Sober living homes were designed to provide a safe and structured place to live for people recovering from drug and alcohol addictions. Typically after graduating from an inpatient treatment program, the resident would transition into the sober living house. However, not all residents of sober living houses need to come directly from a rehabilitation center. Some may enter by direction of their 12-step sponsor, family member or simply the desire to get out of an unhealthy living environment. This next step in the recovery process gives the resident freedom to practice the living skills they have learned in treatment, while still holding that person accountable to the 12-step meetings, drug testing and other requirements which vary from each sober living treatment facility.
When addicts and alcoholics are active in their disease, their entire life is focused around the getting, using and finding ways and means to get more drugs or alcohol. This behavior stops that individual from growing in a healthy and positive direction. Just the basic living skills such as holding a job, paying bills, waking up on time, going to the doctor or dentist, or taking care of their family, comes second, or not at all to the active addict. Treatment will help to create a solid foundation for a new way to live without the use of drugs or alcohol. In treatment the addict is taught valuable life skills they will need to cope with cravings and they are made aware of behaviors that may lead to relapse. Sober living creates a real life environment that is less structured than a treatment center. It gives the recovering addict a place to practice the skills they have learned in a safe and structured home. The individual is given the opportunity to build up their confidence and learn a sense of stability and good orderly direction. They are usually required to attend a house meeting once a week, 12-step meetings, they may also be assigned chores and will often times be sharing a room with another addict. The houses are typically small and usually gender specific. They are often located in a community that is located in an area where the individual can easily access jobs, meetings or school.
A sober living environment provides the opportunity for a recovering addict to move on to the next step in creating the life that they are meant to be living. They can go to work or school and come home to the friends and support groups that will understand the difficulties we face as we are trying to improve our lives without leaning on our disease to get us through the tough times. They can process their emotions and their triggers with their peers in a safe environment. This, over time, will help to build up the self-esteem and confidence they will need to go out into the world and continue to live a drug and alcohol free life.
[page updated February 2009]