Living Sober: A Guide to Transitioning from Addiction to Sobriety

Sober living is an important step in transitioning from addiction treatment back into independent living. Learn more about what sober living looks like and how it can help you stay on track.

Living Sober: A Guide to Transitioning from Addiction to Sobriety

Traditional sober living is a bridge between an inpatient center and the “real world”. It is a privately owned home for people recovering from drug or alcohol addiction, located in quiet and peaceful neighborhoods. Residents are expected to work or go to school, participate in weekly meetings and house discussions, and submit to regular drug and alcohol testing. A typical day in a sober home usually starts with tasks such as tidying up the bedroom, cleaning the bathroom, or helping with breakfast.

After that, there may be home meetings, twelve-step meetings, mandatory drug testing, or counseling sessions inside or outside the home. Rules are designed to keep residents on the path to sobriety and protect the recovery of other residents in the home. It is easy to confuse sober houses with rehabilitation centers or transitional houses, but there are some marked differences between them. Other rules in a sober home may include a curfew, the requirement that clients attend regular house meetings, random drug tests, and support groups such as 12-step meetings.

If someone drinks or uses drugs while living in a sober home, they violate the most important rule of the house and may be asked to leave. Transitional houses are intended to gently reintroduce tenants into society, free from the pressures and triggers of a potentially dangerous domestic environment. In a sober home, residents can develop new coping skills to live a life without drugs or alcohol. It is common for sober living households, especially structured sober living households, to have a fixed schedule for the day.

For customers who live in the safe, trigger-free environment of a sober home, staying sober doesn't seem like a struggle. Maybe you're a college student looking for sober dorms or looking to make your living space more conducive to your sober lifestyle. Through peer support, proven recovery principles, peer empowerment, and individual responsibility, residents can consolidate their sobriety and prepare to return home or live independently. Design For Recovery is committed to helping you or your loved one live a full life free of alcohol or drug addiction. If you or your loved one needs a sober living facility, contact your local health professional or medical professional for a referral.

Cecilia Fukunaga
Cecilia Fukunaga

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