What’s a halfway house? How can you use this tool to help you stay sober after a stint in rehab? Let us explain and show you the benefits of these facilities.
According to the Office of National Statistics, alcohol-specific deaths rates have increased to near their highest level in the UK. There were 7,697 of these types of deaths in 2017. In 2016, according to National Health Services, 2,593 people who misused drugs died in England and Wales.
Alcohol and illicit drugs are a problem that affects people from all walks of life, from the rich and famous to the poor and destitute. Unfortunately, not enough people who have issues with drugs and alcohol have access to drug rehabilitation centers and halfway houses. Do you know what’s a halfway house? Read on to learn why they are an important part of the recovery process.
What’s a Halfway House?
A halfway house is a place where people who have gone through treatment at a drug rehab center can go to live for a while. Living at a halfway house provides them with additional support and time to make important decisions about their life. Halfway houses are sometimes also called a dry house or sober house.
Why Would Someone Choose a Halfway House?
There are many reasons people end up in a drug rehabilitation program. It could be voluntary or involuntary (ordered by the court). Oftentimes, a person goes through an addiction program with either the option to return to the same nonsupportive environment or, worse, no housing at all. Either can send the person straight back to abusing their drug of choice or alcohol. Addiction is not a quick fix problem. For a long term recovery, people need time to develop positive skills for coping with their lives. They may also need to make new friends or make other adjustments in their social life.
What Happens at a Halfway House?
Many drug rehab centers are very strict and don’t allow the patients to leave the facility. The patients are closely monitored and often on a very structured routine. While this is extremely helpful in the first steps toward recovering from an addiction, it doesn’t provide the patient with much time to adjust to making better and healthier decisions.
Halfway houses do also provide people with additional counseling and group discussion periods, the people have more freedom in their schedule and leaving the home. They also have more privacy since they have their own rooms. Halfway houses do not permit the use of alcohol or drugs. By having access to a clean place to stay for a while, the recovering addict can use the home as a safe place with less temptation. So people can come and go, leaving the halfway home when they feel strong and return when they need the support. They can also leave to go to school or work as they begin to put their lives back on track.
How Long Do People Stay at a Halfway House?
People have differing needs for how long they might need (or be able) to stay at a halfway house. Some may need to stay for only a short while, while others may find a few months sufficient. If monetary and/or other assistance is available to pay for their stay, others may find it beneficial to stay up to a year at a halfway house. A drug rehab center counselor or a halfway house therapist can be a good resource for helping determine when a person is ready to leave a halfway house.
You do not have to try to recover from your addiction by yourself. Find a drug rehab near you or one that you feel will make you feel comfortable during your journey to sobriety. And now that you know what’s a halfway house, you can make plans to stay in one to further assist you in your successful transition to a healthier life. Socialist Health Association is here to help promote health and well-being, so please bookmark our website for your easy return to learn more useful information.
