Disadvantages of a Halfway House after Residential Treatment

If you or a loved one are recovering from substance abuse and will be moving out of your residential treatment soon, you may be wondering what your next step should be. There will be pros and cons to any situation, but if you are considering a halfway house as the next step, there are some disadvantages you should be aware of.

What Are Halfway Houses?

According to NCBI, the intention of a halfway house is to help each individual in recovery make the transfer easier from a residential center or hospital back to normal life and routine. It can be quite a change to go from a sheltered facility back into society, which is why halfway houses are designed to make that step a bit smoother.

The treatments of various halfway houses will differ, some following 12-step programs, while some had a less formal approach. The main concern and goal of halfway houses is in teaching patients how to integrate back into regular life, with focus on self-care and management skills. There are many positive outcomes associated with these programs, but it is also important to inspect the negative outcomes that could result as well.

The Limitations of These Programs

Due to limited funding, many residents have to leave before they’re ready.

Despite the benefits, there are also some limits to halfway houses, such as the length of time that a patient can remain in them. Regardless of whether the patient is ready to be integrated back into regular life, once their time at a halfway house is up they have to move on. If somebody is recovering at a slower pace, but still making progress, then rushing them back into regular life could add more stress to the situation and contribute to a relapse.

One reason that this is the case is due to low funding for most halfway houses, as they typically depend on government funding to operate. If you feel limited by the options available and are unsure what to do next, get help today at 800-953-3913 (Who Answers?).

Disadvantages to the Patient

Halfway houses are not as restricting as residential treatment centers, which can be either a good or bad thing depending on the patient. For some patients, this access to the outside world could prove to be a temptation while they are trying to abstain and recover from substance abuse.

It could lead to them taking the treatment at the halfway house less seriously than they should, as they are able to step into the world outside of their treatment and find distractions from ordinary life.

What is the Alternative?

A very similar program that could prove to be extremely beneficial in your recovery is a sober living home. According to NCBI, these do not restrict your length of stay as many halfway houses do. While there are not formal treatments in these homes, they can monitor your health, safety, and quality of care throughout your recovery process. Having a home like this could be a great benefit in helping you recover more efficiently!

If you or a loved one are unsure of what your next step should be, get help today at 800-953-3913 (Who Answers?).

Is a Halfway House a Sober Living House?