This article from the fix is impeccable. How do you tell a quality sober living from a random house looking to fit as many people and call it a process? The fact that it brings back power to the client is important. We'd like to add our own questions that help to refine the outcome after providing sober living in San Diego for over 5 years.
How often do you drug test?
This one is a biggie. There tends to be cost cutting in drug testing because it can be up to $10 dollars a test. The second one is alcohol breathalyzer. Alcohol is 'easier' to 'bring in' a sober house. We have found that the costs for testing is actually an investment and keeps sober living clients accountable. Our data also shows that the more we have tested, the better the outcomes. It is not uncommon for sober living homes to test once it is very evident that someone is either using or is on a behavioral path to do so. Testing often helps deter and many times eliminate excessive relapse in sober living homes. We recommend a minimum of once a week on urine and at least twice on breathalyzer.
What is the relapse policy?
Rarely do people talk about relapse and it's important to know that not only does it happen, but its less common to have continued and extended sobriety. Sad? Unfortunate? Drug and alcohol recovery is messy and, let's not forget, mortal. We do have hope. It is important to set clear the consequences of relapse, and not in a manner of punitive measures, but as to keeping a home safe for sober living clients. The greater the structure, the safer it is. Relapse with a focus on money can lead to sober homes charging reinstatement fees or simply feeling afraid to asking someone to leave because of losing a clients expenses at the end of a month. A quality sober living home will care more about safety than money. Our experience shows that having options to staying at a local hotel, going back to detox or having another sober living home to begin recovery (with their residents aware of the issue) will lead to a greater connection to the community and ties not broken. There should be consequences but there is no need to punish a behavior that many times is cognitive and biological and not a decision of morals.
Communication. Communication. Communication.
Although you can't nanny a loved one, it is important to know what the process of communication will be in both relapse, payment and/or changes. Do get treatment and support with both the rehab and ideally a therapist, and knowing you are not on your own should reduce stress for everyone. Our prayers go out to those seeking help and information reminding everyone that we are not starting from scratch and that sober living homes like By The Sea Recovery look to find innovation in data, process and ultimately outcomes in the sober living world.
What starts as recreational marijuana and prescription opiate use can escalate to an overdose, and given the sensitive biology that is still developing in youth, most prefrontal activity is interrupted and hindered by the strong prescriptions available in most cabinets. Its a phase. She will get out of it. Unfortunately the stigma is still too large and few want to discuss it as if it would not happen to a specific group or segment.
Treatment centers are attending this problem and supporting the recovery with sober living, safe housing that is overseen by organizations such as the sober living network and ccapp. More focus on long term plans and supporting families need to be addressed for it is illogical that a problem that arises from months and up to years can be detained in 30 days.
And the fight to regulate sober living homes continues. An Arizona bill seeks to license sober houses and recovery homes, placing an interesting point of view on a seemingly untouched policy for disabled housing, which those suffering from substance use disorders are under (ADA and FDH). Are there standards in sober living homes? If they are, they have not been published other than general variables finding support to sustainable recovery. It has been stated that those against the development of more alcohol and drug free housing lies solely on discrimination, yet after reading this article it seems cities or states do not want to close them down, but to make sure there are clear parameters by which to live either side by side to a community or to definitely set out specific boundaries to development. Is there discrimination happening? Im sure. Is it all discrimination? Im not sure, I don't think its wrong to want to find out what are the standards of sober living homes and are overseeing bodies such as the sober living network and caarr living up to these standards when certifying homes. If there is news, it will only bring us closer to attending the questions of the community and strengthening the core of recovery housing.
