5 Things To Consider Before Entering A Sober Living Facility

5 Things To Consider Before Entering A Sober Living Facility

The news over the last few years has been full of stories about the current epidemic of opiate addiction. This has led to an increase in the number of people entering drug rehabs and sober living facilities as addicts try to get their lives back on track. However, a big problem for addicts and their family members has been the unfamiliarity with drug treatment options. Many people don’t know the difference between a drug rehab and a sober living facility. 

A drug rehab center is geared more toward getting a patient detoxed off drugs or alcohol and then helping them stay sober. A sober living facility is a place addicts in recovery can reside once they have detoxed, so they can learn new behaviors and coping skills that will help them stay sober. These places are usually very strict, and they typically restrict your privileges until you prove you have earned them back. 

Staying sober can be the most difficult part of recovery, which is why entering a sober living facility can be beneficial. These are 5 things you should consider before choosing a sober living facility to enter.

Be Honest with Yourself

The first thing you must do before getting sober is to ask yourself if you are ready to get sober. Many sober living facilities will give you an assessment over the phone to determine if they are the right option for you or whether you need to enter a drug rehab. Many facilities have an online presence to peruse for information, for example on the New Life House website. Check out the websites of sober living facilities in your area to figure out what is best for you. 

The important thing though, is to be honest with yourself at all times. Otherwise, you will most likely not succeed at staying sober.

Find Out the Program They Offer

The next thing to consider is the type of program a facility offers. Many follow the 12-step program that AA uses, but that doesn’t work for everyone. 

Other programs like Smart recovery and LifeRing may be better suited for certain individuals, especially those who have already tried a traditional 12-step program and failed. There isn’t any one way to getting and staying sober that will work for everyone, so you’ll have to do some deep soul-searching to figure out what works best for your beliefs and goals.

Is the Facility Secular or Faith-Based?

This goes along with the previous point. Another important factor to learn about a sober living facility is whether they are affiliated with any specific religion or if they are secular. 

This can be a major factor since many people who do not follow any specific organized religion may have difficulty accepting a religious approach to recovery and would feel more comfortable in a secular setting. Another reason to find out if a facility has a religious-based approach is because some research has shown that facilities that are tied to religion can have a greater rate of success than secular ones.

The Duration of Your Stay

You should always find out how long it will take to successfully complete a facility’s program. Some can be as short as a few months with ongoing outpatient support while other places have programs that can run as long as two years. Again, there isn’t a universal way to treat addiction, and some patients may need longer to make changes and be successful in their recovery.

Is Insurance Accepted?

Sober living facilities can be expensive at times while others may be less so. Some places will take insurance, and others make you pay for it yourself either out of pocket or through working at the facility or offsite. The cost can be a big factor in choosing a facility.

Getting and staying sober can be very difficult even in the best situations. It is normally a long road to recovery, and a sober living facility can be of immense help. Before picking a facility to enter, you should find out as much as you can about the place to ensure you are making the best choice for addressing your addiction.