SOBER LIVING NETWORK

PO BOX 5235, SANTA MONICA, CA 90409

(310) 396-5270 FAX (310) 452-2050
soberhousing@earthlink.net

SOCIAL MODEL PHILOSOPHY SCALE

The Social Model Philosophy Scale (SMRS) was designed by the Alcohol Research Group at the
Public Health Institute in Berkeley, California to differentiate underlying philosophies of alcohol and
drug programs. The SMPS is a 33-item scale that provides a quick, effective tool for determining
where on the continuum of social model techniques a particular program rests.
The SMPS has six domains: physical environment, leadership role, authority base, view of dealing with
alcohol problems, governance, and community orientation.
There are six domains of interest for sober living house family leaders:
1. Physical environment. The environment and interactions allows the participants to feel a connection
to and responsibility for their own recovery on the site.
2. Operators mingle with the participants as peers and role models rather than as (distant) directors,
managers, educators or therapists. Operators encourage participants to take responsibility for their
own recovery and give priority for the maintenance of the environment.
3. Authority base. Operators are usually in recovery. The belief is that recovery from alcohol and drug
problems imparts experiential knowledge, an invaluable resource upon which participants may
draw; and professional knowledge is not valued above the experiential.
4. View of dealing with alcohol problems. Family residents need to agree to take responsibility for
their own recovery; and understand that addiction is only part of the problem. Operators are aware
of community activities and resources and are able to share their information with participants.
5. Self Governance. Resident family members learn how to take responsibility for their own sobriety
and for the security of their environments. Participants have a voice in the design and enforcement
of program rules. This allows participants to feel a personal investment in the program and their
own recovery and also gives them the opportunity to gain decision-making skills.
6. Community orientation. Sober living houses seek not only to provide recovery support but also to
integrate with community resources and to participate in facilitating addition recovery-promoting
resources.