Santa Monica

The Ultimate Guide to Sober Living Santa Monica 2021

Santa Monica is a beautiful beachfront city located in Southern California. Its hospitable climate and oceanfront attractions also make it a great place to get sober. Santa Monica has a population of 92,306 people. The city of Santa Monica is not known for its ethnic diversity, with an almost 80% white demographic. While the average household income of $69,013 is about average for the county, Santa Monica does contain a relatively high number of wealthy households earning upwards of $125,000 a year.

Popular destinations for visitors include the Third Street Promenade and the Santa Monica Pier. Santa Monica, which began as a resort town at the dawn of the 20th century, is now a bustling hub for tourism and shopping.

Unfortunately, over the last decade Santa Monica and its surrounding areas have experienced a surge in substance abuse and drug-related deaths. Deaths in the county from drug overdose have increased from 81 to 2010 to 284 in 2016. Crystal meth is a problem in particular, with trips to the emergency room due to methamphetamine overdose more than tripling in those 6 years.

As elsewhere in the United States, rampant alcohol use disorder and the opioid epidemic have also left their scars. Fortunately, Santa Monica has a wide variety of resources for people who are trying to get sober, including sober living homes.

What is a Sober Living Home?

Sober living homes are a type of recovery residence for people recovering from substance use disorder. Residents of a sober living Santa Monica homes agree to maintain their sobriety as a condition for living there. People who enroll in sober living Santa Monica homes have the advantage of living in a safe and supportive environment away from the triggers they might encounter back home. 

Individuals spend this time focusing on building the skills and developing the tools they need for long term sobriety. Moreover, they can do so with the built-in social support system that living with other sober people provides. Many sober recovery homes in Southern California also recommend outside resources conducive to staying sober, such as counseling, support groups, and medication monitoring at nearby outpatient facilities. 

Sober living Santa Monica can also be great places to get assistance and support in finding work, returning to school, and repairing relationships. A sober living home is not just a place to sleep for people who are sober, but a chance to continue to strengthen one’s foundation of sobriety and prepare for the challenges of sober life.

Many people choose to enroll in sober living Santa Monica homes after graduating from an inpatient or outpatient treatment program, as part of an aftercare plan for maintaining sobriety. However, they can also be beneficial for patients who are getting treatment during the day at an outpatient or intensive outpatient treatment program. 

Santa Monica area sober living homes are also known to include a number of structured sober living programs, which offer more regulated schedules and resources for recovery. These programs can be useful on their own for individuals who have opted not to include an outpatient program as part of their treatment.

Thriving Santa Monica Sober Community

Individuals who are recovering from a substance use disorder can take comfort in the fact that Santa Monica is a welcome and supportive place for the sober community. Santa Monica and its surrounding neighborhoods are home to a thriving 12-step community. There are dozens of Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA, meetings in Santa Monica from early morning to late at night.

At Santa Monica AA meetings, people who are at different stages of sobriety can share stories, receive support, make friends, and work to develop life strategies conducive to long term sobriety. Even in surrounding neighborhoods, such as Venice, AA meetings are both easy to access and absolutely free of cost. The fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous is a powerful resource both for people struggling to get sober and for those who have been sober many years.

Sober Living Homes near Santa Monica, CA

Santa Monica and its surrounding areas are also home to a variety of recovery programs, for people who hope to get more intensive care for their substance abuse problems. 

Sober living homes provide individuals with safe spaces and resources that allow them to focus all of their energy on the process of getting sober.

Sober living homes allow addicts to take up full-time residency with other sober people who are working to develop a new way of living. These services allow people to build a sober social support network, and learn new coping techniques. 

While it is possible to get sober anywhere, Santa Monica has the unique advantage of having a wide variety of recovery resources to choose from — as well as being an agreeable and exciting neighborhood to get sober in.

Sober Fun in Santa Monica

Santa Monica has a variety of attractions that people travel from all over the world to see. Any number of these activities can be enjoyed without having to be intoxicated. For newly sober people, “sober fun” might sound like an impossible contradiction in terms — or it might sound scary. 

However, for people who are taking advantage of the many 12-step groups and treatment centers available in and around Santa Monica, sober fun is readily available. Inviting sober friends can make an activity that was previously unthinkable without alcohol into an exciting and laugh-filled experience that you’ll actually remember afterwards. Fun things to do sober in Santa Monica include:

• The Santa Monica Pier – Known for its amusement park, rollercoaster, and beautiful view of the ocean, the Santa Monica Pier is a great place to spend the afternoon.
• Bergamot Station Arts Center – The Bergamot Stations Arts Center is an arts hub containing a wide variety of galleries, performance spaces, museums, and concert halls.
• McCabe’s Guitar Shop – This long-running store is a great place to browse or listen to a concert.
• The Third Street Promenade – The famous Third Street Promenade is an outdoor pedestrian mall that is not only great for shopping but for people-watching as well.
• The Santa Monica Film Festival – Every year the Santa Monica Film Center screens new and experimental premieres that people travel all over the world to see.
• The Palisades Park – The breathtaking 26.4 acre park runs alongside the beach on Ocean Avenue.
• The Santa Monica Stairs – This high-altitude stairway is a great place to get some exercise and fresh air. See who wins a race to the top!

What to Consider When Choosing a Santa Monica Sober Living Home for Men

Recovering from a substance use disorder in the relative seclusion of a sober living home can allow individuals to reintegrate into the world at a comfortable and unhurried pace. Research has actually shown that people who remain in treatment longer have lower rates of relapse down the road. In Santa Monica and its surrounding neighborhoods, people seeking sober living homes have a variety of options to suit their particular situations.

 While not all sober living homes will allow residents to bring along their furry friends, some pet-friendly sober living houses actually actually have in-house pets for residents to enjoy and take care of. Couples who are interested in sober living homes can choose from a number of co-ed sober living houses. The vast majority of sober living homes, however, are single-sex, so that residents can eliminate distractions and focus on their recovery.

When researching and selecting a sober living home, it is important to look out for a number of qualities. These include:

• Regular drug testing. This ensures that you’ll be living in a safe environment with other sober residents, as well as helping you stay accountable to yourself.
• Number of residents. You want to make sure that your sober living home has the space and resources to accommodate your needs.
• Sufficient length of stay. It is important to make sure the sober living allows residents to stay for the length you need to guarantee sufficient time for recovery.
• Structure. While most sober living homes do not provide the same intensity of scheduling as inpatient treatment centers, it is important to choose a sober living home that offers resources beyond a bed.
• Location and transportation. It is good to choose a sober living home that is in a practical location for your unique needs. Another good question to ask is if they provide a means for residents to attend 12-step meetings in the area.
• Affordability. Sober living homes cost money. Many sober living homes can help you develop a plan to finance your residency.
• Experienced staff. Staff members and management at a sober living home should have experience working in recovery. Make sure that staff members are skilled, and have extensive training. A good sober living home has staff available 24 hours a day.

Benefits of Santa Monica Sober Living

In the early days of recovery, staying off drugs and alcohol can seem overwhelming. By living in a sober living home, however, you can take things one day at a time with the assurance that you’ll be supported every step of the way. Structured sober living homes help residents develop the tools they need to confront any obstacle or difficulty they face. However, sober living homes offer much more than just self-improvement. They provide a powerful and supportive sober network so that no one individual has the shoulder the burden of their recovery alone.

The following are just a few of the many benefits that people can expect when they enroll in a sober living home:

• Good examples. The other residents of the sober living home, who have been there longer, are living proof that sobriety is possible. It may come as a revelation to you that happiness and sobriety are compatible. Even when these sober individuals face challenges or difficulties, you’ll have the opportunity to see them face them with poise and sobriety. You’ll see that it is possible to stay sober through the good times and the bad times.
• Improved health. It may sound obvious, but it bears repeating. When you drink or use drugs, it’s not just your emotions that suffer — your body does too. When you get sober, your health will immediately start to improve. Many people lose weight, experience improvements in blood pressure, and even start to look better! It helps that many sober living residents turn to exercise as a way of getting the same rush they once got from substances.
• Finances improve. If you add up how much you’ve spent on alcohol and drugs over the years, chances are high you could probably have put a down payment on a house with that money. Not only does getting sober remove a major expense from your life, however, but you’ll likely find yourself spending money more rationally and calmly in general. While attending sober living homes, many residents find that they begin accruing significant savings.
• Mental health improves. Substance abuse with widely associated with increased anxiety, increased depression, and a whole assortment of mental health disorders. By removing one of the underlying causes of emotional distress, sobriety automatically improves mental health. Sobriety also provides an opportunity for people to begin addressing the other causes of their depression or anxiety.
• Relationships improve. Sober living homes are communities where people build connections with each other. They improve their social and communication skills. Moreover, sober living homes work with residents to help them heal their pre-existing relationships with friends and family members.
• You can start a new career. In a structured sober living home, residents work to rebuild their lives from the ground up. For many, this means switching from a dead-end job to a full-fledged career. This can mean enrolling in an academic program or simply taking steps toward new employment.
• You’ll be less likely to relapse. Studies on sober living homes show that the social support systems people develop during their residencies remain with them for years after they graduate. Moreover, these social support systems are key aspects of relapse prevention. Individuals who attend sober living homes are statistically less likely to relapse even years later.

What To Expect When You Enroll in a Sober Living Home

When you first walk in through the doors of your sober living home, it’s normal to feel a bit intimidated. However, it is worth keeping in mind that countless people have been in your shoes before, and they’ve managed to get sober.

During your first day at a sober living home, the staff or director of the program will generally begin by having an open and honest discussion with you. The purpose of such a discussion is to get to know you better and to evaluate your current condition. They will try to assess your current mental and physical health, the extent and nature of your addiction, your experience with recovery and relapse, and any other aspects of your life that may affect your recovery, such as your social support system. Doing so helps staff members determine what your individual needs are and helps them formulate a plan for addressing them.

During the subsequent days, you’ll have a chance to simply live your life normally as you get to know the structure and schedule of the sober living home. You’ll get to know the other residents, who will welcome you and show you the ropes. Don’t expect too much of yourself at first. The only rule you need to follow is just staying sober. And remember that sobriety is best achieved one day at a time. As you get more familiar with your new home, you’ll become more adept at tackling each day.

Finding a Sober Living Home Near Me

There are a number of resources available for individuals seeking sober living homes. For people graduating from treatment programs, case workers can provide sober living home recommendations as part of an aftercare plan. If you’re not affiliated with a treatment center but attend 12-step meetings, members of your fellowship can also often provide recommendations. 

Individuals doing solitary research can consult the website of The Sober Living Network. The Sober Living Network sets quality standards for sober living apartments and houses throughout the United States. Sober living homes that meet their criteria can become members of The Sober Living Coalition. These approved facilities are safe, well-managed, and ethical. To research sober living homes in your area, you can use The Sober Living Network’s free search tools.

Design for Recovery Sober Living for Men

Design for Recovery stands out from other Santa Monica area sober living homes not only because it is strongly rooted in the 12 Steps of Recovery, but it is also a highly structured program centered on the principles of honesty, integrity, accountability, responsibility, and service. Addicts who are floundering in recovery and repeatedly relapsing can find lasting sobriety in Design for Recovery, which is known as one of the best sober living homes in the Santa Monica area.

Design for Recovery is committed to the idea that recovery from drug addiction is about more than just the removal of substances from the body. The process of recovery involves dealing with the underlying issues behind the addiction as well as developing the tools and coping strategies required for long term success in sober life down the road.

Design for Recovery offers a number of services to aid people along their paths to recovery. These include:

• One-on-One Mentoring
• House Unity Meetings
• Medication Monitoring
• Employment Support
• Money Management
• Family Outreach

The founders of Design for Recovery bring with them a wealth of experience in recovery and structured sober living. They are passionate about helping young men who are trapped in the cycle of substance abuse. The mission of this sober living for men is to help these individuals rebuild their lives from the ground up, a process that is demanding yet carried out with a great deal of compassion. Through commitment to the Design for Recovery program, countless young men have been able to break free from the chains of addiction.

Anyone living in Santa Monica who is suffering from drug and alcohol addiction would benefit from enrolling in Design for Recovery, which provides individuals with a safe sober community and a structured program of behavior modification strongly rooted in the 12 steps. 

Design for Recovery can also point residents toward possible sources for financial assistance for sober living enrollment. Design for Recovery’s convenient location as well as its proven track record of helping people recover from substance abuse disorder makes Design for Recovery the clear solution for individuals who are eager to find a newfound freedom and happiness.

For anyone seeking more information about the history of Design for Recovery, its core values, or details about the day-to-day workings of its program, feel free to reach out and contact us today.

Sober Living Homes Near Santa Monica, CA

Our residences are centrally located near the beach, Santa Monica, and LAX Airport. We provide a safe and comfortable base for young men to involve themselves in the community and to thrive as new and growing individuals.