Sober Living Recovery Homes Near Me
What is a Sober Living Home?
Sober living homes, sometimes referred to as transitional living arrangements, halfway houses, or recovery residences, can be a step down from formal substance abuse treatment programs. These homes can offer an in-between option for individuals after completing a treatment program and before returning to their homes and lives. This transition can provide continued support while residents learn to apply newly learned tools and skills for becoming self-reliant and remaining drug- or alcohol-free in a community environment.
Sober living homes are alcohol- and drug-free living environments for people who want to be abstinent from substances and maintain their recovery. They are located in most, if not all, states in the U.S.1
Some sober living homes let residents stay as long as they wish, others have limits on how long a person can live there. These homes are also not monitored by state licensing agencies because they do not offer formal treatment. However, they may be part of coalitions or associations that ensure that the programs follow certain guidelines on health, safety, quality, and adherence to a model that emphasizes 12-step group involvement.2
Referrals to a sober living home may come from several different sources. In a study of individuals in a group of sober living homes published by the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 25% of residents were referred by the criminal justice system, 23% by family or friends, 20% by self-referral, and 13% by a residential or inpatient treatment program.2
Research indicates that living in a sober living home increases abstinence. Per another study, individuals who stayed in sober living homes had improved abstinence rates at 6 months compared to baseline, and the abstinence rates at 12-month and 18-month follow-up points were similar to those at the 6-month point.3
Who Lives in Sober Living Homes?
Anyone who feels they need more time to solidify habits and coping mechanisms before they return to everyday life should consider a sober living home. Typically, sober homes do not restrict those who apply to live there and most have completed a drug rehab program prior to moving in. Sober living homes are populated with groups of people who are in recovery and striving to maintain abstinence. They provide a peer-support network of individuals with similar experiences and goals.3
How Much Do Sober Living Home Programs Cost?
Prices may vary depending on location, living arrangements, and program offerings. Typically, the cost is about the same as living in a modest apartment or home and rent can range between $450 and $750 a month.
Specifics of Sober Living Arrangements
Each home may be structured differently, although individuals are typically expected to comply with house rules, remain abstinent from all substances, attend house meetings, and complete chores.3 Many people in sober living homes work to pay their residence fees. Some homes may help residents find a job or have connections to local employers to ease the transition into employment or volunteering.1
Sober living homes may also be tied to local treatment programs. Substance abuse treatment providers may provide oversight in some instances, although this is not always the case.
Some programs may require residents to participate in 12-step programs; others may strongly recommend participation.1 Oxford House is a nonprofit and self-sustaining type of sober living home, and a study found that more than three-quarters of individuals in this type of transitional residence attend 12-step meetings at least once a week.2 Individuals in sober living homes may also attend regular counseling and therapy sessions as well as receive treatment for medical conditions while in residence.1
What is the Difference Between Sober Living and Halfway Houses?
Sober living houses and halfway houses are often used interchangeably as they both provide a substance-free living environment for those suffering from addiction. Differences between the two can stem from funding, length of stay, and requirements to apply to live there. Sober living homes typically do not limit the length of stay and may not require previous attendance to a formal addiction treatment program. Halfway houses on the other hand, typically have a time limit and require residents to either be attending a treatment program to to have recently completed one.
Where Can I Find Sober Living Homes Near Me?
American Addiction Centers offers sober living arrangements nation wide at Resolutions – Recovery Residences. Call us at
Sources
- National Association of Recovery Residences. (2012). A Primer on Recovery Residences: FAQs from the National Association of Recovery Residences.
- Polcin, D. and Henderson, D. (2008). A Clean and Sober Place to Live: Philosophy, Structure, and Purported Therapeutic Factors in Sober Living Houses. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 40(2), 153-159.
- Polcin, D., Korcha, R., Bond, J., and Galloway, G. (2011). What Did We Learn from Our Study on Sober Living Houses and Where Do We Go from Here? Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 42(4), 425-433.
