What to Expect in Sober Living

Entering a sober living home can be a little bit like the first day of school. Much like school, we know that the sober living facility will provide us with the tools we need to make a positive impact in our lives, and that through sober living, we can transition into the men we’ve always wanted to be– but it’s no secret that new experiences can be daunting if we’re not sure what to expect.

As a sober living home in the heart of Los Angeles, our sober living facility focuses on two concepts: providing a fun, program-oriented setting where residents can find purpose and progress in their lives, and building an environment where our men learn to flourish without depending on substances. We believe that getting sober means more than just living addiction-free. We believe that it means living independently, confidently, and boldly– and that’s just what we teach our men.

What can I expect in sober living?

The first thing to understand about sober living is that it isn’t a halfway house, nor is it a dedicated treatment center. It’s a place where men that are ready to better themselves come to get the tools they need to do it. Here in Los Angeles, there are plenty of distractions for a young man just getting sober. A sober living home like ours provides a safe space for our men to mature and develop so they can deal with those distractions without fear of relapse.

Furthermore, the sober living concept is one that’s deeply rooted in fellowship and unity. We know that defeating addiction isn’t a one and done process, and that it takes a village of support and guidance to help us continue through recovery– so that’s also a large part of what we provide here. As soon as our men walk through the doors of our sober living facility, they know they’re here for a purpose, and that it isn’t just about not using drugs. They’re here to make a difference in their lives.

When you enter the sober living community, expect to remain very much involved in your treatment. With the number of distractions in big cities like Los Angeles and practically everywhere else, it’s important that we make sure we stay in touch with treatment groups and rehabilitation programs, even if we finished the initial treatment process ages ago. By transitioning into a treatment plan in the sober living facility, we ensure that the good, sustainable behaviors we learned in initial treatment become habits that will stick with us when we’re living on our own.

Additionally, we should expect to have responsibilities in sober living– and lots of them. There’s no better way to learn how to become the best versions of ourselves than to learn concepts like integrity, accountability, and maturity. As grown men living with other grown men, we should expect to be held responsible for our actions, and to pull our own weight when it comes to chores and house rules. The way we see it in the sober living community, we’re all a team. Whether you’re from Los Angeles, Oakland, or somewhere on the other side of the country, what one of us does in the sober living facility affects us all. As we learn responsibility, we also begin to see just how important our actions are to others. Having responsibilities means we have to hold ourselves accountable for taking care of them.

Another big concept of getting sober is discipline. In Los Angeles alone, there are plenty of distractions that could knock us off the straight and narrow path if we aren’t careful. This is what makes discipline in sober living so important. Having discipline in our lives means we know how to control our actions, think before we act, and frequently weigh the pros and cons of our decisions before we make them. In sober living, we learn discipline by learning to adhere to the rules of the house. For instance, one rule here at The Last House is that we cook and eat most meals together as brothers. This means that practically on a daily basis, we’re all required to contribute to the day’s meal. This could include grocery shopping, setting the table, or cleaning up afterwards. Our contribution isn’t punishment– but it is a way to make sure we learn the value of hard work and teamwork. Being disciplined enough to follow the rules and help do something like prepare meals here in sober living helps us get used to maintaining structure in our lives after we graduate. Expect structure and discipline in sober living– because it works!

Finally, expect to work while you get sober. As young men, working to provide for ourselves or others should be as much a way of life as eating or sleeping. If that’s not the case before we enter sober living though, it certainly will become the case by the time we leave. Los Angeles is one of the world’s busiest cities, and there’s ample opportunity for us to contribute our unique skills and talents to the workforce. Learning the value of working for our own money now can help us start a habit of working, maintaining a job, and providing security for ourselves and our families in the long run. So Monday to Friday, to the office we’ll go.

Sober living is a rewarding method to learn how to become the best versions of ourselves we can be. The Last House is a Los Angeles-based men’s sober living facility that doesn’t just help men focus on getting sober, but provides them with the skills they need to become independent, courageous, and contributing members of society. Every man that enters our sober living facility has the potential to be a pillar in his community. We help him see the potential he had all along. Call us at 1-866-677-0090 to get started today.

10 Signs the Party’s Over

Most of us like a good party. There’s just something in our DNA that seems to make us enjoy hanging out with good people, having good fun, and not doing any work. Here in Los Angeles in particular, partying can sometimes feel like it comes with the territory of being a young man in one of the nation’s busiest cities– and there’s no denying that a good party can often seem like a great way to meet new people, make new friends, and unwind.

For many of us, though, partying could also spell danger– especially when it involves drugs and alcohol. When we begin abusing alcohol and drugs all in the name of a good time, what seemed to us to be innocent fun could quite quickly descend into something much worse.

While it is true that addiction treatment centers and sober living homes like The Last House are well-equipped to help us beat addiction, being able to identify the warning signs that tell us our “good time” may be putting our lives in jeopardy can ensure we get the help we need as soon as possible.

There’s nothing like a good Los Angeles party– but we don’t need drugs or alcohol to help us enjoy ourselves.

How can young men realize the party’s over?

As young men, it can sometimes feel like the luxuries we get to enjoy are few and far between. Between providing for our families, taking care of our parents, and handling our responsibilities, partying can almost seem like a saving grace after a tough day, a long week, or just hours of sitting in Los Angeles traffic.  When we drink too much or use any drugs, however, we’re not saving ourselves from anything. In fact, we could be putting our lives at risk.

A telltale sign that the party’s over is when we continue our substance use even after clearly experiencing negative consequences as a result. The National Council on Drug and Alcohol Independence names personal health, relationships, and jobs as the first three areas in our lives that we may see suffer from sustained substance abuse. Perhaps we’ve partied hard every weekend for a month straight, and noticed that our spousal relationship has become more volatile, received warnings from our bosses regarding our performance, or even started experiencing physical signs of strain like frequent headaches or nausea. If these indicators aren’t enough to get us to stop using, we may need to consider addiction treatment options.

Another sign that we may need help is when we find ourselves passing up opportunities to engage in other activities that don’t involve drinking or using substances. Medical News Today coins this action “recreational sacrificing.” There’s a good chance that substance use has begun to take over when activities we would have enjoyed or attended without question in the past have now become activities that we excuse ourselves from more often than not. With the amount of activities we can enjoy on any given day here in Los Angeles, if partying with drugs and alcohol seems to be the only thing of any interest to us anymore, getting sober likely needs to be a priority.

Tolerance levels are also vital indicators that addiction isn’t far down the road. As we continue to use drugs or alcohol, our bodies get used to their presence and begin to demand more in order to achieve the same highs. Where three tequila shots may have gotten us drunk a few months ago, we may now need double to achieve the same effect. As young men, the negative repercussions of tolerance are two-fold. Not only do increased tolerance levels indicate a need for addiction treatment– they also spell danger for our liver and bodily functions. The more of a substance we consume, the more damage it does to our bodies.

What we choose to sacrifice in order to use can also be a warning sign of serious trouble. According to a study found in the scientific journal Psychopharmacology, as we become addicted to a substance, our brains actually become rewired to take incredibly large risks and make incredible sacrifices in order to maintain access or a supply to that substance. If we find ourselves gambling away cab money to get one more drink– knowing we have no other way to get back home through busy Los Angeles traffic– an addiction treatment plan may be right for us.

Other signs that substance use has become a problem include going from casual partying to feeling like we need a substance to survive or deal with our problems, making excuses when others attempt to confront us about getting sober, manipulating others to supply or support our addiction, simply being unable to limit how much we use, and attempting to keep our use secret or hidden from those who care about us.

When we realize the party is over, addiction treatment and sober living facilities like The Last House are here to help young men focus on getting sober. Again, while everyone loves a good Los Angeles party, there can be a thin line between being the life of the party and risking our lives with substances.


The Last House is a men’s sober living facility in West Los Angeles that specializes in turning our young men into scholars and gentlemen. Through modalities that build confidence, camaraderie, and self-reliance, we help our men realize just how rewarding getting sober can be. Addiction treatment for young men isn’t always easy, but the journey to sobriety is always worth the bumps in the road. We know what our clients need to become the confident gentlemen they can be, and we don’t stop until they get there. Call 1-866-677-0090 to get started with The Last House today.

Los Angeles Sober Living

the last house los angeles sober living

The Last House – Los Angeles Sober Living

The Last House los angeles sober living is a structured sober living recovery home community located in the heart of West Los Angeles. The Last House mission is to provide a safe, fun, program-oriented

setting where residents can find purpose, progress, and build a foundation for a life that is not only free of drugs and alcohol, but flourishing in all aspects.  The Last House sober livings staff consist of active members of the Los Angeles recovery community and come with years of experience, professional backgrounds, counseling certifications and various expertise in health, wellness and employment services.

Through The Last House program, residents gain access to one of the largest recovery networks in North America; the L.A. recovery community.  The men that join our program receive the tools one needs to launch as a self-sufficient, self-reliant, self-motivated individual with a close peer group in the houses that they can rely on to go through a part of life that may be difficult, yet if committed to, a transformitive opportunity.

The Last House prides itself on the residents of past that have graduated the program, giving back to the community and our newest residents, and considering our program as a safe place to ground them. This image taken with many of our residents and graduates, represents what we stand for: unity, support and recreating a life worth living. This may not be the first place you’ve been, but it can be The Last House you need to go.

The Last House also runs an intensive outpatient drug treatment facility that provides a higher level of care, Thrive Treatment.

Thrive Treatment begins by creating outpatient drug treatment that is accessible and well-structured for clients to safely make mistakes and learn new skills. The treatment team has over 30 years of combined clinical expertise, models respect and integrity, while offering everyday tools to make better choices to stay clean and sober through evidenced-based clinical approaches like DBT, CBT, Trauma-focused and Mindfulness modalities. Thrive Treatment upholds the nuts and bolts of life like accountability, values, life skills, boundaries, trust and responsibility to help clients learn to manage sobriety and the anxiety that comes along with living life sober. Thrive helps to process and discard the self-defeating stories and behaviors that keep people stuck. Thrive has also built a community of people who are in it with the client’s families and loved ones for the long-haul. Thrive Treatment prides itself on keeping clients connected to their new community long after completion of treatment and are invested in helping them find purpose beyond sobriety.
The founder of Thrive Outpatient Treatment collected some of addiction treatment’s most respected and successful clinicians who authentically share a passion for helping others flourish and believe in the same key ingredients to long-term recovery success: values, accountability, life skills, and having fun in recovery.
Thrive is a close-knit treatment family and takes a compassionate, but no-fluff approach. The Thrive treatment team understands first-hand how hard it is for those who struggle with addiction. Integrity is most important to Thrive. It’s that simple at Thrive Treatment.
Visit Thrive

Hiking Mt. Whitney Sober

Hiking has been a long time passion of mine. Ever since I have been sober I have developed a strong bond with nature and the outdoors. It is in nature where I have some of the deepest and most inspiring moments in my sobriety. The picture below is an example of one of the awe inspiring scenes that I was privileged to witness while hiking Mt. Whitney.  I love hiking sober.

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My trip up Mt. Whitney was something which required much planning and careful consideration as it is, after all, a hike up the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. The hike was about 15 miles (counting the long walk in the parking lot, and the various detours that were required during the hike) and rises to a peak elevation of 14,505 feet above sea level.

This hike was a surreal experience. I had always talked about climbing Mt. Whitney with my friends but had never come close to actually following through. The Opportunity arose when a fellow Last House Graduate forced me to enter the lottery which grants Whitney climbing passes. It was by sheer luck that we managed to reserve three spots for the hike in early august- an ideal time to do the hike.

It was even more fortuitous that we were able to make it up to base camp the night before our hiking date because the road leading up to it had been shut down due to a fire. My two friends and I were one of the 20 cars which were escorted through the still smoldering embers during a low point in the fire before it picked up again.

The hike itself began at 10:45pm and ended at around 2:30pm the next day. The hike was grueling and tested my endurance and commitment on several occasions. The most difficult portion of the hike occurred at the summit where my head started to throb as a result of the altitude and I started to feel the onset of altitude sickness. It was through my throbbing eyes that I was able to witness the sunrise from the top of the U.S, one of the most beautiful experiences I have ever witnessed. The view was far greater than anything I had imagined. To my left I could see straight over Death Valley and to my right a stunning view of the high sierras presented itself. The breaking dawn shattered the small lakes and ponds sprinkled throughout the sierras, piercing the calm still waters with streaks of vibrant orange and yellow. I summited before my friends and spent 15 minutes in complete solitude observing the sunrise before snapping a few pictures and hurrying to check on my buddies who were resting below.

My Mt. Whitney experience was made possible through my stay in The Last House and my commitment to being sober. If it were not for my fellow housemate I would not have entered the lottery which got us passes to hike, I would have missed out on an experience I cherish dearly today.

–David S.

Los Angeles is a Great Place to get Sober

Los Angeles is known for many things: the glamor of the film industry, beautiful beaches, and traffic. In the recovery world, Los Angeles is also known as one of the greatest places to get sober in the country. With thousands of recovery meetings, tons of people getting sober, and beautiful weather, Los Angeles offers great opportunities to find lasting recovery from addictions. When I got sober myself in the area, I quickly realized that I was lucky. There really is nowhere like L.A. to get sober. Although we may get sober anywhere if we are truly ready, getting sober in Los Angeles is a great blessing.

I got sober myself in West Los Angeles, moving to town to go to treatment. I didn’t know anyone in the city, did not even really want to get sober, and planned on returning home to Oregon immediately after treatment. Instead, I moved into a sober living here in Los Angeles, built some amazing friendships with fellow recovering addicts, and settled here. I found men’s meetings, non twelve-step meetings, a great therapist, and a love for sunshine and beaches. Although I could have never pictured myself here, I am deeply grateful today that I had the opportunity to get sober here in Los Angeles, finding a lasting recovery with support from a great community.

Recovery Meetings

One of the reasons Los Angeles is such a great place in which to get sober is the amount of recovery meetings available. Los Angeles is home to over 4,500 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings alone. Getting sober here in Southern California means you have the opportunity to find a recovery that works for you. As a progressive city, L.A. offers the most current and new recovery models, keeping up-to-date with the latest trends in the recovery world. Facing a drug or alcohol addiction here means you don’t ever have to do it alone. There are meetings around the clock, and there always seems to be a meeting closeby. I know that when I need to connect with others, I can almost always find a meeting that is happening soon and nearby.

Sober Living in Los Angeles

There are so many people getting sober here in Southern California. There is a great variety of sober addicts, from musicians and artists to hipsters and businesspeople. When we decide to take action against our drug addiction or alcoholism, we absolutely need help facing our addiction. In addition, we often need help getting accustomed to living sober. In Los Angeles, there are sober people everywhere! Regardless of what you want to do with your life, you can find sober people in your industry, with similar interests, and that will support you in your daily life. All of the colleges and universities have recovery meetings on campus, employers are more understanding of recovery than most places, and your companions you meet in treatment and at meetings can help you find the life you are hoping to build. When people come to Los Angeles in search of recovery, the find that they are not alone. Building a new life in recovery isn’t easy, and the help of a supportive community is priceless.

A Sober Community

Because Los Angeles has become a hub for recovery, there is an amazing recovering community. With an active young person’s community, social events, and many opportunities to connect with others, you have the chance to build relationships with people who will support you along the path. Community is an important part of most spiritual paths, and many recent studies have found great benefits to engaging with a community in recovery from many illnesses. The recovery community offered in Los Angeles is unparalleled, and it can be felt in any recovery meeting. I have participated in sober hiking groups, connecting with new friends in recovery. For my first few years of sobriety, I attended a weekly sober bowling night. I have gone to sports games with sober groups. With the amount of recovering people in Los Angeles, there is always a community to connect with.

Beautiful Weather

This may seem like a silly point to make, but it really is a great offering of Los Angeles. The weather is mild year-round, with sunshine most days of the year. The beautiful weather is good for the mind. Addicts get to spend time outside, at the beach, hiking, and in the sunshine. The weather encourages people to get outside and get moving, which is essential for healthy recovery. Living sober in Los Angeles gives us the gift of being outside year-round.

All things considered, Los Angeles is an incredibly unique place to recover from addiction. It’s not uncommon to see people you know in recovery around town. Sobriety is like a not-so-secret culture that pervades Los Angeles life. There’s a good reason that Los Angeles is the holy land for addiction recovery. It’s beautiful, relaxed, and accepting of the issues surrounding drug addiction and alcoholism. And as more people realize Los Angeles is the right place for them to get sober, the community only strengthens.

Sober Example For Brother

 

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“MY name is Miles S., and  I am 28 years old. I have 14 months clean and sober and have just graduated the last house program.  Today, I get to be a sober example to my brother.

Prior to my arrival to last house I used drugs for 14 years straight. My drug of choice was Meth and was a needle IV user. My life was unmanageable and I was homeless. I was so dependent on meth. I put meth before my family and friends. I lost the Job my apartment, and car. I was hopeless. Coming into last house saved my life. When I first arrived there I was scared for change I was scared that I would never be able to get high again. That’s all I wanted was to get high. But when I arrived at last house I saw people who have been in the house for a while I saw people who were happy and I wanted that. I wanted to have my life back I wanted to have my family back in my life. I was put on restriction. I did not like restriction at first; I hated it because I had to do what other told me to do instead of doing what I wanted to do. I would always do what I wanted when I was out there, but having someone else tell me what I could and could not do really helped me get humble and realize that I really do need to start listening to what others are saying because they are just trying to help me. My best thinking got me where I was and that was with nothing. I was required to plan out my day each day which I have never done in my life. I was required to go to 2 AA meetings a day and get a sponsor (a sponsor is someone who you call every day and that takes you through the 12 steps of the AA program). I was to hold others accountable and hold myself accountable. I was required to do chores every day. Before recovery I did not ever clean my own place or pick up after myself. This helped me respect the place I lived in and respect others that live with me by not being a slob. At first I would half measure my chores and not care but then after a while I ended up taking pride in my chores and doing my best. The house structure was key in my sobriety I would have not have been able to stay sober without it. I would not have lasted this long if it wasn’t for the rules of the house. The house helped me work a program and taught me have to live. They would pull me up when they noticed me lacking on my step work or helped me when they noticed my behaviors being off. My favorite part of the house is being able to come home each day to a house full of guys that care about you. I called the house my safe zone. I also love the dinners and groups we have in the house. Dinner is 3 times a week were we discuss our behaviors in the house and provide feedback to others in the house that need help with situations that they are going through. There was so much I gained from those groups. Before coming to this house I had no way of knowing how to stay sober at all. I was able to accomplish so much while being a resident in the house and the house gave me the tools I needed to help me accomplish those things. I was able to go back to work in the house and suit up and show up on time to work. I never was able to hold down a job. I was able to take classes in the house to get my insurance license and ended up passing and getting my insurance license! I was able to get my Driver’s license back when in the house and was able to go home to see my family for the holidays and was able to stay clean and sober while going to see my family. Being in the house I was able to work the 12 steps of the AA program and that changed my perception on life and really changed me on who I was as a person. I was able to see my part in situations I have gone through in the past. My life has changed so much this past year I am a different person from when I first walked through these doors. I was able to do it by just listening to what others have to say to me and not running on my own thinking. I it was good to have the time in the house to invest in myself and to take care of myself. This house has really taught me a new way of life. Today I work full time as an insurance agent and also work in recovery as well. I still go to AA meetings once a day and I work a program. I am involved with the house. I work with others in the house in being there for the new guys that come through the house. This house is all about brotherhood it is my second family and I will never forget what this house has done for me and the gifts I have received from being in this house. I am happy today and have feelings today. I love being able to go and be a part of my families lives. Being able to be a positive role model to my youngest brother means the world to me. Drugs had a hold of me and I was ok with that until I found a new way of life. I do not have urges to use today I do not have the craving to use and that is a miracle in its own.

Thank you last house for saving my life!”

Miles S. – alumni of The Last House

Why Sober Living?

california structured sober living

Why Sober Living?

I’ve often heard individuals in the recovery community say something along the lines of “once you’re ready to get sober, you’ll do it in a cardboard box if you have to.”  Why then have sober living homes become such a popular destination for people in search of sobriety?  

My quest for sobriety began well before I actually wanted to get sober, but I didn’t know it at the time.  I got my first “nudge from the judge” as an 18 year old when I was arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession and underage possession of alcohol.  I was a freshman in college and doing well in other areas of my life, but the courts did mandate that I participate in 12 weeks of outpatient therapy.  My parents didn’t see this minor setback as a particularly alarming event, and I completed the required course without much difficulty. Yet, this experience didn’t deter me from proceeding further along the path I had set myself upon.  

The continuation of this lifestyle was more of a slow burn than a quick descent, though that time allowed me to become firmly entrenched in a community that I would have otherwise avoided.  I grew up listening to my grandmother say “show me your friends and I’ll show you who you are.”  I never really gave her the opportunity to meet the friends I kept as my disease progressed, because they would certainly expose me as the derelict I was becoming.

Eventually, knowing I had fully succumbed to my addiction, the despair was great enough that I began to seek help.  I went to my first 12 step meeting at the behest of a loving girlfriend.  I attended 90 meetings in 90 days.  I got a sponsor.  I began to work some steps, but I still didn’t fully remove myself from the environment I had created over the many years my addiction spanned.  It didn’t take long before I had fallen back into my old ways, and this stumble became the quick descent I had avoided for so long.  

The desire to seek something more out olife was still there, though, and I began to look beyond the typical rehab facilities and short term programs that are a last resort for many.  I knew that I needed to completely remove myself from the toxic situation I had been living in and find a healthy environment that would allow me to slowly build the tools necessary for a life without drugs and alcohol.  I reached out to a friend who once found himself living in a tent on skid row.  He had completed a year long program at the Last House Sober Living in Los Angeles, and had found the lust for life the drugs had taken from him.  

I asked him why it worked, and he quickly replied that one of the most important aspects of recovery for him was being able to live amongst a supportive group of peers who were experiencing the same ups and downs of life that he was.  These other young men were able to help him navigate the trials and tribulations life threw his way.  They were able to love him before he could love himself.  They were there to congratulate him along each of the sobriety milestones he reached.  Eventually, he explained, that he became the one who was able to extend his love to other young men who came to the house seeking something more out of life.  

I was sold, and embarked upon this same journey myself.  I can speak from experience that the reward of finding one’s self is fantastic, but the gift of helping another do the same is absolutely priceless. 

-written by The Last House alumni John M.