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Even people who are highly motivated and committed to staying sober often struggle in early sobriety if they don’t have the right support. As a chronic disease, addiction can be difficult to treat, but it’s certainly not hopeless. Sober living homes and peer recovery support services are excellent and effective weapons against relapse and they can help people sustain long-term sobriety, despite the challenges. Returning to daily life after completing a sober home drug or alcohol rehab program can be extremely challenging, especially for someone who lacks stable, substance-free housing. The early stages of recovery are often full of challenges, such as finding a job, establishing a sober community, and dealing with all the stress and anxiety of daily life. Research on sober living houses also states that residents experience a higher possibility of securing employment and a lower likelihood of getting arrested.
Design for Recovery provides structured sober living in Los Angeles, California. In the ’40s and ’50s, California began to dismantle its custodial care systems (e.g., local jails and state psychiatric hospitals), creating an even greater need for sober living houses. However, the existing 12-step recovery houses usually refused https://ecosoberhouse.com/ to accept inebriates. Instead, they required applicants to begin their sobriety before approaching the sober house. Recovery programs filled the gap by initiating abstinence and including detoxification. Our “family” way of life will provide a safe and clean environment that is ideal for continuing long-term recovery.
The History of Sober Living Houses
Today, sober houses are “free-standing,” independently owned and operated. They’re not licensed by an official body, nor do they provide licensed professional services onsite. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) originated in the 1930s and provided the steppingstones for sober housing by requiring strict sobriety, participation in the community, peer support, and a 12-step program.
Substance abuse significantly impacts users, their families, their community, and society as a whole.
A Brief History of Sober Housing
If you’re having a hard time adjusting to a sober life, reach out to a mental health professional who specializes in addiction and substance use. While some may be hungry to integrate back into society after a stint in a treatment program, there is an expectation that you will remain an active participant in the home and follow its rules. Some sober living houses may be placed in neighborhoods with high crime rates. This support system allows residents to avoid the isolation that can sometimes come with returning home while in recovery. It further provides an environment to support recovery from substance abuse and addiction for those who are emerging from rehab.
- Sober living houses, like halfway houses, maintain a strict abstinence policy which may be enforced with drug testing.
- Even people who are highly motivated and committed to staying sober often struggle in early sobriety if they don’t have the right support.
- While it may not completely cover your expenses, every little bit helps and can help you move closer to your goals.
- Our “family” way of life will provide a safe and clean environment that is ideal for continuing long-term recovery.