Sober Living That Accepts MAT in Texas: How to Find It

If you take buprenorphine, methadone or naltrexone, you may have heard a recovery home say, "We're abstinence-based. No medications like that." It's a frustrating thing to hear when your doctor prescribed the medication specifically to keep you in recovery.

Not every home works that way, and federal guidance has been clear for several years that it shouldn't.

The short answer

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recommends that recovery housing operators not place barriers or restrictions on residents who take prescribed medications for opioid use disorder. Federal disability law can also protect people in treatment or recovery, though it doesn't protect current illegal drug use.

In practice, policies still vary from home to home. Ask about medication policy before you apply, and get the answer in writing.

What federal guidance says

SAMHSA's Best Practices for Recovery Housing, published in 2023, states that recovery housing should support residents' use of medications prescribed for opioid use disorder, including buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone. It also describes practical safeguards that homes can use instead of a ban, such as locked storage for medications and regular medication counts.

In other words, a medication-friendly home isn't a home with no rules. It's a home whose rules are built around safe storage instead of exclusion.

Your rights, in plain terms

People in recovery from a substance use disorder can be protected under the federal Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Fair Housing Act's definition of disability specifically excludes current illegal use of a controlled substance, so protection depends on your situation. Taking a medication as prescribed is not illegal drug use.

In April 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice issued guidance explaining that people receiving medication for opioid use disorder can be protected under the ADA, and that blanket policies excluding people because they take these medications can be discriminatory in covered settings.

How these laws apply depends on the type of home and its circumstances. If you believe a home denied you because of your prescribed treatment, you can file a fair housing complaint with HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or online. This article is general information, not legal advice; a legal aid organization can review your specific situation.

A neatly made single bed and dresser in a private bedroom — A private bedroom in a home in the Ready Rooms network. Features vary by home and provider.

How recovery homes are overseen in Texas

Texas does not require a state license to operate a recovery home that provides only housing and a recovery environment, without treatment. A 2023 state law (HB 299) created a voluntary accreditation system, with the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) and Oxford House as the approved accrediting organizations. Since September 1, 2025, recovery homes that aren't accredited can't receive state funds. In Texas, the Texas Recovery Oriented Housing Network (TROHN) accredits homes using NARR standards.

Accreditation doesn't guarantee a home accepts medication, but accredited homes have agreed to published standards, and their medication policies are usually written down. That makes them a good place to start asking.

Questions to ask before you move in

A home's answers to these questions tell you more than its website does.

Do you accept residents taking buprenorphine, methadone or naltrexone as prescribed?
How are medications stored? Is there a lock box, and who holds the key?
Do you do medication counts, and how?
Can I get to my clinic or pharmacy from here? Methadone in particular usually requires regular clinic visits.
Will other residents know about my medication?
Is your medication policy in the resident agreement? Can I see a copy?
Are you accredited, and by whom?

A clear written medication policy is one of the best signs that a recovery home has thought this through.

Bring what makes your application easy

A home that accepts medication will still want to know your treatment is stable and supervised. It helps to bring a letter from your prescriber or clinic confirming you are in treatment (it doesn't need to list your dose), along with your ID and proof of income. Our list of documents needed for sober living in Texas covers the rest.

If you're coming straight from a treatment program, where to live after rehab in Texas explains the options. If you're also returning from incarceration, reentry housing in Texas covers background screening and parole considerations.

Help lines

Treatment and support resources

SAMHSA's National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357, free, confidential, 24 hours a day
FindTreatment.gov: search for treatment providers, including those offering medications for opioid use disorder
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988

Looking for a recovery home that fits your treatment?

Tell us your area, income and what you need, including that you take medication for opioid use disorder. Homes in our network set their own policies, and we'll look for ones that may fit.

Start a housing intake Sober living housing in Texas

Prefer to talk it through? Call or text (281) 949-8064.

Questions about MAT and recovery housing

Can a sober living home refuse me for taking Suboxone?

Some still do, but federal guidance recommends against it, and blanket bans can raise fair housing and ADA concerns depending on the home. If you think you were refused because of your prescribed treatment, you can contact HUD or a legal aid organization.

Do recovery homes in Texas need a license?

Texas does not license recovery homes that provide only housing and a recovery environment. Voluntary accreditation is available, through NARR standards (via TROHN in Texas) or Oxford House, and homes need it to receive state funds. Homes that provide treatment are regulated differently.

Will I have to give my medication to staff?

Policies vary. Many medication-friendly homes use locked storage and medication counts to keep everyone safe. Ask the home how it works before you move in.

Is MAT the same as MOUD?

Mostly. MAT, medication-assisted treatment, is the older and more common term. MOUD, medications for opioid use disorder, refers specifically to buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone used to treat opioid use disorder.

Sources

Ready Rooms provides housing navigation and referral. We are not a treatment provider and do not provide medical or legal advice. Each recovery home sets its own policies, and nothing in this article guarantees admission.