Intervention and Recovery Specialists

Sober living homes, sometimes referred to as sober living homes and drug-free living centers, are residential care facilities designed to provide safe and supportive housing and structured, drug-free living conditions for individuals leaving drug rehab programs. SLHs provide an alternative to the usual routine of outpatient drug treatment centers, offering safe and clean living quarters in which an individual can live out his or her sobriety. SLHs are generally set up in the same way as typical residential care facilities, with one exception: the patient may choose to attend weekly or monthly meetings, or to be in the facility as long as they prefer.

The primary goal of residential care is to help the patient develop a more healthy lifestyle. In so doing, the person is assisted in returning to society without relying on drugs or alcohol. The residential care facility usually includes individual or group therapy, therapeutic recreation activities, medical services, and activities that assist the patient in building personal responsibility. Drug-free living centers offer individuals with an extended stay a chance to learn how to deal with life without using drugs or alcohol. In some cases, the addict may be required to undergo residential drug treatment before admission.

Many states offer residential care for those who have become addicted to drugs or alcohol. Sober living homes for addicts are often found in rural areas, near schools, recreation centers, nursing homes, hospitals and correctional facilities. It is important to remember, however, that not all substance abusers seek residential treatment and rehabilitation. Therefore, there are a number of SLHs that are run by private organizations and faith-based organizations. Each has its own set of guidelines and requirements, but the general criteria used by these communities is that all who attend are drug-free, in need of ongoing residential treatment and rehabilitation, and want to remain in recovery.