Starting a sober living home is a wonderful way to provide resources to people in recovery. Fortunately, there are factors someone can take into account before committing to a specific sober living home. Benefits range from a feeling of independence to one of connection. Residents can still gain access to 12-Step groups and are able to work and contribute to society.

Two additional measures were included as covariates because they assess factors emphasized by as important to recovery in SLHs. This measure was taken from Gerstein et al. and was defined as number of arrests over the past 6 months. To assess current psychiatric severity we used the Brief Symptom Inventory (Derogatis & Melisaratos, 1983). This 53-item measure assesses severity of psychiatric symptoms on nine clinical scales as well as three global indices. Items are rated on a 5-point scale and ask about symptoms over the past 7 days. We used the Global Severity Index as an overall measure of psychiatric severity.

What are standard sober house rules?

Keep in mind that one or two bad reviews in a sea of good ones might not mean much. Some people may have gone through something that casts the entire experience in a bad light. You don’t want to live in a bad part of town, where drug use and dealing are rampant.

• At the same time, you must also ensure that the sober living home is close to your school or place of work, recovery meetings, grocery store, and healthcare providers.
• One of the valuable parts of sober living is that you’ll reside in a home with other sober individuals committed to a drug-free life.
• Hiring a great house manager can help your sober living home run smoothly and proactively prevent conflict.
• Over 24 agencies affiliated with CAARR offer clean and sober living services.

It’s okay to have some initial reservations about living in a sober home, however. One of the most common concerns is wondering how you’ll fit into the community. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, help is available.

What is it Like to Live in a Sober House?

The staff at the facility should be well trained, professional, and dedicated to the safety of residents. They shouldn’t be afraid to enforce the rules and kick residents out who break them, such as those who bring drugs across the threshold. Finally, the staff should have experience in the field of addictions and recovery. Your sober living home should have mandatory rules and regulations, including curfews and a zero-tolerance drug and alcohol-free environment.

If you’re starting treatment, definitely consider a treatment center with a sober living component. If you’re a program graduate who’s ready to consider independent living, sober homes can help you too. Completing addiction treatment is a milestone in recovery, but it’s not the end. For instance, some homes request residents to check in with a house manager, and some houses will require periodic drug tests. Many sober houses also have agreements with residents, requiring them to attend 12-step programs or similar support groups.

Tips for Finding the Right Sober Home

The outcomes of living in such an environment can include positive health, behavioral, and relationship changes. Our staff are highly trained with dual mental health and substance use licensing. Our medical staff includes an ASAM certified addiction psychiatrist & an addiction-trained primary care physician. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of seven ways you can make staying sober after living in a sober living house easier for you.

While the sober home of family members, friends, and other loved ones is important, it is not always possible to be around them constantly. It can provide the support and structure needed to stay on track with your sobriety goals. In addition to reducing the risk of relapse, recovery residences have other benefits. One study of 330 residents at 49 sober living homes in California found that residents had increased odds of total abstinence and employment. The same research also identified operational characteristics that improved the success rate of sober houses.

While rules may vary, we’re going to discuss the general guidelines most homes require. To succeed in your recovery, it’s important that you abide by them. Sober living homes typically provide residents with structure and support that can be helpful during early recovery when many life changes occur. For some people, sober living homes can be essential to long-term sobriety.