RECOVERY HOME CHECKLIST

What makes one recovery home different from another?

There are several important factors you should consider when making the decision. A recovery home is not just an opportunity for addicts and alcoholics to become sober, it's a place where they learn how to stay sober.

A recovery home should be affordable without breaking your budget.Just because the home is expensive and offers many luxuries and spa-like services doesn't necessarily mean it has a good program of recovery. As nice as they may seem, it's not a vacation you're looking for, you're trying to learn how to live a sober life.

Watch out for places that are extremely inexpensive. More often than not, they have nothing more to offer than room and board and have little or no structure or rules.

When looking for a recovery home try to get a recommendation from someone who has been through the house, has completed the program and is living a productive and sober lifestyle.

The house should provide a strong transition for a person coming out of an addiction treatment center or detox facility providing a safe and supportive environment for patients re-entering mainstream society.

A recovery home is a place where residents can begin to build a real foundation in sobriety with a strong support group of people who share their experience, strength and hope while in a secure, drug free environment. Should have a structured program of recovery that enables residents to follow a 12-step program.

It should have a highly structured program where residents learn through daily chores, rap sessions and writing how to be responsible for their actions.

A recovery home should have a program that inspires residents to change and to realize they can achieve their dreams and goals.

Residents should be required to participate in meetings along with tasks around the house. A recovery home should also offer meetings and rap sessions for residents and their families where they can identify and examine the behavior or circumstances that have contributed to addiction.

Where residents, after spending some time in the house should be required to get a job while still living in the home. In this way they can become self-supporting and productive members of society.

One of the most important things a recovery home should offer is a solid support group. The bonds and friendships that are made in the house can last a lifetime. Are graduates of the program still actively involved with the house as sponsors, mentors and friends?

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