Sober Living Phoenix, AZ

Sober Living Resources for Phoenix

Phoenix is the fifth most populous city in the United States, and it is also the state capital of Arizona. Phoenix, Arizona is located in the Northeastern reaches of the Sonoran Desert, and it is well-known for its dry, hot desert climate. Residents of Phoenix and visitors alike enjoy the city’s abundant sunshine. The city started as an agricultural community; farmers prospered growing cotton, citrus, alfalfa, and hay. After World War II, however, Phoenix became dominated by high-tech companies. Today, visitors enjoy Phoenix’s thriving arts scene, historic neighborhoods, beautiful architecture, cuisine, and opportunities for outdoor activities.

However, life in Phoenix is not without its dark side. Drug and alcohol addictions run rampant in the city, taking lives and destroying communities. Individuals with substance use disorders in Phoenix abuse a wide assortment of substances, from crystal meth to heroin. Today, however, the opioid epidemic is being driven by the wide availability of prescription painkillers, such as fentanyl and oxycodone. In fact, doctors in Arizona write an average of 50.7 opioid prescriptions for every 100 people in Phoenix. As a result, the number of opioid overdoses in Arizona numbered 1,106 in 2018 alone.

Once a drug or alcohol addiction has developed, it can be almost impossible to stop abusing substances without outside help. Addiction causes cognitive and behavioral changes that no amount of individual willpower can undermine. Individuals who do not seek outside help are likely to experience increasingly severe consequences, ranging from financial and family problems to severe health problems and death.

Fortunately, Phoenix has a vast number of recovery resources for people struggling with addiction. Sober living homes are one of the most effective resources for individuals trying to overcome drug or alcohol addiction. These residences help people in recovery develop the skills, support systems, and lifestyles they need to stay sober and rebuild their lives. Many quality sober living homes exist in Phoenix, though Phoenix residents generally benefit considerably from enrolling in out-of-state sober living homes.

What Are Sober Living Homes?

Sober living homes are properties where individuals with drug and alcohol addictions can live. However, before moving in, residents must agree to stay away from drugs and alcohol. This ensures that the environment of a sober living will remain clean and sober. Staff members generally administer regular drug screenings and enforce basic rules as well. In many ways, sober livings are regular homes, except that life in a sober living revolves around addiction recovery.

Environmental factors have an enormous influence on recovery. Peer pressure, emotionally destabilizing experiences, and direct exposure to substance abuse can potentially trigger a relapse, especially for individuals in early sobriety, who are often shaky and vulnerable. Sober livings provide safe, supportive, and trigger-free environments. Moreover, they offer a great deal of structure to newly sober residents. No one is sitting around waiting to get a year of sobriety; residents fill their time with productive activities designed to reinforce their sobriety.

Quality sober livings recognize that recovery is about much more than just staying away from drugs and alcohol. Few people decide to get sober because they like the way their lives look. One of the greatest gifts that sobriety offers is the opportunity to improve one’s life. To that end, residents at sober livings work to address underlying issues, improve their relationships with family members, and take steps toward their future goals. Sober livings support residents as they get jobs, enroll in college, and meet the challenges that come with growth and increased personal autonomy.

One study on sober livings showed that even years after graduating, people who attend sober living houses have lower rates of relapse than those who do not. This study attributes the reduction in relapse rates to the strong peer support systems that residents develop. Sober living housemates form communities, lend each other strength, keep each other accountable, and make life in sobriety meaningful and joyful. No one can recover from addiction alone. Together, however, the possibilities are endless.

Sober Fun in Phoenix

Phoenix is a wonderful place to enjoy a sober life. Before venturing out into the city to enjoy its many drug and alcohol-free events, however, it is important to have a strong foundation of sober resources. Sober livings help people develop the skills and coping tools necessary to have fun without having to rely on the crutch of alcohol or drugs. More importantly, sober living residents develop strong friendships with other sober people. For someone newly sober, the idea of going to a music show cold-sober may seem strange or awkward, but doing so in the company of other sober friends can be a blast — with the added benefit that there won’t be a hangover the next day!

Hike Around Phoenix

Phoenix is an amazing and vibrant city — but visitors most often flock here because of its plentiful outdoor activities. Hiking through the desert is one of the best ways to relieve stress, combat the blues, and connect with nature. Phoenix has many hiking trails for all skill levels. Adventurous hikers are advised to check out Camelback Mountain, though easy trails like Papago Park and the Lost Dog Trailhead make excellent short treks.

Visit a Museum

Phoenix has many museums. Art lovers can explore the Phoenix Art Museum, whose permanent collection spans the European Renaissance to the Baroque period. This beautiful building also regularly hosts exhibits for fashion design, film, and contemporary art. Other eclectic museums include the Musical Instrument Museum and the Heard Museum, which focuses on the cultures of the indigenous people of the American Southwest.

South Mountain park

South Mountain Park covers over 16,000 acres, making it one of the largest city parks in the country. This desert park contains miles and miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. It is a great place for outdoor recreation. At night, visitors often come to enjoy the incredible view of the city lights.

The Arizona Science Center

The Arizona Science Center contains seven different themed galleries and hundreds of interactive exhibits. Visitors can enjoy films in the center’s IMAX theater or a view of the cosmos in the center’s 200-seat planetarium. On a hot day in Phoenix, there’s no better activity.

The Desert Botanical Garden

The Desert Botanical Garden is located in Phoenix’s Papago Park. The park is notable for combining human-constructed art with natural beauty. Each garden contains countless art installations. While it’s not clear if the hummingbirds and butterflies appreciate the art, this 140-acre complex is sure to astound any human being. Be prepared to walk, though, since the trails that wind through the garden are very extensive.

Benefits of Phoenix Sober Livings

Addictions are legitimate mental health conditions that require outside help. Individuals who suffer from drug or alcohol use disorders cannot manage their intake of substances on their own. More importantly, there is no “cure” for addiction — recovery does not happen overnight. However, it is possible to learn to live with addiction and even to free oneself of the obsessive desire to abuse drugs and alcohol. Doing so means taking the time to develop new behaviors, new skills, and even new relationships.

Sober living homes allow residents to stay for as long as they need. In fact, many residents stay for a year or longer. During this time, they are guaranteed a supportive environment where they can not only develop the tools they need to maintain their sobriety over the long term, but they also work to build new lives for themselves that are happy, joyous, and free. By the time a person is ready to leave their sober living house, they will have developed confidence, autonomy, and strong relationships that will continue to support them in the years to come.

The benefits of sober living houses, in Phoenix and elsewhere, include:

Life Skills Training

Sober living houses aim to prepare residents for their futures. After all, only rarely do people just want to quit drinking and using drugs. In most cases, there are many areas of their lives that have been negatively affected by their substance abuse. Many newly sober people lack basic skills that they didn’t learn because they were focused on their addiction. Sober living homes aim to remedy this situation by supporting residents as they get jobs, enroll in school, and take positive steps toward their goals.

Peer Support

Arguably the most important benefit that sober livings provide is the social support system. People with substance use disorders often engage in conflictual behavior that drives people away; some people simply isolate themselves during their addiction. It should come as no surprise that addiction is often referred to as a “disease of isolation.” Simply having the chance to speak with other people who share similar experiences can be profoundly healing; living with them is even more so. Residents support each other, share experiences, and lend each other their strength. These relationships often carry on long into the future.

Staff Support

Staff members generally live on the premises with the other residents. As such, residents can expect staff members to be available 24/7. Sober living staff members are passionate about the recovery process. In most cases, staff members have struggled and overcome addiction themselves. Sober living house managers and other team members enforce house rules, ensure that the environment remains structured, and administer regular drug tests. They are also available to answer the phone at all times in case family members have any questions or concerns.

Rehab Transitions

After graduating from an inpatient rehab program, it is generally not a good idea to simply return to one’s old way of living. Doing so can be a recipe for relapse — or at the very least a source of unnecessary challenges and struggles. Sober livings are often recommended for recent rehab graduates. While sober living houses do not offer clinical addiction treatment, they can work as part of an aftercare program. Evidence shows that making use of sober livings and other aftercare resources significantly improves a person’s chances of staying sober over the long term.

Sober Livings Outside of Phoenix

Phoenix has plentiful options when it comes to recovery resources. There are many quality sober living houses in Phoenix. Individuals who spent their addictions living in Phoenix may find it difficult to recover there, however. This is because they may be dogged by memories of their active addiction. A trigger can come in the form of a chance encounter with an old drug dealer or drinking buddy, or even just walking past an old bar haunt. Staying in Phoenix during the early and most vulnerable period of recovery can impede the process. After all, getting sober is about making a fresh start.

Southern California is widely recognized for the quality of its recovery resources and sober living homes and is known for being the birthplace of structured sober livings. This unique type of sober living home offers more structure, more resources, and more hands-on guidance than traditional sober livings. The ara is also known for its thriving recovery community. 12-step meetings, including Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, as well as many other support groups, meet regularly throughout the city. The culture of Southern California is open-minded, health-conscious, and amenable to alternative lifestyles. If you are ready to make a fresh start and develop a new way of life, this city by the sea is the perfect place to do it.

Recover From Addiction at Design for Recovery

Design for Recovery, a structured sober living home for men located in Southern California, is well-known as the area’s premier recovery home. Our program is designed to help young men develop the skills, behaviors, values, and relationships that they need to stay sober over the long term. Our highly structured program helps residents address underlying issues and begin taking the steps necessary to build a better life.

Our philosophy at Design for Recovery is that recovery is a multi-faceted process that involves far more than just putting away drugs and alcohol. We work with residents to help them plan for their futures, build new relationships, and rediscover the joys of everyday life. Our “design for living” is built on a solid foundation of values and principles, including honesty, integrity, and accountability. By applying these values to every aspect of life, residents can build a sober life for themselves that is joyful, fulfilling, and free.

If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction in Phoenix, it is never too late to ask for help. Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation. Design for Recovery can help you make the changes you need.