What does SAL provide in the substance-free apartments in Scottsdale and Wheat Ridge?

SAL provides all furnishings, dishes, utensils, bedding, bath towels, and shared paper products. Residents move into completely furnished apartments outfitted with shared cleaning supplies, Wi-Fi Internet, and TV (with streaming options). Utilities are included.

Will I have my own bedroom?

You will share a bedroom with a roommate. SAL has recently upgraded the mattresses, and beds are extra-long twins.

Is there a schedule of events/meetings during the day/evening?

Social events are scheduled regularly, and there is a weekly resident meeting.

What is your visitor policy?

Visitors are allowed, but they cannot spend the night.

Is there a minimum residency term?

Yes, SAL’s lease term will initially be for thirty (30) days and renewed automatically after the first thirty days on a month-to-month basis. Residents are strongly encouraged to embrace SAL for a longer-term stay.

Because pet ownership can distract from recovery and complicate any living situation, SAL does not allow residents to keep pets during their stay.

Are the apartment units gender-specific?

Yes, residences at Scottsdale and Wheat Ridge sober apartments include all-male and all-female shared apartments. However, the apartment complex is co-ed.

What does it cost to live at SAL?

Scottsdale, AZ location: The monthly fee depends on 1-, 2-, or 3-bedroom units, ranging from $710-$880/mo (fully furnished units, including utilities and WiFi). The security deposit is $300. Wheat Ridge, CO location: The monthly fee varies from $800-$900/mo (fully furnished units, including utilities and WiFi). The security deposit is $300.

What if I have a felony drug possession or DUI?

SAL runs a background check as part of the application process to ensure the safety and quality of life for all residents. Being a sober living environment, SAL anticipates that applicants may have felony charges related to drug possession or DUI and works with such applicants. However, for safety and quality-of-life reasons, any drug trafficking, terrorist activity, felony assault, and sexual misconduct will disqualify an applicant.

sober community - Sober Apartment Living

Recovery is more than just quitting drugs or alcohol—it’s about creating a life that supports long-term wellness. However, many people in recovery unknowingly replace one addiction with another, a pattern known as transfer addiction or addiction transfer. This occurs when someone substitutes their previous substance use with another compulsive behavior, such as gambling, excessive exercise, or even unhealthy relationships.

At Sober Apartment Living, we believe in building sustainable recovery through structured support, community, and accountability. Recognizing and preventing transferring addictions is essential to staying truly sober and living a balanced, fulfilling life.

What Is Transfer Addiction?

What is transfer addiction? It happens when an individual, consciously or unconsciously, replaces one addiction with another. Unlike traditional relapse, transfer addiction doesn’t always involve substances—it can take many different forms, from compulsive spending to social media overuse.

For example, someone overcoming alcohol addiction might start excessively shopping, eating, or working out. While these behaviors may seem harmless at first, they can become just as disruptive as the original addiction if they’re being used to escape emotions or avoid personal growth.

At Sober Apartment Living, we emphasize holistic healing—helping residents recognize these patterns before they take hold and offering healthy alternatives to build a stronger foundation in recovery.

Signs of Addiction Transfer

Recognizing transfer addiction early can prevent setbacks and help maintain sobriety. Watch for these red flags:

Compulsive behaviors: Spending excessive time on activities like gaming, shopping, or social media to the point where it interferes with daily life.
Emotional distress: Feeling anxious, irritable, or depressed when unable to engage in the substituted habit.
Financial trouble: Overspending or taking on debt due to a new addiction (such as gambling or shopping).
Neglecting responsibilities: Missing work, social engagements, or personal commitments in favor of the new behavior.
Loss of control: Being unable to stop or moderate the activity, despite negative consequences.

At Sober Apartment Living, we help residents identify these signs before they fall into new destructive habits, ensuring a safe, structured environment that promotes long-term success.

Common Forms of Transfer Addiction in Recovery

While alcohol transfer addiction is common, addiction substitution can manifest in many ways, including:

Food: Overeating or bingeing on sugar and processed foods to replace the dopamine rush of substance use.
Exercise: Pushing the body to dangerous limits in an attempt to “control” recovery.
Shopping: Buying unnecessary items to fill an emotional void.
Workaholism: Using excessive work or “hustle culture” as a distraction from emotional healing.
Gambling: Chasing thrills through betting, lottery games, or online casinos.
Sex and Relationships: Seeking validation through hookups or unhealthy relationships.

By providing structured sober housing in Scottsdale, AZ, and Wheatridge, CO, Sober Apartment Living ensures that residents stay accountable, engaged, and focused on true, sustainable recovery—without falling into these common traps.

How to Prevent Transfer Addiction in Sober Living

Preventing addiction transfer requires more than just avoiding substances—it’s about creating a life that supports real recovery. Here’s how:

1. Build a Strong Community

Isolation is a major risk factor for addiction transfer. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who are committed to sobriety. At Sober Apartment Living, our community-focused housing model ensures residents always have support and accountability.

2. Develop Healthy Coping Strategies

Replacing addiction with another compulsive behavior is a sign of unmet emotional needs. Instead, practice:

Mindfulness & meditation to manage stress and cravings.
Journaling to process emotions healthily.
Creative hobbies like painting, music, or writing to channel energy productively.

3. Stay Engaged in Recovery Programs

Even after initial sobriety, continued structured support is crucial. Whether it’s 12-step meetings, therapy, or sober coaching, staying engaged in evidence-based programs prevents addiction transfer.

4. Set Boundaries with New Activities

Not all new hobbies are bad—but they shouldn’t take over your life. Create limits around gaming, social media, and spending to avoid new compulsions forming.

5. Seek Professional Guidance

Therapists and addiction specialists can help you recognize unhealthy patterns before they spiral into full-blown addictions. At Sober Apartment Living, we encourage our residents to seek professional support as part of their long-term recovery plan.

Achieving True Sobriety: A Balanced Approach

Recovery isn’t just about quitting substances—it’s about building a fulfilling, addiction-free lifestyle. That means recognizing the dangers of transfer addiction and actively working to maintain healthy, balanced habits.

At Sober Apartment Living, we provide the structure, community, and accountability needed to prevent addiction substitution and ensure a lifelong recovery journey. If you or a loved one is looking for a safe, supportive sober living environment, we’re here to help.

🔹 Take the next step toward sobriety today. Visit SoberApartmentLiving.org to learn more! 🔹

If you’re looking for a sober environment to help with your recovery, you’re doing the right thing.

This is a big step, and we want you to feel completely prepared for what’s to come. To get a better idea, we’ve outlined some of the most popular FAQs about Sober Apartment Living (SAL) and how it compares to other sober living options below.

Let’s get started!

FAQs about Sober Apartment Living

What are the rules?

Just as you would expect, SAL prohibits alcohol and drugs on the premise in addition to restricting access to these items. Certain limitations on medication are also in place, as these may not be beneficial to an individual’s recovery.

As an added support, however, SAL does require its residents to attend weekly meetings onsite and encourages further groups or treatments from external medical facilities, if needed. Because SAL is not a treatment facility, we don’t offer those services ourselves.

Other sober living environments may be different, however! Some actually do offer counseling, treatment, or recovery programs in order to keep a closer eye on the residents with additional involvement and accountability.

There is no right or wrong way to do sober living, so make sure you look for a place that gives you what you need in order to be successful.

How much does sober living cost?

Price comes up often when discussing FAQs about sober apartment living – and it’s definitely important to consider! But as a nonprofit, SAL works hard to keep monthly fees at a reasonable rate, so residents can afford them and receive the treatment they need.

For example, rent at SAL can range from $625 – $790 per month*, depending on the specific floor plan. And because many enter a sober living apartment without employment, our staff provides career assistance to help people get back on their feet.

Many sober living options are similar in that way, as they recognize that full recovery includes financial independence and money management. However, job and career help is not guaranteed at every sober home or apartment.

Even more so, prices can fluctuate from place to place. For some, costs may align with the housing market in the area and match the general cost of living, making them more expensive.

*(prices subject to change)

How do I pay?

Payment at SAL is simple! You can use money order, cashiers check, Square, or PayPal to pay your rent at SAL.

Our team is very hands-on in helping residents find steady work, prepare for interviews, and hold a job. With our career assistance, many feel confident that they can pay rent each month. This additional onsite help can be key to keeping up with payments, and it is offered at many sober living options. Just remember that “many” is not “all” and most often insurance won’t cover your cost of sober apartment living.

Taking on the monthly fees is part of the sober apartment living process, so you’ll need to clarify what their team is willing to do for you before selecting a place to live. With a career assistance and a steady job, payment shouldn’t be a concern.

Is counseling and treatment offered?

Not at SAL – we offer a sober living environment, but we do not provide medical treatment or counseling. Our residents are welcome to get this elsewhere while living with us, though!

As mentioned in our first FAQ about sober apartment living, each sober living place has its own rules, restrictions, and expectations. There are definitely sober living homes and communities out there that offer additional support through counseling and meetings, if that’s what you need.

If you’ve undergone treatment, your treatment facility can provide recommendations based on your current state of recovery and your specific needs.

How long can you stay?

While SAL does not limit the time of your stay, we do ask our new residents to undergo a 30 day trial period to ensure they can meet our community guidelines.

After a bit of research, you’ll find that this practice is common in many sober living homes, as well as the unlimited stay. Recovery is a personal journey, and we want to make sure our residents have all the time they need without pressures to relocate before they’re ready.

Keep in mind, however, that this is not always the case. Some places do ask that you move on after an agreed-upon time frame. If that’s not what you need personally, you’ll want to take that into consideration.

Are the sober apartments coed?

Yes! At SAL, we house both men and women, but we take special precautions to keep the living areas separate. With certain limitations in place, we can encourage a coed community while establishing trust, safety and security amongst our residents.

Some places agree with us and follow similar protocols, but many sober living options are gender-specific.

Determine what works for you, so you can narrow down your search for sober living.

Are visitors allowed?

Yes! We allow visitors at SAL during the day, as long as they don’t spend the night.

In the same way, many other sober living apartments and homes do allow visitors, but they might restrict visits to certain days, times, or people. You’ll have to ask the actual community about their policy if this is important to you!

How do sober living places differ?

There are tons of places to choose from when looking for a sober environment, and only you and your treatment provider can truly gauge what will be the best for your long-term sobriety. If you’re interested in learning more about your options, we’ve outlined a couple of the most common types of sober living homes on our blog.

Still have more FAQs about sober apartment living?

Our team at SAL would love to help you find the right home. Get in touch to learn more!

Understanding & Recognizing Transfer Addiction