Oklahoma Sober Living Homes

Oklahoma sober living houses are private living arrangements free of alcohol and drugs for persons recovering from addiction. Sober living homes bridge the gap by providing accommodation for persons transitioning from rehab or inpatient treatment but not quite ready to return to living in mainstream society. 

In Oklahoma, intending owners of a sober living house must obtain licensing from the Oklahoma Alliance for Recovery Residences (OKARR). In addition, the OKARR provides a resource library and training to sober living home providers and their staff. Also, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (ODMHSAS) provides housing and housing support services grants for persons residing in a sober living home in Oklahoma.

A Solid Bridge, but Not Substitute for Rehab

Oklahoma sober living houses provide temporary housing to aid residents moving from addiction treatment to independent living by providing a highly structured and substance-free environment to foster long-term recovery. Residents pay for room and board and must adhere to the house rules. 

However, Oklahoma sober living houses do not offer clinical services nor provide residents the same structure as a substance treatment center. Therefore, it is not a substitute for addiction treatment. Nevertheless, residents can expect recovery support services such as transportation to and from work or treatment centers, case management, employment services, life skills education, housing assistance, substance abuse education, and job resource training. 

Daily Life in Oklahoma Sober Living Homes

Oklahoma sober living homes assist their residents in maintaining their sobriety after completing an addiction treatment program. The sober living houses organize various chores, meetings, and activities to help residents adjust to living in the real world. 

Mornings

Most residents begin their day with house chores, including cleaning or helping with breakfast. Residents also participate in group activities or attend house meetings in the morning. After the morning chores, residents may proceed to work or school obligations.

Afternoons

After the morning chores, residents without a job actively search for employment. The facility management also encourages unemployed residents to participate in goal-oriented activities, such as exercising, community service, or picking a new hobby or sport. 

Evenings

In the early evenings, residents attend meetings specific to recovery, including counseling, therapy, or 12-step meetings. Later on, residents partake in a substance-free meal. At night, residents can relax to any leisure activity such as reading, socializing, or calling a loved one. Residents also prepare for the next day at night.

These activities, although simple and repetitive, are productive. It fills the resident's day with purpose and provides structure to prevent a relapse.

How to Increase Your Chances of Staying Sober While in Oklahoma Sober Living Houses

All Sober living facilities have rules and guidelines to ensure a safe and supportive environment. Residents who desire to maintain sobriety must follow these rules and guidelines set out by the sober home. 

Most sober living homes expect residents to participate in house chores and weekly meetings. Furthermore, residents must adhere to house curfew, take weekly drug tests, attend therapy or support group meetings, and pay rent. In addition, most sober living houses offer education and training support services for their residents, including relapse prevention education and life skills training. Lastly, sober living homes encourage residents to explore new activities such as exercising, picking a new hobby, or volunteering in the community.

These activities help residents to attain independent living. Therefore, the more a resident learns to identify substance use triggers, manage stress, and keep the house rules, the better the chances of averting a relapse.

When To Move Into a Sober Living House in Oklahoma 

Sober living homes do not provide medical services for residents. Therefore, they are not an alternative to inpatient addiction treatment or a substitute for rehab. In place of this, most Oklahoma sober living houses expect new residents to have completed an addiction treatment program or be in the process of one. 

Therefore, most persons can move into an Oklahoma sober living home during or after an addiction treatment program, as the lack of a stable substance-free environment can derail an individual's recovery.

Sober Living Home vs. Halfway House in Oklahoma

Sober living homes and halfway housing in Oklahoma share some common attributes, including: 

Purpose

Both sober living homes and halfway houses aim to separate the user from a substance-filled environment. They provide a safe, supportive, and substance-free shelter for persons working on remaining sober. 

Goal

Both programs gradually reintroduce residents back into society. They encourage residents to use the skills and training gained from an addiction treatment center to navigate the real world while remaining sober. The goal is to ensure the resident is ready for independent living without the risk of a relapse.

House Rules 

House rules and guidelines of both programs aim to create structure, give responsibility, and demand accountability from their residents. An individual's success at maintaining sobriety in a sober living home or a halfway house hinges on the individual's ability to comply with the house rules. 

Despite these similarities, some factors distinguish one from the other. They include: 

Type of Residents

Halfway houses provide supportive substance-free living arrangements for those who have completed a drug or alcohol addiction treatment program during incarceration. Most halfway house residents may enter into the program through a court order. Conversely, most residents in a sober living house enter the program freely and do not require serving time in prison as an admission requirement.

Ownership 

The government owns and manages the operations of halfway houses in Oklahoma. In contrast, independent individuals or a treatment center provide aftercare support and manage the daily operations of most Oklahoma sober living homes.

Funding and Affordability

The government provides the majority of the funds required to run a halfway house through grants. The government subsidies for halfway houses make it an affordable option as the facility management expects residents to contribute a token towards their rent. 

On the other hand, there are no grants or subsidies for facilities operating as sober living homes in Oklahoma. Therefore, residents pay out-of-pocket for their rent and living costs, making it a more expensive option to attain sober and independent living. 

Living arrangement

Typically most Oklahoma sober living homes have fewer residents housed in shared or private rooms. The facility management designs the layout of the sober living home to give their residents privacy and comfort. However, most halfway houses offer a shared living space with multiple beds and several roommates. They are often confined and prone to intrusion by other residents.  

Professional Services Offered

Most Oklahoma sober living homes do not offer professional services to their residents. Rather most residents live in sober housing and attend outpatient treatment. Although sober living facility managers do not render addiction treatment services, they provide educational, career, and life skills training. However, a halfway house provides various professional support services to its residents. Professions support may include clinical services, life skills training, recovery education, and addiction treatment for persons with co-occurring medical disorders.

Recovery Programs

Sober living homes encourage residents to partake in recovery programs, including 12-step meetings, therapy, or outpatient programs. However, residents in a halfway house must attend treatment in an outpatient addiction treatment center.

Length of Stay and Exiting the Facility

In general, most residents in halfway houses enter the facility from a correctional institution which mandates the resident to stay in the facility for a predetermined period, typically between 3 and twelve months. A resident who exits a halfway house before the stipulated end date can face serious felony charges leading to re-imprisonment. Conversely, there is no limitation on an individual's stay in a sober living home. Residents may stay in the facility until they are confident they can use the skills and knowledge learned for independent living.  

Types of Oklahoma Sober Living Houses

There are various options available to persons seeking to maintain their sobriety in a drug and alcohol-free environment. These substance-free accommodations provide different levels of care to their residents. Individuals can choose from the following substance-free environment depending on their peculiarities.

Halfway Houses

A halfway house serves as a bridge between a correctional institution and independent living. Halfway houses provide temporary substance-free accommodation for persons who completed an addiction treatment program while incarcerated. Although, some residents may enter the program through court order or homelessness. Most halfway houses expect residents to work, school, or seek employment. All halfway houses have house rules residents must comply with to remain in the program. Halfway housing funded by the government offers their resident structure and support to prevent a relapse.

Residents in a halfway house can expect the facility to support their recovery through mandatory attendance of house meetings, individual counseling, health services, and medication assistance. Some halfway houses in Oklahoma provide employment resources, transportation services, case management, and skill-building to their residents.

Transitional Housing

Transitional housing provides a supportive but temporary living arrangement for homeless persons recovering from substance addiction. Transitional housing helps residents rebuild their lives by providing support and tools to transition the resident from homelessness to independent permanent housing. Transitional houses allow residents to live in the facility for 24 months. 

During this period, the resident can expect the facility's management to support their sobriety process by offering structure, house meetings, counseling, skills training, and case management. Residents can expect to participate in programs that provide stability, such as employment resources, mental and physical health education, and food support programs. Lastly, some transitional houses offer financial assistance such as housing-related start-up costs and childcare costs to help prepare the resident for self-sufficiency. 

Recovery Houses

A recovery house offers a stable, peer-run, supportive, and transitional alcohol and drug-free living arrangement for persons in recovery. Recovery homes center on community support and self-monitoring to maintain sobriety. Residents run the facility and use the training and skills learned during addiction treatment and counseling to support themselves and prevent relapse. Usually, the residents monitor, direct, and encourage each other to help sustain their sobriety. A resident may stay in a recovery house for up to 24 months.  

Recovery house providers expect residents to attend house and recovery meetings, including 12-step meetings, counseling, and therapy sessions. Recovery residences also provide support through family class education, employment resources, relapse prevention training, and case management support. Recovery residences are not drug and alcohol treatment centers. They do not provide addiction treatment to their occupants. However, residents can expect to receive self-care assistance, such as access to dental and medical care.

Sober Housing

Oklahoma sober living houses offer a substance-free environment where individuals can maintain sobriety. Sober housing offers a haven for patients coming out of an inpatient treatment center who do not have a supportive community or substance-free home environment to continue their recovery. Sober living houses help people transition from addiction treatment to independent living. 

Residents can expect support in their recovery through house meetings, counseling, therapy, and a 12-step program. Some facilities offer skills training, including budgeting, time management, and behavioral control. In addition, all sober housing has house rules to keep residents focused on sobriety. Failure to adhere may lead to eviction of the resident.

The Phases of Sober Living in Oklahoma

The structure of sober living houses aims to equip the resident with the resources to attain independent living. Residents can expect to see these 3 phases in highly structured sober living homes in Oklahoma.

Restrictive/Abstinence Phase 

The restrictive phase aims to build a firm foundation for substance abstinence for residents in recovery. From entry into the sober home, the resident focuses on acclimatizing and learning the basics of sober living. The resident identifies what triggers a relapse and avoids them. The abstinence phase may last up to a month.

The sober living home may restrict access to certain privileges and mandate the resident's involvement in specific tasks. For instance, new tenants may have their phone and computer access taken away while they begin household chores and errands. Also, the sober living home expects the new resident to temporarily stop work or school obligations while committing to attending therapy sessions, health appointments, and support group meetings. Some sober living homes introduce the new resident to fitness activities, volunteering, and healthy living during this phase.

Reintroduction Phase

In the reintroduction phase, the sober living home gradually adds responsibilities and restores some privileges restricted in the first phase. The reintroduction phase allows residents to utilize the training learned during the first phase in real-world scenarios. Consequently, residents may resume work or school commitments, have extended curfew time, and run errands unaccompanied with staff permission. 

In addition, the resident continues with support group meetings, counseling, and therapy. The reintroduction phase aims to increase the resident's stress tolerance while maintaining their sobriety.

Self-Sufficiency Phase

Self-sufficiency is the last phase before the resident transitions to independent living. The sober living home adds more responsibilities to the resident's daily activities while demanding accountability. For instance, the resident may mentor new residents beginning their recovery journey. Also, the facility restores all privileges, such as extending curfew past midnight or granting overnight stay outside the facility. The resident becomes responsible for all decisions made during the self-sufficiency phase. 

The facility approves the resident's move into their private residence in the self-sufficiency phase if the individual has gone through previous phases without a relapse, maintained financial independence, and has completed their support group program. In the event of relapse at this stage, the sober living home places the resident under restriction.

Sober Living and Substance Abuse Treatment Near Me in Oklahoma

If you or a family member needs a sober living home in Oklahoma to continue your recovery, you can contact the Oklahoma Mental Health and Substance Abuse (ODMHSAS) at (405) 595-3649. You can also search for certified recovery residences near you using the Oklahoma Alliance for Recovery Residence (OKARR) housing search tool. Researchers can access the contact details, including the website address, phone number, and email address of various sober living homes close to their preferred location.

The Substance Abuse and Mental health Administration (SAMHSA) provides a confidential and toll-free helpline for persons who require substance abuse treatment. The helpline representative provides referrals to support groups and treatment centers close to you. Call the helpline at (800) 662-4357. The helpline is available all year round. Also, you can find substance abuse treatment centers near you by using the SAMHSA treatment center locator. The locator provides access to certified rehab treatment programs. Searchers can obtain the facility's contact details and services, including the location, amenities, therapies, and payment options.