Ask how often residents are tested and what happens after a positive, how the family will hear about progress, who runs the house day to day, and what a normal week looks like. A good home answers plainly, invites a tour and explains how a man steps down when ready. Blackburn Recovery Services in Los Angeles suggests these questions.
Key facts for families
- Bring these questions to every home you are considering, including ours.
- At Blackburn, sober living is for men only, in Venice, Mar Vista, Cheviot Hills and Mid City.
- Residents are tested for drugs 3 times a week and for alcohol daily.
- With the resident’s permission, families get weekly updates.
- Families can join a free virtual support group every other Tuesday, 6 to 7 PM Pacific, led by a licensed therapist from Blackburn Clinical Services.
- Tours are available in person or by video.
Why should families ask their own questions?
Most of our guides are written for the man who will live in the house. This one is for the people who love him. Parents, partners and siblings often make the first call. They are trying to judge a place they may never sleep in, for someone whose safety matters more to them than almost anything.
The questions below are the ones we wish every family asked. They work for any sober living home in Los Angeles. Write down the answers and compare them side by side.
What should you ask about safety and testing?
- How often do you test for drugs, and how often for alcohol? A good answer gives a specific schedule. “When we think someone is using” is not a schedule.
- Is testing random or on set days? Random testing is harder to plan around.
- What happens after a positive test? Listen for a clear process that puts safety first and keeps the family and treatment team informed. Vague answers are a warning sign.
- How are medications stored and given out? A good home has a system for medications, not an honor policy.
- Is there naloxone in the house, and do staff know how to use it? With fentanyl in the drug supply, this matters.
What should you ask about communication?
- How will we hear about how he is doing? Ask how often, from whom and in what form.
- Do you talk with his therapist, doctor or treatment program? Coordination with providers keeps everyone working from the same picture.
- Who do we call if we are worried? You should get a name and a number, not a general inbox.
- Is there support for us, not just for him? Families carry a lot. A home that offers family support understands that.
What should you ask about daily life?
- Who runs the house day to day? Ask whether staff are full time or whether a resident manages the house.
- What does a normal weekday look like? A good answer includes work or school, meetings, testing and time with the house.
- Are meetings and step work expected? Ask what is required inside and outside the house.
- Can he work or go to school? Ask how the house schedule fits around a job or classes.
What should you ask about next steps?
- How does someone know he is ready to move on? A good home has a way of talking about this before it happens.
- What comes after sober living? Ask whether there is a step down option that still has accountability.
What do good and weak answers sound like?
| Topic | A good answer | A weak answer |
|---|---|---|
| Testing | A clear schedule for drugs and for alcohol | “We test when we need to” |
| Updates | Regular updates on a set schedule, with permission | “He can tell you himself” |
| Staff | Named staff, full time | No one can say who is in charge |
| Daily life | A real weekly rhythm of work, meetings and house time | “It is pretty relaxed” |
| Tours | An open invitation, in person or by video | Reluctance to show the home |
| Next steps | A clear path to more independence | No plan beyond move in |
How does Blackburn answer these questions?
Here are our answers, so you have something to compare against.
- Testing: drug testing 3 times a week and daily alcohol testing.
- Medications: medication management systems in every home. Vivitrol is supported.
- Updates: weekly updates to families, providers and treatment teams, with the resident’s permission.
- Staff: full-time staff run the homes.
- Daily life: weekly 12 Step meetings and goal setting, and food is provided by the house at the Venice, Mar Vista and Cheviot Hills homes. Residents can work full time and attend local colleges.
- Next steps: when a man is ready, our sober apartments in West Los Angeles offer independent living with weekly random testing. Read stepping down from sober living to see how that decision is made.
Is there support for families?
Yes. We run a free bi-weekly virtual family support group every other Tuesday from 6 to 7 PM Pacific. A licensed therapist from Blackburn Clinical Services leads it. It is a place to ask questions, hear from other families and learn how to support someone in early recovery without carrying it all yourself. Visit our family support page to learn more.
Want the numbers behind these questions? Our page on recovery housing in Los Angeles County: the facts covers local overdose trends and what research says about recovery housing.
Family questions about sober living
Will we get updates?
Yes, with your loved one’s permission. Blackburn sends weekly updates to families, providers and treatment teams. If you are not sure whether permission is in place, ask us and we will explain how it works.
Can we tour virtually?
Yes. Sober living tours are available in person or by video. A video tour is a good option if you live out of town or your loved one is still in treatment.
Is there support for families?
Yes. Our free virtual family group meets every other Tuesday, 6 to 7 PM Pacific, and is led by a licensed therapist from Blackburn Clinical Services. It costs nothing to attend.
What if our son is over 18 and does not want us involved?
An adult resident decides who receives updates about him. We will encourage him to keep his family involved, because it often helps. You can still join the family group and call us with general questions.
Should we visit before he moves in?
If you can, yes. Seeing the house, meeting staff and hearing how a normal day runs will answer questions you did not know to ask. Our guide on how to tour a sober living home tells you what to look for.
Talk with us
Call us and ask every question on this list, or schedule a sober living tour for you and your loved one.
For the apartments, schedule an apartment tour.