How Long Should You Stay in a Recovery Home?

Someone who’s successfully completed drug treatment may have a firm grasp on the workings of addiction, but still not know how to apply these principles in everyday life. Recovery homes provide a much needed transition environment between the structure and stability of drug treatment and the hustle and bustle of the “real world.”

According to the OLR Research Report, the importance of living in a stable home environment after completing drug rehab can mean the difference between continued success in recovery and an untimely relapse. Recovery homes are specifically designed for this purpose.

The length of time one should stay in a recovery home can vary from person to person. Addiction severity, the condition of your home environment, comfort level and cost factors all play into how long a stay you should consider. Ultimately, developing the habits and routines needed to maintain a drug-free lifestyle remains the overall goal.

Call 800-953-3913 (Who Answers?) toll free anytime for help finding a sober house that works for you.

Addiction Severity

The time you need to live in a sober house for will depend on your personal situation.

While the physical aftereffects of addiction may seem like the crux of the problem, it’s the mental hold drugs impose on the mind that makes ongoing abstinence so difficult. In general, the longer a person abuses an addictive drug the more severe the addiction regardless of the type of drug used.

Someone coming off a severe addiction problem will likely require a longer stay in a recovery home than someone dealing with a mild addiction. Under these conditions, a longer stay would amount to a minimum of a year.

Home Environment

It’s always a good idea for family to take an active role in the recovery process, as addiction tends to be a family problem. In this way, the addict can re-enter a healthier home environment than the one he or she left when first entering treatment. In other words, you really shouldn’t consider returning home until family members can understand and support your recovery efforts.

Comfort Level

When all is said and done, your comfort level in terms of being able to cope with daily life stressors determines when it’s time to leave the recovery home and re-enter the “real world.” The recovery home offers an ideal environment for learning how to live a drug-free lifestyle. Once this lifestyle starts to feel normal, you’re likely ready to go out on your own.

Cost Factors

Recovery homes can vary in how much any one program charges for room and board. Most homes require residents to maintain employment for the duration of their stay. Some homes also offer sliding-fee scales on monthly rent and expenses. In cases where employment is hard to come by, this may ultimately shorten your stay unless your health insurer covers the costs or you can pay by some other means.

Call 800-953-3913 (Who Answers?) toll free anytime for help finding a sober house near you.

Considerations

People coming off long-term or chronic addiction problems often struggle with co-occurring mental health issues. When this is the case, those in recovery have to work twice as hard at establishing and maintaining a drug-free lifestyle. These types of challenges warrant long-term recovery home stays along the lines of two years or more. Otherwise, the risk of relapse runs considerably high.