What is a Sober Living Network and Is it Right for Me?

Proper support services and continuing care are the biggest contributing factors to successful recovery from substance abuse issues. This is especially true for people after they leave intensive addiction treatment or incarceration.

However, it has only been in recent years that networks dedicated to sober living and continued recovery have begun to grow in availability and scope. But, what is a sober living network and is it right for you?

What is a Sober Living Network?

A sober living network is a combination of people and organizations that support sober living. Groups and individuals that are part of a sober living network include:

• Addiction counselors
• Mutual support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous
• Various housing authorities
• Criminal justice organizations
• Addiction treatment centers
• Medical professional that specialize in substance abuse
• Individuals living sober

Sober living networks provide job skills training.

These people and organizations combine to make a network dedicated to helping you in your continued treatment and recovery.

How does a Sober Living Network Function?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction is a chronic disease that requires not only medical treatment, but long term follow-ups and aftercare provided by support and recovery services, in order to prevent relapse.

The groups that are part of a sober living network combine their resources to meet this need. There is no better solution for people leaving intensive addiction treatment and continuing the path of recovery.

What are the Benefits?

According to the National Library of Medicine, too many people leaving addiction treatment do not have proper living facilities, support, or continuing care to ensure that they have the best chance of remaining sober. The benefits of sober living networks are designed to tackle this problem. These benefits are:

• Safe and stable living facilities away from substances of abuse
• Access to training in how to live sober
• Access to job skills training and employment services
• Addiction counseling and continued treatment
• Mutual support groups
• Continuing physical and mental health care for recovering individuals

These benefits show how important these networks are to the communities that they serve, particularly for those recovering from addiction. To take advantage of these benefits of a sober living network, call us at 800-953-3913 (Who Answers?) to find one in your area.

Types of Services Offered at a Sober House

What are the Drawbacks?

The possible drawbacks are:

• Strict rules
• Sometimes living with released criminals
• Curfews
• No overnight guests are usually allowed

These negatives are few and are not always part of every social network. In fact, you can usually find a sober living network in your area that will meet all of your needs. This makes continuing your treatment and recovery with the help of a sober living network even more beneficial.

How to Find a Sober Living Network

With the growing number of sober living houses that have no network affiliation, it can be difficult to be sure that you are actually getting all of the benefits of a sober living network before you enter into one.

However, we are here to help you in this task. Simply call us at 800-953-3913 (Who Answers?) and one of our friendly staff members will be able to assist you in choosing a true social living network that best fits your needs and recovery goals.