Do I Need a Halfway House to Remain Sober?

When it comes to getting sober, drug rehab is the easy part. The hard part starts when you get home, back in your old environment, around the people you used with, and dealing with the problems you had before. That’s when early recovery gets real and the risk of relapse jumps tenfold.

That’s also where the option of sober homes and halfway houses come in to play.

What’s a Halfway House?

A halfway house is a group home designed for sober living. It typically has a “house parent,” a sober man or woman who lives there and manages the house and roommates.

In halfway homes, there are rules, expectations, and shared chores. Halfway houses offer a transition from rehab to independent living with both peer support and a lower risk of relapse. If you’re ready for recovery, but don’t know where to start, call 800-953-3913 (Who Answers?) today.

Why Go to a Halfway House?

Halfway houses tend to be in quiet neighborhoods, making it easier to avoid triggers.

There are a lot of reasons to go to a halfway house. The individuals living there are in early recovery, most coming directly out of drug or alcohol rehab, and support one another by going to meetings together and engaging in positive, sober activities.

Halfway houses are also typically in decent, quiet neighborhoods, something that’s beneficial for those in early recovery, as there’s less risk for finding drugs or alcohol.

What to Expect at a Halfway House

While every sober and halfway house has different rules and expectations, here are some of the common rules you’ll find.

• While you can come and go as you please, there’s typically a curfew.
• For the first 30 days or so, you’ll have to spend every night at the halfway house. After that, you can have nights away, but they must be planned.
• To protect the integrity of the program, halfway houses and other sober living homes have the right to administer random drug testing.
• You must show you’re attempting to become a protective member of society, so if you’re not working, you’ll be expected to be looking for employment.
• You’ll also be expected to attend AA or NA meetings, and often times the members go together.
• You must pay your rent on time and in full.
• You are responsible for your own food and should not eat the food that others purchase.
• Many halfway houses have a probationary period of 30 days. If any rule is violated or disruption is caused at your hand, you can be removed with no notice.

Be Responsible for You

A halfway house gives you the opportunity to take responsibility for yourself, and for many addicts and alcoholics, it’s the first time they’ve had to do so. You must get up and go about your day. You must go to work and buy groceries. You must pay your bills and be responsible.

Disadvantages of a Halfway House after Residential Treatment

Is It Right for You?

No one but you can know if a halfway house is the right decision, but here are a few things to consider.

• You’ve been to rehab and failed before.
• Your support at home is limited or non-existent.
• You have a family with a history of enabling or codependence.
• You want to start over somewhere new.

Are You Ready?

If you’re ready to give up drugs and alcohol for good, now’s the time. Call 800-953-3913 (Who Answers?) today to learn about your treatment options and find the help you need.