How Sober Living Homes Help Prevent Relapse

Relapse is a real risk after rehab, so people in recovery should do everything they can to safeguard their sobriety. Sober living homes offer many great benefits that can help newly sober individuals sustain their recovery and establish healthy habits and relationships. If you’re considering enrolling yourself or a loved one in a sober living program, here are some of the most important ways they can help prevent relapse.

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8 Ways Sober Living Homes Help Prevent Relapse

They provide constant guidance and support in a sober living environment.

Sober living homes offer safe, stable living environments where all drug and alcohol use is prohibited. Residents have the personal freedom to go and do as they wish, but a set curfew and regular drug tests provide constant accountability to help them stay on track. On-site staff also help ensure that all residents are following the community rules of the sober home.

Many sober living homes are connected to an addiction treatment center, which will be equipped with a staff of professionals who know what it’s like to be newly sober after addiction. These staff members can provide advice and wisdom to sober living residents when it’s most needed. House managers will also keep residents accountable and safe as they gradually transition back into mainstream life after rehab.

They require (or highly encourage) recovery meeting attendance.

The benefits of attending community support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) have been well-documented in research studies.^,1,2,3,4 Overall, they are a great resource that help people in recovery sustain long-term abstinence from drugs and alcohol. Most sober living homes require or highly encourage residents to attend recovery meetings several times a week. As a result, residents receive frequent and ongoing support from a group of sober peers. These meetings also help them work through each of the 12 Steps and enhance their personal growth.

They help residents prioritize recovery.

At a sober living home, recovery is the central focus of life. Residents are given a place to live where they can focus on themselves and their recovery for an extended time. At a sober home, residents won’t have the temptation of living with old, drug-using friends and they can separate themselves from other environmental triggers. Unlike living independently with roommates in a rented home or apartment, sober living homes also host weekly check-in household meetings and special events or recovery-related activities for residents. They also provide individualized recovery programs that help residents identify recovery goals and make progress toward achieving them.

They provide recovery resources the residents would otherwise have to find on their own.

After rehab, many people struggle to assimilate back into the everyday world. That’s because they may still need time to develop and practice those recovery tools they learned in rehab. However, sober living homes help make the process easier by providing easy access to recovery resources like individual and group therapy, a sober mentor, employment assistance, volunteer placement, and educational planning for residents who want to go back to school.

They offer positive social interaction and opportunities.

At sober living homes, residents can participate in special group events that provide positive social interaction and opportunities to develop new friendships. Not to mention, living with a group of other like-minded sober people offers plenty of chances to make lasting, healthy relationships that aren’t centered around drug or alcohol use.

They help people prepare to re-enter the outside world after rehab.

Sober living homes help newly sober people put the skills and tools they learned in rehab to the test. Instead of heading straight back home after rehab, a sober home provides a more supportive and sober living environment. That way, it’s easier to focus on recovery and practice those skills without any distractions. Additionally, to successfully re-enter society after rehab, sober individuals need to secure and maintain employment, have stable finances, and have a solid recovery support system to help prevent relapse. Sober living homes help residents meet these goals by providing resources, strategies, and tools to achieve them.

They encourage people to establish healthy routines and habits.

Sober living homes provide a great deal of structure. From things like daily household chores and curfew to recovery programming, recovery meetings, and group events, this structured programming is designed to help keep residents on track. Additionally, the structure encourages residents to establish healthy routines and habits like keeping their living space tidy, showing up to meetings regularly, putting their relapse prevention plan into action, and being accountable to their peers.

They help residents develop independence.

After rehab, some people may need help establishing an independent sober life, especially if they don’t have a lot of support from family and friends at home. At a sober living home, residents learn how to take their life back, make responsible, healthy choices, and do things like grocery shop and cook for themselves. They’ll have the independence to fill their lives with meaningful things, instead of drugs or alcohol, all while living in a supportive environment.

Related post: How to Find Sober Roommates

Check Out Eudaimonia’s Sober Living Homes in Austin, Houston, and Colorado Springs

Eudaimonia Recovery Homes operates several sober living homes and apartments for men, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Our sober homes are fully accredited, licensed, and managed by on-site staff members. Our residents all follow individualized recovery programs that help them set and achieve their goals in recovery. 

Additionally, we offer a Certified Peer Recovery Support Program, where residents are paired with a certified peer recovery support specialist. This professional provides peer recovery support and guidance in the early stages of recovery. With regular meetings and support, residents also learn how to recognize the signs of relapse and address them before they lead to a full-blown relapse.

If you or a loved one is searching for support after rehab, Eudaimonia Recovery Homes can help. Our sober homes are much more than just a roof over your head. They are safe, supportive homes that offer a wide range of recovery support services and benefits for individuals who are newly sober or recovering from a recent relapse. Please call (512) 580-3131 to speak with an admissions representative or to find out more about how our sober living homes can help prevent relapse.

References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3753023/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12638636/
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15063905/
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2746426/