Treatment
What is the Best Way to Get Sober?
Excellent 4.6 out of 5 434 Google reviews across our locations
Published December 13, 2019
Reviewed and updated August 28, 2025
There is no single best way to get sober. What works is usually a combination: medical detox where it is needed, a treatment programme matched to how severe the addiction is, and support that continues after it ends. This page compares the main types of programme, covers the alternatives people add to them, and sets out what helps sobriety hold afterwards.
If you’re open to it, you may want to explore other treatment options outside of your immediate location. Some people find that getting a fresh start someplace new can be highly motivating.
If you’re ready to start treatment now, Nova Recovery Center offers individualized, comprehensive programs for drug and alcohol addiction. Call (512) 605-2955 to learn more about your treatment options today.
Types of Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment Programs
There are many different types of addiction treatment programs that may be helpful for you. People in recovery often combine several or all of these types of programs for a long-term, comprehensive treatment program.
- Medical detox programs: Medical detox programs provide individualized medical and clinical treatment during drug and alcohol detox to manage withdrawal symptoms. During treatment, clients may also attend H&I meetings, group counseling sessions, and individual counseling sessions if they are physically able.
- Residential drug and alcohol rehab programs: Residential rehab programs provide structured inpatient addiction treatment for clients with varying degrees of addiction. Clients live onsite while they complete their treatment and adhere to a highly regimented daily schedule of group counseling, individual counseling, family counseling, educational lectures, and 12-Step Program participation, among other treatment modalities.
- Intensive outpatient programs (IOP): IOP is an outpatient program comprised of a series of group meetings that occur several times weekly over eight weeks. Clients attend sessions alongside their peers in recovery and work through a structured treatment program with licensed addiction treatment counselors and recovery specialists.
- Sober living programs: Sober living homes are safe, gender-specific, alcohol and drug-free residences for men and women in recovery. Sober living programs also offer additional recovery services, such as employment assistance, volunteer placement, drug and alcohol testing, and personalized recovery programming.
- Peer recovery support programs: Throughout a peer recovery support program, clients work one-on-one with a certified Recovery Support Specialist who has personal experience with addiction, treatment, and recovery. Clients meet with their support specialist regularly and have 24/7 access to crisis management help. Family members and loved ones are also highly involved in the process.
- Aftercare programs: Aftercare programs are designed for alumni of rehab programs who are seeking peer support in sobriety. Aftercare consists of a series of group meetings where clients can feel safe, understood, and accepted, regardless of their past behaviors or current circumstances. Thought-provoking discussions are centered around recovery-related issues and are intended to help clients by providing advice, support, and encouragement.
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Alternative Forms of Addiction Treatment
In addition to the addiction treatment programs listed above, there are other alternative ways to get sober, although the efficacy of some are not backed by conclusive research.
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- DIY/self-help: DIY rehab and self-help methods consist of creating your own “program” with various self-help methods. This type of recovery can work for some individuals, but for many who are severely addicted, it’s simply not enough. Unfortunately, this form of treatment lacks the much-needed structure, peer support, medical and clinical care, and accountability that are provided with professional addiction treatment programs.
- Online support groups: Online support groups offer an alternative form of support for people who don’t want to seek face-to-face help for their addiction(s). These support groups link addicted individuals to others with similar issues. Although there are benefits to this type of treatment, such as using it in conjunction with behavioral therapy, increasing access to treatment and providing more privacy for clients, it also has limitations. Downfalls may include a lack of crisis management and quality control, limited feedback, and fluctuations in stages of group development.
- Community support group meetings: People often attend community support groups on their own or in conjunction with a professional addiction treatment program. Examples of support groups include 12-Step fellowships like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Women for Sobriety, Smart Recovery, Refuge Recovery, LifeRing, and others. These support groups are highly beneficial for people in all stages of recovery and can provide essential peer support, mentorship, and valuable opportunities to connect with other sober people.
- Medication/herbal supplements: Certain medications and herbal supplements are reported to help with various aspects of the detox and treatment process by reducing withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and blocking the “high” caused by certain substances. Examples include Ibogaine, Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), Topamax, Methadone, Buprenorphine, Naltrexone, and Buprenorphine/naloxone combination medications like Suboxone. Many of these medications are not legally available outside of a doctor’s office, clinic, or without a valid prescription, and any herbal supplements like Kratom that are used for addiction treatment purposes should be used with extreme caution.
Although many of these alternative treatments have helped people get sober, some of the positive claims about them are unfounded. On the other hand, credible medical detox and drug rehab programs use evidence-based treatment methods, which have been thoroughly researched, studied, and standardized.
Scientific evidence has shown that such methods like cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), contingency management, twelve-step facilitation therapy, and others have been effective in treating substance use disorders. These are the types of treatment methods you’ll find in high-quality rehab programs.
Tips for Staying Sober After Rehab
Completing a rehab program doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in the clear or that you’re ready to live a sober life on your own. Staying sober after rehab required ongoing treatment and recovery support. Here are some helpful tips for staying sober after rehab:
- Enroll in sober living, aftercare, or a peer support program.
- Create strategies to fight off cravings.
- Attend weekly community support group meetings.
- Work closely with a sober sponsor.
- Attend individual and family therapy sessions.
- Practice healthy habits like journaling, meditation, and regular exercising.
- Stay social with sober peers.
- Find a way to volunteer and give back to your community.
- Find new hobbies.
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Just like any other chronic disease, your addiction needs to be monitored and managed on an ongoing basis. Sometimes, relapse is a part of this process, and for many people, sobriety only becomes second nature after years of living a substance-free life. Regardless of where you fall on this spectrum, there is always hope for recovery.
Although all roads to recovery are different, you can live a happy, healthy, and fulfilling sober life.
Learn How To Avoid the Pitfalls of Peer Pressure in Early Sobriety
Kurt’s Story of Addiction Recovery (SOAR)
August 6, 2021
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Kurt never drank in the morning. Instead, he would wake up, go to work, suffer through his day, and then re-medicate with alcohol in the evening to feel better. Unlike earlier in his life, Kurt found that he enjoyed hard liquor much more than he used to because it was easier to find his “happy place,” that sweet spot where he didn’t have to face the stress of life. Years went by and gradually, Kurt became what he always said he wouldn’t be.
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Daphne Jay’s Story of Addiction Recovery (SOAR)
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Daphne spent years trying to hide her alcohol addiction from family and friends. Now, she doesn’t have to wonder what she did or said the night before. She doesn’t have to wake up with a headache, needing a drink just to get rid of it. Now, Daphne lives a full and purposeful life as a wife, mom, sober coach, sober companion/escort, and a relapse prevention professional.
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Other Drug and Alcohol Rehab Locations
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Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Sober and Starting Your Recovery Journey
What’s the best way to get sober?
The best path to getting sober begins by recognizing it’s a deeply personal journey, often combining medical support, therapy, peer connection, and a treatment plan tailored just for you. There’s no one-size-fits-all: what works for someone else may not work for you, and that’s okay.
What types of addiction treatment are available, and how do I choose?
There are various treatment options, from medical detox, inpatient rehab, to outpatient programs and support groups. Choosing starts with assessing your substance use severity, medical needs, mental health, and support network. Always emphasize individualized treatment, because your journey deserves a plan built around you.
How long does detox usually take, and is it always needed?
Detox typically lasts around 3–7 days, but that depends on the substance, your usage history, and health condition. It’s medically advised for many substances, especially those with dangerous withdrawal symptoms, and can be supervised through medical detox if needed.
What’s the difference between inpatient and outpatient rehab?
Inpatient rehab: You stay on-site in a structured, 24/7 recovery environment, ideal for more severe or complex cases. Outpatient rehab: You attend scheduled therapy sessions but return home each day, perfect for those with strong support systems and mild to moderate addiction.
Is long-term recovery really possible, and what does it look like after a year?
Long-term recovery is absolutely possible, typically defined as maintaining sobriety for one year or more while building the tools and mindset to sustain it. After the first year, growth continues (feelings resurface, relationships shift, and triggers may persist) but with ongoing therapy and support, that growth is more resilient.
How can support groups and peer support bolster my recovery?
Peer support is powerful. Being part of a community, whether through 12-step groups or local sober friend networks, provides connection, empathy, and accountability that strengthens resilience.
How does therapy support relapse prevention and long-term sobriety?
Therapy helps you understand your triggers, rebuild healthier thinking patterns, and develop emotional tools for navigating life sober. It’s also central to relapse prevention, giving you strategies to respond rather than react.
What is aftercare, and why is it so important?
Aftercare is the support you receive after formal rehab: things like continued therapy, peer support groups, and relapse prevention planning. It reinforces treatment gains and helps you stay connected and accountable in the real world.
Why is outpatient treatment useful after inpatient rehab?
Outpatient care offers a bridge from the structure of rehab to everyday life, keeping you connected to therapy and support while you rebuild your routines and independence.
What specialized options exist in Austin (or similar local areas)?
If you’re in areas like Austin, local sober events and peer communities, such as sober social clubs, offer wholesome ways to connect and rebuild your social life, without alcohol-centered norms.
What is a "recovery journey" and how can treatment options help?
A recovery journey is a lifelong, evolving process. It blends therapy, medical support, peer relationships, and sustainable lifestyle changes. Each stage (detox, treatment, aftercare, sober living) is a supportive rung on that ladder.
What’s sober living, and is it right for me?
Sober living homes offer a structured, substance-free environment where residents support each other, ideal for those transitioning from rehab or seeking a stable recovery foundation.
What does individualized treatment really mean?
Individualized treatment means tailoring everything (program type, therapy styles, medical support) to your history, health, mental health, and personal strengths. It’s your uniqueness honored in your recovery plan.
How does professional help improve outcomes?
Treatment by qualified professionals (counselors, physicians, therapists) maximizes safety, recovery effectiveness, and adaptability to your needs. Support from trained experts increases your chances of sustainable sobriety.
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