Utah Sober Living Homes

Utah sober living homes help individuals recovering from addiction transition back into society after a rehab program and learn to live independently of alcohol or drug. 

Support in sober living is peer-oriented as the facility aims to provide structure to persons in recovery. Hence, residents are generally required to agree to stay drug and alcohol-free. To that end, sober living houses regularly engage in drug testing while enforcing strict house rules to ensure accountability.

Utah is among the few American states requiring sober living homes to be licensed; the agency in charge of this is the Department of Human Services Licensing. The Substance and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also provides information on finding addiction treatment in Utah. 

Daily Life in Utah Sober Living Homes

In Utah, sober living homes encourage occupants to follow a daily routine to learn new coping mechanisms and build positive lifestyles for themselves. Most Utah sober living homes have a house manager that runs the day-to-day activities and provides structure and routines for its residents. The following is an example of life after enrolling in a Utah sober living home.

When Moving In

Individuals are generally required to disclose details regarding their current level of addiction and treatment before moving in. Normally, the home manager will ask questions about the person's state of mind, general health, and treatment history. Individuals moving into a sober home should answer these questions honestly, as it can help them access useful resources. 

In the Morning

Usually, the morning in a sober living facility in Utah involves doing a variety of housekeeping activities, such as making the bed, cleaning up, or assisting with breakfast. Afterward, individuals may participate in a house meeting or a group activity, after which occupants with jobs leave for work.

In the Afternoon

Residents in sober living homes without jobs are usually encouraged to find employment or to volunteer to keep themselves busy. Many residents also spend the afternoon attending substance abuse counseling or doing community service.

Evening to Bedtime

Dinner gets served as individuals begin to return from work, job search, or various appointments. Afterward, individuals are encouraged to attend 12-step meetings and group therapy. During group therapy sessions, house residents may be allowed to share their experiences during the day for others to learn. Also, individuals can unwind, call their loved ones, or watch television before preparing for bed.

These routines prepare residents for independent living after leaving the sober living home. 

How to Increase Your Chances of Staying Sober While in Utah Sober Living

Residents can increase their chances of staying sober by finding support groups or rehab specialists to help them build their sobriety skills. It is critical to find a facility that provides the appropriate services. Also, occupants can reduce stress and succeed in rehabilitation by discovering local yoga courses or fitness challenges online or offline. 

Furthermore, individuals can increase their chances of staying sober in sober living by staying committed to the facility's guidelines and getting involved in house activities. Sober living home rules usually include the following:

• No drugs/alcohol or violence
• No overnight visitors
• No sexual relationships between residents
• Regular drug/alcohol screenings
• Engagement in a rehab program, work, or school
• Payment of guest dues when due
• Must perform household chores
  
  

Residents that break any of the house rules may be evicted or lose house privileges. 

House activities in sober living usually include therapies, group activities, and meetings, and engagement with them makes sober living a secure and non-trigger environment. 

The home community helps with this as residents form recovery-focused peer support networks. The community also encourages residents without a job to work towards getting employed as it prevents substance relapse. The peer-support also encourages and supports career development and the creation of personal goals among each other.

According to a study, individuals who complete a sober living program have much greater sobriety rates for years afterward.

When to Move Into a Sober Living Home in Utah 

Utah residents are advised to move into sober living houses after completing a formal rehab program. After undergoing assessment, detox, and several training and therapies in an addiction treatment program, the individual can move into sober living. Sober living homes primarily provide support and structure for individuals working to recover from substance use disorders and generally do not provide medical treatment.

For instance, sober living houses do not perform medically-assisted detox for the residents since they focus on resocializing the individuals in recovery. Although Sober living should not be a replacement for addiction treatment programs, persons in treatment can still stay in these facilities to avoid exposure to addiction triggers. This generally applies to individuals attending outpatient rehab programs.

In this facility, residents can learn and practice the coping skills learned from rehab programs. They can also learn to identify addiction triggers and manage such situations to avoid relapse. 

Sober Living Programs vs. Halfway Houses in Utah

Utah sober living programs and halfway houses share some activities and services in common. Both facilities provide a structured, substance-free environment for individuals recovering from drug or alcohol abuse. In addition, they protect their residents from being exposed to addiction triggers and offer peer support from their community.

Also, halfway houses and Utah sober living homes have strict rules that individuals must adhere to and responsibilities to ensure accountability. Nevertheless, there are certain differences between both facilities. The following are some of these differences:

• Residents willingly enter sober living homes. On the other hand, residents of halfway houses usually have to move in as part of the conditions for parole or alternative sentencing. 
• Residents in halfway houses have a specific length of stay, especially for persons ordered into the facility by a court. This also means that if an individual leaves the halfway house before the due date, there may be consequences. Length of stay does not apply to Utah sober living facilities. Hence individuals can leave whenever they want.
• An addiction treatment clinic or an individual usually runs sober living facilities in Utah. Halfway houses, on the other hand, are usually government-funded.
• Sober living houses are structured like private residences, while halfway houses are created like dorms. Sober living houses provide more privacy and comfort as a result.
• Since halfway houses are funded with public funds, they are cheaper and generally offer fewer amenities when compared to sober living houses.
• Residents in a Utah sober living house are allowed to attend rehab programs such as 12-step meetings or outpatient treatment. This is generally not allowed in a halfway house except if the facility recommends the treatment. 

Types of Utah Sober Living Homes (Levels of Support)

There are different levels of care and support on offer in a Utah sober living home, and they are:

Halfway Houses

In Utah, halfway houses are residential facilities structured to help individuals in recovery transition into independent living. They are halfway between the strict structure of rehab or jail (for persons coming from prison) and the independence of normal life. Generally, individuals in these facilities have completed a drug treatment program. Thus the facility serves to resocialize them. 

Specific individuals resident in halfway houses were mandated by a court order to spend a certain amount of time there. Although halfway houses offer more freedom compared to most rehab programs, they still have policies to maintain the sobriety of their occupants. One of these policies is the regular drug tests they carry out to ensure that all residents uphold their pledge to quit drugs. 

Halfway houses also provide the occupants with medical, recovery, and mental health services when necessary. Utah halfway houses are generally inexpensive compared to other recovery facilities since they are usually financed with public funds.

Transitional Housing

Transitional housing in Utah broadly refers to a structure that provides temporary shelter for different populations. These populations include individuals recovering from substance addiction, the homeless, victims of domestic violence, and persons with mental health challenges. The facility aims to equip people with the tools and a support network necessary to live independently.

Some resources they offer include life skills training such as anger management, communication, and interpersonal skills. The facility also offers counseling and supervision for persons dealing with chemical substance addiction.

Recovery Houses

A recovery house is a facility that provides occupants with a peer-run living environment that is free from drugs and alcohol. Generally, these facilities do not offer medical services to patients. Therefore, it is for individuals who have completed a rehab program.

Also, there generally is no paid staff in a recovery house since peers run it. However, as a peer-run community, residents help, support, and motivate each other towards their substance recovery goals.

Sober Housing

Sober housing in Utah serves as a chemical substance-free environment for persons recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. It is a non-medical facility that aims to resocialize persons in recovery to function without using drugs. In addition, sober housing offers training on coping skills to prevent occupants from relapsing during or after their stay sober. Individuals can also attend rehab programs, i.e., outpatient rehab or a 12-step meeting during their stay in the facility. 

The Phases of Sober Living in Utah

There are different phases of sober living in Utah, determined by the individual's level of independence. The following are the phases.

Restrictive or Abstinence Phase

The restrictive or abstinence phase helps the individual adapt to the living conditions of the facility. At this phase, the person learns to live free of drugs and alcohol and adhere to the facility's rules. Generally, the restrictive phase can last for as long as a month, depending on several factors, including the person's independence level.

Residents learn to recognize the conditions and events that trigger substance use. People in this stage may also do house chores to keep them busy. Furthermore, they often attend therapy sessions and peer-support groups where they can learn from the experiences of others.

Typically, the first week is the most challenging in this phase as individuals may be prohibited from using phones or the computer. In this stage, the resident is advised against working or attending school. However, attending medical appointments is allowed, although they are not allowed to transport alone.

Reintroduction Phase

The next stage is known as the reintroduction phase, and it is where the individual is encouraged to take on more responsibilities. In this stage, the person is given more freedom and encouraged to return or find work. 

This stage aims to test the individual's capacity to withstand stress. To do that, certain privileges such as reducing curfew and allowing the individual to keep previously withheld personal belongings are permitted. Additionally, each resident is assigned a sponsor who serves as a counselor for them in tough situations.

Also, residents are encouraged to interact socially with one another during the reintroduction period. This aids in their development of strong social networks and new friendships.

Self-Sufficiency Phase

The third is the self-sufficiency phase, where the individual is prepared to return to full independence. Generally, residents in this stage become more accountable and are given more freedom. They also serve as heads in the house and take on more responsibilities. 

Individuals in this phase may be required to communicate their activities with the staff at the facility, but ultimately, they make decisions. Generally, persons in this stage prepare to move into their own home or apartment. However, if a resident in the self-sufficiency phase should relapse, such a person may have to step back into restrictions.

Sober Living Near Me in Utah

Concerned parties struggling with addiction issues can find a sober living home that is close by calling the SAMHSA helpline at (800) 662-4357. The helpline is reachable 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and all calls with the SAMHSA agents are private. 

To find credible sober living facilities that have undergone the assessment of mental health specialists, use the SAMHSA's treatment locator. The locator discloses details such as the address of the facility, available amenities, services, contact information, and payment methods.