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We currently have received NIH support to begin researching individuals leaving jail and prison with substance abuse problems. This line of research could be expanded to other levels or target groups, such as men and women with substance abuse returning from foreign wars in Iraqi and Afghanistan. Reports of post-traumatic illnesses and substance abuse among returning veterans suggests that cost effective programs like Oxford House need closer federal attention. Our group has recently received a federal grant to explore this new type of culturally modified recovery home.
Using cross sectional data, Ferrari, Jason, Davis, Olson, and Alvarez (2004) compared the operational policies of 55 Oxford Houses to those of 14 Therapeutic Communities (TCs). Neither type of facility permitted self-injurious behaviors (e.g., physical self-harm or misuse of medication) or destructive acts (e.g., destroying site property or others’ possessions). Oxford Houses, however, were significantly more liberal in permitting residents personal liberties compared to the TC facilities.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Additionally, over the course of the study, increases were found in the percentage of their social networks who were abstainers or in recovery. Finally, latent growth curve analyses indicated that less support for substance use by significant others and time in Oxford House predicted change in cumulative abstinence over the course of the study. Often, a halfway house will have staff present for monitoring and support. This provides a structured environment to support people working to prevent relapse.
Beginning with one single rented residence in the mid 1970s, Oxford Houses now number over 1,300. These rented homes are helping to deal with drug addiction and community re-entry by providing stable housing without any limits on length of stay, a network of job opportunities, and support for abstinence. An exploration of the research on these unique settings highlights the strengths of such a community-based approach to addressing addiction. New roles for psychologists in working with these types of support systems are identified. Oxford Houses are family homes that groups of recovering individuals rent to live together in an environment supportive of recovery from addiction. Each house is self-run and self-supported following a standardized system of democratic operation.
Oxford House Videos
Addicted individuals help themselves by helping each other abstain from alcohol and drug use one day at a time. The Oxford House concept is to sustain self-run and self-supported recovery homes for men and women in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. An Oxford House describes this democratically run sober house, run by the residents and financially supported by them alone. The Oxford House organization is a publicly supported, non-profit 501(c)3 corporation, providing a network connecting all Oxford House homes and working to help fund and support growth in terms of new homes when needs arise.
- The Oxford House model suggests that there are alternative social approaches that can transcend the polarities that threaten our nation (Jason, 1997).
- Using cross sectional data, Ferrari, Jason, Davis, Olson, and Alvarez (2004) compared the operational policies of 55 Oxford Houses to those of 14 Therapeutic Communities (TCs).
- These individuals usually need to have at least 3 months of continuous clean time.
Oxford House is the largest network of sober living houses anywhere, with houses in all major areas of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Oxford House is the largest network of sober living houses anywhere, with houses in all major areas of Florida. https://ecosoberhouse.com/oxford-house/ Oxford House offers a supportive way of living and opportunities to learn skills in a clean and sober environment. We collected data at the individual, house, and state levels, and at times compared data over these different levels of analysis.
The Oxford House: Self-run, Self-supported Recovery Homes
The majority of participants were involved in activities around their recovery. Forty-four percent of the sample was involved in administering and running support groups. Involvement around recovery also included involvement in large community initiatives, as 39% of participants reported involvement in informing or advising agencies or local leaders and 32% reported involvement in community anti-drug campaigns.
Halfway houses are also helpful for people looking for stable housing after a mental health treatment program. They are called “halfway” houses because those living in this sort of environment are transitioning halfway between a full-care facility to permanent living in society. An Oxford house is a transitional home with a structured living environment where people recovering from drug and alcohol addictions can rebuild their lives.