Drug testing in recovery is regular screening for alcohol or drug use that supports accountability and a substance-free living environment. At Lotus Recovery Treatment Center in Thousand Oaks, drug testing is offered to residents of our sober supportive housing as part of their recovery plan.
What Is Drug Testing in Addiction Recovery?
A drug test screens for recent alcohol or drug use. In recovery, regular testing gives you and your team an honest picture of how treatment is going and helps keep a sober living home safe for everyone.
Lotus Recovery Treatment Center recognizes that substance use recovery is a lifelong process that ebbs and flows. Maintaining sobriety may be easier at certain times than others, which is why it’s important not to let your guard down. Recovery is an active process and you must hold yourself accountable at all times. One of the ways that we facilitate this is by offering drug testing services for those who are in our sober living program.
Why Drug Testing Matters in Sober Living
Lotus Recovery Treatment Center offers supportive living services, which include sober housing. It is our highest priority to keep these living environments safe, stable and free of drugs and alcohol. One way to do this is by drug testing our residents.
Here are some of the reasons why we find this step important:
- Maintain accountability. Residents in sober housing have made a commitment to sobriety, but this decision involves making healthy choices, which can be difficult when you’re new to recovery. Knowing that you will be drug tested at any time can hold you accountable and keep you focused on your recovery.
- Prevent relapse. Even though relapse can be a normal part of the recovery process, it’s still something you want to avoid. Relapse is a process, and not something that happens out of the blue. Therefore, early interventions like drug testing can help prevent a return to use.
- Promote a safe living environment. Sober housing provides a safe space for individuals who are transitioning from rehab to everyday living. Often, the people in sober housing lack a supportive environment at home. Enforcing drug testing helps keep our sober houses safe and substance-free.
Our Drug Testing Policy
Lotus Recovery Treatment Center is pleased to offer sober housing for individuals who need them. To ensure these environments remain conducive to recovery, we require residents to be tested when entering one of our houses and randomly thereafter. Various testing methods may be used, including urine tests, saliva tests and breathalyzers.
Naturally, we hope that our residents remain substance-free, but because addiction is a chronic disorder, we know that this doesn’t always happen. If a drug test comes back positive, we may ask the individual to leave the home. This is not done to “punish” the person but rather to ensure the environment remains safe for everyone else.
Removal from the home is not the only option, and other consequences may apply instead. Either way, substance use in sober living will not be tolerated for the safety and stability of all residents. All drug tests are kept confidential and only shared with the resident and their therapists.
Types of Drug Tests Used in Recovery
Our sober living program may use three testing methods, each with a different purpose:
- Urine tests: the most common drug test in recovery. They usually detect use from the past few days, and regular marijuana use can show up for weeks.
- Saliva tests: a quick mouth swab that picks up more recent use, usually within the past day or two.
- Breathalyzers: measure the alcohol in your system at the time of the test.
Using more than one method helps catch both recent drinking and drug use, so results give a clearer picture of how a resident is doing.
What a Drug Test Screens For
Standard drug test panels check for the substances most often involved in addiction, including:
- Marijuana (THC)
- Cocaine
- Opioids such as heroin, oxycodone and fentanyl
- Amphetamines and methamphetamine
- Benzodiazepines such as Xanax
- Alcohol
Some prescribed medications can show up on a drug test. Tell your care team about every prescription you take, including medications for mental health or opioid use, so your results are read correctly.
What to Expect From Drug Testing
Every resident is tested when moving into one of our sober homes, then randomly after that. Random testing means there is no set day to plan around, which keeps everyone in the house accountable.
A test takes only a few minutes. Results are kept confidential and shared only with you and your therapists, who look at them alongside your progress in therapy. If you are struggling with cravings, telling your therapist before a test gives you a chance to get support early.
Drug Testing in Thousand Oaks, CA
Drug testing is offered to residents of our sober supportive housing.
Transitioning from a rehab program to everyday living is one of the hardest aspects of recovery, and yet it’s often one of the most overlooked. To help individuals maintain their sobriety, we provide drug testing services. These services are offered to residents in our sober living program, which includes both sober housing and supportive living. To learn more about our drug testing services and how they can help you maintain sobriety, contact Lotus Recovery Treatment Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who gets drug tested at Lotus Recovery?
Residents of our sober supportive housing are drug tested as part of their recovery plan. Tests can happen at any time, which helps everyone stay accountable.
What happens if a drug test is positive?
The goal is safety, not punishment. A resident may be asked to leave the home, or the team may choose another consequence and adjust the treatment plan.
Are drug test results confidential?
Yes. Results are shared only with the resident and their therapists.
How often are sober living residents drug tested?
Residents are tested when they move into the home and then randomly after that, so there is no set testing day.
What types of drug tests do you use?
Testing may include urine tests, saliva tests and breathalyzers, depending on what needs to be checked.
Can prescription medication cause a positive drug test?
Yes. Some prescribed medications can show up on a test. Tell your care team about every prescription you take so your results are read correctly.
How long do drugs stay in your system for a urine test?
Most drugs show up for a few days after use. Regular marijuana use can be detected for several weeks.
Is drug testing only for sober living residents?
At Lotus Recovery, drug testing is part of our sober living program, which includes sober housing and supportive living. Call (805) 856-6690 to ask about joining.