What is a Sober House?
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 19.7 million American adults (aged 12 and older) battled a substance use disorder in 2017. Almost 74% of adults suffering from a substance use disorder in 2017 also struggled with an alcohol use disorder. Those statistics have only increased since this survey was done. Now more than ever, we need people to come around those battling a substance use disorder and walk with them on the journey to a sober life.
A Sober House is designed for people seeking more accountability in their journey to sobriety. It is an alcohol and drug free environment where there is peer support, encouragement, and responsibility to commit to and maintain a life of sobriety. At Foundations of Freedom, we provide our clients with a safe, sober living space to reside in, paired with a multitude of workshops. Our program includes room and board, job placement assistance, all staple foods, all curriculum and books, group counseling, representations in court and probation reports, breathalyzing and drug screens, and other house amenities.
As a Christ centered recovery program, we combine biblical principles along with the 12 steps. Our tenants participate in a variety of groups, workshops, and tasks that all target different areas in which growth and change are necessary in their lives. Some of these programs include:
Weekly Celebrate Recovery Meetings
Minimum of Two AA/NA Meetings Weekly
Completion of Freedom Group
Purpose Driven Life Workshop
All of these things combined with the peer support make our program unique and life changing. In a study completed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, Polcin et al wrote:
Our study found positive longitudinal outcomes for 300 individuals living in two different types of SLHs [sober living houses], which suggests they might be an effective option for those in need of alcohol- and drug-free housing. Improvements were noted in alcohol and drug use, arrests, psychiatric symptoms and employment.
After studying the effectiveness and retention rate those who lived in sober living houses compared to those who don’t, they saw great results. The abstinence rate was higher for a longer period of time than if they were not apart of a sober home. This supports what we see everyday in Foundations of Freedom.
People are finding healthy, uplifting community who are helping them mold their future. Those who have come through Foundations of Freedom have said it’s a brotherhood with true friends who encourage each other towards God. We are so grateful to be a small part of what God is doing in each person’s life through Foundations of Freedom.
