As a person who’s suffered from substance abuse, receiving in-patient treatment at a rehabilitation center would be your first step towards recovery. As soon as you step outside of such facility, it would be best if you stay in a sober living environment. You cannot simply go back home as it might be bad for you. You’ve come so far during rehab and going back out there in the real world might prompt you to take three steps back. You need a healthy transition, and this is only possible in sober living homes.
The problem is that there are lots of sober living houses for you to choose from. Some claim they’re licensed by the state, some say they provide the best care, while some declare that they’re the most ideal residence for recovering addicts. How do you choose? What do you actually look for in a sober living home?
The first thing you need to understand is that halfway houses and sober living houses may sound the same, but they do have some differences. Halfway houses provide transitional homes not just for recovering addicts but also for people who just got out of prison or homeless shelters. Most halfway houses provide counseling and job training programs in a bid to improve the lives and finances of such individuals.
Sober living homes though, as the name implies, focus only on recovering addicts. These facilities provide a healthy, supportive, and clean residence for people who are trying to recover from substance abuse and help them lead much healthier and sober lives. Residents here have undergone treatment at rehabilitation centers and are seeking support and solace in an environment that’s far more conducive to sobriety than the outside world. Sober living environments are the best place to make that healthy transition. Residents have the option of staying here for at least 3 months but most residents stay for over a year to make that full recovery.
So what are the things you should look for in a sober living home?
- There should be strict enforcement of rules against drugs and alcohol, especially weapons, stealing, smuggling, and violence. The point of staying in a sober living environment is to make that healthy transition and you can’t do so unless rules against abused substances are strictly applied.
- There should be a consistent up-keep of the house. It must be clean and orderly at all times.
- There must be an agreement signed by the manager or owner which clearly indicates any deposit amount, payment schedules, refund policies, and housekeeping rules.
- The house must have received strong recommendations from licensed professionals or licensed facilities that are experts in the field.
- Current and former residents of the house should have very positive feedback about the place and its staff.
- And finally, the house as a whole should genuinely and actively promote recovery and sobriety. A solid support group and recovery foundation must be present as it will help any recovering addict to stay sober and lead a healthy life.
These are just some of the things you should look for in sober living homes. It pays to do your homework as it will help guarantee your sobriety and help you in your path to full recovery.