Do you have a loved one in rehab struggling with addiction?
Then you already know the importance of finding a halfway house for him once he completes his stay at the rehab. Now, the question is, how can you trust that he will be safe in such a facility?
Rehabilitation isn’t easy for a drug or alcohol addict. The process is long, challenging, physically painful, and emotionally exhausting. Addicts are kept under round-the-clock supervision to ensure that they don’t indulge in the use of alcohol or drugs while they are in rehab.
However, staying in a rehabilitation center cannot be a permanent solution for families of addicts. Once their loved ones are cleared to leave the rehab, they must resume their normal lives.
This is easier said than done. The shame and guilt of addiction weigh heavily on these recovering addicts, and they are now more vulnerable than ever to falling back into addiction.
Temptations are everywhere, and the urge to start using drugs or alcohol can derail the recovery process. This is where halfway houses can help.
How to know if a halfway house in Illinois is right for your loved one:
While halfway houses seem to be the perfect solution for addicts before they step back into their normal lives, it’s important to check how safe they are really.
If you are a resident of Illinois State, you need to start searching for a trusted halfway house in Illinois where you can keep your loved one until he is ready to face the world.
However, there’s much stigma surrounding halfway homes. Usually, it’s because of the people who come to stay in these facilities. These are often considered to be dangerous and harmful for recovering addicts.
The truth is a reputed halfway house will employ only trained and responsible staff and will always have proper rules in place. This ensures safety for the residents besides teaching them the values of sobriety, self-worth, discipline, and hard work.
The main reason to choose a halfway house is to make sure your loved one can continue to be in a drug-free and alcohol-free environment after rehab. The first few weeks following treatment can be hard for the patient, and coping with cravings isn’t easy when there is no monitoring. In a halfway house, the addict finds it easier to continue staying sober because he won’t have easy access to drugs or alcohol in these facilities. The house managers conduct routine drug tests to make sure residents are drug-free and refrain from engaging in any kind of substance abuse.
When you make the right choice of a sober living home, it can facilitate recovery faster than you think. It can not only rehabilitate the patient but also help him reintegrate into society. It’s the perfect place for an addict to get back on his feet before stepping into the world outside, where he is likely to face the same temptations as before. The difference this time is that he will have the strength to keep himself away from these.
How can halfway homes facilitate recovery from addiction?
Halfway homes are designed for the quick recovery of addicts; as such, they offer a drug-free environment for residents. The setting is safe and healthy, providing a structured and supportive facility for residents that encourages them to stay sober. It’s where newly recovering addicts will be stopped from making wrong decisions and falling back into addiction again.
Halfway houses offer stability and security to individuals battling different types of addiction. In doing so, they can successfully prevent a relapse. All the residents share the same commitment to sobriety. Since the addict is surrounded by like-minded people, he is more likely to stay committed. He feels a sense of belonging to this community and enjoys a robust support network that makes him feel protected and cared for.
Most of the residents have either battled addiction and overcome it, or still battling it. So, they know the risks, vulnerabilities, and insecurities that one is likely to face during this time. This makes them empathetic toward one another’s needs. Your loved ones can get valuable advice on ways to cope with cravings.
These sober living homes encourage residents to follow rules and threaten them with penalties when rules are flouted. They encourage recovering addicts to look for jobs to pay for their accommodation and to become self-sufficient. Addicts are also made to attend regular NA and AA meetings near them to facilitate recovery. All of these measures inculcate a sense of responsibility in the addict and prepare him for life afterward.
Do you know how to choose the right halfway home in Illinois for your loved one?
The thought of putting your loved one in a sober living home may be encouraging, but how can you be sure the facility is safe and comfortable? Here is a list of things to check for when choosing a sober living for him:
- Reputation: Before you move your family member into a sober living facility in Illinois, check for the rules of a halfway house. A house that doesn’t insist on rules shouldn’t be trusted. Shortlist some of the more popular options near your home and pay a visit to check out the premises before you book it.
- Location: It’s always better to choose a halfway house that is closer to your home and with easy access to employment and essential amenities.
- Security: Check to make sure that the premises are well-protected and that the house strictly discourages any type of substance abuse.
- Programs: Choose a halfway house that encourages addicts to attend regular NA/AA meetings as part of their recovery process. This will help them stay true to their sobriety goals.
- Staff: You need to choose sober living which is manned by trained and qualified staff and a responsible house manager. Then you can be sure your loved one is in good hands.
- Credentials: When searching for a halfway house near you, make sure to research it well and find out if it has the necessary licenses to operate in that state.
These guidelines should be able to find you a secure and comfortable halfway home for your loved one. The idea behind shifting someone to a halfway house after rehab is to help him transition smoothly from an intensive inpatient treatment facility to an outpatient program. So, the next time someone tells you that a halfway house is the worst place to keep a recovering addict, find out more about it before you believe him.
