How Does Sober Living Housing Help Someone in Recovery?

Everyone has their own unique course with recovery from substanceaddiction. Individual needs may vary. But one thing that is often universal is maintaining a supportive environment.

Often, treatment from recovery does not end when someone leaves an inpatient treatment facility. Ongoing support is vital in maintaining sobriety. That’s where sober living facilities may help.

What is sober living?

Sober living facilities are houses or apartments that provide a drug and alcohol-free environment to live in. They are designed for people to live in while they continue their recovery.

The exact type of home, program, and approach may differ by the facility. But the foundation of sober living facilities remains similar. Sober living homes provide a safe, stable, and drug and alcohol-free place to live while working in recovery.

Sober living homes may offer various addiction recovery aids and provide a steppingstone between treatment in an inpatient facility and returning home.

Advantages of a sober living facility

Sober living facilities can have several benefits for someone recovering from an addiction, such as the following:

Drug and alcohol-free environment: The environment a person returns to after treatment can make the difference between relapse and continued sobriety. Sober living homes are drug and alcohol-free, which may help someone remain sober.

It bridges the gap: Sober living homes offer someone a step after treatment before going back to their previous life and living environment. This stepping stone is often needed to gain confidence in the ability to remain sober.

Peer support: A sober living home has multiple residents depending on the size of the facility. It allows someone to develop a social network of peers that helps support sobriety.

Opportunity for independence: While sober living homes may have some rules, they often are less restrictive than an inpatient treatment facility. This allows someone to gain back independence and learn how to navigate life without the use of drugs or alcohol.

Do sober living homes work?

There is no one perfect path to recovery. But sober living facilities can help. Research published in theJournal of Substance Abuse Treatmentfound that people staying in a sober living home reported improvement in their addiction severity index.

In many cases, a sober living home can promote accountability, camaraderie, and peer encouragement. This can provide the needed help to remain sober.