People suffering from a substance use disorder (SUD) who want to get sober often need help, although not necessarily medical help.
Not every SUD requires detoxification supervised by a medical doctor or full-blown residential treatment supervised by a psychiatrist. The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), used by US physicians to diagnose substance use disorders and other mental health conditions presents three levels of severity of SUD—mild, moderate, or severe—based on how many of the eleven diagnostic criteria are met by the patient.
A person with a mild or moderate SUD may require support but not necessarily a partial hospitalization level of care. Living Sober Recovery has more than 30 years of experience in helping clients stay clear of substance misuse and turn their lives around.
We created a non-clinical program of structured transition back to an independent life. Offering intensive group sessions that explore spirituality, life in the world of peer support, and investment into early recovery.
“Our program provides transitional support for those beginning their recovery journey for the first time, as well as for those who are stepping down from a higher level of care and want to give themselves the best chance for success,” says Living Sober owner Ahmed Gheith.
Living Sober’s three-phased approach provides increasing independence; at the same time it is always a safe place to explore the many facets of a healthy life of sobriety. The program focuses on 12-Step immersion but also on crucial life skills such as financial and employment issues and health and wellness.
The first 12-Step program, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), emerged in the 1930s and aided its members to overcome alcoholism. Since then, dozens of other organizations have been derived from AA's approach to address problems as varied as drug addiction, compulsive gambling, and overeating. All 12-Step programs utilize a version of AA's suggested twelve steps first published in 1939.
Peer support works
In his 2016 report on addiction, the Surgeon General accorded AA and other recovery support services an important role. “Mutual aid groups and newly emerging recovery support programs and organizations are a key part of the system of continuing care for substance use disorders in the United States.” The report also states that “well-supported scientific evidence demonstrates the effectiveness of 12-Step mutual aid groups focused on alcohol and 12-Step facilitation interventions.”
The superpower of 12-Step programs is the peer support. “Connection is critical,” says Gheith. “We created an environment of success that provides the spaces and activities for positive change. Those who choose to make Living Sober their home feel understood and appreciated, which contributes to renewed confidence and a sense of purpose.”
Living Sober enhances the recovery capital provided by intense 12-Step facilitation with tiered group work, individual non-clinical sessions, and certified housing.
Recovery from addiction is a process and people willing to change their lives have to learn to trust that process. “Know that there is a path from uncertainty to a belief in oneself. And as you achieve the milestones, there are those along the way to support and acknowledge your commitment every step of the way,” says Gheith.
In many ways, recovery is also a spiritual endeavor. As soon as Living Sober clients wake up, they set the course for a day of purpose on the soft sands by the ocean. With a backdrop of softly crashing waves, their guided morning meditation gives them a fresh perspective into themselves and the world around them.
For more information about our services, call (561) 279-1037.