How is a Sober Living Home Different From Rehab?
If you are struggling with substance abuse, you are not alone. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 48.7 million people struggled with a substance use disorder in 2022.[1]
Addiction is a chronic and progressive disease that requires ongoing treatment and maintenance to recover. The first step in overcoming addiction is attending a drug and alcohol addiction treatment center. Also known as rehab, these programs offer services like medical detox, evidence-based behavioral therapies, and other services designed to help you recover.
While rehab centers like residential treatment programs provide you with the tools and support you need to achieve sobriety, they do not cure addiction. You have to continue to work on bettering yourself to stay sober long-term. Sometimes, it is necessary to secure a little extra help in the form of a sober living environment.
Sober-living homes and halfway houses are housing opportunities that allow you to live in a supportive environment that is 100% drug and alcohol-free. They are designed to help you develop the life skills you need to maintain your sobriety. Sober living housing programs are different from rehab as they are meant as a form of supplemental support rather than a medical and behavioral treatment facility.
In this article, you will learn:
- What sober living is
- Why sober living is important or beneficial
- How sober living is different from rehab
What is a Sober Living Program?
Sober living facilities are homes that allow people recovering from alcohol and drug addiction to have a supportive environment to live in. Most of the time, people enter a sober living home directly after completing treatment. When living in one of these homes, you will have roommates who are on the same journey as you and a house manager who makes sure everything runs smoothly, residents respect each other, and have access to the support they need.
You can live in a sober living program as long as you need to. That said, it is common to spend anywhere from 90 days to one year living in a sober home. These programs help you learn how to maintain sobriety while living as an independent adult.
During a sober living home, some rules and requirements help keep you sober and safe, including:
- Random alcohol and drug testing
- Nightly curfews
- Chores to complete daily and weekly
- Requirements on attending a certain number of support groups like 12-step meetings
- Mandatory job searches
- A fair amount of weekly or monthly rent to teach you how to manage money
- Mandatory house meetings to maintain connection and community
Sober Living vs. Rehab: What is the Difference?
The difference between sober living and rehab is the purpose of the programs. Rehab centers are meant to treat addiction, while sober living programs are designed to help you maintain sobriety after you have already achieved it.
Some of the main differences between addiction treatment centers and sober living programs include:
Sober Living is Not Intended to Treat Addiction
Sober living programs are meant to help you avoid relapse during early recovery. They do not provide the services necessary to treat addiction. For example, rehab programs offer medical detox, individual therapy, and group counseling, while sober living does not.
No Medical Professionals on Site
Rehab centers employ medical professionals like doctors, nurses, and psychiatrists. They also have mental health professionals like therapists, psychologists, or social workers on site. In contrast, sober living homes are often run by a house manager who only has lived experience in recovering from addiction.
A Higher Focus on Relapse Prevention
Because sober living is designed to help you avoid relapse after you’ve completed a rehab program, they place a higher emphasis on relapse prevention techniques. Sober living programs often require you to attend a certain number of support groups per week. They also have house managers on site who can offer support and guidance when you are struggling with your sobriety.
More Freedom and Flexibility
Rehab programs often require you to stay at the facility 24/7 to prevent you from relapsing and shield you from outside triggers.
When you are in a sober living home, you have more freedom and flexibility. It is often required that you work a job or attend school while you are in a sober living home. You are also allowed to come and go from the home as you please as long as you meet the nightly curfew.
Less Supervision Than a Treatment Facility
Sober living is designed for people who have already attended addiction treatment. Because of this, they offer less supervision than rehab programs, which allows you to learn how to make healthy choices on your own. When you are in a sober living program, you can choose where you spend your free time rather than having scheduled activities like you would in a rehab center.
Get Connected to a Highly-Rated Sober Living Home
If you or a loved one has recently completed an addiction treatment program, you might want to consider attending sober living. At New You Sober Living, we can provide you with the support and structure you need to ease the transition from living in a facility to independence.
Contact us today for more information on our highly-rated sober living program.
References:
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): HHS, SAMHSA Release 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health Data
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