Summary
September is National Recovery Month, when we recognize the strength in recovering from substance use.
September is National Recovery Month—a time to recognize the strength of people in recovery, applaud the families and clinicians who support them, and remind everyone that help works and hope is warranted. This year’s theme, “Recovery is REAL (Restoring Every Aspect of Life),” says it all.
Fast facts to power your optimism
- Recovery is common. In 2023, 22.2 million U.S. adults who have ever had a substance use problem said they’re in recovery. That’s 73% of those who reported ever having a problem—proof that change happens.
- The need is real, too. In that same year, 48.5 million people (17.1%) ages 12+ reported having a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year. Among those who needed SUD treatment, only about 1 in 4 received it—showing how much access and engagement still matter.
- Lives saved, but work to do. Provisional CDC data show an estimated 80,391 overdose deaths in 2024, down 26.9% from 2023—the largest single-year drop on record. Progress is real, yet the numbers remain far too high.
- Families are affected. A 2025 JAMA Pediatrics study estimates nearly 1 in 4 U.S. children lived with a parent with a SUD in 2023—another reminder that recovery strengthens whole households and communities.
Why Affect’s approach clicks (and sticks)
Recovery isn’t a straight line. Motivation ebbs, life gets noisy, and old habits try to re-spawn. That’s why Affect built an AI-driven app + telehealth clinic that turns care into a series of small, achievable quests—with medications, counseling, and rewards that make sticking with healthy routines feel… well, stickier.
The science behind our “game mechanics”
- Contingency Management (CM)—rewarding healthy behaviors like negative drug screens or therapy attendance—is one of the most effective treatments for substance use disorders and a powerful booster for engagement in care.
- A JAMA Psychiatry meta-analysis found CM significantly improves abstinence and related outcomes for people in treatment (including those receiving medications for opioid use disorder).
- Smartphone/app-based CM layered onto standard care has been associated with better outcomes in real-world clinical settings—exactly the kind of scalable, everyday support people say they need.
How we turn evidence into everyday wins
- Daily XP & streaks: Tiny actions (check-ins, skills practice, med adherence) add up to momentum.
- Real rewards for real effort: CM-style incentives reinforce the habits that move you forward—one day at a time. (We design incentives to align with clinical goals and your plan.)
- Coaching + therapy + meds: Meet by video with licensed clinicians and peers who get it; when appropriate, our prescribers can add medications that support recovery.
- Smart triage & insights: Our app helps surface what you need now—from crisis support to a skills refresher—while giving clinicians timely context to step in early.
- Access at scale: Affect accepts Medicaid, Medicare, employer and commercial insurance—because recovery tools work best when they’re actually within reach.
New here? In recovery already? We made on-ramps for both.
- “I’m ready to quit or cut back.” Start with a gentle intake and a plan that fits your life (work, kids, travel, all of it). You’ll unlock early wins in week one—think: first streak, first meeting, first “I did it.”
- “I’m in recovery and want support.” Use Affect to protect your progress: cravings tools, relapse-prevention support, quick access to a clinician, and rewards that keep the good habits on autopilot.
A 30-day Recovery Month mini-challenge (join us!)
Sign up to one small challenge per day in September—track your use, practice a coping skill, attend a group, schedule sleep, do a craving drill. Keep your streak alive and watch how your progress accumulates.
Let’s make September your momentum month
At Affect, we pair gold-standard care with game-inspired motivation so you can build the life you want—one small, smart win at a time. Ready to get started or level up your recovery? Sign up now to check coverage in your state and book your first visit today.