3 Signs That a Sober Living Environment Could Help with Your Recovery from Addiction

3 Signs That a Sober Living Environment Could Help with Your Recovery from Addiction

Health and Fitness August 31, 2015

Drug and alcohol rehab

Are you in recovery from addiction or in the process of trying to get there? Have you had a long struggle with addiction and alcoholism despite only being in your teens or twenties? If so, you’re not alone. There are millions of Americans who have chemical dependency issues, and those who are still young are sometimes unlikely to get help. This is despite the fact that young people between 18 and 24 are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol at the same time — usually men more often than women.

If you’ve been looking for a reason to get clean in a sober living environment, then these three signs may tell you when it’s time to get help:

  • Your addiction started young. According to national statistics, 23 million Americans age 12 and older deal with alcohol or drug addiction, and about 14 million abuse alcohol. Of those who began drinking before they turned 14 years old, about half of the 40,000 adults surveyed said that they became dependent on alcohol by age 21.

  • You’ve tried to get clean, but nothing has worked before. There are plenty of rehabilitation resources in the United States, but not all of them are created equally. In general, men are twice as likely to become alcoholics, and young men are more likely than young women to abuse drugs. If you haven’t tried moving into a sober living environment, such as a halfway house, before, then it may be time to begin looking for this option. This will help you maintain your independence and work or study when you need to, but it will also provide you with the structure and support needed to get clean.

  • You need support from people your own age. Halfway houses are often structured in a way where they provide support for everyone. This means that people struggling with addiction and alcoholism are all receiving treatment together — old or young, male or female. For younger men, for example, who have struggled in their teens or twenties with substance abuse, this may seem isolating if they are unable to connect with other people in treatment. As a result, they may need to find a sober living environment that will focus on their needs rather than providing a more general, less personalized plan for recovery.

Need more information on sober living? Ask away in the comment below or get in touch with a recovery program in your area as soon as possible.