What Are Sober Living House Rules?

They can help prevent relapse and offer a supportive peer group environment. Riviera is a health and wellness community that sets its goals around wellness, independence, and community. We have a team of experienced local addiction consultants who help you ease back into the community from a sober living facility. We offer multiple services, including weekly mentor meetings, nutrition meetings, 24/7 rehab consulting staff, food management systems, random drug testing, weekly social activities, and more. Sober living homes have staff members responsible for enforcing these rules to ensure the environment is free of drugs and the individuals are not tempted to relapse.

This measure was taken from Gerstein et al. (1994) and was defined as number of arrests over the past 6 months. To assess current psychiatric severity we used the Brief Symptom Inventory (Derogatis & Melisaratos, sober house 1983). This 53-item measure assesses severity of psychiatric symptoms on nine clinical scales as well as three global indices. Items are rated on a 5-point scale and ask about symptoms over the past 7 days.

How do sober living homes work during the intake process? How do I get into one?

Sober living homes offer safety and support for people recovering from drug or alcohol abuse. You live in a substance-free environment while navigating the responsibilities of life in the real world. Think of sober living as your support net as you practice new skills, gain new insight and shape your new life in recovery with other people who are possibly facing the same challenges.

If they still feel unsure about recovery, it’s best for them to avoid temptation. Once they have more confidence in their ability to say no, then it’s time face the home front. Think about the environment that will inspire you most in recovery – one that will keep you going and set you up for success. Do you have a safe space to reflect and meditate, or a creative place to let go? Do you have access to a peaceful, outdoor environment when you need a breath of fresh air, or to local amenities, like a grocery store or quiet café? Choosing an environment that reflects a positive recovery is key to lasting sobriety.

The History of Sober Living Houses

For a more complete description of the study design and collection of data see Polcin et al. (2010), Polcin et al. (in press) and Polcin, Korcha, Bond, Galloway and Lapp (in press). Our free email newsletter offers guidance from top addiction specialists, inspiring sobriety stories, and practical recovery tips to help you or a loved one keep coming back and staying sober. Informed by her personal journey to recovery and support of loved ones in sobriety, Jessica’s empathetic and authentic approach resonates deeply with the Addiction Help community. Sober living homes are generally privately-owned houses in quiet, residential areas. Residents usually have their own room or share a bedroom with one other roommate, and shared areas will include bathrooms, kitchens, and living rooms.

The second phase allows for more personal autonomy and increased responsibility for one’s recovery. All residents, regardless of phase, are required to be active in 12-step recovery programs, abide by basic house rules, and abstain from alcohol and drugs. A “Resident Congress” consisting of current residents and alumni helps enforce house rules and provides input into the management of the houses. Although the owner/operator of the houses is ultimately responsible, she/he defers to the Residents Congress as much as possible to maintain a peer oriented approach to recovery.