ThreeQuarter Houses
Three-Quarter Houses are the final step in the transition between rehabilitation treatment and the community. Placement in a Three-Quarter House usually follows successful completion of treatment at a Halfway House, and indicates a greater level of accomplishment on the path to recovery. It means that the teenager has earned the trust of treatment staff and family members, who believe that he or she is ready to handle a greater degree of freedom.
The treatment program of Three-Quarter Houses is less structured than a Halfway House, but it is not entirely unstructured. These facilities continue to support the recovering addict or alcoholic by providing a drug and alcohol free environment, access to counseling and 12-step programs, and the support of peers who are going through the same recovery process. However, staff does not live in the Three-Quarter House, and residents are encouraged to seek employment and educational opportunities in the surrounding community. Counselors work with residents to help them prepare to live in the outside world while maintaining sobriety. These facilities fulfill a vital function as they allow the recovering addict to practice sober-living skills and coping skills within an environment that is fully supportive.
Recovery as a goal is typically thought to be a life-long process. A goal that is easier to conceive of - especially for teenagers and young adults - is the successful achievement of daily sobriety. Reaching that goal first in treatment and maintaining it through the various steps of a treatment program is only the beginning step. The real challenge an addict will face is maintaining sobriety within a larger social community. A Three-Quarter House provides support and encouragement when the recovering substance abuser first ventures outside the boundaries of a sober-living house.
Teenagers and their parents must understand that going to rehab and into treatment is not a guarantee against relapses. The addict and alcoholic must restructure their lives and goals in order to stay clean on a daily basis. Often, this will mean that a teenager will need to find new friends who share his or her goal of productive living and chemical-free fun. While living in a Three-Quarter House, teenagers can work with counselors to formulate a plan of action they can follow when they are ready to live on their own. This plan should include fundamental goals, aspirations, a sense of purpose in life, and specific coping skills to use in situations where drugs and/or alcohol are available. Concrete goals should include educational plans and career interests. Counselors can help the recovering teenager define areas of academic interest and work possibilities, and then work with the entire family to give the teenager a strong support system while exploring those interests.
Another important part of recovery in a Three-Quarter House is the opportunity to repair fractured relationships with family members and broken friendships. Family members should attend therapy sessions and educational meetings so they can learn how to set appropriate rules and boundaries for their teenager. Family involvement in their teenager's recovery is essential to the process of continued sobriety. Both family members and teenagers will have the chance to learn how to related to each other on an adult level with a much greater degree of honesty.
Teenagers and parents should be prepared for the on-going work of recovery, particularly as the teenager makes the transition to independent living.
Article written by Jillian Blume
