This is particularly concerning because our analysis of criminal justice offenders in SLHs showed alcohol and drug outcomes that were similar to residents who entered the houses voluntarily. There are several limitations to the study that are important to consider. First, we could not directly compare which type of SLH was most effective because there were tips to stay sober demographic and other individual characteristics that differed between the two types of houses. Second, individuals self selected themselves into the houses and a priori characteristics of these individuals may have at least in part accounted for the longitudinal improvements. Although self selection can be viewed as a weakness of the research designs, it can also be conceived as a strength, especially for studying residential recovery programs.
More on Substance Abuse and Addiction
Many people turn to a higher power for motivation to overcome drug misuse. A higher power often refers to a deity, but some people interpret it as nature or self-will. Religion or spirituality can help people achieve calmness, peace and sanity. Staying connected to a higher power can give people the strength to avoid drug or alcohol use and commit their lives to sobriety. Celebrating milestones by engaging in self-care activities can help reinforce the positive changes you’ve made. Sticking to healthy habits can help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety and decrease bad moods.
- In addition, it is important to note that residents were able to maintain improvements even after they left the SLHs.
- Based on our findings, we aimed to develop suggestions for maximizing motivation to maintain sobriety.
- Switch from the damaging addiction to healing choices, reward those choices, and your brain will stop lying that you can’t live without whatever you’re addicted to.
- Volunteering not only celebrates your progress but also reinforces the positive impact of your sobriety.
- It just might make the difference between relapse and recovery.
- It can include a medically supervised detox, various forms of treatment including therapy and 12-step programs, and calling upon family, friends, and professionals for additional support.
What Did We Learn from Our Study on Sober Living Houses and Where Do We Go from Here?
- To avoid a relapse at this stage, your mental health is vital.
- These relationships provide support, understanding, and companionship without the temptation of substance use.
- Relapse rates for substance use addictions are around 40% to 60%.
- However, they may want to avoid the level of commitment involved in reentering a formal treatment program.
- However, residents of SLHs also enhance motivation in other ways, including ways they reach out to residents to help them avoid relapse.
Some ideas include hosting a celebratory dinner or BBQ, visiting a favorite restaurant, or planning a fun outing like bowling or a movie night. One effective way to celebrate sobriety milestones is by setting personal goals and rewards. This could involve treating yourself to something special you’ve been wanting like getting a new book or gadget, a piece of jewelry or clothing, or a spa day or massage. A great way to stay motivated is to set both short-term and long-term goals.
Implement Relapse Prevention Techniques
Early sobriety may come with feelings of fatigue and the stress of dealing with challenges (people, places, and things that stimulate the urge to use). It’s impossible to know how you’ll react and how your life will change when getting and staying sober. There are common setbacks to getting and staying sober like withdrawal, craving, and pressure to use.
The HealthyIncoming: Inspiration
One manager described one of his facilities as primarily housing persons with dual diagnoses of psychiatric and substance use disorders. He felt many such residents were able to do well “if you can keep them medication compliant and you can get them introduced into co-occurring disorder groups”. He described the house as part of a “full service partnership”, where residents who were relapsing could readily be admitted to other types of housing without a sobriety requirement. However, his perception was that a significant number of dual diagnosed individuals preferred the modified SLH arrangement. Study participants felt residents were most likely to be receptive to feedback when it came from other residents rather than house managers. Within an interpersonal context of understanding and support, they were more motivated to address issues they needed to work on and acknowledge ways they were vulnerable to relapse.
