The transition from an addiction treatment center to independent living can be tough. You’ll have to learn how to cope with everyday triggers all on your own. To avoid experiencing a relapse, you should consider attending a sober living facility.

Sober living programs are drug and alcohol-free housing opportunities that keep you connected to recovery and supportive services. They help you obtain a job, encourage you to attend support groups, and keep you on track with your sobriety. The goal of a sober living program is to help you develop the life skills you need to stay sober independently.

If you are entering a sober living environment or halfway house, you’ll need to know what to pack. You must bring the appropriate clothing, toiletries, entertainment items, and bedroom necessities like laundry hampers or clothing hangers. You should avoid bringing items like weapons, drugs, alcohol, furniture, wall-hanging decor, and more.

In this article, you will learn:

• What items should you bring to a sober living program?
• What items should you avoid taking to sober living?
• What kinds of prescription medications are permitted in sober living?

What Should You Bring to Sober Living in Florida?

Sober living homes are designed to assist you while you recover from substance abuse and attend 12-step programs or other types of support meetings. They teach you how to maintain sobriety and live independently.

When moving into a sober living home in Florida, you should bring:

Clothes

You should bring enough clothes for at least a week. You’ll have access to laundry either inside of the home or at a laundromat.

You must consider the weather when moving into a sober living home in Florida. People often joke that it is summer year-round in Florida, so it is best to pack clothes appropriate for warm weather. You might visit the beach often, which means you’ll need a swimsuit and other beach attire.

You should also pack some clothes appropriate for job interviews and work, as you’ll be encouraged and assisted through the process of obtaining a job in the local community.

Toiletries and Hygiene Products

While some sober homes provide toiletries, you might want to bring specific items that will help you feel comfortable. It’s important to note that any product that contains alcohol will be prohibited, so keep this in mind while packing.

Toiletries you should bring include:

• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Soap
• Feminine hygiene products if needed
• Towels and washcloths or loofahs
• Alcohol-free mouthwash

Entertainment Items

You might have some downtime during your stay in a sober living home, so you should bring items to entertain yourself with. For example, you can bring books, puzzles, small art supplies, and electronic devices like your laptop or gaming console.

While you want to bring enough items to keep yourself entertained, you won’t be stuck inside of your sober home forever. If you think of something you want later on, you can always pick it up from the store.

Bedroom Necessities

Depending on your sober home, you might have a private bedroom or share a room with a roommate. If you have a shared room, avoid bringing too many bedroom items, as you’ll have to share your space with your new friend.

Bedroom necessities you should bring include laundry hampers and plastic clothes hangers. Most sober homes do not allow you to hang wall art, but if you want a picture of a loved one, you can bring a framed picture that sits on your nightstand or desk.

Things You Shouldn’t Bring to a Sober Home

Sober living programs have house rules like randomized drug testing and nightly curfews to keep you and the other residents safe. Another part of the rules will be a list of items that are prohibited from coming inside the residence.

Examples of things you shouldn’t bring to a sober home include:

• Pets
• Firearms or weapons of any kind
• Inappropriate materials or clothing (i.e. anything displaying sexual content or drug use)
• Products containing alcohol, like mouthwash, hand sanitizer, antibacterial soap, and cleaning products

Even further, most sober homes already have all of the furniture you’ll need. This means you should leave chairs, tables, and TVs at home. Unless specified otherwise, you can also assume you don’t need to bring kitchen items like pots or pans.

Lastly, you’ll have to be careful when it comes to bringing prescription medication. Most prescriptions are allowed, like antidepressants or other psychiatric meds. However, your sober living home will not allow you to bring controlled substances like prescription opioids, benzodiazepines, or stimulants.

If you are unsure whether your prescriptions will be allowed in your sober home, contact the house manager to confirm whether they are okay to bring. Any prescription you bring with you must have the official prescription label with your name on it.

Learn More About the Process of Moving into a Florida Sober Living Home

If you are moving into a sober living home, you’re probably wondering what to expect. At New You Sober Living, our house manager will provide you with detailed information on the process, including what items to bring and what might be prohibited from the home.

Contact New You Sober Living today to learn more about our move-in process.