What is Sober Living?
Sober Living homes are residences that provide safe, structured and substance – free accommodations for people exiting substance abuse treatment programs, or in need of housing while attending outpatient treatment. There are usually certain rules and regulations that accompany living in a sober house, such as: no substance use, keeping private and public areas clean and orderly, abiding by specific curfews, and participating in 12 -Step Meetings. Sober living homes are valuable because they serve as a place where individuals in early sobriety can maintain and strengthen their recovery skills without the challenges of a toxic and unstable living situation.
Who Is Sober Living For?
Addiction is a complex condition, and the road to recovery can be a long one. Not everyone is ready to dive straight into regular life as soon as they complete treatment! Additionally, staying away from the environment that initially triggered an addiction is critical in order to avoid relapse. For those who still need support and accountability as they pick up the thread of their lives, structured sober living homes are the perfect solution. Sober homes provide a warm, domestic environment surrounded by like-minded people in early recovery, with the perfect blend of structure and freedom as residents go about their daily lives.
How Does It Work at Avenues?
Avenues partners with several sober living homes in order to allow clients in our Intensive Outpatient program to participate in treatment without the burden of travel. The homes are all located a short drive away from our facilities, and are staffed with round-the-clock support staff in order to ensure each client’s maximum safety and comfort. Clients attend treatment by day in our nearby treatment facility, and live, eat sleep, relax and socialize in their sober living home. The warm and relaxed domestic environment helps remove the institutionalized feel of treatment, and lets clients flourish as they continue to pursue their recovery.
Program
Although “Sober Living” refers specifically to housing arrangements, the nature of a sober living facility setup brings various therapeutic benefits. All sober living houses have mandatory rules that provide important structure and accountability their residents. While in a sober living home, residents must:
- Abstain completely from drugs and/ or alcohol
- Abide by all curfews
- Respect fellow residents and staff
- Keep all personal and public areas clean
- Maintain personal hygiene
- Submit to periodic drug testing
- Participate regularly in a recovery program
- Share in all household chores (Cooking, shopping, cleaning etc.)
- Help cover basic household expenses
- Attend 12 – Step Meetings
These rules give stability to the residents, and teach them responsibility, teamwork, and independence – all valuable life skills which they will fall back upon once leading their own lives.
Rules aside, living in a communal housing arrangement naturally helps clients develop tolerance, problem solving skills, and the ability to live with and contribute to a greater whole. For those looking for a warm, safe environment while beginning to venture out into the world, sober living communities are a great option.
FAQs
1. Does Avenues offer Sober Living?
Yes! Two Avenues locations - Avenues Recovery Center at Bucks and Avenues Recovery Center at New England - offer Sober Living Services. These two facilities each partner with a collection of luxury sober living homes in their area, in order to enable clients in our Intensive Outpatient program to engage in treatment without the need to commute.
2. How much do Sober Living Homes cost?
The cost of staying at a sober living facility will depend on the specific home you choose, but many sober living homes are actually covered by insurance as part of substance abuse treatment. Wonder if you’re eligible for Avenues’ sober living homes? Contact us today to find out more!
3. What are the rules and regulations in a Sober Living home?
Every sober living home has its own rules, but below are some basic expectations maintained by most sober residences:
- Do not use drugs or alcohol
- Be home before all curfews
- Show respect for your peers, support staff and the property at all times
- Participate regularly in a recovery program
4. How long do people typically stay in a Sober Living Home?
The average length of stay in a sober living home can be anywhere from 3 months to over a year. However, this can vary from individual to individual, as each person will stay for a different amount of time based on their personal situation and needs.
5. What’s the difference between Sober Living Homes and Halfway Houses?
Sober Living homes are intended exclusively for people graduating addiction treatment programs, and are usually individually owned – offering a considerable level of comfort and privacy. In contrast, Halfway Houses are usually government-owned and operated, and many of the residents are court-mandated to remain there.
6. Who might benefit from a Sober Living Home?
Sober Living homes are ideal for people who are graduating inpatient addiction treatment, but still want to live in a structured and supportive environment as they begin navigating life in early recovery. For a person new to sobriety, this provides a warm and stable home and aids the development of many important life skills and tools.
7. Is there supervision in a sober living home?
Every sober living home will have its own setup and level of oversight. Avenues’ sober living homes have behavioral health technicians on-site 24/7 to ensure each client’s utmost safety, comfort, and progress in treatment.
Continuum of Care
Avenues Recovery offers a full continuum of care, spanning addiction Detox, Residential addiction treatment, Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient, and Outpatient services.
Detox > Residential/ Inpatient Treatment > Partial Hospitalization > Intensive Outpatient > Outpatient
In order for any program to be fully effective, it should be preceded and succeeded by the appropriate levels of care. Rushing treatment, skipping a level of care, or moving to a lower level of care before it is deemed medically and clinically appropriate can all detract from the efficacy of treatment. Therefore, we encourage following the structure of our treatment program. The pre-admission clinical assessment and ASAM criteria will determine each client’s level of care upon intake.