By J. Ben Pate
There are many private residential treatment centers that offer sober living after one successfully completes rehab. These sober living facilities provide a safe harbor for people in the early stages of recovery from a drug or alcohol addiction. Recovering from an addiction can be a very long and drawn out process. It can also be difficult if one is still in the environment that led to the addiction in the first place. This is why many addiction treatment centers are located in destination places. It gives addicts the option of leaving a bad environment and seeking treatment in a fresh new environment. Due to this, many sober living facilities are located in beach resort areas.
Common Living
There are common themes when it comes to sober living. Often facilities that feature sobriety will have communal living. This allows for recovering addicts to continue to recover with those who suffered from the same addiction. It offers rehabilitation in a non-judgmental environment. Relapse is most common in the 3 to 4 months after rehabilitation, this is why it is crucial to continue with treatment, such as sober living facilities and counseling.
12-Step Program
In addition to communal living, residents are encouraged to stay clean and sober. In many cases, permission to stay is dependent on attending 12-step program meetings and working the 12-step program. This program was developed to support recovering alcoholics. It revolves around three principles, admitting the recovering drug or alcohol user is powerless to fight the addiction on their own and there is a higher power in whom they can find the strength to live a sober, clean life. The third main principle of the program is one of making restitution to the people who were hurt as a result of the recovering addict’s drug using lifestyle.
Residences
Sober living facilities tend to feature very home-like environments. This allows the recovering addict to be comfortable and live there life as normal as possible, while still going through treatment. The environment is supposed to mimic the home environment that they will eventually go back to.
Activities
Another important feature of sober living facilities is the promotion of social activities which may include volleyball, swimming pool and exercise rooms. Sports, leisure and community activities are essential to any recovery program. This gives the residents a choice of non-drug using activities as well as the chance to interact with other people and form drug-free relationships.
Convenience
Often, facilities are located close to shopping, public transportation and 12-step meetings. Private guidance counseling, along with alcohol and drug screening, may also be offered as part of the package. If recovery meetings are not held on site, one will be very near by.
Off-Site Living
Some residential care homes offer off-site homes as an intermediate step in the recovery process. Residents here are graduates of an early recovery program. These residences have similar facilities to the early recovery programs but with more independence. All necessary counseling and support services are available.