Blackburn Recovery Services offers sober companion support and sober transport in Los Angeles. If someone you care about is facing a hard transition in early recovery, such as leaving treatment, moving into sober living or returning home, call us at (888) 305-5422 to talk through what you need.

Key takeaways

Blackburn offers sober companion support and sober transport in Los Angeles.
A sober companion generally provides in-person support and accountability during a period of change in early recovery.
Sober transport generally means accompanied travel between places, such as from a treatment program to a sober living home.
Both are recovery support, not medical or clinical care, and they work alongside a person’s treatment team.

What a sober companion is

In general, a sober companion is a person who spends time alongside someone in early recovery, offering in-person support and accountability through a period of change. Families often look for this support around the days after treatment, a move home, travel, a major event or any stretch when the usual structure is not in place. How long it lasts and what it includes vary with the person’s needs, so the first step is a conversation about the situation.

What sober transport is

Sober transport generally means accompanied travel from one place to another, so a person in early recovery is not making a high-risk transition alone. Common examples are the trip from a detox or treatment program to a sober living home, or to an appointment or a family home.

Why the moments in between matter

NIDA’s Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment state that “Recovery from drug addiction is a long-term process and frequently requires multiple episodes of treatment.” Transitions between levels of care are part of that process, and they are when old routines and old places are closest.

Safety is part of it too. Tolerance drops during time away from drugs, and a 2003 follow-up study in the BMJ of people who left inpatient opiate detoxification pointed to loss of tolerance as a likely reason for overdose deaths after treatment. CDC’s Stop Overdose resources explain the lifesaving power of naloxone. If someone has used opioids, keep naloxone on hand, and in an emergency call 911.

What these services are not

They are not medical or clinical care, and they do not replace detox, treatment, therapy or psychiatry.
They are not crisis services. If someone is in danger, call 911. For a mental health or suicide crisis, call or text 988.
They support the plan a person’s treatment team has made; they do not replace it.

How it fits with Blackburn’s other services

Sober companion support and sober transport can stand on their own or sit alongside other Blackburn services:

Sober living for men in Venice, Mar Vista, Cheviot Hills and Mid City, plus sober apartments.
Mentoring: one-on-one work on practical goals such as school, work, finances and routines.
Case management that coordinates appointments, providers and family.
Drug and alcohol monitoring with results shared with the appropriate people.
Intervention services for families trying to reach someone who is not yet ready for help.
Family support, including a free virtual family support group every other Tuesday from 6:00 to 7:00 PM Pacific time, led by a licensed therapist from Blackburn Clinical Services. See our Families page.

Before you call

It helps to have a few things in mind, though you do not need all of them to reach out:

What transition is coming up, such as a discharge, a move, travel or an event.
Who is already involved, such as a treatment program, therapist or interventionist.
What would make the next few days safer, in your own words.

Frequently asked questions

Does Blackburn offer sober companion services?

Yes. Blackburn Recovery Services offers sober companion support in Los Angeles. Call (888) 305-5422 to talk about your situation.

Does Blackburn offer sober transport?

Yes. Blackburn offers sober transport in Los Angeles, for example from a treatment program to a sober living home.

Is a sober companion the same as a mentor?

They are separate services. Blackburn’s mentoring is one-on-one work on practical goals. Our team can help you decide which fits your situation, or whether both would help.

Is a sober companion a medical provider?

No. Sober companion support and sober transport are recovery support, not medical or clinical care. They work alongside a person’s treatment team.

Sources

Talk with our team

Call (888) 305-5422 to talk about sober companion support or sober transport, email info@blackburnrecoveryservices.com, or use the confidential request a call back form on our Contact page. If someone is in danger right now, call 911. For a mental health or suicide crisis, call or text 988.