Sobriety is still a touchy topic for a lot of folks. Some people think that sobriety is easily achieved while some understand that it’s more than just a 12-step program. The first step to recovery is to understand that addiction is a disease of both the mind and body. Although a lot of people think that addiction is a physical dependence on a substance, recent studies show that addiction is more of a behavioral syndrome wherein a substance is the main motivation for an individual’s behavior. And although it can elicit a physical need for a substance, not everyone develops a physical dependence on his or her substance of choice. This is a good thing because it only means that addiction, like all kinds of both behavioral and physical disease, can and will be treated.
We’ve all heard of dismal relapse rates. Research has shown that out of the 100 alcoholics who go into rehab, only 5 will stay sober for longer than 2 years. That’s a sad statistic right there, but this doesn’t mean that you or someone you know have a low chance of staying sober. Another statistic shows that after 4 years of sustained recovery, the chances of relapse drops to 15%, which is good news for everyone involved. This only means that sustained sobriety is not impossible to attain given the right tools and resources.
A detox program or rehabilitation treatment is just the first step to recovery. Sustained sobriety is only possible if the necessary post-rehab steps are also taken into consideration. The “early recovery” process is a long and winding road for some, while some people say that it only took them two years. Early recovery is the most important part of recovery and it is important that you do all the steps necessary to get through this stage. One good way is to stay in recovery homes that don’t encourage old habits.
To continue with dismal statistics, most people (about 80%) who go out of rehab fail to thrive back in their old environments. Even those who have the best intentions and iron wills find that it is impossible to say no under certain circumstances. The homeless, jobless, and those without family or friends to take care of them are more prone to going back to their old addictions.
Sober living homes are the perfect post-rehab treatment because these facilities encourage personal growth and abstinence at the same time. Although family and friends could help you stay sober while living in your own home, they may not have the tools and resources necessary for you to keep track of your progress. And they may not know what to do if relapse is on the horizon. Relapse is the big scary R that might translate to rehab for some. In fact, relapse can be seen as just part of the early recovery process. In house therapists and professionals in sober living homes can easily spot a person who relapses with the help of random drug and alcohol tests. And when relapse happens, they will be able to stop it in its tracks without the person having to undergo another stint at rehab. Sober living homes are also the best option for those people who cannot undergo long periods of detox treatment. There are short rehab options and a good thing they can check into is sober living homes as these are committed to both long term abstinence and personal growth – two simple terms that are arguably the only things any addict have to strive for in order to be clean for life.