What Happens if You Break Sober House Rules?

There have been many studies devoted to sober houses. Regardless of what they find, nothing changes the fact that these houses provide value to those who are transitioning from a rehab facility to the real world.

Living in a sober house is not the same as living in a rehab facility. Furthermore, it is not the same as moving into your own home or apartment. While the arrangement is similar to living in your own place, there are rules you must abide by at all times.

For example, sober house residents are expected to remain 100 percent clean at all times. As the name suggests, this is a sober environment. Everybody is doing their best to reclaim control of their life as they transition out of rehab and back into the “real world.” It only takes one bad apple to spoil the bunch.

Even though every sober house resident is aware of the rules, there are times when somebody crosses the line. For one reason or the next, either on purpose or unintentionally, they make a mistake and break a rule. If this happens, there can be consequences.

In the event that a person breaks a rule, it is safe to assume he or she will be dealt with accordingly. The first step is a review. This is when the incident is explored in greater detail and the resident has the opportunity to discuss what happened. There is no guarantee that a review will lead to dismissal, however, this is possible.

Depending on the seriousness of the incident, a person’s resident agreement could be terminated. In short, this means they are no longer welcome to live at the sober house. Instead, they will be forced to vacate within a reasonable period of time (sometimes immediately).

Some sober houses are more lenient than others. Of course, a lot of this has to do with the rule that is broken. For example, there is a big difference between missing curfew one night and doing drugs in the house. In other words, the punishment typically fits the “crime.”

As the resident of a sober house, it is important to be aware of the rules as well as the terms and conditions of your agreement. This will ensure that you know what is expected of you at all times. Furthermore, you will understand what you are and are not allowed to do during your stay.