Sen. Somers Applauds Approval of Sober Homes Legislation

HARTFORD, Conn. – Today State Senator Heather Somers (R-Groton) released the following statement regarding the approval of legislation concerning the oversight of sober homes with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS).

“Sober living homes provide a much needed service to many residents in our state,” said Sen. Somers. “Unfortunately our southeastern towns have been significantly impacted by the opioid crisis, and these sober homes offer a continuum of support for those who are working tirelessly to recover from their disease. Regrettably the lack of oversight for these homes find many recovering individuals in unsafe conditions, with limited access to opioid antagonists, like Narcan. This legislation will ensure that sober homes are properly registered with DMHAS and that they are maintaining nationally recognized standards of practices that support an effective recovery environment. When someone goes into a sober home, they should be entering a safe living atmosphere – where they have the best opportunity to recover.”

In 2014 Massachusetts passed similar legislation for the oversight of sober homes, that program has been extremely successful in helping residents recover in a safe and stable environment.