How Long Can I Stay in a Sober House?

Most sober living homes follow the same general model no matter where they are. According to the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, “Among a number of advantages, they are financially self-sustaining and residents can stay as long as they wish.”

Staying in a Sober House

Sober houses allow residents to stay as long as they choose to––and as long as they obey the rules of the house. If you enjoy living in a sober facility and believe that it is truly helping your recovery, you could stay at one for months or years at a time. While some people do, others pass through more quickly on their way to another treatment option or phase of their recovery. This is one of the greatest flexibilities of the program that causes many people to choose these facilities over inpatient or residential care.

House Rules and Residency

You can stay in a sober house for as long as it still proves beneficial to you.

As stated previously, the only time someone would be asked to leave a sober house in most instances is if they break the rules of the facility. According to the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, the more common rules of most sober houses include:

• No drinking alcohol.
• No use of mind-altering substances.
• No bringing these substances into the sober home.
• One must attend 12-step meetings regularly as a form of addiction treatment.
• One must attend the Sunday Night House Meeting (which is usually a mandatory meeting where residents share what they have done the previous week, how their recovery is progressing, and what their goals are for the following week).
• One must stay at the facility a certain number of nights a week (usually five).
• One must be accountable for where they go when they are not in the facility.
• One must pay their rent monthly and on time.

In addition, an individual living in a sober house must also treat their fellow residents with respect and kindness and do their household chores. Naturally, someone who makes a mistake with one of these rules once or twice will not be asked to leave the facility immediately but will likely be reprimanded first. Only if someone commits an extremely egregious offense or continually breaks the rules with no regard for their fellow residents will likely be asked to leave.

How Long Should I Stay in a Sober House?

It mostly depends on the individual, their needs, and whether or not staying at the facility is continuing to help them. It is likely that you will be able to discuss your recovery with your sponsor, the other residents at the facility, and a counselor who can help steer you in the right direction, but you should be able to tell how long your stay at the home should last and when you should consider moving on.

Just like any treatment program, a person should attend as long as it is beneficial to them. Sober homes are often more lax than other, professional recovery programs and allow residents to decide in their own time what the best option is for their needs. Call 1-888-460-6556 today to learn more about sober living houses or to find one in your area.

How Long Should You Stay in a Recovery Home?