Are Sober Living Houses Right for You?

Sober living facilities, sober living homes, recovery houses, and halfway houses are facilities that offer support to individuals recovering from substance use disorder (SUD).

While they are all set up in different ways, generally speaking, these places give individuals who have completed rehab or prison sentences a place to stay that’s free from drugs and alcohol. Unlike a residential rehab facility, residents are usually free to leave at any time and are allowed or encouraged to find employment.

Some facilities also offer continuing treatment, including drug replacement therapy and psychotherapy. Depending on the facility, residents may pay a nominal fee or stay for free provided they actively look for work.

The facilities have seen a resurgence in recent decades, thanks in large part to the worsening opioid epidemic. There is also a growing recognition of the value of such places for aiding trigger avoidance during recovery, given that most rehab programs are not long enough to see the patient through to a full recovery. Some studies also show significant positive outcomes for residents of these homes, further increasing the demand for them.

If you live in North Texas, Dallas Drug Treatment Centers can help you find sober living homes in your area that meet your specific needs.

Should everyone go to a sober living home after rehab?

Because different patients may get radically dissimilar results when following the same program, addiction treatment recommendations need to be made on a case-by-case basis. A minority of patients find they need no further treatment after detox but most will require extensive therapy. Some may need residential treatment while others will do fine one an outpatient treatment regime.

As with all these things, it’s hard to make a blanket recommendation that everyone who completes rehab needs to spend time at a sober living house. While this option is often touted as an essential part of recovery in some circles, not everyone is suited for such programs.

Who are sober living facilities for?

These programs offer different levels of support and are targeted at different people.

For instance, some are essentially extensions of residential rehab programs, just offering a somewhat less regimented schedule. Others may be much more casual and are basically living arrangements so that recovering individuals can better readjust to society after being disconnected from it for a long time. The only thing that makes these programs similar is that there will be no drugs and alcohol in the facilities.

Going further, some facilities are also intended for specific groups of people. For example, many halfway houses offer professional training for previously homeless individuals. Some only accept people referred by the state prison system. Others will admit anyone willing to work and follow the house rules.

Generally speaking, sober houses will only accept those who can be expected to comply with the program’s requirements. That usually means people with SUD who have not yet completed rehab are not qualified. Many also do not accept walk-ins and will only accept referrals from the state or recognized rehab programs.

What should I look for in a sober living facility?

It depends on your needs. Try to determine what your needs are first, after which you can begin looking around for a sober living house in your area.

Some questions to ask yourself may include:

• How stable am I emotionally and mentally?
• What am I looking for in a sober living facility?
• Am I comfortable with the idea of moving to one?
• What level of regimentation am I comfortable with?
• Do I require a program that matches my religious or ideological beliefs?
• Will I go to a drug-free or alcohol-free home after I enter the program?
• Should I look for a new home while in the program?
• Do I need to look for a new job?
• Do I require a specific set of therapies?

Once you’ve short-listed a few places, you can begin calling them up or emailing them to ask specific questions. Some important questions may include:

• Are there mandatory group or individual therapy sessions?
• Are there mandatory house meetings?
• What are the penalties for missing therapy sessions or meetings?
• How many residents are there normally?
• Are there mandatory house chores required of each resident?
• How often is drug testing conducted?
• Can friends and family come and visit?
• What are the visitation rules?
• Will the facility help me look for a job?
• How long do residents normally stay?
• What support is available to residents who complete the program?

Find a sober living home today

While not for everyone, sober living houses can help many recovering individuals find the time and space they need to make a complete recovery. If you don’t feel ready to take on the challenges of the real world just yet, these facilities can help keep you from being overwhelmed. Our team at Dallas Drug Treatment Centers is ready to help you find sober living facilities that meet your needs. Good luck, and be well!