Sober Living Homes in Nevada

Nevada is a state in the United States’ Western region. It is a sparsely populated state. Not only is it the 19th least populous, but it is also the 9th least densely populated state in the country. The state is broken up by a number of north-south mountain ranges, with deep valleys between each one. It is known for its dry desert climate, rugged natural beauty, and for its unique culture. The vast majority of Nevada residents live in Clark County, which is home to the Las Vegas-Paradise metropolitan area.

Nevada is well known for its freewheeling and libertarian laws and culture. It was one of the first states to legalize gambling and write lenient divorce laws. Nevada is also the only state where prostitution is legal, though it remains tightly regulated. As a result, Nevada is a highly sought after tourist destination, which is the biggest driving force for Nevada’s economy. Much of this tourism centers in Las Vegas, a city that millions flock to for gambling, sex, and intoxication.

Given these facts, it should come as no surprise that Nevada residents have high rates of substance addiction. In fact, its largest city, Las Vegas, is known primarily as a place to have intoxicated experiences. In this city, where it is legal to publicly drink on the street, alcohol abuse and drug abuse run rampant. However, even in smaller less densely populated counties, alcohol abuse and illicit drug use are prevalent.

Much of this substance abuse revolves around traditional drugs of abuse, including alcohol, heroin, and crystal meth, but prescription opioids are currently driving overdose death rates. Prescription painkiller addiction is often the result of Nevada’s liberal doling out of prescriptions: doctors write 55.5 opioid prescriptions for every 100 Nevada residents. As a result, there were 372 opioid overdoses in Nevada in 2018 alone.

For individuals suffering from addiction in Nevada, reaching out for help is critical. Addiction is a legitimate mental health condition that is impossible to manage by oneself using sheer willpower. By changing one’s environment and moving into a sober living home, however, it is possible to develop a new way of life.

What Are Sober Living Houses?

Sober living houses are properties where roommates agree to stay clean and sober. This makes it significantly easier for individuals in early sobriety. During early recovery, the environment is a crucial component. Living in a home where one is likely to be exposed to drugs or alcohol can easily lead to a relapse. In a sober living home, residents can feel safe and assured that their residence is drug and alcohol free.

In a sense, sober living homes may appear to be normal homes. Residents sleep, go to work, cook dinner, and work out or watch tv. However, a recovery home is more than just a place to crash. Residents work diligently to acquire the skills, habits, and values that they need in order to stay sober over the long term. In many cases, this means addressing underlying issues, including mental health disorders and conflictual family dynamics. In almost all cases, it means repairing past damage, including fixing legal problems, debt, and relationships with loved ones. Most importantly, it means taking daily steps toward a better life: residents of sober living homes work to secure new careers, re-enroll in school, and develop plans for a better tomorrow.

Perhaps the most critical component of sober livings is the community aspect. Sober living homes provide residents with an opportunity to gain from the experiences, strength, and hope of their roommates. Connecting with other people who have had similar experiences — and have overcome similar challenges — is enormously beneficial in recovery. In fact, a large body of research demonstrates that people who develop strong peer support systems in sober livings are significantly less likely to relapse years after graduating. One can surmise that these relationships not only offer support for sobriety, but a source of joy and fulfillment previously unavailable during years of active addiction.

Sober livings in Nevada and elsewhere do not offer clinical addiction treatment. Nonetheless, they work hard to ensure that residents get connected with whatever resources they need, including outpatient therapy, medical appointments, and even legal services. Sober livings are also the most commonly recommended aftercare program for individuals who have recently graduated from an acute treatment program, such as an inpatient rehab. They offer residents the time and support they need to rebuild their lives after quitting drugs and alcohol in a formal treatment program.

Sober Fun in Nevada

In most cases, it is beneficial to leave one’s home state and make a fresh start in an entirely new environment. For individuals returning to Nevada after getting sober in a California recovery home, it might not be obvious how to enjoy life in Nevada in sobriety. After all, one’s past experiences in Nevada likely revolved around buying, using, and recovering from drugs and alcohol. At first glance, the state may appear to be a vast playground consisting of bars and drug dealers. However, in actual fact there are countless events, attractions, and activities for sober people to enjoy in Nevada.

The idea of “sober fun” might itself sound ridiculous. It may be hard to imagine how any activity can match the euphoria and temporary feelings of liberation offered by drugs and alcohol. It is easy to forget that addiction is in fact characterized by loneliness, conflict, and despair. If you have attended a sober living, you now have access to a whole set of coping skills as well as a vast friend group consisting of other sober people. With good friends, any activity can be a way to have sober fun — and best of all, you’ll retain a memory of the event in the morning.

Worthwhile activities and events in Nevada for sober people include:

Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe, known for its sparkling blue water and surrounding snow-capped mountains, is probably one of the most beautiful sites in the United States Located high up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the California border, this 22 mile long freshwater lake is a popular destination throughout the year. It offers countless hiking trails, beautiful beaches, campgrounds, and even ski resorts.

Reno, Nevada

Reno, the second largest city in Nevada, is a fairly small city nonetheless, with only 250,000 residents. Despite its quaint size, it is home to a variety of astounding attractions and events. Stop by and check out the Great Reno Balloon Race, the Hot August Nights car convention, or the National Championship Air Races.

Burning Man

Is it possible to attend Burning Man sober? The answer is yes! Countless people do so each year! This yearly event, wherein an entire city is constructed and then taken down in the Black Rock Desert, places a unique emphasis on art and self-expression. While there is certainly plenty of drug and alcohol use at Burning Man, the tens of thousands of people who attend yearly include many sober people. Ultimately, being sober is just one of many ways of expressing yourself.

Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam was constructed during the Great Depression, primarily as a means to provide jobs to the unemployed. This massive undertaking resulted in a truly modern engineering marvel. The dam towers 726 feet high. It contains Lake Mead, which is the United States’ largest reservoir. The dam, located on the border of Nevada and Arizona, offers breathtaking views and a window into America’s past.

The Mob Museum

If you think museums are plain and boring, check out Las Vegas’ Mob Museum. This museum covers the history of organized crime in the country, as well as law enforcement’s numerous attempts to ensnare its bosses. Countless artifacts from major events, such as the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, are on display. Exhibits cover the relationship between Hollywood, politicians, and the mob, as well as the role of Prohibition.

National Atomic Testing Museum

This museum, also located in Las Vegas, aims to collect and preserve artifacts from atomic testing sites, the Cold War, and technologies related to nuclear science. Its ultimate goal, however, is to educate the public about the country’s nuclear testing sites, geopolitical history, and the importance of deterring the development of nuclear weapons. This fascinating museum is also a little scary, naturally, but it’s certainly worth a visit.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Are you surprised that Las Vegas is on a list of fun sober activities in Nevada? It is possible to enjoy Nevada without drinking or using drugs. The city is home to countless attractions, including casinos, resorts, spas, restaurants, and theaters. Play a little poker with friends and then hit up a show. Even just walking down the Las Vegas strip is an amazing experience in terms of people watching alone. Be sure to visit Las Vegas, however, only if you have a strong foundation of sober tools and excellent sober friends accompanying you — they will help keep you accountable.

Benefits of Nevada Sober Livings

It is not possible to be “cured” of an addiction. No one wakes up in the morning with lifelong sobriety — sobriety is achieved one day at a time. In order to best ensure continued sobriety and a high quality life, it is important to take the time necessary to learn new skills, develop structure, and make sober friends. Sober livings in Nevada allow individuals in early recovery to stay as long as it takes to do so — often for over a year. During this time, residents appreciate sober living facilities’ numerous benefits, including:

Smooth Transitions

Sober living homes can make it far easier for recent graduates of acute treatment programs to stay sober. Leaving rehab and returning to one’s old way of life can be disorienting, especially if one’s old way of life was a disaster. Studies show that people who spend more time using recovery resources have a higher chance of avoiding relapse. For this reason, sober living homes are the most recommended form of aftercare for individuals graduating from rehab programs.

Daily Support and Guidance

Sober living homes employ staff and house managers who are available 24/7 to help guide residents along their sober journeys. Even at night, when everyone is sleeping, there is always at least one staff member awake and ready in case anyone needs them. Sober living home staff often have experience recovering from addictions themselves, so they are a profound source of experience, strength, and hope.

Sober Relationships

The friendships and community that residents of sober living homes develop are critical. Addiction is commonly known as a disease of isolation, so it’s no surprise that simply having the chance to meet other people in recovery can be healing in itself. No matter what an individual has gone through or is currently going through, housemates are likely to understand — and they may have excellent advice and feedback as well. Most sober living homes in Nevada also encourage residents to foster relationships in their local recovery community, often through support groups or 12-step meetings in the area.

New Life Skills

After years of active addiction, most people are sorely lacking in basic life skills. They may not know how to properly groom themselves, write a resume, or communicate their emotions. Sober living homes work with residents to ensure that they develop these essential skills so that they can be well-prepared for a prosperous and autonomous life in the outside world.

Career Development

Addiction is frequently characterized by chronic unemployment. During one’s residency at a sober living house, one is expected to begin working a job. Doing so profounds opportunities to practice recovery skills, learn accountability, become self-sufficient, and develop confidence. Many residents also begin contemplating their ambitions, often for the very first time — because in sobriety it is now possible to achieve their goals. Residents are supported as they take steps toward new careers or enroll in college degree programs.

Should I Leave Nevada To Get Sober?

While it is possible to recover from addiction anywhere, changing one’s environment is very beneficial. During early recovery, individuals are more vulnerable to the effects of common triggers. Triggers include people one used to drink with, locations associated with substance abuse, and even intense emotional distress. If Nevada was where you grew up drinking and using drugs, it may be helpful to leave the state entirely to avoid encountering these triggers. Given the prevalence of substance abuse in Las Vegas and its environs, Nevada residents are especially advised to change locations.

Moving to another state to attend sober living provides young people with an opportunity to make a fresh start. They will not be shadowed by their former reputation, nor will they be locked into old habits. In a new city, they can make new friends, seek new job opportunities, and build a new life for themselves that is joyful, prosperous, and free.

Recovery is Possible at Design for Recovery

Design for Recovery is Southern California’s preeminent structured sober living home. Our men’s sober living home offers young people an opportunity to get sober and rebuild their lives. Residents form a tight knit community that works together to ensure everyone makes steady progress in their recovery journeys. As a structured sober living home, a type of sober living unique to California, Design for Recovery offers a higher degree of support, scheduling, and resources than other sober livings.

Residents work daily to strengthen their recovery. This means addressing underlying issues, from interpersonal conflict to mental health disorders. It also means developing a new set of principles and values to live by, such as honesty, accountability, and integrity. At Design for Recovery, we believe that recovery goes well beyond mere physical abstinence. It is a way of life. We help ensure that our residents not only get sober, but acquire the gifts of recovery: strong relationships, self-assurance, and independence.

Southern California is the ideal location for an individual in early recovery. This city offers countless cultural attractions for sober fun, bountiful outdoor activities, and a thriving recovery community. Residents of Design for Recovery go on outings to the beach, hikes in the mountains, and take full advantage of life in Los Angeles. They also attend support groups and 12-step meetings to build their connections to the local recovery scene. In this diverse and open-minded city, living a sober life is a true joy.

If you are ready for a new way of life, contact us today.