Options for Housing During Addiction Recovery

1. Options for Housing During Addiction Recovery By the time the issue of housing warrants attention, most recovering drug or alcohol addicts are already fairly traumatized and more than a little desperate. Given their often debilitated state during these sensitive times halfway Houses, it has become very apparent to American policymakers and advocates that there should be some kind of nurturing environment set up for these individuals. Whether this housing is at the institutional, "halfway house," or other area is up to the recovering addict and the circumstances of his or her "rock-bottoming" episode. INSTITUTIONALIZED CARE In the very common event that the drug or alcohol addict is hospitalized due to alcohol poisoning or otherwise drug-induced toxicity levels, there is a considerable amount of power in the hands of the law as far as where and how that person may receive housing. This can vary depending on the legality of the episode that led to the hospitalization. A great many hospitals now offer detoxification centers on their premises that specifically target those kinds of individuals for their detoxification programs. The operating premise in these centers is that the recovering addict needs a drug or alcohol free environment with close access to medical care and attentive staff. Even if the addict is resistant or largely unimproved by detoxification techniques, he or she spent time in a hospital instead of on the streets with drugs or alcohol. HALFWAY HOUSES As it concerns addicts who become incarcerated, halfway houses are a viable option for providing a nurturing environment, getting out of the cell, and gradually re-assimilating into society. These establishments are granted for use by parole boards and other relevant governing bodies to recent drug offenders who were given permission to finish their sentence at such locations. With this conditional status comes compromised freedom, of course. Tenants are often limited to curfews and certain areas of town. It is also often required for halfway house inhabitants to undergo counseling or programs during their stay. MOVING WITH A FRIEND The third form of housing for recovering addicts is the most informal kind: moving in with a friend. This option is obviously only available to those addicts who personally invested in their cure before the situation fell into the law's hands. The reason that this method is often frowned upon is that there can be a lack of consequence without the law involved. It is largely dependent on the friend, but most addicts would do best to seek professional help.

2. For desperate addicts, knowing that there is somewhere to go is the first step in the long drive towards sobriety. Thanks to the devoted policymakers, hospital staff and legal personnel involved, that first step is out of the streets and into a caring environment. Austin, Texas has been Peter Wendt's writing headquarters for a number of years now. For readers who wish to learn more about this subject, he recommends they check out www.originsrecovery.com.