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Aftercare & Sober Living
Ongoing support and structured living environments to maintain long-term recovery after treatment
Aftercare refers to the ongoing support, services, and monitoring you receive after completing primary alcohol treatment (inpatient or outpatient). It\'s designed to help you transition back to daily life while maintaining sobriety and preventing relapse.
Research consistently shows that people who participate in aftercare have significantly higher success rates in maintaining long-term sobriety compared to those who don\'t continue with follow-up care.
Types of Aftercare & Continuing Support
What It Includes
- Weekly or monthly therapy sessions
- Relapse prevention work
- Life skills development
- Check-ins with counselor
- Adjustments to treatment plan as needed
What It Includes
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings
- SMART Recovery meetings
- Other mutual support groups
- Sponsor relationships
- Working a recovery program
What It Includes
- Alcohol-free housing
- House rules and structure
- Regular drug/alcohol testing
- Peer support from housemates
- Life skills development
What It Includes
- Alumni meetings and events
- Ongoing workshops
- Social activities
- Mentorship opportunities
- Community building
What It Includes
- Regular check-ins with doctor
- Medication management (if using MAT)
- Physical health monitoring
- Treatment of co-occurring conditions
- Adjustments to medications as needed
Sober living homes (also called recovery residences or halfway houses) are structured, alcohol-free living environments for people transitioning from treatment back to independent living. They provide a supportive community and accountability while you build life skills and stability.
What to Expect in Sober Living:
Structured Rules
Curfews, mandatory meeting attendance, chores, and other house rules to provide structure and accountability.
Drug/Alcohol Testing
Regular testing to ensure sobriety and maintain a safe, alcohol-free environment.
Peer Support
Live with others in recovery who understand your journey and provide mutual support.
Life Skills
Learn independent living skills like budgeting, cooking, job searching, and managing responsibilities.
Employment/Education
Most residents work or attend school, building stability and self-sufficiency.
Community
House meetings, group activities, and shared responsibilities build connection and purpose.
Typical Cost
$500 - $3,000+
Per month, depending on location, amenities, and services included. Some homes offer sliding scale fees or accept vouchers.
- Recovery is an ongoing process that extends far beyond initial treatment
- Risk of relapse is highest in the first year after treatment
- Provides continued accountability and support
- Helps you navigate challenges as they arise in real life
- Reinforces skills learned in treatment
- Builds a sober support network
- Addresses new issues that emerge in recovery
- Prevents isolation, a major relapse trigger
- Offers a safety net during difficult times
- Celebrates milestones and progress
- Connects you with people who understand recovery
- Maintains focus on sobriety as a priority
- Just completed inpatient or outpatient treatment
- Don't have a strong sober support network at home
- Are returning to an environment with triggers or stressors
- Need continued structure and accountability
- Want to build independent living skills before living alone
- Have a history of relapse
- Are working on co-occurring mental health conditions
- Benefit from peer support and community
- Are building a new life in recovery
- Want to maintain momentum from treatment
Ongoing Therapy
Schedule for continuing individual or group therapy sessions, frequency, and focus areas.
Support Group Attendance
Commitment to attend AA, SMART Recovery, or other support groups regularly.
Medication Management
If taking medications for alcohol use disorder or mental health, plan for ongoing prescriptions and monitoring.
Living Arrangements
Whether you'll enter sober living, return home, or make other housing arrangements.
Employment/Education
Plans for work, school, or vocational training to build stability.
Relapse Prevention
Identified triggers, coping strategies, and emergency contacts if you're at risk of relapse.
Social Support
Building healthy relationships and sober friendships while setting boundaries with people who trigger you.
Self-Care Routine
Exercise, nutrition, sleep, hobbies, and other activities that support your well-being.
Check-In Schedule
Regular check-ins with counselor, sponsor, or accountability partner.