Is Sober Living Right for Me? Questions to Ask

Recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction can be a lengthy process, especially for people with long histories of substance abuse. After going through detox and residential treatment, the idea of entering a sober living program may seem like overkill, but addiction’s aftereffects can last a lot longer than expected. As it’s better to be safe than sorry, knowing whether sober living is right for you can ultimately save a lot of frustration and disappointment in long run.

The Sober Living Treatment Approach

Sober living programs operate as semi-independent living environments which incorporate the principles and practices of addiction recovery within a person’s day-to-day affairs. According to the U. S. National Library of Medicine, this treatment approach works to provide recovering addicts with real-world experience in terms of what it’s like to live drug-free while managing the affairs of everyday life. As chronic addiction problems tend to breed a lifestyle all their own, the sober living treatment approach enables a person to develop a drug-free lifestyle before going out into the world on his or her own.

Questions to Ask:

Have I Gone Through Multiple Rounds of Drug Treatment in the Past?

In the absence of needed treatment supports, the likelihood of relapse runs especially high, even for people who’ve maintained abstinence for months or years at a time. If you’ve gone in and out of drug treatment with little progress to show for it, a sober living environment may well provide the type of guidance and supports needed to maintain abstinence for the long term.

Does the Thought of Leaving Residential Treatment Seem Overwhelming?

Ask yourself whether or not your home environment will impact your recovery efforts.

Going from the structure and routine of residential treatment into the “real world” can be a jarring experience and can quickly compromise your progress in recovery if you’re not ready. During their stay, sober home residents hold down jobs, are responsible for household upkeep and pay monthly rent. In effect, sober living programs incorporate a rules-based structure that prepares you for the stressors and pressures of everyday living while providing a recovery-focused living environment.

Will I Be Returning to a Stable Home Environment?

According to the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, returning to a chaotic home environment after completing drug treatment makes it all but impossible for a recovering addict to maintain continued abstinence on an ongoing basis. If you’re returning to a home environment wrought with conflict, stress and/or substance abuse, a sober living program offers you the best chance of continued progress in recovery.

Do I Need to Establish a Healthy Recovery Support Network?

The further along a person progresses in recovery the more important it is to have a solid support network in his or her corner. The residents that make up a sober living home function as a community of like-minded individuals all working towards the same goal. This level of comradery can prove invaluable when it comes to maintaining abstinence on a day-by-day basis.

Considerations

While entering a sober living program will most definitely extends your time in treatment, continued success in addiction recovery often means staying engaged in the treatment process in one way or another. For someone coming off a long history of substance abuse, the support and guidance available through a sober living program can make all the difference in terms of overcoming addiction once and for all.

If you or someone you know is considering entering a sober living program and have more questions, please don’t hesitate to call our toll-free helpline at 800-953-3913 (Who Answers?) to speak with one of our addictions specialists.

Is Sober Living Right for Me?