How are Recovery Houses Different from Halfway Houses?

When it comes to drug and alcohol treatment, there are many different types of recovery centers available, like recovery and halfway houses. This includes both residential treatment facilities and non-residential centers. Both have great success with helping individuals recover from substance addictions, but these facilities are not created equally. 

When looking at the differences between halfway houses and recovery houses, one can easily see that they are distinctly different facilities. The main difference between these two centers is in their length of stay. 

Halfway houses offer shorter stays and focus on getting someone back into independent living as soon as possible. On the other hand, recovery homes are another option for long-term residential care that allows clients to live onsite rather than being required to go to a day program or off-site therapy.

You may encounter these terms in reference to these types of houses:

• Sober living home
• Oxford home
• Recovery house
• Residential reentry centers
• Dry house

Features that differentiate recovery houses from halfway houses

We often hear people using the terms halfway house and recovery house interchangeably in the recovery community. While these facilities serve similar functions, there are some important differences to be aware of. 

Halfway houses

Halfway houses offer short-term residential treatment for substance abuse. However, halfway houses are generally used as a step down from inpatient treatment centers. In other words, they prepare recovering alcoholics and drug addicts to live on their own again by offering a safe environment with structure and supervision. At the same time, they still have access to counselors and other medical staff. 

While living at a halfway house, residents typically attend counseling sessions regularly and must remain sober as part of their contract or lease agreement. These programs also have special treatment programs that focus on helping clients deal with triggers for their drug or alcohol abuse.

Besides, halfway houses have strict guidelines that include:

• Must only offer onsite treatment options like therapy and medication management.
• Have restrictions on the duration a patient takes in the house.
• Must have onsite caregivers and managers in the houses at all times.

Additionally, there are other rules and restrictions in halfway houses as compared with other recovery houses. 

Recovery houses

On the other hand, recovery houses are usually not licensed by the state and are therefore not required to provide any therapy services beyond room and board. They exist to help addicts reintegrate into society by providing temporary housing in a safe environment where residents can continue the process of healing until they’re ready for independent living once again. Unlike recovery houses, individuals who stay at halfway houses are usually required to maintain sobriety before getting back into society. 

The typical resident at a recovery house is someone who has recently left rehab and needs intensive assistance in order to remain drug-free. At recovery houses, residents continue their sobriety by attending self-help meetings and working with counselors who help them overcome any obstacles that may arise during the first few months of recovery. 

Recovery houses are usually located near hospitals, clinics, and other services for people in recovery. However, unlike halfway houses, recovery houses do not require their residents to adhere to a strict daily schedule or participate in group therapy sessions. This allows individuals in recovery to live on their terms while providing them with the support they need to maintain sobriety.

How to choose a halfway house or recovery house?

If you or a loved one is looking for a recovery house or halfway house, it can be challenging to know where to start your search. There are some differences between the two, but both of them offer residential drug and alcohol treatment for people who need extra support and guidance.

The fact that you’re looking into recovery houses or halfway houses means that you’ve probably looked into detox facilities as well. The best thing you can do is find a facility that offers all three of these services in one place: detox, inpatient treatment, and aftercare.

Detox is the first step towards getting clean. It’s the process of ridding your body of all chemical substances that are making life hard for you and those around you. Detoxing will vary in length depending on how much time it takes to rid your body of substances.

Inpatient treatment is precisely what it sounds like — being admitted to an inpatient facility for an extended period to get sober. This is also referred to as residential treatment because you live at the facility while undergoing treatment.

Aftercare takes place outside of the residential treatment facility when you’re living back at home and trying to adjust to life without drugs or alcohol. Some facilities offer this service, but many don’t, so be careful when choosing what works best for you!