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Living in a city means anything a person could want is within arms’ reach. Whether food, alcohol, drugs, it doesn’t take much to make a phone call and order.
Alcohol and drug availability as well as the pressures that arise from city life (linked to high stress jobs, or at the other end of the scale, poverty) easily exacerbate unhealthy substance use. It touches all walks of life.
Addiction isn’t hard to come by. There are, however, new trends developing linked to health and wellness. As new events and venues pop up, there are more places than ever to enjoy sober living.
Getting an understanding for what’s going on in cities globally opens awareness on new approaches in supporting abstinence.
The Changing Urban Wellness Landscape
In recent generations there has been a reduction in alcohol use amongst young people. Some believe that with the rise in social media, there are increasing trends linked to healthy living. Influencers bombard followers with body positive and health conscious images. While the effects aren’t always great in relation to mental health and body image, the possible effects of reduced alcohol consumption might be viewed as positive.
As online communities become more focused on looking good, healthy, and fit, there are knock-on effects throughout society, including on the urban landscape.
While addiction recovery has always had a place in society, it has historically been overlooked by the mainstream. Often, addiction was seen as being distinctly linked to stopping substances, rather than also introducing new, healthy activities into a person’s world.
Now, with rising interest in health, there are more spaces than ever to go to that encourage sober lifestyles and improved wellbeing.
People are more interested in sober activities and holistic health than ever before and cities are supporting this by offering a wide range of facilities and services.
Wellness Trends Supporting Recovery
Developing healthy hobbies and participating in new activities has always been a key aspect when it comes to recovery from addiction.
Historically, people have had to put a lot of effort into seeking spots that promote sobriety. Now, cities have a plethora of offerings that are easily accessible and often only a stone’s throw away.
1. Sober Bars and Social Spaces
As people continue to reduce alcohol consumption and seek alternatives, the industry responds. Along with all the zero lagers, ales, and ciders, bar people are mixing delicious mocktails, and even better, there’s now the rise of sober bars. These are alcohol-free bars with a great drinks menu all at zero percent.
Other sober city options include coffee shops, gameboard cafés, arcades, roller skating halls, galleries and museums. Many of these venues come without alcohol and where it does exist, customers focus on the social activities rather than alcohol consumption.
Many cities have huge populations where people also don’t drink for religious and cultural reasons, and exploring new districts also offers a range of sober restaurants and dessert salons.
Having all of these options is crucial for building sober communities as people are able to have fun and connect to others without the temptation to drink.
2. Urban Fitness and Outdoor Activities
Recent years have seen a vast rise in fitness centres, gyms, yoga studios and outdoor group fitness activities. Whatever your taste, interest, or health goals, there are options to suit.
In urban green spaces, it’s common to see group runs, bootcamps, and yoga.
What’s especially encouraging is that there are activities tailored to people in recovery. By accessing local drug and alcohol and/or health services, you can find out which organisations run fitness activities specifically for those reducing or abstaining from substance use.
Creating an active lifestyle is associated with improved mental health, social connection, and increased life expectancy. Participation makes sober living easier, more meaningful, and more long-lasting.
3. Support Groups and Peer Networks
Social connection is a key element for people in addiction recovery. There are many peer-led group meet-ups throughout cities that support a person to stay focused within a safe community.
Common options include Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, and various community meet-ups linked to these.
Outside of addiction-specific groups, wellness groups are popping up all over the urban landscape. These might be linked to meditation, mindfulness, wild swimming/cold water exposure, mental wellness coaching, sound baths, nature walks, Qi-gong etc. Within these environments, health and wellness is often associated with reduced or minimal drinking habits.
4. Tech-Powered Wellness
Technology introduces a world of recovery and wellness tools right at our fingertips. These resources are designed for urban and rural populations alike.
What’s particularly useful for people in cities is that technology fits easily into fast-paced city life. It’s simple to switch on and join virtual support groups if you’re unable to race in taxis and trains to get to in-person groups.
Health, wellness, and recovery apps are also a brilliant and effective tool at keeping people focused on sobriety goals. Whether wellness apps are focused on developing healthy coping mechanisms or achieving next steps, they offer a simple way to return your focus and strengthen resolve.
5. Mindfulness and Alternative Wellness Practices
With the growth in health and fitness trends, there’s also been a rise in holistic practices. From meditation, to art therapy, from wellness talks to holistic health programmes, there are events in all types of venues providing advice, guidance, tips, and ”how to” workshops.
Accessing these types of events and developing holistic practices can play a significant role in supporting people to learn how to emotionally regulate. This is especially relevant during recovery in its potential to support relapse prevention.
A Key Point
Addiction, at its most severe, is an isolating disease that fills a person with self-persecuting and uncontrolled thoughts. Due to how the brain functions in response to substances, automatic behaviours develop in the face of extremely dangerous consequences.
Becoming hooked on alcohol or drugs isn’t a moral failing and isn’t an act that a person can simply stop. It requires medical, professional, and peer input.
Famous researcher into emotional recovery, Brené Brown, poignantly states, “We don’t have to do all of it alone. We were never meant to.”
This is a disease that thrives in isolation but it can be addressed successfully. The key to recovery is through treatment (often via an alcohol detox at home), community and participating in shared, healthy activities.
If you’re suffering with severe addiction, or are concerned about problematic substance use, it’s important to seek recovery treatment. This can be take place in the city or further afield according to preference.
Challenges and Opportunities
While it’s clear there are lots of healthy options for sober social activities in the city, these often come at a cost.
Unfortunately, some activities simply aren’t always accessible to all people. This might be linked to affordability, or alternatively, the associated stigma that people often face when trying to reduce substance use.
There are, however, in most cities and communities free or reduced-rate provision. A conversation with an addiction health professional or a quick email to the organisation itself, often brings helpful information on what concessions are available for people on lower incomes.
Wrapping things up
The rise in urban wellness trends has a significant part to play in addiction recovery. With it arises more sober spaces where people can participate in healthy activities.
Developing new positive habits that bring meaning and connection to others is vital within the healing journey.
Whether you’re ready to explore sober activities in the city for yourself, or to encourage someone you care about, to, now is the best time to get out there and do it.