title: Distribution and Neighborhood Correlates of Sober Living House Locations in Los Angeles.
abstract: Sober living houses (SLHs) are alcohol and drug-free living environments for individuals in recovery. The goal of this study was to map the distribution of SLHs in Los Angeles (LA) County, California (N = 260) and examine neighborhood correlates of SLH density. Locations of SLHs were geocoded and linked to tract-level Census data as well as to publicly available information on alcohol outlets and recovery resources. Neighborhoods with SLHs differed from neighborhoods without them on measures of socioeconomic disadvantage and accessibility of recovery resources. In multivariate, spatially lagged hurdle models stratified by monthly fees charged (less than $1400/month vs. $1400/month or greater), minority composition, and accessibility of treatment were associated with the presence of affordable SLHs. Accessibility of treatment was also associated with the number of affordable SLHs in those neighborhoods. Higher median housing value and accessibility of treatment were associated with whether a neighborhood had high-cost SLHs, and lower population density was associated with the number of high-cost SLHs in those neighborhoods. Neighborhood factors are associated with the availability of SLHs, and research is needed to better understand how these factors affect resident outcomes, as well as how SLHs may affect neighborhoods over time.
authors.affiliation: Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA. americle@arg.org.
authors.forename: Amy A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mericle
authors.affiliation: Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Karriker-Jaffe
authors.affiliation: Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Shalika
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Sober Living Network, Santa Monica, CA, USA.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sheridan
authors.affiliation: Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Doug L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Polcin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000600:supply & distribution; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006208:Halfway Houses / Q000191:economics; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D066252:Sociological Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013695:Temperance / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Neighborhood characteristics; Recovery housing; Recovery residences; Recovery resources; Sober living houses