Quality of Sobriety is a relapse prevention software platform for people in recovery from substance abuse disorder. The company uses machine learning through AI to predict when a relapse is likely to happen. Then, they use that information to connect patients to a supportive community of others who connect with them when they need it most. "Utilizing AI, we can predict relapse before it happens and implement targeted interventions. The primary outcome will be to lower the relapse rate in the recovery process," said Larry Smith, founder and CEO.
The Indiana-based startup founded in 2020 has raised $253,000 to date to service pilot programs for those in recovery. They are partnered with the largest mental health and substance abuse treatment provider in Indiana, the Bowen Center, to get access to hundreds of patients and dozens of therapists to test the app. The Bowen Center is helping Quality of Sobriety identify bugs and additional features and help make initial measurements of its impact on their patient population.
Quality of Sobriety has also secured three pilot customers. This year the company hopes to raise $500,000 in pre-seed funding, according to Ben Hoggan, who serves on the board of directors and is the director of de-risking at the IDEA Center at Notre Dame. The company will use the funding towards client relationships and support, new clients and the Bowen Center. The next round of funding will be used for further software development, implementing new clients, and hiring the Client Success Manager, president and CEO.
Quality of Sobriety's sole purpose is to help people in recovery from addictions to alcohol and drugs. The goal is to fix the root causes that lead to addiction and dramatically reduce the amount of drug and alcohol relapses. By lowering the relapse rate, Quality of Sobriety increases the abstinence rate through a holistic approach in the recovery process and the development of a personalized recovery plan. With 24-hour access to the app, patients can connect with sponsors and clinical professionals to keep them on the road to recovery.
The app is not limited just to those in recovery. It is also available to a patient's predetermined support community, who, in turn, create their account and connect with the individual they are supporting when needed. This support community helps the individual struggling with addiction create a plan and the app then tracks if that individual is following that plan. In addition, the support community is notified with suggestions to help individuals with addiction when that person gets close to a relapse. Quality of Sobriety licenses the software platform to treatment providers serving people in recovery. The platform includes the Clinician Desktop, which empowers the clinician to work with the patient on their recovery plan, providing visibility into the patient's recovery progress.
Quality of Sobriety is one of the IDEA Center's "high potential startups." High potential startups are companies that are more likely to scale and grow quickly compared to other companies.
Currently, the business model is to license the software platform to treatment providers and drug courts in Indiana. The company has landed two clients and is in discussion with five potential clients. Three of these clients will initiate Pilot programs in Q1 of 2023.
This article was initially published in January 2022. It has been updated to fit the company's needs.