Statistics show that more than 770,000 Americans have overdosed on drugs since 1999. Every year, many Americans do not receive the care they need to overcome their substance use disorder (SUD). One challenge this group faces is not getting the help it needs to beat the substance dependence. They struggle to adjust to a life of sobriety.  For a recovering addict, fitting into the real world can be a struggle once you detox. Coping with various emotions, dealing with triggers, and following the rules set to preserve your sobriety can be challenging. The silver lining is that sober living homes provide recovering addicts the support they need to stay on track in their recovery. 

What Is Sober Living? 

We need to know what a sober living home is to understand sober living. A sober living home is an informal treatment facility for substance dependence. Patients in these facilities are rarely catered for by counselors or licensed mental health physicians. Once patients finish inpatient treatment, or they need a place with regulations, they can check into these centers to get the help they need to beat their addiction. The centers provide safe, stable surroundings that prohibit substance use. Different sober living residences have varying regulations. The individual or organization that owns and operates the facility provides the guidelines that residents should follow. These guidelines are mostly flexible, while few that may impact directly on sobriety may not be modifiable. For example, residents may formulate rules dealing with activities they engage in, but drugs within the premise are forbidden. Sober living entails staying in these facilities to learn to live with sobriety and pick up best practices that will allow you to sustain your new path. 

Rehab Programs Vs. Sober Living Houses 

There are differences between the two facilities in the way they support your path to a life free from drugs. Rehabs differ from a sober living home in the following ways:

• Rehab programs have many rules and limit your movement in and out of the facility 
• Rehab mainly treats people new to a drug-free life 
• They have experts such as medical, addiction, and mental health specialists 
• Rehabs limit your stay in the facility like in 90-day or 30-day periods 
• Rehabs are costly

Is Sober Living Right for My Situation? 

There are specific circumstances that can make sober living ideal for you. It can be a viable option if: 

• Your previous attempts to commit to a rehab facility did not yield the expected outcomes 
• You are struggling to adjust to life without drugs once your residency in a rehab facility comes to an end
• Outpatient programs do not cater to your needs 
• You lack the support from family and friends which is often necessary to achieve and sustain sobriety 
• You need to continue with some aspects of your life without restrictions, such as employment 

Sober living may not be appropriate for you under these circumstances:

1. You abuse highly addictive substances or those that have severe withdrawal symptoms 
2. The fee they charge is too expensive to you 
3. You struggle too much to get along with new people and may turn to violence or aggression to resist their efforts of warming up to you 

Questions to Ask About Sober Living 

Understand various aspects of sober living before you become a resident of a home. This understanding will help you decide if the program is appropriate for you and prepare you for a successful stay in a home.

Questions you should ask include:

1. Do you conduct mandatory drug screenings? 
2. How will we know when it is time for me to move on from residing in the home?
3. What rules do you have regarding visitation, and can visitors spend the night? 
4. Do you offer counseling or the 12-step program to residents?  
5. Should any activity I want to continue doing, such as a job or schooling, be closer to the home? 
6. How long do residents stay in your facility? 
7. Do you have house meetings, and are they mandatory? 
8. How do you help residents that leave the facility? 
9. What strategies do you use to manage conflict between your residents? 
10. Does each resident get chores? 
11. Do you have full time practitioners to help residents? 
12. How many residents do you have at full capacity, and are there enough facilities? 
13. Do you have any mandatory programs that you put your residents through?  
14. Is there any other thing that one needs to know before they become a resident in your home?

When to Move Into a Sober Living Home 

Knowing when you need to move to a sober living residential facility can be the difference between staying away from drugs and relapsing. The ideal time to move into a sober living center is once you leave a residential program, and you fear that you may struggle to sustain sobriety in the outside environment.  Once you leave a rehab facility, there will be few rules to help you stay sober on the outside. The absence of a sobriety-friendly structure increases your likelihood of relapsing. In case you find staying away from drugs difficult on the outside, it is time you check into one of the sober living homes near me.

Recommended Length of Stay

The appropriate duration for your stay in a sober living facility depends on your needs. Residents remain in the center for varying periods. While others reside for weeks or a few months, others stay in homes for extended terms. The following factors determine the time you spend in the residential establishment.

1. Your Stability in Recovery

You need to prioritize your overall well being as it is critical to staying sober. Reliable recovery entails incorporating sound coping skills, managing your cravings for drugs, and managing co-occurring disorders, such as cognitive challenges. It also involves having support from those close to you, attending counseling sessions, and using the right medications. You can leave a facility once your recovery is stable in these aspects.

2. Your Safety at Home

Once you detox, you need a safe environment to facilitate your recovery. While a sober living facility will help you adjust to a life of sobriety, it is a bridge between inpatient treatment and living on the outside. You may be ready to leave a sober living once your home environment supports your new life free from drugs. 

3. Your Comfort Level 

A sober living facility prepares you for life outside, free from drugs. It would be best if you did not struggle to transition from a sober living facility to the outside. Consider leaving the facility if you believe your transition will be quick. You should also have a strong mentality towards the rehab, sustain yourself financially, and know the significance of staying sober before leaving the sober living center.

What to Expect in a Sober Living Home 

While a sober living residential resembles life on the outside, there are some few requirements you need to know. Being familiar with these regulations helps you understand what I need to bring to sober living home, and what you will find once you become a resident in them. 

1. Unlike in Residential Treatment, You Will Enjoy Some Freedom in Sober Living Facilities

You will be able to leave the facility and return as you need. This freedom of movement is crucial as it allows you to ooze your new sober life into your activities slowly. The sober living center may still have rules that you should abide by during your stay. Expect to attend mandatory meetings and a curfew. The rules can be relaxed as you progress during your residence.  

2. Some Activities Can Be Mandatory to Attend

Know these requirements and take part in them. For example, you may have to participate in 12-step programs. These undertakings are crucial in ensuring you stay on track as you integrate into a life of sobriety. Many addicts relapse because they lack the support to get them through the challenging parts of recovery. In sober living homes, you will gain inspiration from other recovering addicts. The combination of structure and freedom also helps you prepare for life on the outside while sober.

3. Drugs Are Illegal Within the Sober Living Home

They can screen presidents to ensure that they are not using illicit substances while in sober living. You may also get some chores that keep you busy, help you bond with other residents, and keep you responsible. The homes may also have some mandatory meetings among residents or with various specialists. Residents have curfews, and visitors are barely allowed to respect everyone’s privacy. Quiet hours can be put in place to provide a conducive environment for people to get adequate sleep. 

Finding the Best Sober Living Program 

Riviera Recovery is one of the best sober living homes that seek to help recovering addicts replace bad habits with sustainable practices. Our skilled personnel are available to walk you through the crucial aspects of your sober living. At Riviera Recovery, we encourage residents to explore and experiment, within specific limits, to learn various virtues that they need to sustain their new life of sobriety. We also offer extra services once patients leave our home to help them sustain their recovery.  Riviera Recovery is famous among recovering addicts because we are clean, offer luxurious services, and we allow pets. We have facilities in West LA and Palisades. We take in a limited number of residents to provide quality services to those that gain entry. Our services include mandatory weekly in-house get together, nightly check-in, attendance at required meetings, food management system, and weekly social gatherings. These programs are to keep you on track during your transition to your life of sobriety on the outside. 

Conclusion 

Different addicts overcome their SUD in varying ways. While others have a seamless transition from an inpatient program, others need help to transition to a life of sobriety on the outside. Sober living can be an excellent way to support sobriety with a structured environment that differs from residential treatment. Preparing for moving into a sober living facility and knowing what to expect helps the program be successful.  Riviera Recovery is one of the leading sober living homes in California. We provide flexible, reliable, and affordable care for the recovering addicts that become part of our sober living program.  Contact us today to learn more about our sober living programs.