Structured Support: Sober Living Smoothes Transition to Life in Recovery

Sober living is not addiction treatment in itself, nor is it a long-term housing solution. Rather, sober living offers a supportive interim environment between residential treatment and your future life. If you’ve struggled with a difficult battle against addiction, you may find the compassion and stability you need in a sober living program.

A sober living program may be the best option for you if any of these apply:

• You’ve struggled with relapse in the past. Sober living homes often encourage or mandate attendance at 12-step meetings or other aftercare programs to better your chances at maintaining sobriety. You’re also surrounded by a strong network of peers who will encourage your recovery.
• You’ve had one or more prior stays at residential treatment facilities. Most relapses occur one to three months after treatment. A sober living home minimizes distractions and temptations so you can stay abstinent during this critical time.
• You have co-occurring behavioral, psychiatric, or medical issues that need to be addressed. Addicts with co-incurring psychiatric or behavioral issues are more likely to drop out of treatment early or experience a relapse. Fortunately, sober living homes ensure that residents continue their outpatient treatment and group meetings.
• You face legal, relationship or career consequences due to addiction issues. Residents will have time incorporated into their schedule to seek employment, send applications, and manage legal affairs. Homes are a welcoming environment if you have no family to turn to, and can accommodate those who have court-ordered living requirements to fill.

Sober living environments are not as supervised as treatment facilities, but they do offer a great deal of structure and support. An important element of many sober living programs is strict adherence to the home’s rules and regulations.

Residents have the freedom to come and go at their leisure—to an extent. Most homes enforce curfews and mandate participation in group meetings and outpatient programs. The requirement to be home at a certain time helps residents establish a schedule that revolves around making progress in their recovery. Maintaining a consistent routine promotes healthy sleep cycles and eating habits, and the early curfew prevents temptation at late-night events.

Care and maintenance of the house are also often part of the arrangement. Cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry and yard work gives residents a feeling of responsibility and prepares them for future life on their own.

Addicts often find themselves in uncomfortable solitary situations after leaving a treatment facility, especially if their former friends do not enhance their recovery. Unfortunately, social isolation and boredom can lead an addict in recovery to relapse, so it’s important for you to stay connected to a stable, supportive community. Sober living homes offer individuals a gradual transition back into daily life in the company of like-minded peers. Most sober living facilities have an active social element; there are group dinners and events, and it’s not uncommon for people to exit the facility with a number of lifelong friends.

Most sober living facilities recommend a stay of 90 days. This is not an arbitrary length of time; rather, research clearly indicates that those who undergo aftercare programs for 90 days or more have more success at long-term recovery than those who do not. The first 30 to 90 days after initial treatment are the most important for preventing relapse, since the majority of relapses occur within this time frame. Spending time in a sober living facility betters your chances at avoiding relapse and maintaining long-term sobriety.