The lack of a stable, drug and alcohol-free living situation can be a serious stumbling block to long-term recovery. A destructive living environment can hinder recovery even for highly motivated people. That is where sober living programs come in. Sober housing is an effective option for those in need of a substance-free environment that is conducive to permanent recovery. BRC Healthcare’s men’s and women’s sober living residences bridge the critical gap between structured primary recovery and society.
To learn more about BRC Healthcare’s sober living programs at Segue Recovery in the Austin, TX area, call us at 888.559.2036. We offer several addiction treatment programs to help our clients develop the skills they need to succeed in sobriety. We are experienced in helping even treatment-resistant clients achieve the long-term success they deserve.
Sober Living Programs vs. Halfway Houses: What’s the Difference?
Halfway Houses
Recognizing the importance of a recovering individual’s living environment led to the growth of residential and inpatient treatment programs in the 1960s and 1970s. The point was to remove people from destructive living situations that encouraged substance misuse and to create new social support systems while in treatment.
In response to this, some programs created halfway houses where clients could live after they completed residential treatment or while they attended outpatient treatment. Many studies showed that halfway houses improved the outcomes of treatment.
Despite the advantages of halfway houses, there were some limitations, including:
- A limit on how long residents can stay – Usually, after several months, residents are required to move out, whether or not they feel ready for independent living.
- Household financing – For halfway houses, this usually includes government funding. This makes the homes in danger of funding cuts.
- Formal treatment requirement – Halfway houses require residents to have completed or still be involved in some type of formal treatment. There are a variety of reasons that some people wish to avoid formal treatment programs.
Sober Living Programs
Sober living programs are structured in a way to avoid some of the disadvantages of halfway houses. The basic characteristics include:
- A drug and alcohol-free living space for people trying to abstain from drugs and alcohol.
- No formal treatment services but either required or strongly encouraged attendance at 12-step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA).
- Required acceptance of the house rules regarding abstinence, paying rent and other fees, taking part in doing chores, and attending house meetings.
- Residents may stay in the house as long as they want as long as they follow the house rules.
These residences aren’t licensed or funded by state or local governments.
Benefits of Sober Living at BRC Healthcare
We offer eight gender-specific recovery residences located in Central Austin that are owned and operated by BRC Healthcare, and they are open to anyone who has completed primary treatment and is seeking to transition into safe, supportive sober housing.
Features of our residences include:
- A cozy, home-like environment
- Built-in recovery network
- Fully furnished bedrooms and common areas
- Outdoor space
- 24/7 supervision provided by a full-time, on-site house manager
- Morning group prayer and meditation
- Recovery-focused weekly house meetings
- Process groups
- Twice weekly drug and alcohol testing
Our sober living residences include traditional group housing and graduate-style apartments.
Sober Living House Rules
The rules in every sober living house are different, so individuals are encouraged to read the rules before they join the home. However, these rules are fairly common:
Drug Testing
Residents are expected to be tested regularly to check for the presence of drugs or alcohol in their system. In the event that they are caught with any drug, they will lose their sober living house privileges or leave immediately. They are expected to stay sober.
12-Step and Support Meetings
According to house rules, there are regular meetings where all the residents are expected to gather. This gives everyone the opportunity to share their own views, assign duties, and express complaints. As a result, the residents learn the importance of connection and unity within their group.Our sober living houses offer 12-step meetings, which include the 12 principles of AA.
Curfews
House residents are supposed to report to the house at a certain time. This is especially the case for new patients. If the patient improves, there may be an easing of the rules under certain guidelines.
House Cleaning
Sober living house cleaning is entirely up to the residents, and chores are assigned on a rotating basis.
Meals
Residents are responsible for their meals and groceries.
Heal at BRC Healthcare’s Sober Living Programs
Recovery takes time and sober living housing can help make the transition from primary treatment to real life a little easier. At BRC Healthcare, we provide gender-specific sober living residences that promote a community-based, evidence-based approach to recovery. Contact BRC Healthcare today to learn how we provide a safe place for clients to heal and build a strong foundation for long-term recovery.