Normalize Recovery
Know Your Rights. Choose Safe Recovery Housing.
Protecting Delawareans from exploitation — and connecting you to quality care you can trust.
Why This Matters
Recovery Housing Can Change Your Life. But Not All Housing Is Created Equal.
Finding the right place to live during recovery is one of the most important decisions a person can make. Substance use disorder — including opioid use disorder (OUD) and stimulant use disorder (STUD) — is a medical condition. The quality of care and environment you receive during treatment matters enormously.
A safe, supportive recovery residence can be the foundation for lasting change — a place where you’re surrounded by peers who understand the journey, supported by people who genuinely care about your future.
But not all recovery housing operates with your best interests in mind. Some unethical operators exploit people with substance use disorder for financial gain. This is called patient brokering or body brokering, and it is a form of exploitation and trafficking.
You deserve better. FSARR is here to make sure you find it.
Know the Warning Signs
What Is Patient Brokering?
Patient brokering occurs when individuals or organizations receive payment for referring people with substance use disorder to treatment programs or recovery housing — without regard for whether that placement is appropriate or safe for the person being referred.
Recovery is a courageous step, and people taking that step deserve honesty, not exploitation. These practices target individuals and families at some of their most vulnerable moments, taking advantage of trust placed in those who claim to be helping.
Patient brokering is not just unethical — it is illegal. Delaware law and federal statutes prohibit these practices. If you or someone you love has experienced this, you are not alone, and help is available.
Common Tactics
Deceptive recruiting — Promising high-quality housing, amenities, or treatment that doesn’t exist
Financial kickbacks — Accepting payment from providers in exchange for referrals
Insurance fraud — Billing for services never provided or medically unnecessary
Geographic displacement — Moving individuals far from family and support networks to access insurance benefits
Coercive control — Using housing as leverage to pressure residents into specific programs
NARR Standards · FSARR Certified
Your Rights as a Recovery Residence Resident
Every person in recovery — regardless of their history, their substance use, or where they are in their journey — deserves to be treated with dignity, respect, and honesty. Whether you are currently living in a recovery residence or considering one, you have rights.
- RYou Have the Right To
- Be treated with dignity and respect at all times
- Receive clear, honest information about house rules, fees, and expectations before you commit
- Know what services are and are not included in your housing arrangement
- Make your own decisions about treatment and recovery support services — free from pressure or coercion
- Choose your own treatment provider, counselor, or recovery support services
- Continue medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) such as methadone or buprenorphine/Suboxone
- File a grievance if your rights are violated, without fear of retaliation or eviction
- Receive accommodations for disability-related needs under the ADA and Fair Housing Act
- Leave at any time without being held against your will
- Be Concerned If a Residence…
- Pressures you to use a specific treatment provider, doctor, or counselor
- Controls or restricts access to your medication, including MOUD
- Discourages or prevents you from contacting family members or support networks
- Cannot clearly explain fees, house rules, or expectations in writing
- Threatens eviction if you don’t comply with referrals to specific outside services
- Is not certified or affiliated with a recognized quality standards organization
NARR · National Standards
What Makes a Quality Recovery Residence?
FSARR certifies recovery residences in Delaware that meet the standards established by the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) — the leading national organization for recovery housing quality and accountability.
NARR-aligned homes are evaluated across four levels of support, from peer-run homes to homes with on-site clinical services. All certified homes treat residents as whole people — with lives, families, and futures worth investing in.
When you choose a FSARR-certified recovery residence, you can trust that the home has been independently evaluated against these standards — and that there is a clear grievance process if something goes wrong.
- A safe, substance-free living environment
- Peer support and community connection
- Transparent house rules and resident agreements
- Respect for resident autonomy and informed choice
- RConnections to community-based recovery support services
- Ongoing accountability through regular quality reviews
Delaware’s Only Certified Directory
How to Find Safe, Certified Recovery Housing in Delaware
FSARR maintains Delaware’s only directory of NARR-certified recovery residences. Use our housing directory to find options near you, filter by location and level of support, and connect with homes that have been vetted for quality and ethical practices.
If you need help navigating your options or have questions about what to look for, reach out to us directly. Our team is here to help — not to steer you somewhere for any reason other than your wellbeing.
Take Action
Think You've Encountered Patient Brokering? Here's What to Do.
If you believe you or someone you know has been targeted by a patient broker or exploitative recovery housing operator, take these steps:
01
Trust your instincts
If something feels wrong — pressure to use certain providers, unclear fees, threats about housing — it may be.
02
Document what you can
Save any written communications, contracts, or records of conversations.
03
Reach out to FSARR
We can help you understand your rights and connect you with safe alternatives.
04
File a complaint with DSAMH
Contact the Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health for reporting.
05
Contact law enforcement
If you believe criminal activity has occurred. Patient brokering and related fraud are prosecutable offenses.
Links & Contacts
Resources
Housing
FSARR Housing Directory
Find NARR-certified recovery housing in Delaware
Standards
National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR)
National standards, resident rights, and housing quality resources
Delaware
Delaware DSAMH
State treatment resources, crisis services, and provider information
Delaware
Help Is Here Delaware
Statewide resource for addiction treatment and recovery support
24/7 Helpline
SAMHSA National Helpline
Free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral and information: 1-800-662-4357
Crisis Support
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential crisis support
We’re Here
Questions? We're Here.
FSARR exists to protect and support people in recovery across Delaware. Recovery is possible — and you deserve housing that reflects that truth. Together, we can normalize recovery and build a Delaware where every person seeking a better life has a safe, ethical place to do it.