Substance abuse and addiction play havoc with our neurochemistry. It causes changes that affect our ability to meet the challenges and responsibilities of daily life, leading to a gradual decline in quality of life as friends and family become alienated, problems crop up at work, and one loses one’s sense of self and of what’s important. Without intervention or a concrete decision to get clean, many of those suffering from addiction eventually lose it all–family, friends, health, career, and home.  While many people attempt serious and necessary life changes from the comfort of their own homes, a large proportion of these attempts prove to be unsuccessful. The forces that contribute to addiction, whether poor family dynamics, lifestyle choices and habits, the influence of friends or peers, or any other combination of factors, simply prove too much for many to stay clean. Assisted living, as the first port-of-call in the recovery journey or as secondary treatment as part of a professional rehab programme, offers the ideal setting for longer-term recovery, sobriety, and relearning how to live a life free from substances. By physically removing yourself from the everyday temptations of life, you give yourself breathing room, thinking space, and the opportunity to focus on recovery without temptation, all with a supportive team and community by your side.Community supportSkills developmentStructured environmentsAccess to professional supportRelapse preventionTransition to independence