Outpatient rehab can be an excellent choice in addiction treatment for anyone who’s ready to take a largely self-managed approach to recovery. Enrolling in outpatient rehab is also a great way to follow up a short-term inpatient program. With outpatient treatment, people have the ability to continue attending school or going to work.
They can also spend time with their loved ones and engage in many other personal activities. To help limit the risks that come with the increased freedom and greater free time of outpatient treatment, many people choose to simultaneously live in sober living facilities. Sober living homes provide a structured environment, reliable access to onsite support, and guidance for establishing sustainable, long-term plans for recovery. If you’re nervous about attending outpatient rehab but still want the level of flexibility it provides, taking up residence in a sober living facility could be right for you.
How Sober Living Homes Limit the Risk of Relapse
Unlike inpatient addiction treatment programs, sober living homes are not closed campuses. Residents can come and go as needed throughout the day. However, everyone in the home is required to live by a fairly strict set of household rules. Everyone must perform chores and contribute to the overall organization of the living environment. More importantly, residents are not allowed to engage in any drug or alcohol use.
Many sober living homes regularly perform drug and alcohol testing to ensure that this important rule is being upheld. Sober living homes keep residents accountable. With every outpatient program, people are required to commit to a specific number of hours spent in treatment each week. With a basic outpatient program, this could be as few as just 12 hours. However, the weekly commitment for intensive outpatient programs can be as high as 36 hours. To comply with the rules of a sober living home, you may need to show that you’re meeting your weekly commitment for treatment on a consistent basis. It is often also necessary for residents to complete several hours per week in long-term life-planning workshops or engaging in other goal-setting activities.
Overcome Common Barriers to Long-Term Success in Recovery
One of the greatest benefits of staying in a sober living home while attending outpatient rehab is being able to identify and proactively address some of the barriers that exist to long-term recovery. When addicted to drugs or alcohol, many people experience:
- The loss of family relationships and other social connections
- Housing and job loss
- Legal charges
- Financial challenges
Onsite counselors are both experienced and proficient in helping residents navigate these and other issues. They point people to important resources for establishing secure and affordable housing, transportation assistance, public assistance such as cash aid and food benefits, career guidance, and job search support among other things. With their help, people can avoid many of the stressors and triggers that make relapse more likely post-treatment. With the ability to establish comfortable and sustainable lives, those living in sober homes effectively set the stage for long-term success.
Avoid the Challenges of a Toxic Living Environment
Addiction is often referred to as a family disease. If you or someone you love is addicted to drugs or alcohol, everyone in the household is negatively impacted by addiction. Until all family members have an opportunity to heal, and until everyone receives the needs-specific therapies and guidance they require, it may not be safe for recovering addicts to stay in the home. You should definitely consider living in a sober living facility if:
- There are other addicts in your home who have yet to seek professional addiction treatment
- There are still temptations and triggers in the living environment
- There are one or more enablers in your current household
- People within the home are uncomfortable being around you
Staying in a sober living home can give family members who’ve been traumatized by addiction the time and space that they need to heal. It is also an opportunity for families to seek therapy, and to learn more about properly supporting recovering addicts in their journeys to wellness.
When going home causes stress for anyone, choosing to complete treatment in a neutral and supportive environment is always the best choice. Some people opt to return home after completing outpatient treatment and finishing their residency in sober living facilities. Others decide to secure their own private residences.
As you progress in your recovery, you’ll discover the importance of protecting your peace of mind and prioritizing your health. Sober living homes can show you how to create and maintain a living environment that’s conducive to your success. If you’re considering outpatient treatment and want to know more about your options in sober living, we can help. Call us today at 833-285-1315.
