The National Association of Recovery Residences (NARR) broke new ground in 2011 by creating the first-ever national recovery residence standard. This groundbreaking standard clearly delineates the spectrum of housing support available for those in recovery from substance use disorders. It sets forth four separate “levels” representing the type and intensity of services offered.

In establishing these definitions, NARR pursued an inclusive approach, gathering input from leading regional and national recovery housing groups, as well as individual recovery residence providers with decades of specialized experience. Guidance was also sought from nationally respected experts across the recovery support space. The resulting standard reflects the shared wisdom and strengths of the entire recovery residence community. RICARES is proud to be Rhode Island’s NARR affiliate.

With distinct service levels now uniformly defined, the standard enables those seeking recovery to identify optimal environments matched to their needs. It likewise empowers providers to align operations to best practices endorsed nationwide. As the cornerstone framework for recovery housing nationally, NARR’s standard has brought accountability and clarity to a previously fragmented landscape.