Recovery doesn’t have to be a solo journey and that’s where Sober Sidekick comes in.
Sober Sidekick began in 2019 in Bentonville, Arkansas to help people in recovery create and maintain connections along their journey to sobriety. Six years later, individuals in recovery, including many in Missouri, are using the app as a means of connecting with others so they can share their stories and receive support. Sober Sidekick’s mission of using technology to replace stigma with empathy provides peer support to address substance use disorder on a social platform.
With features like a sobriety counter, anonymous posts, virtual AA/NA meetings, and an “Empathy Algorithm” that makes sure every post gets a response, users can find real support from people who get it. Many have found that simply engaging with the app helps them stay motivated and reduces their chance of returning to use. Sober Sidekick has been featured in USA Today, Yahoo! Finance, LA Weekly, and Fortune Magazine.
Here in Missouri, where access to in-person meetings can be tough- especially in smaller towns or rural areas- Sober Sidekick fills a huge gap. It’s an easy way to stay connected between meetings, after treatment, or during those tough moments when reaching out in person isn’t possible. Local recovery centers, treatment programs, and even recovery-friendly workplaces use the app to keep their communities supported 24/7.
Missourians are discovering that Sober Sidekick helps them combat the isolation and stigma related to their substance use disorder. Sober Sidekick data shows that Missourians have given support to others on the app over 23,000 times in the past year. The data also shows a reduction of 1,500 instances where individuals using the app reported maintaining their sobriety instead of returning to use. Missourians using the app are also responsible for more than 48,000 peer engagements.
Charles, a native Missourian who began his recovery journey 15 years ago, credits his use of the app with his sobriety.
“My name is Charles, and I go by Chaz5150 on the Sober Sidekick app. I started my recovery on 03/27/2010 in Cape Girardeau, MO at the Gibson Recovery Center after a couple of DWI’s nearly back-to-back. It felt so good to be back in the recovery scene and talking with everyone that I decided to find an app that I could participate in. I tried a couple and wasn’t impressed… Then I downloaded Sober Sidekick. That was it! The one I was searching for! People were serious about recovery and having meaningful conversations. I made friends very quickly and had a lot of wonderful conversations. Met my best friend there!!! I became friends with Chris [the founder of the app] as well, and after about a year, eventually started working for him on the app as a recovery navigator. I love working with Sober Sidekick and supporting the members more professionally now. I’m sure I have found my dream job!!!”
By blending technology with genuine human connection, it’s proving that help doesn’t have to be far away, sometimes, it’s right in your pocket!
