In an article in the journal Addiction, researchers suggest that a relapse to drug use is simply part and parcel of the healing process. People who have intensive struggles with drugs and alcohol just have a lot to learn and a lot to change as they recover, and sometimes, they might stray from the path of sobriety. These experts suggest that binary thinking about the concept of relapse isn’t really helpful, as most people with addictions tend to make slow, steady, incremental improvements over a long period of time before they’re capable of keeping their cravings under strict control.

If this concept holds true, it means that addictions can’t always be completely cured with a stint in treatment. Instead, it suggests that people with addictions have a long journey ahead of them before they learn how to live a life that’s truly sober, with no relapse on the horizon. A sober living home may provide the right environment that can support a person on this kind of healing journey.

Structured Support

Addicted people who aren’t enrolled in residential programs need a place to sleep, eat, get dressed and relax. They need a roof, a kitchen, a closet and furniture. They need a home, in other words, but the homes they have at the moment might not be safe places for them to live as they continue to work on healing.

Their Homes Might Contain

  • Alcohol, drugs, cold medications, cleaning supplies and other intoxicating substances
  • Family members or roommates who use
  • Mementos from drug-using days
  • Memories of the pleasure drugs once delivered

Living in a home like this is just hard, as the person is surrounded by hundreds of tiny little barbs that put recovery in jeopardy. In addition, the environment is just familiar. It’s the place the person has always lived, filled with the things the person has always had. It’s hard to change life when the old life still seems so present.

A sober living home provides many of the amenities a person might have in his or her home. Furniture, appliances, bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms and food are all part of the package in a sober home. But there are some important differences, as a sober home is specifically designed to support the recovery process. As a result, absolutely no intoxicating substances are allowed, and everyone who lives in the home agrees to be clean and sober at all times. It’s a place that’s both sober and safe.

Since the home is designed to assist with recovery, people who live here are also provided with important lessons about building a healthy life that’s free of intoxication. During their time in a home like this, they learn how to juggle the demands of work and home, and they learn how a routine can give structure and value to each day. A typical client stays in the home for about five months, according to a study in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, and the time spent can be transformative.

Helpful Peers

Sober living homes aren’t designed to be solitary affairs. In fact, the designers of facilities like this suggest that real healing can only take hold when other people are directly involved in the process. That’s why sober homes tend to use a communal format. People may have their own bedrooms, but they may share kitchens and general spaces. Residents are also expected to discuss issues openly in mandatory meetings, and residents are expected to support one another and coach one another, propping one another up as they heal.

This communal living can sound strange, particularly to people who have been living in intense isolation due to their addiction concerns, but leaning on others and learning from peers really can make a huge difference in the recovery process. For example, in a study in the journal Substance Use and Misuse, researchers found that women with addictions tended to have strong responses to life’s stresses, and they tended to have few peers they could talk to and work with. When they were stressed, they medicated with drugs instead of getting help from friends. It’s common, and it can be a hard habit to break.

A sober home can help, as people who live there are surrounded by people who understand. There’s no need to make appointments to see friends, and there’s no reason to call and leave desperate messages, in the hopes that someone would answer. In a sober home, people have peers right down the hall. They may learn how to trust, and as their lives improve, they may learn how to make healthier connections. Isolation may fade, and a sober home may be part of that change.

Some people make such tight connections during their stint in a sober home that they stay in touch when the parties return to their own homes. Their roommates and friends become part of an extended family, and the ties they form in treatment make the rest of life a little easier to bear. But even if the group doesn’t form a persistent bond like this, just having helpful peers available during treatment could be the key that leads to healing. Friendships may not form, but the help might be just as valid.

Continued Learning

While informal chats between peers might be vital for some people in recovery, the real learning and growth that can lead to sobriety sometimes requires a bit of formal structure. Sober homes address this by focusing on a 12-Step model of recovery. Clients are expected to attend meetings on a regular basis, and the terms used in Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous might infuse the conversations people have in a sober home. When times are tough, residents might be told to call sponsors or go to a meeting, and when things improve, clients might be asked to share their work in a separate meeting. These little tips can be vital, as the 12-Step model has been proven effective in the fight against addiction.

In a study of the issue, in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, researchers found that going to meetings at least weekly was associated with abstinence. Attending meetings even more frequently brought about even bigger returns. By mandating involvement in these meetings, sober homes might be providing residents with the tools they’ll need to build a lasting sobriety.

Rebuilding a Life

While talking with understanding peers and getting help when needed is a vital part of the recovery process, people also need to address the damage an addiction has caused before they can consider themselves healed.

Often, that means dealing with parts of life that have little to nothing to do with addiction, such as:

  • Employment
  • Budgeting
  • Parenting
  • Physical fitness
  • Healthy eating

People who can handle these sorts of activities are generally considered in control, and according to a study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, those who have high self-efficacy scores tend to stay sober, while those who don’t tend to relapse. As long as people think they can handle the challenges that life throws in their direction, they tend to avoid the temptation to use, as doing so might put their happy life in jeopardy.

Sober homes can help people to make good habits. Rules in these homes tend to require clients to get jobs, pay bills and connect with community resources. Some homes even require residents to take community courses that can help them to develop a fitness program, a healthful diet and a sound financial plan. In the beginning, the rules enforce participation. But by the time the program is through, people may find that they’re pulling their lives together voluntarily, and that they’re ready to live independently without running the risk of relapse.

Efficacy Rates

It’s hard to measure the success or failure of programs like this, as most studies tend to focus exclusively on issues of sobriety. A person who has just one drink and then never drinks again might still be a failure in this model, meaning that studies might not show the true efficacy of participation. Even so, the studies that have been done do seem to suggest that sober homes have the remarkable ability to help people to change their lives.

In one such study, in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, researchers found that sober homes were able to promote abstinence, and that people who participated tended to be sober at the 18-month follow-up point. This seems to suggest that people who enroll in these homes do tend to learn and grow, and the lessons of these homes tend to persist over a long period of time. It’s just the sort of help someone with an addiction might need.

If you’d like to find out more about sober living homes, or you need a little more information about how different addiction treatment programs work, please call us at Black Bear Lodge. Our admissions coordinators would be happy to help.

How Long Should I Stay in Sober Living?

Sober living homes offer a safe and comfortable solution for people who have completed their addiction treatment. These homes usually host a number of like-minded people who share the goal of staying sober and continuing their wellness plans. They are a great asset to those who worry that a direct return to their old environment may lead to relapse, as sober living homes offer more support, structure, and accountability than typical home environments.1

People may choose sober living homes if they:

  • Do not feel comfortable living independently in sobriety
  • Do not have a supportive home to go to right away
  • Would like more therapeutic support and guidance
  • Would like more time to find a home, a job, and therapeutic support

Sober living rarely comes with clear instructions. Therefore, many people are unsure how long they should stay in a sober living environment before moving out into the community. What is right for you?

“Before I got sober, I had a job, 401K and insurance — everything that looked good on paper,” writes Stephanie A. at Heroes in Recovery, “but I did not know how to live in reality. Sober living taught me how to live in the real world sober. I went to meetings, I got a sponsor, and I worked the steps. I had people that supported me. I learned how to build relationships with other people but also learned about myself.”

Personalized Recovery

Like every part of your recovery, the length of time you spend in a sober living home should be determined based on your unique needs. Some people will not enroll in a sober living home at all while others will spend a year or more in a sober environment before moving out on their own.

Your choice should be made based on whether or not you:

  • Have a home to move into that is safe and supportive of your recovery (e.g., all other people living in the home are clean and sober or will agree not to bring substances into the home)
  • Have employment that will cover the cost of rent, utilities, a car payment, gas, insurance, groceries, etc.
  • Feel like you will be able to avoid relapse when you are without round-the-clock support
  • Have all your treatment needs in place within the community (e.g., regular 12-Step meetings, a trusted counselor, etc.)

If you have all of those things, and you feel comfortable and ready to take on your new life in recovery, then you are ready to leave sober living. If any of these things is not in place, it may be a better choice for you to stay until you have everything you need to thrive in recovery.

Transitioning Out of Sober Living

There are a number of ways you can make your time in sober living more beneficial. By taking these steps, you will help yourself move back into a successful new life sooner.

These include:

  • Establish your treatment schedule: If you choose sober living near where you will live in the future, you can find a therapist, find the most comfortable support groups, and meet and start seeing the doctors you need to see for your best health.
  • Establish well-rounded treatments: If you enjoy yoga, find a yoga class near you and attend regularly. If you need to find an acupuncturist or a masseuse to help you lower stress and thrive in recovery, do this before you leave sober living.
  • Make positive lifestyle choices: Get into the habit of getting good sleep, eating well, and exercising so you can maintain an even keel when you move out on your own.
  • Find a job, or find a better job: Take the time to interview for positions and get comfortable in a new job that suits your new life. Finding stable income will help take the stress off your move.
  • Find the right place to live: A safe, budget-friendly living arrangement that does not risk your recovery isn’t always easy to find. Make sure you have the right place before you get ready to move out.

There is no set time to stay in sober living, but once you feel confident and have the support of your friends and treatment team, you will know when the time is right. The most important thing in recovery is to take progressive steps at your own pace as you feel ready. Get the guidance you need to make positive choices in treatment when you contact Black Bear Lodge today.

FAQ About Sober Living Homes

Once you’ve done the hard work of detox and inpatient care, it’s time to take the next step in your recovery journey. This next step may involve sober living. Continuing your recovery at a sober living home is a great way to give yourself even more support and strength. So what is a sober living home, and is it right for you? Take a look at some frequently asked questions about this potentially helpful resource.

If you have completed your inpatient or outpatient treatment, sober living may be the right choice for you. Sober living offers accountability, structure and support. The Journal of Psychoactive Drugs shares a study that “found that social support was associated with drinking outcome. Clients who had social networks with a higher number of abstainers and recovering alcoholics had better outcome 3 years after treatment completion…A critically important aspect of one’s social network is their living environment.”2 When your environment supports your recovery, you have a much better chance of staying sober.

No matter where you live or where you’d like to live, you can find sober living resources. For example AZ Family shares that there are at least 10,000 sober living homes in Arizona alone.3 Not all facilities are licensed or offer the specific support you need. However the number of homes available means you can work with your primary treatment team and get connected to the right one for you.

Sober living homes sometimes require an assessment before entry. They may ask for medical records to make sure you are healthy and ready for sober living. They may require that you first complete an inpatient or outpatient program or that you are currently enrolled in formal treatment. Most give drug screens before entry and during your stay. All of these questions and tests are for your health and safety. Sober living homes that do not require these may not offer the best support for your continued recovery.

Sober living homes typically offer housing with very reasonable rent. This varies depending on location and services included, so look into pricing and determine what amenities you want and what you can afford. Unfortunately your insurance isn’t likely to cover sober living. However if the home is licensed or offers professional recovery resources, it is worth checking to make sure.

How long you stay depends on your individual recovery needs and the specific house rules. Some sober living homes limit how long you can live there. Others do not. Don’t rush any aspect of treatment. Find a sober living home that will let you stay as long as you want and need.

As with all aspects of sober living, rules vary from house to house. However all should require random drug screenings and continued participation in support group meetings or individual therapy. A sober living home should have a zero-tolerance policy–but a zero-tolerance policy that comes with encouragement and support for returning to treatment if a relapse should happen. Some homes may also have curfews or ask residents to participate in certain household chores.

Sober living homes encourage you to find a job. They may work with local businesses or have access to community resources that will help you get back on your feet. Most allow you to have a car if you have a valid license. If they do not, or if you do not have a license, your sober living home may be located near public transportation. You may also be able to carpool with other residents.

Each home has a different visitor policy, but most allow visitors at some point during the day. Homes may have specific visiting hours, limit the number of visitors or limit the number of visits. You will have opportunities to form friendships with fellow residents and to be an active part of the larger recovery community. As you were in treatment, you’ll be encouraged to keep healthy, meaningful relationships and build new ones with friends who support your recovery.

If you have questions about how sober living homes can support your long-term recovery, give us a call. We can connect you to the treatment resources you, as an individual, need to find and maintain your sober life.

Sources

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