Recovery residences play a crucial role in supporting individuals in early recovery by providing peer support, structured living, and opportunities to build healthier connections. These homes, often called "sober houses," align closely with community norms to offer a safe and healthy living environment, similar to a family home.
Operating on the "social model of recovery," these residences focus on the interaction between individuals and their environment. Unlike halfway houses, which also cater to individuals recently released from incarceration, recovery houses prioritize helping residents overcome substance use disorders. Research indicates that individuals living in recovery residences, compared to those returning home immediately after treatment, experience higher abstinence rates, increased employment, and reduced criminal recidivism.
In these homes, solutions to substance abuse problems are communal. Residents support each other through shared responsibilities such as chores, decision-making, and conflict resolution. They also adhere to personalized recovery plans and house rules designed to foster a supportive environment.
The social recovery model accommodates a wide variety of recovery residences, tailored to diverse needs based on religion, spirituality, sexual orientation, gender identity, and cultural or socioeconomic backgrounds. These residences vary significantly in size, services, and monthly fees. Lower-cost houses may offer minimal services, while more expensive ones can include job hunting assistance, transportation, gourmet food, health club memberships, and on-site treatment programs.
Most recovery houses are single-sex, with some allowing parents to live with their small children. A few houses employ trained recovery coaches, and nearly all require abstinence from mind-altering substances. Some practice harm reduction, permitting substances like cannabis, although their effectiveness remains unsupported by research. Increasingly, houses are accepting residents on medications for addiction treatment, such as buprenorphine or methadone.
Research demonstrates that recovery houses offer significant benefits over returning home immediately post-treatment. These benefits include better abstinence rates, higher employment, and reduced criminal behavior. Recovery houses also enhance treatment retention for outpatient participants. Additionally, residences affiliated with larger organizations or those implementing 12-step programs often yield better outcomes.
Economically, recovery houses provide a substantial benefit to communities. One study indicated a cost saving of $29,000 per person compared to no recovery support, mainly due to reduced illegal activities. Moreover, these residences contribute positively to neighborhood quality of life, with residents often assisting neighbors and participating in local events.
Modern recovery housing evolved from informal networks within the 12-step community. The demand for recovery houses has surged, particularly among those recovering from opioid use disorder (OUD). Unfortunately, this demand spike led to unethical practices, such as the "Florida Shuffle," where treatment agencies incentivized recovery houses to refer residents to intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), creating a harmful cycle and increasing overdose deaths.
To address these issues and establish standards, the National Alliance of Recovery Residences (NARR) was formed in 2011. NARR certifies recovery residences based on rigorous research and ethical standards. Currently, over 2,500 NARR-certified recovery residences support more than 25,000 individuals in over 30 states.
source : Treatment Magazine