ARTICLE OVERVIEW: This article reviews what you need to know about sober living options in Louisiana.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- What Sober Living is Really Like
- Sober Living in Louisiana
- Halfway and ¾ Way Houses
- House Rules
- Day-to-Day Life
- Finding a Sober Living Home
- Licensing
- Federal and State Laws
- How to Report a Sober House
What Sober Living is Really Like
After treatment, you might find it difficult to automatically readjust back into day-to-day life. A sober living home can is a great way to make this readjustment easier. So, why do people agree to enter into this kind of living situation?
Sober homes exist for people who want to live drug and alcohol free. A sober home is a shared accommodation with others in recovery. Group living can encourage healthy habits and help you put addiction to rest.
Many people have trouble going from addiction treatment to the real world. Admittedly, you’re starting a whole new life with new hobbies and habits. It can be very intimidating without getting some practice at it first. Plus, in the first months of early recovery, your brain will probably still fantasize about being high [3].
By following the rules set up by a sober home or halfway house, you’re putting your body and brain into a schedule. But for best results, you must want to end addiction…for yourself. Some requirements of sober living homes are fairly straightforward. [4] To be eligible for sober living, you must:
- Have the desire to live a clean and sober life.
- Have the will to follow all the house rules.
- Either have completed or be on track to completing a recovery program.
With persistence, you’ll be putting yourself on track for a lifelong recovery from addiction.
Sober Living in Louisiana
The definition of sober living is when multiple people agree to live together in a drug and alcohol-free environment. Through this agreement, the goal is for everyone to support one another while readjusting back into daily life.
Anyone can move into these types of homes in the State of Louisiana. There’s no need to have completed a drug treatment in order to qualify. All you need is the discipline to live in a drug and alcohol-free environment, pay your rent on time, provide your own necessities, and be a supportive member of the community these homes offer.
Within Louisiana, there are a number of sober living options depending on your county. It should be noted that some kinds of subsidized homes in Louisiana have additional focus. So, you may find houses which are also meant to help the homeless, people with AIDs, and those in financial difficulty with children. If you’re looking for a community that only helps people who’ve struggled with drug or alcohol addiction, make sure to keep an eye out for halfway or 3/4 way houses in LA.
Halfway and ¾ Way Houses
The difference between halfway and ¾ way houses is that you usually have to complete or be actively enrolled in a treatment program to qualify. Like other sober living homes, you’ll be sharing a space with other individuals who are in the process of maintaining sobriety. You will also need to pay rent and follow a set of house rules.
The average stay for someone in a halfway house or ¾ way house is typically 12 months. Still, that number can fluctuate depending on the amount of help you need. Plus, there are a number of government-funded halfway houses. [3] These can help people who are are ordered by the court to be a resident for a certain period of time.
What’s a halfway house like?
Halfway and 3/4 way houses usually have structured supervision and management. You must maintain your room. Shared common spaces need to be kept tidy. But you still have the freedom to go seek out a job, visit friends, and start to live your day-to-day life again. Additionally, many halfway and ¾ way houses will require frequent drug tests to make sure you’re keeping your sobriety.
House Rules
There are a number of house rules you must follow in LA sober homes. These rules are set up to teach you how to be respectful to the other residents, the neighbors, and the community. But the rules aren’t the same for every house. You’ll want to get a clear sense of the rules of your sober living home before moving in.
It should be noted that many sober living homes in Louisiana have a zero-tolerance policy. If you’re caught breaking the rules, you can be immediately evicted. [3] Common rules for sober living homes in Louisiana are as follows:
- Alcohol and drug use is, not permitted. You are not allowed to possess or use substances on or off the premises. In order to make sure this rule is followed, you may be asked to take frequent drug tests. often at random. If you refuse to take a drug test when you’re asked, you’ll be discharged.
- Any cigarette smoking or vaping must take place in a designated smoking location.
- You may not have any sexual contact with another resident.
- You must not steal from the house.
- You must not destroy the property nor engage in violent conduct.
- You must be involved in self-directed recovery program activities.
- In order to keep the house clean and in living condition, each resident may be assigned a daily chore to complete.
- You’ll have a curfew to meet.
- You may be required to attend weekly house meetings.
- Rent and other fees must always be paid on time.
- No pets are allowed except for self-help pets.
- No gambling.
There is reason for these rules; you are re-training your body and brain to live without drinking or drugs. If you follow your home’s rules and regulations, you’ll be creating a healthier lifestyle. This is all in your best interest. The plan is that eventually, you’ll leave the home and continue your new life independently.
Day-to-Day Life
The point of a sober living home is to adjust back into the real world. Therefore, you can expect day-to-day life to be very routine and regular. Usually, you wake up and go to sleep at the same time very day. Management is going to highly encourage you seek out work if you don’t already have any. You can also expect to go to counseling sessions, doctor’s appointments, and community service as a means of continuing your treatment process.
Plus, you’ll probably need to attend support groups close to your sober home each day. The purpose of these meetings is to openly discuss your drug and/or alcohol problems and work towards a better life. [5] Finally, you’ll be encourage to eat at the same time every day. Management usually comes by in the morning, at meal times, and again in the evening to see how you’re doing. This way, you’re rarely on your own.
Finding a Sober Living Home
With all of the information we’ve already provided, you may be curious as to how to find a sober living home in the Bayou State. Your options include:
1. The Louisiana Association of Recovery Residents, LARR.
To begin, you’ll want the sober living home of your choice to be operating through the Louisiana Association of Recovery Residences. You’ll also want to check out whether or not the sober living home of your choice is in affiliation with the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR). The goal of these organizations is to offer a set of standards and ethics for LA State sober homes. It should be noted, Louisiana is not an affiliate and, therefore, not every sober living home you find within the state will be listed on these websites.
2. Louisiana Department of Health
Contact the Office of Behavioral Health Directory for Halfway Houses through the department of health. Their website offers a directory of halfway houses in Louisiana and other community based facilities. [6]
3. Oxford House
Oxford House is a self-run, self-supported recovery house program for individuals recovering from alcoholism and drug addiction. The number of residents in a house may range from 6 to 11; there are houses for men, houses for women, and houses that accept women with children. This is community-based approach represents a remarkably effective and low-cost method of preventing relapse. For a list of Oxford Home vacancies, visit their website. [7]
4. Request a Referral from a Treatment Facility or a Mental Health Professional
Reputable treatment facilities will have already developed connections with a variety of sober living accommodations in LA. If you’d like more information, it’s important to talk the matter over with your case manager. Make sure to do so BEFORE leaving the treatment facility as you’ll want to make sure there’s room in the sober living house the day your treatment ends.
Licensing
In accordance with federal law, a facility DOES NOT need a treatment license as long as they don’t provide:
- Detox for physical withdrawals of drug use
- Group therapy sessions
- Personal therapy sessions
- Educational workshops which aim to help people better comprehend addiction, recovery, and drug-related issues
- Treatment planning for those in ongoing recovery
However, since sober living homes run similarly of that of a business, the state supervises certain licenses in Louisiana. [8] These are typical business licenses and permits which vary by industry, state, and specific location. It should be noted, since most transitional housing facilities are registered as a non-profit organization, there’s a large chance they’ll receive benefits such as grants, government surplus, and tax exemptions.
Federal and State Laws
In the Bayou State, there are specific laws surrounding the rules and regulations of operating a sober living home. It’s important to understand these laws as it’ll help you determine whether the sober living home of your choice is reputable or not. This all works in compliance with the laws set by the federal government. Federal laws include:
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires “reasonable accommodations” made for those with disabilities. This includes those struggling with drug addiction. So, the state, city, and homeowner cannot discriminate about housing if you’re in recovery.
The Fair Housing Act assures those struggling with addiction who seek sobriety are protected as long as they are in the recovery process.
How to Report a Sober Living Home
If you think that the Louisiana sober living home you’re living under is committing a crime, fraud, or has improper management, you have the ability to call a toll free hotline within the state. This hotline is under Louisiana’s State Attorney’s General and protects those trying to hold fair housing. [9] The number to call is:
255-326-6400
800-273-5718
You may also contact their email at HUD@ag.louisiana.gov.
Your Questions
If you stay in a sober home in Louisiana, you’ll find yourself active in the recovery process. In turn, this will help you focus on important areas of your life and your health. In fact, we hope that you’ll find that a sober living home is a more welcoming transition to everyday life. Again, it’s the bridge that connects treatment to the real world.
But to get into a sober living home is a big decision.
With that, you may still have questions concerning sober living options in Louisiana. Feel free to post your questions in the comments section below. We try to personally and promptly respond to all legitimate questions.
Reference Sources: [1] National Institute on Drug Abuse: Health Consequences of Drug Misuse
[2] CCAPP: Standards for Sober Living Environments
[3] The Journal of Psychoactive Drugs: A Clean and Sober Place to Live: Philosophy, Structure, and Purported Therapeutic Factors in Sober Living Houses
[4] J Psychoactive Drugs: What Did We Learn from Our Study on Sober Living Houses and Where Do We Go From Here?
[5] NARR: A Primer on Recovery Residences
[6] Office of Behavioral Health Directory for Halfway Houses
[7] Oxford House Vacancies
[8] U.S. Small Business Administration: Starting a Halfway House or Transitional Housing Facility
[9] State of Louisiana Department of Justice: Contact
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