With easy access to beaches, great food, and pleasant weather, San Diego is a popular for both vacationing and calling home. Many people dream about living in California, but when recovering from addiction, there are a lot of things to factors to consider. Luckily, San Diego is home to a number of recovery programs and sober living homes.
One major consideration for those in recovery is the environment in which they attain sobriety. With all of its desirable traits and countless recreational activities, San Diego is an excellent location to build a new, sober life and develop independence.
Young adults have a world of opportunity at their fingertips. San Diego is home to a number of sober living facilities that cater to the specific needs of young adults. In addition, those looking to follow academic pursuits have ample opportunity to progress forward with the support of a sober community. San Diego is home to multiple college campuses and is booming with the promise of new beginnings. Whether following family, friends, or simply new opportunities, San Diego is rich with activities and support for recovering addicts.
Sober Living and College in San Diego
San Diego is a hub for young adults. With multiple college campuses, San Diego is home to countless students and young adults. Many young adults in school in San Diego are experiencing life on their own for the first time. They have a new set of responsibilities, new relationships, and new experiences that influence their daily lives. For many, this is a welcome change, but it also brings with it additional stressors that can impact an individual’s quality of life. Balancing school, work, and relationships can be challenging, especially when an individual is just starting out on their own. Meeting new people and developing relationships can be a difficult task, and many may begin using substances in order to let loose and connect with others. While it may seem harmless in the moment, casual drug and alcohol use can negatively impact an individual physically, mentally, and financially. Over time, substance use turns into abuse, which turns into addiction, and when surrounded by others who abuse drugs and alcohol, it can be difficult to find positive influences.
An individual who is ready to accept help may not want to lose time in school because they are in treatment. This fear of falling behind can often be a powerful influence in an individual’s choice to avoid getting professional help. Even more so, perceiving yourself to be the only sober individual surrounded by others who do not share a similar mindset may make you feel alienated and unable to connect with others. In some cases, young adults may choose to not go to college just to avoid being in situations that promote substance use. College students are notorious for binge-using elicit substances, and they have a number of reasons to do so, including stress, anxiety, depression, and the perception that it is the only way to have fun. Going to college can be stressful for young adults, and it’s even more stressful for those who are working on achieving and maintaining sobriety.
For more information about our sober livings in San Diego give us a call at 877.979.5027 to speak with a member of our Admissions Team.
Benefits of Sober Living while in College
For a newly sober adult, the college environment can feel like a risk not worth taking. While they may want to further their education, the college atmosphere can be an easy place to relapse. Some colleges have begun to address this issue by offering new sober living arrangements for students who have completed a treatment program or for those who are in the process of completing one. This setup provides students with a safe, sober environment where they will be surrounded by like-minded peers. Parents can rest easy knowing the option is available and students can further their education with support from a sober community.
Sober housing includes a number of options for students:
- Academic services: Students receive ample support and assistance from tutors and advisors as they transition from a rehab program to school. Throughout their college career, students benefit from easy access academic and tutorial support, and the housing program further supports them by providing dedicated study time and quiet environments so that they may focus on academics.
- Crisis management: College can be a difficult adjustment for some, and many of the new responsibilities young adults inherit can overwhelm them. Sober living provides support for mental health issues as well as medical issues that may arise. The staff at the house understands the nature of addiction and is able to establish a connection with medical providers that can assist the unique needs of those in recovery.
- Recovery tools: College often comes with stressors that make it difficult to manage sobriety. Sober living homes provide support to students through a variety of workshops and group events that encourage maintained sobriety. They may help students find sober entertainment, teach them how to deal with peer pressure, and help them develop methods of handling specific social situations that may trigger relapse.
- Relapse prevention: Sober living homes randomly drug test clients to ensure they maintain their sobriety. Individuals who test positive for drugs and alcohol cannot live in these homes. With support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, clients of sober homes are in a safe environment that encourages their progress and helps them maintain sobriety.
Recovery Resources in San Diego
San Diego has a wide variety of recovery resources for its clients. Meetings can take place in any location from churches to office buildings to restaurants. Clients can choose between open and closed group types. Closed meetings are only for members of the group while open groups are for anyone interested in learning more about the program, including loved ones with family members in recovery (or in need of treatment).
Meetings generally occur on a weekly basis and usually will take place on specific days of the week at the same time. Some groups offer special focuses or benefits. For instance, some Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) groups offer services such as babysitters for those with children, meetings specifically tailored to young adults, Spanish-speaking sessions, and ASL interpretation meetings for those who are deaf or have difficulty hearing. Some AA groups include: AA San Diego County, ASL Interpreted AA Meetings, AA Grapevine, and North San Diego County Intergroup.
There are also a number of 12-step programs within the San Diego area. Due to the success of AA, 12-step groups have formed to support those who suffer with drug addictions. Some groups, like Codependents Anonymous, exist to help individuals with more unique dependencies, such as dependency on another person. Groups may focus on addiction in general, or may be more specific and focus on a particular drug such as crystal meth or cocaine. Some 12-step groups include: Marijuana Anonymous San Diego, Cocaine Anonymous San Diego, California Narcotics Anonymous Meetings, and Nar-Anon of Southern California.
Sources
https://www.recoveryconnection.com/sober-living-college/
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/apr/06/addiction-epidemic-fuels-runaway-demand-for-sober/