Ark To Peace

A Christian Program Assisting In A Fresh Start To 

A New Life Through A Sober Living Transition 

Who Needs a Sober Living Environment

When a person is addicted to drugs, everything can feel like a reason to use.  An example is a person addicted to nicotine that decides to quit smoking.  During the first few days, weeks or months, everything seems to push against the willpower to abstain. Hanging out with old friends that smoke is torture for the newly smoke-free person.  Drinking coffee triggers a craving, seeing a movie with an actor smoking creates an urge – the list goes on.  Our habits become ingrained in our life-style, our social circles, our activities, our relationships and our employment environment.  The Christ centered apartment style assisted living program is designed as a safe, substance-free, positive, encouraging environment, free from triggers and negative influences.  The program is designed to eliminate past environmental pressures while learning how to transition into a new life.  The decision toward lifelong abstinence is a hard decision.  It is a worthwhile decision and the road isn’t easy.  The Christ centered apartment style assisted living program assists in making that road just a bit less bumpy.

Success Rates of the Sober Living Environment

The unfortunate statistics: 40 to 60% of individuals new to recovery relapse within the first 30 days after leaving a rehabilitation program -- up to 85% relapse within the first year.  Often individuals in the initial months of recovery will return to their previous environment and previous daily life they lived prior to recovery.  They have the expectation that they can continue to live without returning to drugs and alcohol.  The first year of recovery is especially fragile and meaningful.  Studies suggest that once an individual is able to maintain 12 months of abstinence, the chance of a continued long-term success in sobriety dramatically increases.

There is a critical gap between leaving a rehabilitation program and re-entering the community.  A Christ centered apartment style assisted living program provides an environment of sober living to assist in bridging this critical gap.  When individuals graduate from a treatment facility it is suggested that they enter a sober living environment according to Megan Frankl, Executive Director of the National Sober Living Association.  Individuals staying in a sober living environment for nine months or longer have a 75 percent chance of not relapsing again within the first 10 year period.  Oxford Houses, a national chain of sober living homes with nearly 3000 homes, maintains a success rate of 85%.  A government funded study found secondary improvements in employment, psychiatric symptoms and arrests.  The study discovered an 80% reduction of in the arrest rate among individuals living in a sober living environment for 6 months.

Characteristics of the Sober Living Environment

A sober living environment provides a positive atmosphere reducing the risk of relapse while teaching individuals how to manage stress without resorting to drugs or alcohol.  The Christ centered apartment style assisted living program is designed to make it easier for an individual to re-acclimate to daily life after leaving an inpatient program.  In an article in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, a sober living environment is defined by five distinct characteristics:

• A living environment that is drug and alcohol-free.

• No formal drug or alcohol treatments take place or are required, although attendance in a twelve-step or equivilant programs is required.

• A resident must adhere to house rules and guidelines including but not limited to paying rent, attending house meetings, performing household tasks (doing laundry or washing dishes), etc.

• A resident must meet all individual financial obligations including but not limited to paying rent and/or utilities.

• A resident may stay as long as needed, but only if the resident observes house rules.

In summary, a person living in a sober living environment must be an active member of the household and remain sober.

Why Do People Go to a Sober Living Environment

Residents at a Christ centered apartment style assisted living program are from all walks of life because drug and alcohol addiction can affect anyone.  Regardless of race, gender, age, or financial status, a sober living environment can help anyone seeking to prevent addiction re-lapse.  Listed are some reasons why individuals enter a sober living environment:

• Transitional housing after a rehabilitation program: Frequently found are residents in sober living communities that have recently completed formal drug or alcohol treatment.  A sober living environment assists in easing the transition from a very structured to a less structured environment.  Residents coming from treatment programs will find more freedoms and privileges as well as more responsibilities in the transition back to regular day-to-day life.

• Criminal justice system: When a drug or alcohol offender goes through the criminal justice system, an individual may be referred to a sober living environment for continued recovery.  Sometimes this happens in lieu of jail/prison or it can be a provision of parole.

• Homelessness: Being homeless and addicted to drugs or alcohol is a bad combination.  A God based apartment style assisted living program provides assistance to those sober and without a home while transitioning to a new life.

• By choice: Our Christ centered apartment style assisted living program is an open invitation to those in recovery that are clean and sober.

Whatever the reason, Our Christ centered apartment style assisted living program might just be the right place for you.  The struggle with addiction and recovery can feel scary, but you can achieve a sober life --  a full and happy life.  Contact us at Ark to Peace to learn more about how a sober living environment can factor into your recovery.

Contact Terry Hoffman:  arktopeace@gmail.com

Contact Michael Walker:  mwalk8601@bellsouth.net  

Apply online:   forms.gle/7kA6QPDigG6rH3jJ7