Author: Andrew De Stadler

Section Yellow, a group dedicated to creating sober friendly spaces, is hosting a fun, sober-friendly tailgate experience during the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay! From Thursday, April 24 to Saturday, April 26, they will be set up inside the NFL Draft Experience around Lambeau Field to offer a welcoming, alcohol-free space for fans to connect, celebrate, and enjoy the festivities.

Below is your guide to the tailgate and other recovery, sober and family friendly events happening during draft week!

Tailgate Details

📍 Venue: NFL Draft Experience in Green Bay, WI

🎟 Cost: Free

📅 Dates & Times:

Thursday, April 24 – 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. CT

Friday, April 25 – 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. CT

Saturday, April 26 – 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. CT

What You Can Do at the Tailgate

• Learn about Section Yellow and their mission to create sober-friendly spaces in our communities.
• Join Daily Gratitude Meetings: Join an open meeting at 4:00 PM each day. All are welcome!
• Connect with Others: Meet people who value or are exploring sobriety.
• Discover Recovery tools and support available through Recovery.com.

➡️ How to Access: Register for FREE entry to the NFL Draft Experience via the NFL OnePass app:

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🏈 Other Fun Inside the NFL Draft Experience

• FREE fan festival for all ages!
• Interactive games, NFL Hall of Fame exhibits, player appearances, Vince Lombardi Trophy display, Play 60 Zone for kids, live entertainment, contests, and more!
• Play 60 Zone (Part of NFL Draft Experience):
  • Youth-focused area promoting physical activity through fun games and drills.
• Local Culture Showcases (Part of NFL Draft Experience):
  • Vendors and exhibits featuring the best of Green Bay’s food, music, and art.
• More Info: https://www.nfl.com/draft/event-info/

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👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-Friendly Activities During Draft Week in Green Bay

Brown County Library Fan-o-Rama
📅 Saturday, April 19, 2025
🕙 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 515 Pine St, Green Bay, WI
FREE celebration of professional football with activities for all ages.
Event Details: https://browncounty.librarycalendar.com/event/football-fan-o-rama

Field Fest at Historic City Stadium
📅 Wednesday, April 23, 2025
🕚 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 1500 E Walnut St, Green Bay, WI
FREE family event with football games and activities at the Packers’ former home.
Event Details: https://www.greenbaywi.gov/FieldFest

Draft City Music Fest – Kickoff Event
📅 Wednesday, April 23, 2025
🕓 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM
📍 Leicht Park, 128 Dousman St, Green Bay, WI
FREE evening of live music, food trucks, and family-friendly entertainment. Featuring De La Soul!
Event Details: https://downtowngreenbay.com/do/draft-city-music-fest

Children’s Museum of Green Bay – Future Season Ticket Holder Tailgate Party
📅 Friday, April 25, 2025
🕘 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 1230 Bay Beach Rd, Green Bay, WI
A tailgate-themed event featuring games, music, and activities for children and families. Event Details: https://www.gbchildrensmuseum.org/program-events

Booyah Battle & Kringle Combine
📅 Friday, April 25, 2025
📍 Downtown Green Bay (Washington Street)
Local non-profits compete to make the best booyah (traditional stew). Sample unique kringle flavors!
More Info: https://downtowngreenbay.com/do/booyah-battle-and-kringle-combine

Draft City Music Fest – 8th Round Downtown
📅 Saturday, April 26, 2025
🕔 5:00 PM – Midnight
📍 Leicht Park, 128 Dousman St, Green Bay, WI
FREE grand finale with multiple bands, food vendors, and activities for all ages. Featuring RZA from Wu-Tang Clan!
Event Details: https://downtowngreenbay.com/do/draft-city-music-fest

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📍 Local Recovery Meetings During Draft Week

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

Monday, April 21

• 6:30 AM – Start Your Day Right (Genesis Club, 1213 N Appleton St, Appleton, Closed) 
• 9:30 AM – Walk With Us (The Bridge, 2514 Jenny Ln, Closed)
• 12:00 PM – Serenity Now (Calvary Lutheran, 1301 S Ridge Rd, Open)
• 12:00 PM – Serenity 2 (The Bridge, 2514 Jenny Ln, Open)
• 1:00 PM – Letting Go Women (218 Club, Closed, Women)
• 5:30 PM – Happy Hour (218 Club, Closed)
• 7:00 PM – Young People’s Twelve & Delve (118 S Chestnut Ave, Open)
• 7:30 PM – Big Book (Genesis Club, Closed) 
• 8:00 PM – AA Meeting (218 S Oneida St)

Tuesday, April 22

• 6:30 AM – Start Your Day Right (Genesis Club, Closed)
• 10:00 AM – Big Book (Genesis Club, Closed)
• 12:00 PM – Serenity Now (Calvary Lutheran, Open)
• 5:30 PM – Happy Hour (218 Club, Closed)
• 7:00 PM – Our Southern Friend (Changing Lanes, 344 Broadway St, Wrightstown, Closed/Discussion)
• 7:30 PM – Women’s Big Book Study (Calvary Lutheran, Closed/Women)

Wednesday, April 23

• 6:30 AM – Start Your Day Right (Genesis Club, Closed)
• 10:00 AM – Big Book (Genesis Club, Closed)
• 12:00 PM – Serenity Now (Calvary Lutheran, Open)
• 5:30 PM – Happy Hour (218 Club, Closed)
• 7:00 PM – Our Southern Friend (Changing Lanes, 344 Broadway St, Wrightstown, Closed/Discussion)
• 7:30 PM – Women’s Big Book Study (Calvary Lutheran, Closed/Women)

Thursday, April 24

• 6:30 AM – Start Your Day Right (Genesis Club, Closed)
• 12:00 PM – Meeting (Calvary Lutheran)
• 5:30 PM – Women in Recovery (Genesis Club, Closed/Women)
• 5:30 PM – Meeting (218 Club, Closed)
• 7:00 PM – Meeting (2514 Jenny Ln)

Friday, April 25

• 6:30 AM – Start Your Day Right (Genesis Club, Closed)
• 12:00 PM – Serenity Now (Calvary Lutheran, Open)
• 4:30 PM – Tailender’s (Genesis Club, Closed)
• 6:00 PM – Happy Hour (218 Club, Closed)
• 8:00 PM – AA Meeting (218 S Oneida St)

Saturday, April 26

• 7:00 AM – Start Your Weekend Right (Genesis Club, Closed)
• 10:00 AM – Sobriety Means Happiness (Genesis Club, Closed)
• 10:00 AM – Room to Spare (Changing Lanes, Wrightstown, Open)
• 218 Club continues 1 PM, 5:30 PM, 8 PM meetings

Sunday, April 27

• 7:00 AM – Came to Believe (Genesis Club, Closed)
• 8:00 AM – Recovery Crusaders (Calvary Lutheran, Closed/Discussion)
• 10:00 AM – AA Meeting (Genesis Club, Closed)
• 7:00 PM – Bottom of the Bridge (Changing Lanes, Wrightstown, Open)

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Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Meetings:

Monday, April 21

• 12:00 PM – Brown Bag Recovery (Genesis Club, 1213 N Appleton St, Appleton; Closed, Literature)
• 7:00 PM – Start the Week by Going Back to Basics (St Johns the Evangelist Catholic Church, 427 St John St, Green Bay; Closed, Back‑to‑Basics)

Tuesday, April 22

• • 12:00 PM – Basic Choice Group (St John the Evangelist Church, 413 St John St, Green Bay; Closed, Basic Text)
• • 7:00 PM – Show Me How to Live Group (301 E Saint Joseph St, Green Bay; Closed, Discussion)

Wednesday, April 23

• 8:30 AM – Union Congregational Church (716 S Madison St, Green Bay; Open, Literature)
• 7:00 PM – NA Meeting (Genesis Club, Appleton; Closed, Step/Discussion)
• 7:35 PM – Bellin Psychiatric Center (301 E Saint Joseph St, Green Bay; Closed, Basic Text)

Thursday, April 24

• 10:00 AM – NA (Genesis Club, Appleton; Closed)
• 12:00 PM – NA (St John the Evangelist Church, Green Bay; Closed)
• 7:30 PM – Bellin Psychiatric Center (301 E Saint Joseph St, Green Bay; Closed, Text/Topic)

Friday, April 25

• 12:00 PM – Cathedral Church (131 Madison St, Green Bay; Open)
• 7:30 PM – Step‑Study (First United Parish Center, 526 Doty St, Green Bay; Open, Steps/Traditions/Literature)

Saturday, April 26

• 6:00 PM – NA (Genesis Club, Appleton; Closed, Step Discussion)
• 7:00 PM – Saturday Night Alive (St John the Evangelist Church, Green Bay; Closed, Topic)

Sunday, April 27

• 11:15 AM – Whatever It Takes (First United Parish Center, 526 Doty St, Green Bay; Closed)
• 7:00 PM – Bellin Psychiatric Center (301 E Saint Joseph St, Green Bay; Closed)

📞 Immediate Support and Meeting Finder Links

• Green Bay AA 24-Hour Hotline: 920-432-2600
• Meeting Finders:
  • greenbayaa.org/meetings
  • https://district02aa.org/meetings/
  • https://smartrecovery.org/meeting

Recovery.com is proud to present an exclusive screening of The Creative High, a compelling documentary that explores the intersection of addiction recovery and artistic expression. The film features nine artists recovering from addiction who use the creative process to awaken their true selves and pursue another chance at life.

This special event will take place at the Majestic Theatre in Madison, WI on March 12, 2025 and will feature an engaging post-film Q&A session with the film’s director Adriana Marchione, producer Dianne Griffin, and featured artist subject Jason Bernhardt. 

This free event is open to the public, though attendees are encouraged to make a donation to support the Recovery Foundation, a local non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources and support for individuals on their recovery journey.

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR TICKET

Ticket Options

Gold Ticket – $100: VIP access to an exclusive networking reception with appetizers & non-alcoholic drinks before the event with the director, producer, and artist.

General Admission – Suggested $10 donation.

An Evening of Art, Recovery, and Inspiration

The Creative High showcases the resilience of artists in recovery and highlights the transformative power of creativity. The post-screening Q&A will allow guests to engage directly with the filmmakers and a featured artist from the film, offering valuable insights into the stories and struggles behind the documentary.

“We are thrilled to bring this powerful film to Madison and create a space where art and recovery intersect,” said Cliff McDonald, Chief Growth Officer at Recovery.com. “This event is about fostering community, raising awareness, and supporting those on the path to recovery.”

Event Details

📍 Venue: Majestic Theatre, Madison, WI

📅 Date & Time: March 12, 2025 at 7pm 

🎟 Cost: Free (Suggested Donation Encouraged)

💡All Proceeds Benefit: Recovery Foundation

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Seating is limited! Visit our ticket page HERE to secure your ticket. Join us for an evening of inspiration, creativity, and community in support of a meaningful cause!

About Recovery.com  
Recovery.com (formerly RehabPath) was created in 2017 to help people discover a path to recovery that is right for them, starting with landing on websites they can trust. It aims to provide unbiased, educational, helpful information about treatment for addiction and mental health, with a goal of connecting individuals worldwide with the right mental health and addiction treatment options. To learn more, visit Recovery.com. 

About The Recovery Foundation 

The Recovery Foundation, Inc., founded in 2009, is a non-profit organization that supports individuals through their substance abuse and mental health recovery by providing them with Treatment Scholarships, to help aid in the cost. The Scholarship Recipients become dedicated to their recovery, and want to improve the quality of their lives, embracing the present and future.

About The Creative High

Nine artists recovering from addiction use the creative process to awaken their true selves and pursue another chance at life.

The Creative High explores how artists grappling with substance use disorder harness creative expression to heal and rebuild meaningful lives. Through hip-hop, theater, dance, rock and roll, photography and painting, this revealing documentary showcases how various art mediums can inspire resilience and celebrate the human spirit.

From the exhilarating rush of performance to soulful moments in the studio, each artist navigates recovery through art. Candid interviews and intimate portrayals spotlight the complexities of addiction and recovery, offering a nuanced perspective. Seeking an alternative ‘high’ through creativity provides a gateway to vitality and spiritual connection.

One in seven individuals faces the challenges of substance use disorders. The tide is turning with a revolution in mental health and recovery advocacy. Alongside traditional addiction treatment methods, holistic health and arts therapies are increasingly prevalent, providing essential support for individuals in their healing journey. Extensive research on the benefits of creativity is widely documented suggesting creative expression can result in several outcomes for substance use disorders such as decreasing denial, fostering open communication, and lessening shame.

“The Creative High is a moving testimony to the power of healing through art, authenticity, and connection. These stories help counter the romantic notion that one ‘has to suffer to be creative”. — Susan Raeburn, PhD, Clinical Psychologist

At Recovery.com, our mission has always been clear: to help families and individuals find the right mental health and substance use treatment options. We’re thrilled to share that we’ve been awarded $1.2 million from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) to enhance access to substance use disorder treatment resources across the state. This award is especially meaningful because we were founded and are headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin.

These funds, part of Wisconsin’s share of the National Prescription Opiate Litigation settlement, will allow us to expand and improve treatment provider profiles on our platform over the next four years, with $300,000 allocated annually. This initiative represents a major step toward ensuring that everyone in need can easily find and connect with the right treatment resources.

What This Means for Wisconsin

While the grant funds will be used for outreach to treatment providers, building provider profiles, and supporting technical work, we’re going further to enhance our platform to make it even more comprehensive and user-friendly. Here’s what we’ll be working on to do that:

• Upgraded Provider Profiles – Many Wisconsin-based treatment providers lack high-quality digital imagery and enhanced profiles. We’ll be updating these profiles to make them more informative and visually engaging.

• Expanding Nontraditional Recovery Resources – Recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why we’re adding peer support organizations, Overdose Aid Kit locations, harm reduction vending machines, mobile Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) services, 12-Step meeting locations, and clubhouses to our platform.

• Building Stronger Community Partnerships – We’re collaborating with local organizations and leaders to spread awareness about our platform, ensuring that more people know where to turn for support.

This grant allows our team to continue our mission—connecting people with the treatment and support they need, when they need it, for free. We’re excited about the impact this will have on individuals and families across Wisconsin, and we’re just getting started.

Check out the treatment options already listed in Wisconsin at Recovery.com/wisconsin/ and stay tuned for more updates as we roll out these enhancements!

Recovery means something different to everyone it touches. And the ways people are seeking to start, maintain or strengthen their recovery is constantly changing. Recovery.com exists to help everyone navigate this shifting landscape and is focused on helping those seeking recovery get the help that is right for them.

As we head into 2025, culture, technology and healthcare continue to evolve while our mission – to provide valuable, unbiased information about treatment for addiction and mental health – remains the same.

Our proprietary platform data and extensive network are able to provide a unique glimpse into the collective consciousness around recovery: What are people seeking recovery thinking about? What are they looking for that might not yet exist broadly? What misconceptions about recovery still persist?

Search Traffic Trends

Our team looked at search traffic trends on the Recovery.com platform along with Google Trends from 2023 and 2024 to understand how search behavior is changing. Here are the top 5 trends we discovered along with expert commentary to help put them into context. 

1. Psychedelics

While providers and individuals experimenting with psychedelics for mental health treatment has been prevalent as far back as the 1950s, it has become more immersed in mainstream health and wellness care in recent years, particularly relating to trauma, PTSD, and depression.

After guest Shawn Ryan discussed ibogaine – a naturally occurring psychoactive compound – in an episode of the massively popular The Joe Rogan Experience, searches for the psychoactive alkaloid skyrocketed. But Ibogaine remains illegal in the US, preventing its use in a therapeutic setting. 

Ketamine is a legal psychedelic that also saw massive search interest after a high profile event, in this case the death of actor Matthew Perry. Recovery.com saw a 78% increase in users interested in ketamine therapy in 2024. And unlike Ibogaine, that interest has actually translated to more treatment centers offering ketamine therapy as part of their programs. Today, 197 treatment centers on Recovery.com offer ketamine therapy.  

That interest is also spurring additional research into the topic, including a special edition of the American Journal of Psychiatry and reports from behavioral healthcare researchers such as this one from Steve Duke, the founder of The Hemingway Group.

2. Depression

In 2024, depression remained the number one most searched condition on Recovery.com, seeing a growth of 231% users from 2023. 

On the positive side, reduced stigma and new models of care are allowing more people to seek care for depression. But it’s hard to find a study that doesn’t report rising incidence rates.

Terry McGuire is Executive Producer at Recovery.com and host of the acclaimed Giving Voice to Depression podcast. She has a unique lens into the experience of depression from her lived experience and the 50 interviews she does each year for her podcast. Terry noted that

Rising depression rates are concerning. They are also definitive proof that those of us who live with it are not as flawed, weak or “other” as our minds may be telling us. There is an opportunity to use this moment to normalize talking about depression and understanding it as a common condition for which there is support and treatment.

The factors contributing to this rise in depression are debated but the most frequently cited reasons include loneliness and social isolation which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, economic uncertainty, and social media use. 

Terry went on to say that the greatest disconnect she sees in talking about depression is generational. “Younger generations get it but their parents don’t…”

3. Executive Recovery Facilities

Although not new, executive-focused recovery facilities are increasingly adapting their services to accommodate the evolving needs of their clientele. These facilities are evolving to offer more flexible treatment options, such as allowing patients to bring their digital devices with them.

In 2024, Recovery.com reported a 51% increase in users seeking executive options for addiction and mental health treatment. 

That trend follows a rise in media attention on the issue of stress and burnout for CEOs and high-net worth individuals. Forbes recently wrote that “in 2023, a record number of CEOs left their positions, with a sobering statistic revealing that 19 CEOs tragically passed away while in office” and “the relentless demands of the C-suite are breeding exhaustion and stress, with 75% of C-suite executives seriously considering quitting their jobs for better well-being support,” according to a Deloitte and Workplace Intelligence survey.

Ruth Limkin is CEO of The Banyans Health and Wellness, a private, luxury rehab for mental health conditions and addiction located in Brisbane, Queensland. She noted that

The stigma around seeking help is slowly lifting in the corporate world, and leaders are recognizing that investing in their mental and physical health is not a sign of weakness, but a prerequisite for success.

We’ve seen a significant increase in executives seeking recovery solutions that go beyond quick fixes, emphasizing sustainable performance and long-term well-being,” Limkin said. “What sets executives apart in their recovery journey is their need for both discretion and a comprehensive approach. They are not just looking to recover; they’re looking to return stronger, with strategies to navigate high-pressure environments without compromising their health or values.

4. Outpatient & Virtual Care

The pressure to work and continue to navigate life while going through treatment continues to grow. As a result patients who may otherwise look for a residential treatment option are increasingly seeking out more flexible care options. On Recovery.com we saw a 112% increase in users searching for intensive outpatient care in 2024. 

Forces outside the patient’s control are also increasing the growth of outpatient and virtual care. Insurance companies are moving away from suggesting in-patient treatment because of the high cost. And a shortage of mental health professionals, especially in rural areas, has made in-person care generally harder to access.

The growing trend of prioritizing outpatient treatment due to cost concerns reflects a broader economic reality,” Recovery.com’s Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Malasri Chaudhery-Malgeri said. “Many individuals in recovery face the dual challenge of managing their health and maintaining financial stability. This is not just a clinical issue but a societal one, where the pressures of daily life do not pause for treatment.

New providers are stepping into the fold to offer more flexible and innovative treatment solutions that expand access to care. One such virtual option is Charlie Health. Their virtual treatment programs, including their virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), provide more than once-weekly mental health treatment for teens and adults dealing with serious mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and more. 

They accept insurance including Medicaid in many states to enable access to more people.

Their technology forward approach allows them to integrate different approaches such as group therapy, which CEO Carter Barnhart recently told Fast Company was inspired by her experience in residential treatment:

I spent the first 11 years of my career running residential treatment centers. Part of a residential experience is group therapy. That group therapy—I saw how profound it was for individuals. And what I knew was, when we created Charlie Health, we needed to create an experience where people could hear “me too.”

5. Sober Living Communities

With outpatient care increasing, housing becomes an even more important social determinant for patients. In 2024, Recovery.com saw a 101% increase in users searching for sober living – facilities that offer safe housing and structured, supporting living conditions for people transitioning from residential addiction and mental health programs back into “the real world.” 

S​​ober living facilities are becoming essential sanctuaries, bridging the gap between intensive treatment and everyday life,” Dr. Chaudhery-Malgeri said. “These environments offer clinical benefits and align with financial strategies, proving indispensable in the continuum of care.

To meet that demand, providers and payers are looking to incorporate this into their offerings. According to a December 2024 article in Behavioral Health Business, “sober living is poised to become increasingly common across the [substance use disorder] treatment industry, offering clinical and financial benefits while aligning with payer interests.”

Trey Laird, the Founder and CEO of The Lighthouse Recovery Services noted that

Because the payors are reluctant to pay for residential treatment costs but are willing to pay for PHP and IOP, recovery residences will see significant growth. Some of the facilities will be high quality and thrive. Others will be poor quality and won’t survive. 

But challenges persist, including stigma. Trey prefers calling his men’s and women’s houses “recovery residences” as opposed to sober living.

Recovery Residences give clients the opportunity to work on their recovery in “real life” but with extra guardrails and support. Clients in our residences have full freedom of choice and that’s important in early recovery. 

Looking Ahead: What Recovery.com Forecasts

Recovery.com gains valuable insights into the current state of recovery by analyzing their proprietary platform data. The Recovery.com team also has a large network of providers, partners, industry leaders, and community members in the recovery ecosystem. These connections and conversations help Recovery.com and its providers proactively address gaps in the recovery world and uniquely positions them to predict future trends.

Nontraditional Recovery Groups

Community and connection are a critical part of any recovery program. While fellowship was traditionally found in church basements and 12-Step meetings, it is increasingly found in places such as CrossFit gyms and Yoga Studios across the country.

Nontraditional recovery groups have burst into mainstream status, building community with interest-oriented gatherings that incorporate activities and hobbies into a recovery support system. We see that trend continuing to grow even more in 2025, led by national organizations like The Phoenix, regional programs like Fit to Recover, hyperlocal special interest groups like the Galano Club, and community programs like Austin Clubhouse. 

These organizations are proving to be safe spaces where people can build supportive relationships, find belonging, and engage in activities that promote physical and mental well-being in addition to sobriety. 

The Phoenix hosts hundreds of weekly sober events like meditation, group fitness, running, music, hiking, game nights, and other meaningful activities, with the goal of “creating spaces for anyone impacted by substance use to connect, build friendships, find support, and have fun.”

Loneliness is at an all-time high, reflected in a profound number of individuals feeling disconnected,” said The Phoenix Research Team. “Social isolation has fueled a rise in mental health struggles and addiction that undermines wellbeing. With 1 in 3 Americans struggling with substance use or mental health challenges, the need for accessible, community-focused approaches to healing is more important now than ever.

Artificial Intelligence, VR, and Other Emerging Tech

More and more treatment centers and care providers are incorporating artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and other types of technology into their treatment – and it’s more than just a fad. But the key will be finding applications that improve the patient experience and outcomes backed by real data.

For example, Rogers Behavioral Health partnered with AI company Limbic to offer Limbic Access, an AI-powered screening tool for prospective patients. This tool allows users to chat about their concerns and receive screening and next steps. Research from the journal Nature shows Limbic Access increases self-referrals to treatment, especially for marginalized groups. 

Responding to our patients’ needs with strategic innovation is key in providing the best possible care for each individual, as well as in making that treatment available to everyone,” says Brian Kay, Rogers’ chief strategy officer. “While artificial intelligence will never replace our providers, it is another tool we are carefully and transparently employing at Rogers to increase accessibility and treatment success. For example, our team members are still heavily involved in the patient intake process, but our website’s new friendly screening assistant is proven to reduce the barrier for those taking the first step in seeking treatment. Additionally, we use AI to assist in documentation, allowing our providers more time to truly connect with our patients — key in our collaborative approach to care.

The Rise of Peer Support

Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States, published in July 2024 by SAMHSA, demonstrated a 15% increase in the utilization of peer support services as a part of substance use treatment when compared to the previous year. This trend of peer support being increasingly utilized is anticipated to remain on a similar trajectory in 2025. 

Wes Arnett, Category Manager for Recovery Coaching at Recovery.com, commented:

In 2024, we saw some major milestones that will similarly change the trajectory of peer support services for the year ahead. The first milestone was Medicare officially recognizing peer support services, effectively bringing recovery oriented care to millions of more people. A second milestone was a dedicated Standard Occupational Classification code, with certified peer support specialists around the country rallying support for this designation. Having this is an essential step to provide greater visibility, job opportunities, and equitable wages for peer support workers. 

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As the recovery landscape evolves throughout 2025, our team will strive to keep supplementing our fast-growing network with even more insights that provide additional context to these changes – whether through our new contributor network, podcasts, social platforms, and our growing number of in-person events and community activations.

Madison, WI – Every person struggling with their mental health has their own unique story and needs. We designed Recovery.com to help people find the best treatment option for them by building a comprehensive resource of over 15,000 treatment providers. But many of the people who come to Recovery.com are unsure what type of treatment is right for them or even if there is any hope for their condition. 

That’s why we are proud to announce that in addition to our treatment options, we now also provide powerful stories of lived experience with and recovery from depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and other mental health conditions. Because sometimes, in the moment, what’s most helpful is a reminder that we are not alone in our struggles and that there is truly hope and the possibility of recovery. 

The Giving Voice to Depression podcast, now under our caring umbrella, offers those stories in short, digestible episodes. Each episode profiles a guest, describing how depression has affected them and what they have learned that helps them to better manage their symptoms and life. These shared stories of lived experience can comfort listeners with the realization that while our experiences are ours alone, the experience of depression is often surprisingly similar. 

The decision to reach out for support and treatment requires hope. We need to believe in the possibility of recovery and that we deserve to get the help we need. Shared stories have the power to instill that hope. 

Giving Voice to Depression ranks in the top 1% of global podcasts with over 2 million downloads. Its more than 400 intimate episodes are now part of our extensive resource library that also includes The Recovery.com Podcast, both created to help motivate and encourage more individuals on their recovery journey by providing clear, reliable information.

“The very act of hearing others speak about and describe their depression can be therapeutic. While everyone’s lives and experiences are unique to them, knowing others have found ways out of the deepest darkness can stoke even the tiniest ember of hope in us,” Producer and Co-Host Terry McGuire says. 

For Terry, bringing her podcast to Recovery.com is all about continuing her personal mission of helping people navigate depression and mental health challenges. Terry is a former Wisconsin broadcast journalist who created the Giving Voice to Depression podcast in 2017, after struggling with depression herself. She uses her 40+ years of storytelling experience to interview and share guest’s’ mental health journeys on a podcast to offer support, information, and hope to listeners. 

Terry joins the Recovery.com team as Executive Producer, and will continue to co-host and produce the Giving Voice to Depression podcast. In addition to the podcast, Terry will expand her storytelling to include the lived experience of those struggling with the full spectrum of mental health and substance abuse challenges.

We are still basking in the glow of our inaugural Behavioral Healthcare Marketing Summit, held in late July here in lovely Madison, WI. We had marketing professionals and facility owners join us from all over the world, from South Africa to New Jersey. Attendees seemed to intuitively adopt the approach used in many recovery circles: we saw the similarities rather than the differences. Although marketing techniques range from grass-roots “old school” approaches to “new school” digital tools, we recognize that we are all working toward the same goal: helping more people find treatment and maintain a life of recovery.

1. It’s still all about people:

We spend our days worrying about our census, SEO, the million little problems of running a business and much more. But we all contribute to helping real human beings find and navigate treatment, and helping them find a life of long-term recovery when they leave treatment. Human interactions are the only way that happens. And behavioral healthcare treatment providers and marketing professionals need that connection as well. The work we do is hard and important, and most of us don’t get to talk to like-minded people doing this work. 

2. Reviews matter.

We all know it but we went deep on how to make the most of them. 

• Reviews can say things marketers can’t. Use that by pairing your call to actions (call, verify insurance, etc.) with the voice of the customer (reviews and testimonials). 
• “The volume of reviews and velocity of reviews makes more of an impact than the actual ratings themselves.” 
• It has to be someone’s job. If you don’t have someone responsible for building your reviews process and constantly improving on it they will never become an asset for your business. 
• Create a feedback loop to make improvements. From one attendee “ Once a month, we look at the patterns; we address the clinical leadership team or operations team to be able to talk about the patterns that we’re seeing, [including] helpful feedback.”
• You can ask Google to manually review missing reviews? You just need to fill out an appeal form, stating that you believe there are missing reviews. The pro who delivered this tip at the Summit indicated that he does this every few months, and once had 10 missing reviews restored – for a single location! 
• A human touch matters. You can send a dozen emails asking people to submit a review, but if you get a call from someone at the treatment center where you started your recovery journey, you’re much more likely to engage and provide a review.  

3. Usability Testing has a lot to teach us about our product.

Many attendees admitted they don’t regularly run user tests but realized it’s a practice they need to be doing. Watching users navigate our own site offers a fresh pair of eyes, and can reveal opportunities for a better user experience; things that seem painfully obvious to us, immersed as we are in our own product/ website, are often not so obvious to the typical user. Here are a few keys to doing it well and a real user quote that highlights it.  

• Cut the Jargon, or at least explain it – “I have no idea what the 12 steps even are.”
• Subtle differences in photography can have big impacts – “It’s a little more posh”
• Use 3rd party validation and workflows to increase conversion rate – “I wouldn’t trust the website”

UserTesting.com is a great tool we at Recovery.com have used extensively. 

4. Connecting with other Behavioral Health Marketers helps us all serve patients better.

5. Both the “Old School” and  “New School” approach to Behavioral Health  marketing are important.

The “Old School” approach relies heavily on nurturing human relationships, whereas “new school” techniques tend to live in the digital space. When meeting people where they are, both approaches are valuable. One of our attendees talked about their robust alumni program, which includes a weekly Zoom call, as well as a monthly in-person “Family Dinner” for alumni and their families. 

However, many patients seeking care are nowhere ready for a live conversation; they simply want to explore online, to see what options are out there. Obviously we believe that digital marketing is an integral part of a behavioral healthcare marketing strategy, but we know that building relationships with the patients in your treatment program is always going to be important: word-of-mouth referrals from humans who have gone through your program are the best marketing in the universe. 

We think the Summit was a big success, but here are the words of a few attendees. 

“I loved the emphasis on people – marketing to people, speaking to people, putting people at the center of care, nurturing people. At a time where there’s so much noise about SEO and ranking and digital, this was refreshing to hear.”

“Really loved the panel format and that many of the speakers were truly passionate and knowledgeable, actually hearing and seeing the website reviews were great, getting into actual specific details of strategies and why they work”

“This is by far the most impactful behavioral health marketing summit in existence.” (we swear someone actually wrote this in our post-event survey)

Hope to see you at the 2nd Annual Behavioral Health Marketing Summit in Summer 2025!

Prestigious list ranks the fastest-growing private companies in America, with Recovery.com landing at #196 and set to reach 15,000 providers; team brings on Tom Farley and Terry McGuire in key roles

MADISON, Wisc. (Sep. 3, 2024) —  Recovery.com, a platform that aims to help families and individuals worldwide find the right mental health and addiction treatment options, has landed in the top 4% of the prestigious Inc. 5000 list, which annually ranks the fastest-growing private companies in America. 

Recovery.com ranked #196 on the data-driven list, which over its history has included household names such as Microsoft, Meta, Chobani, Under Armour, Timberland, Oracle, and Patagonia. The company ranked #2 in the state of Wisconsin and #1 in Madison, where the company was founded and is currently based.

Highlighting its rapid growth, Recovery.com expects to reach 15,000 treatment centers on its platform worldwide in September, as it continues to build the most comprehensive resource for patients seeking treatment.

Recovery.com is also announcing the addition of longtime recovery advocate Tom Farley Jr. as Community Outreach Director; Farley is a beloved Madison, Wisconsin, native, outspoken recovery advocate, author of the New York Times best seller The Chris Farley Story, and a motivational speaker who is known for using humor to help people find recovery. 

Additionally, former Milwaukee TV news anchor and founder of the non-profit organization Giving Voice To Mental Illness, Terry (Bertha) McGuire, is joining the Recovery.com team as Executive Producer. McGuire launched the weekly Giving Voice to Depression podcast, which ranks in the top 1% of global podcasts and will continue to produce and co-host it.

“Our entire team is honored to be recognized for our continued growth, but more importantly we’re thrilled that more and more individuals are becoming aware of this resource for getting the right help from the right place,” said Ben Camp, CEO and co-founder of Recovery.com. “We are eager to continue our growth, beginning with the added support of the remarkable Tom Farley and Terry McGuire, and keep doing everything we can to connect people with the appropriate treatment options, approaches, and therapies.”

While the vast majority of Americans have access to mental/behavioral healthcare covered by their health insurance, in any given year 90% of those who need treatment don’t receive it. Recovery.com strives to make it as easy as possible for people to find the right care; through a combination of independent research and expert guidance, the site aims to provide the most comprehensive network of mental health and addiction treatment providers worldwide.

Recovery.com was founded in 2017 as RehabPath and recently rebranded to align with its fast-growing platform, which has expanded to include an educational resource hub, the original Recovery.com Podcast, a fast-growing guest contributor network, and more. 
For complete results of the Inc. 5000, please visit www.inc.com/inc5000.

About Recovery.com
Recovery.com (formerly RehabPath) was created in 2017 to help people discover a path to recovery that is right for them, starting with landing on websites they can trust. It aims to provide unbiased, educational, helpful information about treatment for addiction and mental health, with a goal of connecting individuals worldwide with the right mental health and addiction treatment options. To learn more, visit Recovery.com.

Recovery.com media contact:

Fearey for Recovery.com Recovery@FeareyGroup.com / 206-343-1543

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000:

Methodology 

Companies on the 2024 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2020 to 2023. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2020. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2023. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2020 is $100,000; the minimum for 2023 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to four decimal places. 

About Inc. 

Inc. Business Media is the leading multimedia brand for entrepreneurs. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of our community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating our future. Inc.’s award-winning work achieves a monthly brand footprint of more than 40 million across a variety of channels, including events, print, digital, video, podcasts, newsletters, and social media. Its proprietary Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since its launch as the Inc. 100 in 1982, analyzes company data to rank the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The recognition that comes with inclusion on this and other prestigious Inc. lists, such as Female Founders and Power Partners, gives the founders of top businesses the opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. For more information, visit www.inc.com. 
For more information on the Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala, to be held from October 16 to 18 in Palm Desert, California, please visit http://conference.inc.com/.