A sober living home (SLH) provides a drug and alcohol-free environment for people trying to stay sober.
If you have just completed addiction treatment and are finding it hard to reintegrate back into the community, a sober living home might be a great option.
Many addicted individuals struggle to adapt to the community even long after they have become sober. This is when facilities like SLH can help.
SLHs are not licensed or funded by the government. The environment in SLH is less restrictive than in inpatient rehab. Nonetheless, the members have to follow many rules, including:
- Refraining from drinking and using drugs
- Paying rent and other bills
- Attending house meetings
- Doing household chores
- Attending 12-step meetings
There is no limit for the minimum or maximum period of stay. That said, you should follow the rules as long as you stay in the house.
Sober Living Homes: Are They Necessary?
After finishing an inpatient program, some experts suggest staying in a sober living home (SLH), aka a halfway house. There are a bunch of various benefits to this step in recovery. But, it’s mainly intended to provide a safe bridge between the structured life of a facility and the rather chaotic nature of the real world.
What Is It Like to Live in a Sober Living Home?
Sober living homes engage their residents in plenty of different exercises that indirectly participate in the healing process. However, these activities aren’t as restrictive as inpatient programs: residents can come and go whenever they want.
At an SLH, your day typically starts in the early morning. After having breakfast with your housemates, you’ll be required to do any activity outside the house.
Some people go to treatment facilities to carry out a partial hospitalization program. Others attend classes that prepare them for new careers. Some people search for a house and a job, especially if they’ll be finishing their treatment soon.
After coming back, residents do the laundry, clean the house, and organize meetings to discuss other household tasks. Afterward, they might attend group therapy together.
At night, residents are free to do what they want until a set curfew.
Who Can Live in a Sober Living Home?
The rules of admittance vary considerably between different homes. But generally speaking, residents may be required to complete a detox program or full inpatient treatment before they can be accepted.
To guarantee a healthy life for all residents, the people who run the house may need you to agree on some of the following rules:
- You can’t be seen with alcohol or drugs.
- You must agree to take random drug tests.
- You have to accept the set curfew.
- You must participate in household chores.
- You must partake in any form of active treatment.
- You should pay rent on time
- You mustn’t engage in any violent actions with other residents
What If You Relapsed While Living In a Sober Home?
After relapsing, you’ll need to repeat one or more steps of your treatment. You may need to undergo a detox program or re-attend inpatient treatment according to the relapse severity.
And since sober living homes aren’t designed to provide such care, relapsed individuals are usually removed from the house as soon as they’re discovered. This way, the management team can protect the rest of the residents.
How Much Do Sober Living Homes Cost?
Sober living homes generally cost the same as normal housing. You may not have to pay for utilities, but you’ll be blamed if you use more than your normal share.
And just like normal homes, rent may get higher or lower depending on the location of the house. However, the most expensive house will definitely be more affordable than rehab centers since that latter provides consistent monitoring.
The Final Word
If going back to real life has been stressing you out, you should definitely consider a sober living home. Sharing your recovery journey with other people will not only encourage you, but it’ll also prepare you to have normal relationships as soon as you finish treatment.