Sobering centers are short-term care facilities that allow people who are intoxicated to safely recover from the effects of alcohol or other drugs.
Open 24 hours, these centers can reduce drug overdose injuries and deaths within the community and serve as an effective alternative (PDF) to the emergency medical system.
Sobering centers can be a bridge to housing and health when they include:
- Referrals to community resources providing longer-term care for people with substance use and mental health issues
- Homelessness services like housing navigation, case management, and referrals to transitional housing
For people experiencing homelessness while living with substance use disorder, sobering centers provide both critical short-term care as well as an entry point for more comprehensive, long-term, and preventive care. Under CalAIM, managed care plans can offer sobering centers (PDF) as a Community Support.
Explore the resources below to learn how sobering centers can be a bridge to housing and health and how this model can be replicated in your region.
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