Separately, both sober living and outpatient addiction treatment are still quite beneficial. When used together, however, they complement each other, increasing the odds of positive outcomes.
Keep reading to find out how sober living can support outpatient addiction treatment, and discover tips on finding addiction outpatient treatment near you.
What is Sober Living?
Sober living is a structured, drug- and alcohol-free living environment for people recovering from substance use. It occurs in a variety of settings, including single-family residential homes. Peer support and community living are important elements of sober living, and they range from being completely peer-run to having clinical support staff and oversight. Curfews, house meetings, and participation in recovery-related activities such as a 12-step program or addiction outpatient treatment and therapy are common features of sober living.
Sober living homes offer several benefits, including higher abstinence rates, better mental health, and greater employment and income. Residents are exposed to fewer triggers for relapse, and they are a good place to practice skills needed for sustainable sober living. Sober living homes are an excellent step for people to take after intensive inpatient treatment and before they transition to living alone. Note that addiction outpatient treatment often occurs while in sober living.
What is Outpatient Addiction Treatment?
There are three main types of outpatient addiction treatment: intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), and traditional outpatient therapy. For each of these outpatient addiction treatments, participants typically live at home or in a sober living house. The schedule for outpatient addiction treatment will vary by intensity. IOPs, for example, might provide therapy 3 to 7 days a week for a few hours each time. PHPs are likely to be several hours per day. Traditional outpatient addiction treatment could be just a few days per week, allowing participants to maintain work, school, and family commitments. Outpatient addiction treatment often includes individual, group, and family therapy, mental health counseling, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Outpatient addiction treatment is one of the most cost-effective treatment methods, if not the most effective, when compared to inpatient, residential, and detox. Participants in outpatient treatment programs report between 50% and 70% of abstinence, which is similar to inpatient settings.
How Can I Find Addiction Outpatient Treatment Near Me?
Both sober living houses and outpatient addiction treatment provide benefits for recovery, and if you can combine them, your chances for lasting recovery will increase. Finding the right addiction outpatient treatment for you or a loved one is a very important decision and should be done as thoughtfully as possible. Here are three places to start your search:
- Ask your care team for recommendations. Your care team might include your primary care physician, a therapist, psychologist, or counselor—anyone who is familiar with you and that you trust. If they don’t have a recommendation, they might be able to ask their network for suggestions.
- Online. The internet is a big place and gets larger every day, but it can be a good resource for narrowing your options. Conduct a thorough search, and be sure to read the reviews (ideally from non-biased third-party websites when possible). Individual treatment centers are likely to have a lot of content on their websites, which can help you verify they have what you are looking for. Searching through navigation apps can also be helpful in narrowing centers geographically convenient for you.
- Call around. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and call treatment centers in your area. It’s okay to tell them you are considering several centers and are in an information-gathering stage. Admissions staff may know off the top of their head what is offered in your community and where. These calls can also be very educational for understanding the overall treatment landscape.
Sober Living in Southern California at Entera
Our sober living location in Palm Springs offers luxurious amenities focusing on individualized, holistic treatment programs. Our supportive staff and environment are redefining sober living. We offer mindfulness and meditation, yoga and fitness, nutrition education, and life coaching in person and virtually. If you or a loved one are looking for a new, healthier way of life, we hope you will call us today to discuss the next steps. We know the challenges of recovery and are here to support you with yours.
