Where Does Sober Living Fit in the Continuum of Care?

Where Does Sober Living Fit in the Continuum of Care?

Where Does Sober Living Fit Into the Addiction Treatment Continuum?

Although a sober living program can last anywhere from six months to over a year, recovery is a lifelong process. The concept of “continuum of care” ensures that people who are recuperating stay on track with their therapy.
According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, there are three tiers to this model:

  1. Early intervention services at level 0.5
  2. Outpatient services are available at the first level.
  3. Level 2 therapies include intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization.
  4. Residential or inpatient treatment services (Level 3)
  5. Intensive inpatient treatment services under medical supervision (Level 4)

As the degree of addiction becomes more life-threatening, higher degrees are more acute. As a person gets closer to early recovery, the intensity decreases.

Level 1 of the continuum of care is sober living.

It is regarded to be part of the early phases of recovery and occurs before a person takes their first steps toward full sobriety.

 

Sober Living and Integrated IOP

Some sober living homes provide integrated IOP as a pre-entry or post-relapse therapy option. Intensive outpatient programs provide a treatment plan to help sober house clients overcome their addictions.

Many people prefer integrated sober living and intense outpatient programs like Next Step. The mix of professional therapy and long-term support is the strength of such programs. Individual and group treatment may be included in IOP programs. If behavior treatments like CBT or DBT make sense for you, you may want to seek these services.

IOP choices aren’t for everyone, to be sure.

Detox or 24-hour medical/psychological monitoring may necessitate inpatient treatment.

 

The Stages of Sobriety

Sober living tends to be structured in stages of increasing freedom.

The phases of every specific sober living home will vary greatly based on how they work. The level of assistance and services provided has a significant impact on what is necessary.

We’ll go over what to expect from a well-structured sober house program:

Residents begin the restrictive period with a “mental cleanse.”
From the moment they arrive, a resident is focused on the fundamentals of living in sobriety while remaining isolated from triggers.

  • May take up to a month.
  • It’s possible that you’ll have a “blackout” for the first week, meaning you won’t be able to use your phone or computer.
  • It was suggested that you not work or go to school for a while.
  • If necessary, attend counseling sessions.
  • Begin domestic responsibilities including chores and errands.
  • Keep all of your medical appointments (dental, vision, medical).
  • Introduce activities that are good for you, such as fitness and volunteering.
  • Choose and attend sessions with a peer support group.

The reintroduction steps gradually increase the sober house resident’s personal duties. Following the completion of basic responsibilities, corresponding privileges will be restored.

  • Start school or look for work.
  • Continue with your treatment, support group, errands, and so forth.
  • Personal transportation is permitted, but only for essential purposes.
  • By using a phone app, you can keep track of your location and share it with your family.

Residents who are in the self-sufficiency phase have more accountability before transitioning to independent living. They interact with sober house employees about their activities, but they make their own decisions in the end.

  • Fully self-contained transportation
  • Preparation for the resident to move into his or her own home or apartment.
  • Sober house eligibility standards must still be followed.
  • If a resident regresses or relapses, he or she may be forced to return to limitations or leave the house entirely.
  • Participation in a Peer Support Group

Residents of sober living homes are frequently required to join a peer support group. Support groups are essential for reintegrating into society in a healthy manner. These encourage positive social ties outside of the sober house in order to preserve long-term sobriety. The most prevalent support group in sober living is the 12-Step program.