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Every member has an equal vote regardless of how long they’ve been there. The Oxford House Model is shared, studied, and growing because it works. It continues to stand the test of time as a leading model in sober living. Oxford House residents actively contribute to their communities, dedicating an average of 10 hours a month to neighborhood involvement. The majority of participants were involved in activities around their recovery.

Who is responsible for holding people accountable in an Oxford House?

In their enthusiasm, they have been anxious to share Oxford House with any recovering alcoholics and drug addicts who want to establish an Oxford House in their community. During the last days of our drinking or using drugs, most of us ceased to function as responsible individuals. We were not only dependent upon alcohol and/or drugs, but were also dependent on many others for continuing our alcoholic and/or drug addicted ways. When we stopped drinking or using drugs, we began to realize just how dependent we had become. For those of us who had been in institutions or half-way houses, resentments against authority were common. The only members who will ever be asked to leave an Oxford House are those who return to drinking, using drugs, or have disruptive behavior, including the nonpayment of rent.

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Oxford House gave me the opportunity to practice the principles and action. View and download the latest House and Chapter Manuals, along with other forms used to conduct weekly house meetings. If you are not selected, you should try another house that has an opening. It is not unusual that an individual who gets rejected at one house applies at another house with an opening and gets accepted. If a house votes to accept you, you can tell them whether or not you accept the invitation to move in.

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Initially, the structure and supervision of such facilities were acceptable because physically and mentally, https://www.catalinammdd.cl/millions-of-americans-are-microdosing-psychedelics/ we were exhausted. Later, some of us were to move into half-way houses which provided shelter, food, and supervision. As our recovery progressed, the supervision and dependency on a half-way house created dissatisfaction.

All too often, an abrupt transition from a protected environment to an environment which places considerable glamour on the oxford house sober living use of alcohol and drugs causes a return to alcoholic drinking or addictive drug use. Oxford House grew out of the need for many of us to begin a new life without fear of backsliding because of loneliness or renewed dependency on former drinking companions. Throughout its tradition, Oxford House has combined the concepts of self-support and responsibility with a fellowship having the common purpose of continued and comfortable sobriety.

• Officers have fixed terms of office to avoid bossism or corruption of egalitarian democracy.
• It is inconsistent with the Oxford House system of democratic rule to have a professional manager of Oxford House.
• New members must sign agreeing to abide by the rules, continue any aftercare programs, work or volunteer 20 hours per week, and understand their financial obligations.
• Some are able to keep from drinking in spite of the loneliness with which they were faced.
• List member’s assignments and rotate jobs so that everyone equally shares work to be done.

During early recovery for alcoholism and drug addiction, some members had to leave an institution in order to make room for an alcoholic or drug addict just beginning the recovery process. Other members were asked to leave half-way houses in order to make room for a recovering alcoholic or recovering drug addict who was ready to move into a half-way house. Only the very fortunate are able to make such a transition upon demand. Each individual recovers from alcoholism or drug addiction at a different pace.

• The article highlights the success of these houses, where recovering individuals work together, abide by simple rules, and maintain a drug-free environment.
• Nearly all members of Oxford House utilize the AA and/or NA program in order to obtain and keep a comfortable sobriety.

The concept and the Substance abuse standardized, democratic, self-supported Oxford House system of operations itself are far more persuasive than any individual. Be honest and straight-forward when sharing the Oxford House concept with others. Some operate for several years and then, because of expiration of a lease, dissatisfaction with the facilities, or simply the finding of a better location, the members of a particular House will move into a new location. Other Houses often help that type of move as well as the brand new House.

Tradition VII

Oxford Houses are democratically self-run by the members who elect officers to serve for terms of six months. House officers have term limits to avoid bossism or corruption of egalitarian democracy. Every member has an equal vote regardless of how long they’ve been there.

The alcoholic or drug addict alone begins to compare himself to those members of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous who still have family and friends. Loneliness and self-pity soon lead such individuals back to alcoholic drinking or drug use. With Oxford House there is no need for a recovering individual to live in an environment dominated by loneliness. At the Oxford House World Convention held annually, Oxford Houses throughout the country vote for representatives to the World Council. The World Council is comprised of 12 members, 9 of which presently live in an Oxford House, 3 who are alumni.