Healthy Living Channel

Recovery Residences: The Next Step after Rehab for those who Can’t or Shouldn’t “Go Home”

Bookmark and Share

For many people working to remain abstinent, living in a structured, monitored environment can provide an additional safety net between rehab and going back home. But like anything else, not all recovery residences are the same.



Some operate to a very high standard, where residents are closely monitored and appropriately supported. Others do not follow best practices and become one more conduit for people not serious about their sobriety to meet other like-minded people.



A variety of environments falls under the “recovery residence” umbrella with names such as “halfway houses” and “sober living.” What do these terms mean?



What should you consider when looking for the right recovery residence for yourself or someone you love?



What type of environment is best for you?



What are some common red flags that should send you running away before you ever ring the doorbell?



These and other questions will be answered over the course of this compelling, information-packed hour. Don’t miss it.


Episode Segments

Break the Chains: Recovery Residences


Recovery residences or halfway houses can be a godsend for addicts whose sobriety is likely to be threatened if they return to their own environment too quickly after recovery. But not all recovery residences are created equal. So what do you need to consider when choosing a recovery home for you or a loved one? We discuss with Chris Edrington, ice president of the Minnesota Association of Sober Homes.

Guest(s) Appearing on this Episode

Chris Edrington

Chris Edrington grew up skiing and hiking in the mountains around Vail, Colorado. After graduating from Vail Mountain School, Chris attended the University of Colorado, Boulder.



He found his way to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1998 after years of struggle with heroin addiction left him without a life and seeking recovery. Chris slowly built a new life in Minnesota, working first in constructions and eventually as a part-time tech at Hazelden.

He entered the sober housing business literally from the bottom, as a resident at a sober house in Los Angeles in 1997. That experience exposed him to the model, and he opened a sober-living home in Minnesota when the opportunity arose.



What started with one house leased to a recovering drug addict has grown to a comprehensive sober living program with 12 properties in Minnesota and Colorado.



Chris sits on two boards. He is vice president of the Minnesota Association of Sober Homes, which he helped found, and a board member of the National Alliance of Recovery Residences.



He has been sober for 15 years.

Learn More at St Paul Sober Living

Friday • March 20

CST 9:11 | EST 10:11 | MST 8:11 | PST 7:11 | GMT 6:11

Click to Listen Live