Sober Living vs. Treatment: What’s the Difference?

Sober living and addiction treatment are often mentioned together, but they’re different things. Treatment is medical or clinical care. Sober living is a place to live, with rules and peer support, while you rebuild daily life without drugs or alcohol.

The short version

	Treatment	Sober living
What it is	Detox, residential rehab, outpatient programs, therapy	Shared housing with house rules and drug testing
Licensed by California?	Yes, by the Department of Health Care Services	No; quality is shown by network membership such as the Sober Living Network
Staff	Doctors, nurses, licensed counselors	House managers, often people in long-term recovery
Typical length	Days to a few months	Often 3 to 12 months
Who pays	Often health insurance	Usually the resident or family, as monthly rent
Daily life	Scheduled clinical programming	Work, school or outpatient care, plus chores and meetings

When you need treatment first

If you’re still using, at risk of dangerous withdrawal, or dealing with a mental health crisis, start with treatment. Withdrawal from alcohol and some drugs can be medically dangerous. Sober living homes are not set up to manage it.

When sober living fits

• You’ve finished detox or residential treatment and need a stable place to live.
• You’re in outpatient treatment and home isn’t a safe place to stay sober.
• You want structure, accountability and people around you who are also in recovery.

Using both at once

Many people live in sober living while attending an outpatient program during the day. In LA County, some homes hold county-funded Recovery Bridge Housing beds for people enrolled in outpatient treatment.

A warning sign

A sober living home that says it provides therapy, detox or treatment on site needs a state license to do so. Ask to see it. See how to check a sober living home.

Next steps

• Compare sober living homes in Los Angeles
• What sober living costs in LA
• 10 questions to ask before you move in

This guide is run by Design for Recovery. See our listing policy.