Sober Transport
Sober Transport: A Vital Component in the Journey to Recovery
On the road to recovery, a person struggling with alcohol or drug addiction must have a strong social support system in addition to their medical one. Far too often, addicts surround themselves with people who are also addicts, which means that their existing support system isn’t stable enough to prevent a relapse during treatment. Additionally, they often experience a dangerous combination of anxiety, depression and low impulse control while dealing with daily temptations and stressful situations. Many addicts quickly lose their way within the first year of sobriety while struggling with cravings, pain and mental health issues.
During addiction treatment, rehabilitation centers offer sober transportation services to help individuals stay motivated and stick with their alcohol, drug addiction or mental health treatment program when traveling locally or long distances. In simple terms, a sober coach, also known as a sober companion or escort, serves as a voice of reason and caregiver while providing transportation and other assistive services.
A sober coach keeps an individual on track with their goals. They guarantee that a recovering addict is held accountable during a time when the person is unable to focus on accountability for a variety of reasons. A sober coach provides solid peer and social support when needed most during the critical first year of sobriety.
Understanding the Need for Sober Transport
Is sober transportation necessary for every person struggling with an addiction? A recovering individual typically needs this type of help during the first year of sobriety because it takes approximately twelve months for many former addicts to learn how to handle the stresses and temptations in their lives well enough to resist the desire to abuse alcohol or drugs.
The fact is that many people lose their way within 72 hours of starting their sobriety journey, especially if they were recently released from a jail, a mental health or rehab facility or suffered homelessness. Individuals in this position must experience safe, controlled environments beyond medical facilities and group meeting places. A private motor vehicle, public transportation or a travel hub must also provide a safe, controlled environment.
Yet, former addicts typically don’t find the support they need during the first year, let alone the first three days of sobriety. They might visit a gas station or a grocery store and see alcohol or other products that promote addictions and unsafe habits openly displayed in ways designed to attract people like them to give in and make a purchase. They might need to take medications at home or while traveling that carry a high risk of dependence. If they’re using a plane or train to travel, they’re exposed to alcohol while waiting and on the mode of transportation.
If they rely on loved ones and friends for support who also struggle with addiction, they’re even more likely to suffer a relapse. Individuals in treatment are often tempted to halt or reverse their successes by people in their social circle who inadvertently lead them to temptation by simply drinking or using addictive substances around them.
Worse, many addicts deal with mental health issues and severely abusive personalities. As a result, a member of an individual’s previous social circle might purposely try to convince the person in treatment to give up their sobriety “briefly” or as a “taste” to “remember.” They might try to guilt the individual into acting irresponsibly, especially if that person introduced them to alcohol or drugs. In some cases, they gain personal pleasure from seeing the individual fail.
Lastly, the transition from treatment to a full year of sobriety and addiction recovery requires tremendous effort on the part of the former addict. They must invest in the process with their time, focus, motivation and dedication. Any stress can lead to a relapse, including a new job, travel to an unfamiliar place or other geographic location, public spaces and even complex schedules. A sober coach and safe, controlled transportation can make all the difference.
Types of Sober Transport Services
The types of services available across New York and out-of-state depend on different factors. That said, in general, sober transport service providers across the nation assist with at least local transportation to outpatient appointments and meetings, long-distance transportation to inpatient residential treatment centers, and international escorting when seeking help abroad. They might offer additional coaching or companion services, such as in-home stays, medication monitoring and management, and appointment scheduling.
A list of the most common transportation, travel and supportive services includes travel and company to and from:
- The location where an individual started their journey, such as an emergency room, jail or rehab center
- A public travel hub after an initial long-distance treatment
- Local treatment facilities, doctors’ offices and other medically necessary sites
- AA or 12-Step meetings and individual or group therapy sites
- Other states and international locations
- Retail and other sites to run errands, such as grocery stores and pharmacies
- Emergency locations, including business meetings, court buildings, hospitals and funerals
- Recovery coaching and sobriety companionship, including providing encouragement, support and other reminders, recovery tools and motivational services
Additionally, some sober transportation providers, via their sober coaches, companions and escorts, help an individual by shopping for travel necessities to protect against cash mishandling or overspending and related anxiety. They show the individual how to remove temptation from their home and methods for preventing a relapse while at home alone or traveling. They track the individual’s discharge, treatment or other wellness plan successes and relay the details to approved contacts. Sometimes, they act as a companion who hangs out with the individual or temporarily stays in the person’s home to provide total case management and recovery coaching.
Features of Quality Sober Transport Services
Top sober transport service providers share similar qualities that every person should learn about before they select a company or organization. The best providers offer support from well-trained, compassionate staff members who have extensive hands-on experience with sober transport and related services. They also provide a personalized or custom plan that involves close coordination with healthcare providers and treatment centers to choose the right services based on an individual’s specific former addiction, personality, private life and other factors that influence treatment and recovery.
Staff members are also trained to provide the highest level of confidentiality and respect. Although they communicate updates during and after transport to approved parties, they never breach patient privacy. They maintain secure electronic records as well. Also, when they physically take an individual somewhere, they guarantee to always provide the highest level of safety by keeping their vehicle clean and inspected regularly.
Benefits of Using Sober Transport Services
Individuals who take advantage of sober transportation services become more motivated, confident and resilient with every passing day. With these sober services, an individual seeking addiction treatment is likely to engage and fully invest in the entire process. They not only experience a reduced risk of relapsing during their transition. They also receive the comprehensive care and support necessary to improve and strengthen their mental and physical health. Their loved ones receive reassurance that they’re on the right path. Time and again, studies have shown that sober transport is highly beneficial to recovering addicts while they try to find out who they are without their addiction.
Choosing a Sober Transport Service
Before picking a sober transportation provider, it’s always important to compare and contrast providers based on several important factors. An individual seeking this type of service should always review the experience and qualifications of the provider. They should contact the provider with questions and ask about safety protocols. They should also read reviews and client testimonials to get a clearer picture. They also need to check that the provider offers a personalized approach to care. After all, a one-size-fits-all approach never works during treatment.
Conclusion
No one should be alone while trying to retake command of their life after experiencing one or more addictions. Everyone needs to have healthy social and sober support systems when coping with addiction while receiving treatment. Sober transport is a vital tool during the treatment process. It provides more than transportation. It gives a person 24-hour assistance, security, stability and specialized services designed to meet their unique needs.
Without this type of service, an individual is more likely to relapse at some point during their first year of recovery. They’re also more likely to experience negative self-talk, harmful thoughts and mental or physical degradation. In some cases, a lack of this type of support can cause a person to experience job loss and even financial and housing crises. In a worst-case scenario, the person might become street homeless or pose a threat to others.
At Every1 Center, our sober coaches and staff members prioritize safety and support when helping an individual during treatment. For more information about our transport services or any of our other rehabilitation services, reach out to a caring member of our team via our confidential helpline or online chat.
