Sober Living in Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica, California, sits in the southwestern area of Los Angeles County. Los Angeles County is the most populated county in the United States, with more than ten million residents. More than one-quarter of all California residents reside in Los Angeles County, making it a highly diverse area. Eighty-eight individually incorporated cities are located within the nearly five-thousand square miles of territory encompassed by Los Angeles County.
Facts About Santa Monica
Santa Monica is one of the eighty-eight cities in Los Angeles County. Based on recent census data, roughly 91,000 residents call the sixteen square miles of Santa Monica home. Although there are many well-known employers in Santa Monica, poverty has been a problem in recent years. Between 2018 and 2019, the number of residents living below the poverty line declined by 4.3% to just under 10% overall. Income disparities, combined with housing and healthcare-related challenges (both physical and mental) health contribute to drug use rates in the area.
HELPING YOU RECOVER
More About Sober Living
Sober living environments often serve as a transition or ‘steppingstone’ between the supportive, often highly monitored addiction treatment environment and the “unsupported” setting of one’s day-to-day home life. Many addictions treatment programs, both inpatient and outpatient, encourage alumni to spend time in a sober living community before returning home. A sober living home (sometimes called a “halfway house”) can help those in the early stages of recovery by giving them an opportunity to practice and reinforce coping, and relapse prevention skills learned during therapy.
Addiction in Santa Monica
Like many cities that are part of a larger county population, the data about drug use and addiction in Santa Monica is incorporated into Los Angeles County Statistics. According to a March 2019 report released by the County of Los Angeles Public Health, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control, alcohol, and drug use pose significant challenges countywide. The report indicates nearly 6% of youth between the ages of 12 and 17 met the diagnostic criteria for a substance use disorder. An additional 18% of young adults (ages 18-25) and 7% of adults over the age of 26 also had a substance use disorder. Although these percentages may seem small, it is essential to consider the population of Los Angeles County.
In 2019, just over 10 million people lived in Los Angeles County. Of those, about 8.5 million are over the age of twelve, based on the most recent U.S census estimates. Considering the averages above and the approximate total population for the area, nearly 725,000 residents of Los Angeles County, met the diagnostic criteria for a substance use disorder.
Santa Monica is surrounded by five different Los Angeles neighborhoods, including West Los Angeles, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Mar Vista, and Venice. Like many suburbs of a major metropolitan city, Santa Monica feels the struggles of poverty, drug trafficking, drug addiction, and the ongoing rise of the opioid epidemic that is present in every state. Drugs including Fentanyl and heroin are common sources of drug overdoses. Additionally, rates of prescription drug misuse and overdose continue to rise. Between 2006 and 2017, the number of deaths attributed to prescription opioids rose by almost 300%.
Unfortunately, although many treatment options are available, many who would benefit from treatment help choose not to or cannot go to rehab. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, there are 265 licensed substance abuse treatment centers in Los Angeles County providing many opportunities for comprehensive addiction treatment and ongoing sober living options.
"The Nook Sober Living is a staple in the Santa Monica recovery community. We understand what our clients need in order to succeed in their goal of achieving lifelong recovery."
The Nook Sober Living
What to Look for in a Sober Living in Santa Monica, CA
People may choose to stay at a sober living home in Santa Monica for several reasons. It is important to choose a sober living environment like The Nook Sober Living in Santa Monica, where you can continue to receive supportive services to continue your journey to sobriety.
First, look for a home that requires abstinence or regular testing. Part of the benefit of a sober living home is to provide you with a safe, substance-free environment while you work towards transitioning back to your day-to-day life. An environment where sobriety is not required will not help you achieve your goals and could increase your chances of relapse.
Next, look for an environment with safety and privacy measures. The sober living environment should not feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Doors should have locks, and confidential information regarding residents should not be open to other residents to see.
It is also important to look for a sober living home in Santa Monica with trained and certified staff. In the state of California, there are few regulatory requirements surrounding sober living homes. This means virtually anyone can obtain approval to operate a home. Therefore, it is vital to your safety and ongoing sobriety to select a home like The Nook Sober Living, where staff is trained and certified. The home should also willingly and openly participate in regulatory inspections.
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A RECOVERY COMMUNITY
Sober Living After Rehab
While you are in treatment and actively focused on getting sober, the support and guidance you receive each day can help you achieve your treatment goals. Unfortunately, once you complete treatment, the level of consistent support available to help you maintain progress and avoid relapse may change. Spending time in our sober living home in Santa Monica can help you safely ease back into your “normal” life while still receiving needed supports.
The Benefits of Sober Living in Santa Monica, California
A sober living home is less restrictive than a treatment setting allowing you to learn how to navigate your daily responsibilities while staying sober. You will learn how to avoid and manage relapse triggers as you begin to exercise greater levels of freedom outside the treatment environment. While staying in our sober living home, you can participate in peer support groups which allows you the opportunity to develop lasting relationships with like-minded individuals who are focused on staying healthy and sober.
Sober living homes also offer residents a way to avoid feelings of isolation that often accompany overcoming addiction. Many who are newly sober find it necessary to maintain distance from friends and family who may not share their outlook on substance use. Although restricting contact with these individuals can help reduce potential relapse opportunities, it also leads to loneliness and isolation, which are key factors in relapse and worsening mental health symptoms. The peer support network gained from time in a sober living home can help avoid these challenges.
REACH OUT TODAY & GET HELP
The Nook Difference
If you have recently completed addiction treatment or are approaching the end of your treatment program, talk to your treatment team about staying at our Santa Monica sober living home. Spending time in a sober living home can provide a vital step between treatment and home that many need to ensure ongoing success. If you would like to learn more about our sober living homes and how our caring and compassionate team can help you stay on the road to lasting recovery, contact us at The Nook Sober Living today. Want to know more about what sober living looks like? Click here to view our virtual tour.