Halfway houses have been around for many years. Originally they were constructed to house the newly released convicted criminals and mentally ill. Today they are also home to many recovering drug and alcohol addicts. Their purpose remains the same but there have been changes made to accommodate recovering addicts.

 

 

Ultimately, the goal is to provide a safe and supportive environment that will allow the addict to successfully integrate back into society living a sober life.

Some halfway houses may offer some level of ongoing drug and alcohol treatment, however, they are not meant to be used as a replacement for treatment. If the individual is still using, they should be in treatment and not at a halfway house.

The purpose for entering a halfway house may vary. Most often the underlying reason is the same. The addict fears they will relapse if they go directly from treatment back to home.

While most enter a halfway house on their own accord, some are mandated by court. Most residents do not have any criminal record; however, those mandated by court often are there on addiction related offenses.

The District Attorney’s office heavily scrutinizes applications and criminally violent individuals and sex offenders are not eligible for admission. 

For many, staying at a halfway house is only part of what they are willing to do to stay sober. Some will completely alter their relationships with others and abandon those who have had a negative impact on their sobriety.

Others will change jobs and then there are those who completely change their living environment. For most, it’s a matter of changing whatever needs to be changed in order to be successful in their drug and alcohol free mission.

Each halfway house will have its own set rules and regulations. The consequences to violations of these rules may vary. For example, for those entering the property under the influence, discharge is almost always inevitable. Other rules like random drug testing and room inspection are common.

Some require residents to attend weekly meetings to NA or AA or both. This allows the residents to form fellowships with one another and is a great support system for them. Many long term friendships are formed at halfway houses.

While these homes used to almost always be situated in the worst parts of town, today they can be found next to treatment centers and in nicer neighborhoods. Not all, but many neighborhoods offer their support and will even work in conjunction with local social services agencies. 

Halfway houses are instrumental in helping to keep the addict motivated to succeed. They learn how to enjoy their idle time without using drugs and alcohol.

They also build better social skills by integrating and spending time with other like minded individuals. Those who go to a halfway house are also more likely to remain active in ongoing aftercare and can gain valuable life experiences and employment skills.

While there is not guarantee going to a halfway house will keep a person sober, research and studies have indicated a higher success rate than for those who do not. A lot of a person’s success is still going to depend largely on their own desire to remain drug and alcohol free.