Question: Do you find it necessary to have a lot of rules?

Chip: Well, one of the things about coming to a sober living house is that it offers more structure than most addicts or alcoholics are used to.  And they need that.  Especially early in their sobriety. 

Q: What are some of the rules?

Chip: We are set up to work with males. The minimum age is 18.  We have curfews, assigned in-house chores, random drug tests– don’t forget, we have been successful with this since 2001.

Q: Any others?

Chip: We address the issues of living with others in harmony.  And we want each resident be involved in the 12 Step Program of his choice.

Q: 12 Step Program of "choice?" What does that mean?

Chip: AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and NA (Narcotics Anonymous) are the two 12 Step Programs we acknowledge.  There are three mandatory 12-step meetings on the campus every week and we require a total of 5 meetings a week.

Q: So you are confronting substance abuse addictions?

Chip: Yes. We realize that some “addicts” or substance abusers have had some experiences with members of some programs in the past that they perceive as bad experiences. The result can sometimes be a deep hostility towards one or the other 12 Step Program. We have found that flexibility on this issue enables more of our residents to find success here. And there is a credible belief that a twelve-step program works best if it is geared to the specific addiction of an individual. When the individual tells us which program he is working on, we want to support him – not argue with him.

Q: Can a resident have employment?

Chip: Either the resident has a job – or commits to finding one.

Q: Do you live here on the grounds?

Chip: Yes, my house backs up to the campus property line here. I am very close if I am needed. And an adult lives here - and is home every night. He is also accessible. But we have no need of “staff” such as you would expect in detoxification units or rehabilitation. We don’t “detox” here. Our residents are post detox (if it was needed).