What is a Sober Living Environment?
For many people just coming out of rehab from substance abuse, a transition back to their former lives can be extremely difficult. Without a supportive environment, many revert back to using, negating all the hard work they just went through in rehab. The sober living environment (SLE) movement was founded on the West Coast as a method of providing an interim environment for people to transition back to their former lives after rehab. SLEs are a place in which residents can be supervised and supported in a time where they are most vulnerable to relapses.
Requirements
Most SLEs have a set of requirements for joining. Some typical requirements are:
- No drugs, alcohol, or violence
- Required participation in meetings
- Random drug testing
- Guest fee payments
- Participation in work or school
SLEs do not usually require that residents come directly from rehab – many residents make the decision to join an SLE when they feel at risk of becoming addicted.
Programs and Features
Different sober living houses will offer different types of programs for residents. Most will involve some type or regular counseling or meeting, to ensure the residents are meeting their goals. Most are not co-ed, though some can be. Many SLEs are staffed to provide services such as cleaning and cooking, to ease the burden of those tasks on those who are recovering.
Success Rate
Sober living environments are shown to improve long-term recovery for those who also participate actively in 12-step or other programs for recovery.