Sober Living for Fentanyl Addiction Recovery

Fentanyl addiction can pose numerous dangers to a person’s health and well-being, which is why becoming sober can be one of the best life decisions a person can make.¹ People who are struggling with fentanyl misuse or addiction might be curious about their recovery options.

Sober living after fentanyl rehab can be a helpful way for people who are new to recovery gradually make the transition back to their day-to-day lives.² It can offer a variety of supports that can increase positive outcomes and promote a person’s recovery journey.² This article will help you understand fentanyl sober living programs, what you can expect during a program, how to find sober living programs, and whether health insurance will cover this form of care.

Fentanyl Sober Living Programs

Recovering from fentanyl addiction is not easy, and the transition back to daily life can be challenging, especially due to exposure to triggers to resume substance use, a lack of a safe or stable home, or little or no social support.³ People in fentanyl recovery can benefit from some form of ongoing support after they’ve completed a more formal type of rehab, such as inpatient or outpatient programs.⁴

Sober living for fentanyl is a form of aftercare, also referred to as continuing care, which is a type of treatment that takes place after a person has completed a more intensive rehab program.⁴ Continuing care programs can help monitor a person’s progress in recovery, respond to a return to fentanyl use, and provide overall support.⁴

Sober living homes offer a safe, stable, and substance-free living environment for people who are in recovery from fentanyl or other forms of addiction.⁵ They do not tolerate any form of substance use.⁵ People who live in sober living homes participate in activities of daily living, pay rent and other fees, assist with maintaining the home, and provide support to other residents who are also in recovery.⁵

In most cases, people can stay as long as they want, as long as they comply with house rules.⁵ Sober living homes generally do not offer formal treatment services, but they usually encourage or require that residents participate in self-help groups like Narcotics Anonymous (NA).⁵ Many people continue to participate in outpatient programs while living in sober living homes.²

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration explains that the combination of living in recovery housing, like sober living homes, and participating in evidenced-based outpatient treatment has been shown to be an effective form of care.²

What to Expect in Sober Living After Fentanyl Rehab

After an individual completes a more intensive rehab program, they may experience difficulties maintaining their progress if they lack appropriate and supportive home environments and adequate social support.⁶ Sober living after fentanyl rehab serves as a form of informal treatment in a supportive environment that can help people continue to build and work on the skills that are necessary for ongoing recovery.³

Sober living homes usually house anywhere from 5–6 or up to a dozen residents.³ The exact structure of sober living homes can vary from home to home. There is usually an onsite house manager who is compensated by free or reduced fees.²

Most sober living homes come with strict house rules and guidelines, such as:³

• Absolutely no substance use.
• Adherence to house rules.
• Full participation in the home and community.
• Participation in 12-step groups or recovery groups in the home.

People are also afforded the opportunity to attend school or find work.⁶

Unlike formal treatment programs, the emphasis is on peer connection, or the person-to-person, rather than the person-to-therapist, relationship as a way of working on recovery.³

The process for sober living after a person leaves formal treatment might involve:

• Applying and going through an interview to determine if the person is the right fit for the home.²
• Signing a lease that is terminated if the person resumes substance use.³
• Paying rent.³
• Agreeing to participate in a personal recovery program.³
• Agreeing to other house rules.⁵
• Engaging in day-to-day chores and responsibilities, such as cleaning or participating in the upkeep of the home.³
• Agreeing to provide support to new residents.³

When you decide to leave a sober living home, you will still continue to benefit from ongoing recovery support. This can come in different forms, such as engaging in ongoing outpatient care, participating in alumni programs, continuing prescribed medication and having regular check-ins with your prescribing physician, attending support groups, or going to periodic group meetings at the rehab you attended.⁴

Find Sober Living Facilities for Fentanyl Addiction Recovery Near You

People are usually referred to a sober living home, but it’s also possible to find sober living facilities in a variety of ways, such as:²

• Asking their current treatment provider or therapist for a recommendation or referral.
• Asking other participants in treatment or self-help groups if they know of sober living homes in the area.
• Conducting an online search, such as searching the National Alliance for Recovery Residences

You can also find sober living for fentanyl recovery by calling American Addiction Centers (AAC) at to speak with an admissions navigator about sober living options. Or you can use our directory to search for sober living homes near you. Seeking treatment/rehab and subsequent sober living or another form of aftercare for fentanyl addiction can help people safely stop using fentanyl, start the path to recovery, and regain control of their lives.⁷

Does Health Insurance Cover Sober Living?

Unfortunately, health insurance does not typically cover sober living. While the Affordable Care Act states that insurance plans must provide some level of coverage for substance use disorder treatment, sober living homes do not generally fall under this category of care.⁸

The costs of sober living are usually paid for by resident fees/rent.⁵ Additionally, residents are generally encouraged to secure some form of employment or attend school during the sober living part of the recovery process.⁶

There are a number of ways that ongoing treatment can be covered by insurance, such as if you are enrolled in an outpatient program or participating in individual therapy with a therapist who accepts your insurance.⁹ If you don’t have insurance, there are also free or low-cost treatment centers located across the country, and it’s also often free to participate in most support groups, like NA.⁹