Publication Article
"Sober
Living Homes"
By Art Boudreault, Board President, NCADD
Silicon Valley
Sober living homes are one of many sources of
ongoing treatment offered to those who have abused drugs and/or
alcohol. It is not their first step towards recovery. By the
time they have selected a sober living home, they already are
aware of the costs that the disease has done to their own bodies
and minds and are also aware of the effects on their families.
They have already been through more intense treatments and are
now willing to take the next step towards continuing their
recovery.
Those who go to a sober living home realize that
they are not yet ready to face the questioning of parents,
spouses and their friends. The ignorance of those of us who
haven't faced this disease is part of the problem. We may tell
them, "It's not so bad", I can put the drink
down", "All you need is willpower". These
statements are not conducive to their recovery. The family's
lack of knowledge often causes the drinker to postpone their
treatment. Newly sober persons need the continuing encouragement
of others who have preceded them in recovery. The sober living
environment provides peer influences, teaching and camaraderie
while they keep each other focused on how to live without drugs
and alcohol. As stated in the mission statement of one sober
living home's web page, "Our mission is to provide a
sober living environment to our residents which will lead to a
life free of drugs and alcohol. This will be accomplished by
structure, education and mutual support. Our friendly homes work
in a family type environment. We all work together supporting
each other emotionally and spiritually while sharing our
responsibilities. After sharing and experiencing our program you
will be equipped with the necessary skills to meet life's
demands alcohol and drug free." [1]
We may think that the majority of those who are
in a sober living home are criminals, but most don't have any
criminal history at all. Many individuals go to a sober living
home voluntarily after a course of intense in-patient or
outpatient treatment - as suggested by a medical professional
and/or a
counselor. Others who have entered through the court system are
criminals only because they have violated laws dealing with
possession or related to being under the influence. Patients of
certified sober living homes are screened by the district
attorney's office for violent individuals and sex offenders.
These people are not eligible for sober living homes in
neighborhoods.
Those who led the fight for Proposition 36 noted
that a majority of those who are arrested for possession of
drugs or for driving under the influence are not otherwise
breaking the law. The solution proposed in proposition 36 is to
require that these people have the alternative of treatment,
including sober living homes, rather than jail sentences. Given
that we, the people,
overwhelmingly voted for this proposition, it seems necessary to
increase the number of sober living homes to handle the increase
of these patients. Treatment is effective and successful. One
year after treatment, 53% are completely abstinent and an
additional 35% have reduced their use of alcohol and drugs.
Interestingly, these statistics are similar to diabetics who
fully adhere to their medication schedule (60%) after one year.
[2] In a speech in Phoenix on November 1st at a
national conference of the affiliates of the National Council of
Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), the President, Gordon
Scheinhauer, stated that treatment outcomes are quite
predictable. "The longer the treatment is, the
higher the chance of complete recovery."
Should a sober living home be in my
neighborhood? I think the answer is yes. The people attending
the treatment offered by a sober living home could include my
spouse, my parents, my children, my neighbors and my friends,
maybe even me. Almaden Valley residents are not immune from the
disease of alcoholism or drug abuse. Our relatives and friends
need to recover where
they live, not be driven to other neighborhoods or communities.
I have a friend (a long-time math teacher in San Jose) whose
wife abused medical prescriptions. She was judged a criminal by
the courts, but instead of sending this 65-year-old person to
jail, she received the option of treatment and long-term living
in a sober living home. Because of the gentle treatment by a
sympathetic judge, this productive neighbor has
successfully returned to society. Can we not help our neighbors
recover?
[1] Sober Living Homes: www.wcrecovery.com
[2] Just the Facts - The
Effectiveness of Addiction Treatment, published by
Hazelden Butler Center for Research. www.naatp.org
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