Addiction has been an ongoing battle for many people. For instance, many addicts find it difficult to stay sober because of constant temptations and stress-related relapses. A study found that 40–60% of addicts relapsed after treatment. There are numerous reasons why this is the case. Addicts frequently find it challenging to maintain their recovery in environments that are high in stress and temptation. Sober living facilities help addicts overcome addiction by providing supportive environments.
WHAT IS A SOBER LIVING FACILITY?
A Sober Living Facility is a facility that aids addicts in their journey of battling addiction. Residents of a Sober Living Facility make a commitment to refrain from substance use and form new routines and behaviors.
Sober Living Facilities offer community and support systems to aid people in navigating the challenging situations and triggers of addiction recovery. The patient completes their treatment program first so that sober living can take place with outpatient addiction treatment. Sober living includes many different treatment plans.
4 TYPES OF SOBER LIVING
The National Association of Recovery Residences categorized the four types of sober living: Peer-Run, Monitored, Supervised, and Integrated.
Monitored houses including peer-run groups, overseeing, and many house rules. Peer-run homes include a self-ruling environment with drug checks and house meetings. Supervised homes have a complex organized structure, seen by an authority figure. In addition, they also include many policies and procedures.
Integrated houses offer transitional care with a focus on developing life skills and drug testing for those who have finished an addiction treatment program. Furthermore, each system is designed for different types of addicts and helps in different ways.
REQUIREMENTS OF SOBER LIVING
Sober living facilities tend to be for those who are struggling with abstaining from their addiction, especially those who quit but then come back to their addiction. The number of days sober is a huge factor in selecting residents for sober living facilities.
Some are difficult to get into and the more expensive the facility the more strict. Commitment and length of stay are factors that are equally important in determining cost. Some sober living facilities include additional resources like gym memberships, transportation, and coaching. Depending on the facilities there may be an additional charge. A few recovery homes participate in fundraising activities to help offset expenses.
LIFE AFTER SOBER LIVING
In order for a survivor to leave a certain Sober Living Facility they must show strong recovery and follow their treatment program. Usually, sober living facilities are provided by the treatment program offered and the length of that program may be the length of the stay at that facility.
Once residents are healthier, stable with healthy habits and lifestyles, and consistent in their sobriety, they can then be ready to leave a facility. It also is based on your living situation outside of that sober living facility, whether you have a safe house for you to continue your sobriety peacefully.
DO THEY WORK?
The effectiveness and advantages of high-quality sober living programs are supported by research, but the actual results speak for themselves. According to research, supportive environments that are enhanced by high-quality sober living houses are particularly beneficial in helping people in recovery maintain their sobriety.
In a research from 2011 that was published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 300 addicts in recovery were followed to see how sober living programs affected them. Those who participate in 12-step recovery programs are far more likely to maintain their sobriety over time with few to no relapses, according to the study.
Additionally, the fact that they remained in homes with a network of supportive sober peers boosted the success of this study. In all the success of sober living facilities in helping individuals in recovery and enhancing sobriety preservation must be seen for oneself.
By Patricia Ezeanyim
Sources
Eudaimonia Homes: Are Sober Living Homes Effective?
Hazelden Betty ford: Are You Looking at Sober-Living Houses? Here Are a Few Things You Should Know
Northern Illinois Recovery Center: Sober Living Program in Illinois
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