Title : The importance of recovery residences in the addiction-recovery continuum
Abstract:
In today’s landscape of addiction treatment, much focus is placed on detoxification, intensive inpatient care, and short-term rehabilitation. However, true recovery doesn’t end when the discharge papers are signed—it begins. For too long, we’ve overlooked a critical phase in the addiction-recovery continuum: the transitional support offered by recovery residences.
Recovery residences are not just “sober homes”—they are intentional communities that bridge the gap between treatment and independent living. When done right, they are structured environments that provide safety, accountability, peer support, and a sense of belonging. They give individuals in early recovery the time, tools, and structure needed to rebuild their lives in alignment with their new values.
Drawing on 16 years of experience as co-founder of The Lodge at Delray Beach—a recovery residence community in South Florida—I will explore the essential role these homes play in relapse prevention, community reintegration, and long-term recovery success. I will also present data, real-world case studies, and best practices that differentiate high-integrity recovery residences from the poorly regulated models that give the industry a bad name.
This talk will highlight how recovery residences:
- Serve as a critical safety net post-treatment
- Reduce relapse and re-hospitalization rates
- Promote vocational, relational, and personal growth
- Provide cost-effective solutions compared to repeated inpatient stays
We’ll also examine the need for clear standards, ethical oversight, and public/private partnerships to ensure recovery residences are a healing force—not a predatory business model.
As addiction becomes more complex and chronic, recovery residences must be seen as an essential part of a long-term, community-based recovery ecosystem—not an optional afterthought.
