this one show that sober living environments provide vital support to individuals seeking stability, encouragement, and motivation. Sober living homes—sometimes called halfway houses—are helpful forms of aftercare, which allow patients to maintain focus on their sobriety around supportive peers following formal treatment. A sober living home allows an individual struggling with addiction to be supported and encouraged throughout their recovery process. A recovery community and peer support is essential for achieving long-term sobriety. The early stages of recovery can be emotionally and physically challenging.

We believe that it takes the personal experience of someone who has recovered from drug abuse to know what it takes to break the cycle of substance abuse and identify with the individual. This personal connection can make all the difference in the world when it comes to learning to live a healthy lifestyle in sobriety. Residents can increase the likelihood of staying sober by committing to the guidelines set out by the sober living home.

What is it Like to Live in a Sober House?

In addition to the accommodations and amenities of a sober living home, residents have access to the resources they need to continue their recovery. These resources may be available through a conveniently located outpatient treatment center, or a residential treatment facility that offers therapeutic services on an outpatient basis. A recovery house is a peer-run, community-based, non-medical, and substance-free residence. Typically there is no paid staff in recovery houses, and all residents within that community support, encourage and motivate each other towards sustaining recovery. The occupants use the knowledge and skills learned during treatment to support each other to maintain sobriety.